I highly recommend 'Secrets of JavaScript Ninja'[1] for learning intermediate/advanced topics of JS. The book is written by John Resig (creator of jQuery) and Bear Bibeault

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-JavaScript-Ninja-John-Resig/dp...

I would of course add "The good parts" by Crockford to the list.

But maybe that is just par for the language course, before one even starts to wants to master Engineering :)

JavaScript: The Good Parts - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596517742/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

Here's a few other good ones:

Functional JavaScript: Introducing Functional Programming with Underscore.js - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1449360726/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193398869X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

Javascript Allongé (free to read online) - https://leanpub.com/javascript-allonge

Javascript Spessore (free to read online, but currently work in progress) - https://leanpub.com/javascript-spessore

Here's a good one about Angular, my favorite framework:

Mastering Web Application Development with AngularJS - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1782161821/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

I would of course also recommend the Egghead videos for any Angular aficionados: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP6DbQBkn9ymGQh2qpk9Im...

PS. The Amazon links are affiliate links.

Yeah do it! I say it's totally realistic. I followed a similar path as I didn't really learn software development until after college, and it has turned into a great career for me. I would recommend starting with javascript, mostly because you can do so much with it so quickly. Here are some javascript related tips:

Learn some js fundamentals, but I would learn jQuery at the same time and write some fun code as you go to keep things interesting. This site's good for a quick start: http://jqfundamentals.com/. Or if you want the textbook approach: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596805531.do This should also be a great read, though I've only read snippets so far: http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-JavaScript-Ninja-John-Resig/dp...

Once you get going, one of the coolest things about learning javascript these days is that it's never been easier to spin up a toy project powered by free out-of-the-box services like https://www.firebase.com/ or https://www.parse.com/.

The other advice I'd give is that, while I wouldn't go too far to play down the importance of learning to code through formal education, I think you can completely teach yourself since you have the passion for it. I'd say do a combination of the two as it fits you. Because at the end of the day, the most valuable thing you can have on your resume is that you've built some cool stuff. And if you're excited about learning to code, you'll find yourself building cool stuff in no time. Well - okay, "no time" really means a lot of hours of reading and coding, but you'll get addicted really fast so it'll feel like no time :) Anyway, good luck!