Learning electronics

For Dmitri, Synthex, and anyone else with a good working knowledge of electronics -
- what's your background with electronics, how did you get to the point where you could design Megadrum? Self taught, university etc?
- are there any online resources you'd recommend for someone to wants to start learning electronics?
I'm thinking along the lines of the knowledge to be able to design and build projects starting small, like the kit set circuits that electronics stores sell, working up to bigger projects like Megadrum. If there are any books that are really good for a complete beginner, it'd be good to hear about those as well.
- what's your background with electronics, how did you get to the point where you could design Megadrum? Self taught, university etc?
- are there any online resources you'd recommend for someone to wants to start learning electronics?
I'm thinking along the lines of the knowledge to be able to design and build projects starting small, like the kit set circuits that electronics stores sell, working up to bigger projects like Megadrum. If there are any books that are really good for a complete beginner, it'd be good to hear about those as well.