PHP

Guys I want to learn PHP and even have a book to help me, but for some reason I can't bring myself to read the book. What do I do?

Python kicks PHP's ass pretty thoroughly as a web language, and I can think of several other languages that probably do as well.  If nobody wants to touch PHP with a ten foot pole for anything outside its very narrow application as a web-scripting environment, that should be a warning to you.

If your philosophy is to target only the most popular tech at any time, history shows that you end up using some pretty ugly shit.