This complete guide to Blender is based on the Blender 2.32 release (2004). Rewriting all available old material, and based on the OpenContent documentation project at blender.org, editor Stefano Selleri and designer Samo Korosec have created a new highlight in the Blender book history!
The book is almost 800 pages, in 2 color design and has 16 page gallery section and cdrom with sample files and lots of demos.
There is currently a community project to produce a freely distributable and up-to-date Blender user manual. This manual is constantly updated to keep it current.
The (old but still valid) 2.3 manual is browsable in two parts: The User Guide and the Reference Guide.
There are also archives of older online manuals and other useful documentation files that can be found at Blender.org's Documentation Listing.
If you would like to get involved in the Blender documentation project, please visit the Blender wiki website, or join the Docboard mailing list.
The Blender Gamekit is now available as a downloadable product at the e-shop.
It starts with an extensive section for people who are new to 3D or new to Blender, explaining the basic concepts with a full introduction to the interface. Then, with step-by-step tutorials, it shows the fun of creating models, giving them motion, and how to turn them into simple games. Experienced 3D artists will appreciate the more complex game demos, the character animation tutorials, the introduction to Python and the advanced reference section.
The Beginners Tutorial Guide is still a good introduction to Blender for new users. This 50 page downloadable PDF contains both a selection of tutorials from the original Blender Tutorial Guide 1 and Tutorial Guide 2 and will allow you to gain the skills you need to come to grips with Blenders basics
Please note that the text was written for the 1.8 release, which has different layouts for buttons.
