I started with First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane: http://www.amazon.com/First-Lessons-Beekeeping-Keith-Delapla...

2 few things to know about beekeeping: * Beekeepers disagree on everything. * Bees have been surviving without humans for a long time.

So in general as long as you're not horrible and actively trying to kill your bees, they'll manage fine.