[akanevsky]

No, of course you don't read the full manual. You cannot memorize it all at once, and nobody can...

What I did is I downloaded the *.chm version of the manual (can be found here http://www.php.net/docs.php). Then I went through the first 3 sections of it (up to features). Then I read the next two sections (up to 5th), reading only what I might need in the nearest future.

Then, I started writing my own scripts. While writing those scripts, I kept referring (and I still keep referring) to sections IV, V and VI of the manual, for the particular functions or tricks that I need to use. Like if I need to find out a certain file management function, I go to "File Management" subsection of section VI... That's how it goes - I refer to certain parts of the manual when there is a need to use them.

I suggest something like SAMS PHP in 24 hours to figure out the basics, then browse through functions on php.net and other PHP files you see and learn from there.

Well, IMHO it is too basic... There is nothing better than an official manual if there is one, because an official manual usually also tells you about any special things that you have to pay attention to