Getting started with VBA

I need to use excel to layout a show floor for a conference and expo I'm working on. I would like to select a rectangle of cells, hit a key-stroke, and have the selected cells formatted, some formulas dropped in, some of the cells to be merged, and a few other things. I would like to do this via a macro.

So what's my question ... What is the recommended reading material to get started with VBA. There are too many to choose from on Amazon.

I've programmed before, but need a jump start on what objects are available, and how to do basic things like select nearby cells in order to merge them. I've recorded a few macros and read the code. They make sense for what I see, but I know there's a lot I don't see and feel I'd spend my time better by reading the manual rather than experimenting.

Thanks in advance for the help.