Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea, and modest expectations

When I first began to learn Expression Engine, I was working on a project that had a pretty demanding time line. Not only did I have only a few weeks to complete the scope, I had to spend the first few days learning a completely new language and framework. Fortunately, the EE community had been around long enough that there were some amazing resources for me to draw upon to help get my head wrapped around it. It took a bit (around three solid days of studying and practicing) to finally get my head around it, but once I did, EE became very natural to me. Here are a few links to the three main resources I used to learn EE.

• Pragmatic Bookshelf Screencasts
  This series of screencasts are (in my opinion) the best and fastest way to get an understanding how how EE works. There are 12 of them in all. The author walks you through the build process for a fictional newspaper site. It uses many of EE’s best features and is a great place to start. At $5 a piece (except for the last episiode, it’s $8) this is the most reasonable way to learn. When I used them, they only have the first 5 available and those were able to get me a broad enough understanding so I could begin working on my own. I highly recommend them.
• Train-ee ExpressionEngine Training
  This is the most comprehensive site as far as the breadth of what is offered and the depth of the tutorials. The site is run by Mike Boyink of Boyink.com who is one of the experts in using EE. There are some great online tutorials (which are free!) and screencasts (which aren’t so free). I bought a few of Mike’s screencasts and they were very beneficial because he does a few case studies from projects he has worked on to show you what EE is capable of.
• The Official Expression Engine User Guide
  While this one may seem extremely obvious, it is often under used by those first starting out. I would not recommend that a first time user consult only the user guide. If you pair this resource with any of the sites out there that have tutorials and screencasts then you are on your way to understanding EE in no time. It is also to get in the habit of consulting the UG first when building… it has more documentation in it that you will ever be able to read. I still use the EE User Guide with every single project to help me learn new techniques and get a deeper understanding of how EE works.

One of the most important components in my learning process was the fact I had a real project that I needed to learn for. Genuine real-world experience is the most valuable form of learning you can get. This is hands down the best way. When I first began using javascript libraries, I saw how other people were using them on their sites and worked them into future project scopes in order to learn. I am no expert, but I am a step closer than I was before. It provides practical opportunities to cut your teeth. If you want to learn how to use Expression Engine, then make it your CMS of choice for your next project and begin stretching into new territory. 

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