Recommendation number three for "Your First Quilt Book...or it should be"! I have been quilting a long time and have over 200 quilt books, and it's still my "go to" book for answers to questions on things I've forgotten.

I'd go with McClun and Nownes' Quilts! Quilts!Quilts! if I was to recommend just one.
It's colorful, has good basic instructions and nice quilts.

I use the Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting as my reference. It gives good basic instructions for just about everything.

I was going to say pretty much anything from Eleanor Burns, especially her Underground Railroad, but, after checking out Quilting for Dummies, I would have to agree with Sandilee and choose that one.

I recommend the Ultimate Visual Guide. I also have Quilts, Quilts, Quilts, and that one taught me alot. I believe we all should have a reference book along with are stash LOL.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! Can't wait to get a few and get educated!

The bookstore or an online book source like Abes books is a good way to find a basic guide book for quilting. I paid $5 for Better Homes and Gardens quilting book at Borders along time ago.
I read it then it sits on my bookshelf not used again.
I learned to quilt by watching videos on the web. Quilt In A Day has lots of Eleanor Burns videos to watch. She is the best teacher for beginners.
A great free video site is:
http://quilterstv.com
You tube has lots of videos also.

My go to that has everything for quilting is "The Quilting Answer Book" by Barbara Weiland Talbert. You can get it in a portable edition looks to be about 5 x 7 - it has everything about making a quilt from start to finish - including math, binding, fabric, and everything. I use this book to teach myself anything about quilting.

I also really enjoy the quilting magazines and some have basic terminology and basic how-to's in the back that you can reference. They are full of ideas, lessons and are very motivating to me.

One that no one has mentioned (I think) is Quilting 101. I bought it for my DIL for Christmas. Excellent photos.