When I first thought about getting into taxidermy I borrowed those books from the library. If I remember correctly they were a little outdated but gave a good general overview of most aspects of taxidermy and the pictures of skinning, sewing, etc. were helpful.

My suggestion to you would be to decide what type of taxidermy intrests you most....birds, fish, game heads, or small mammals and concentrate on learning that one thing first. Look in the archives at taxidermy.net and read as much about that subject as possible before starting your first project.

I think taking a class with a qualified instructor is the bestway to learn. You get the hands on experience right away and have someone right there to answer questions while you work.