I started on page 1 of the manual. I too am hands-on and by following step by step it became very logical (after about the 3rd time). I still don't use mine to the fullest but can do the basics. I keep the manual with my laptop so I can refer to it any time.
Good luck--it's like anything else: the more you use it the easier it becomes. Just have a little patience, start at step 1, and repeat until it feels natural.