What is the best and most effective way to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, Flash??

Books? Online Tutorials? Classes?

I was going with Books, but which Books are worth the trouble?

Tell me which books would provide me with the knowledge to use Photoshop, or Illustrator, or Flash, or Fireworks.

Please give me your experiences. Thanks.

personally, i dont really have the patience with those books.

Reason for me is because I usually already know half the stuff in the beginner books and i get bored doing it over again. Then I jump to more advanced stuff and realize soem places i'm lacking. Then I have to go back to beginner section and ... well you get the picture.

Tutorials off the net work for me. They usually focus on a few aspects to make a certain effect and that makes it easier and less time consuming for me.

Then it's up to you to figure out how to put things you learn together.

This very much depends on you. Some folks can grab a book and read it, then be all set at the end. Others have to go hands on with a book as back up. Still others need a classroom setting, others need tutorials.

tutorials work best for me, I learn better by doing, I can't sit and read a book that takes too long. :D

Also I tend to learn programs by just sitting down in front of it and toying around with it, exploring, seeing what I can figure out on my own before I go and seek help, it's amazing what you can learn on your own.

Great, Thanks!
Those that prefer online tutorials, can you please suggest where I find some good ones.

Those that prefer books, can you please suggest a few good titles that are worth reading.

Thanks.