This is the most enjoyable technical text I've ever read. If you're new to programming, it won't explain many critical concepts, but this book introduces you to the Perl ideology (and all the syntax) in grand fashion.

If you're totally new to Perl, "Learning Perl" may be a better first choice. But hit this volume soon, because it communicates effectively the philosophy behind Perl.

The quality of the writing can not be stressed enough -- it is a blast to read. And when you find that you're working with Perl a fair amount (or an unfair amount!) complement this volume with "The Perl Cookbook" which is equally indispensable.