Just thought I'd pass this along.
This is a pretty good book for the novice.
How to Repair Your Car
Most "car repair" books are really "car maintenance." This book actually shows you how to do some useful car repair things. It also can be useful for diagnosing problems. The book is not based on any particular model, so it won't be as useful as a chilton or bentley manual, but it gives a great overview of the workings of all the cars systems.