Like Michael Karas, I learned in a roundabout way. My first computer was a TS-1000, and to do anything with a semblance of speed you needed to get into assembly language for the Z80. I then got a job and my knowledge of Z80 moved me to programming the 8085. The engineers changed, and then it was the 8051. The Intel manuals for the 8085 and 8051 were great for learning about those chips. Too bad they are no longer being printed, although they are available in e-form on the 'net.

I suppose what we are trying to say is that it is a DIY type of learning experience.

--Rich