[pessimizer]

Speaking specifically about Excel, the most important thing to learn is the Range object, no matter what book you're using:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff838238%28v=...

Close behind are Collections and UDTs. The best thing to level up after you're comfortable is with 'Implements' for interfaces.

I found that search engines are as good as any book for this stuff. It's smeared all over the internet.

The best place I know of to get a good understanding is http://www.cpearson.com/excel/MainPage.aspx, but it's not a tutorial.

edit: that's what I get for keeping this window open too long:) That's 2 votes for cpearson.com.