Hey!
I'll second the recs for the any of the Greer titles and also Michelsen's Complete Tarot Reader's Handbook; n.b. all of these titles are loose workbook intros that will get you off on the right foot. I find the BUnning a little rigid and keyword-y, but that may just be me.
If you prefer a more organized study program, and you're looking for a straight-up introduction to Waite-Smith style cards, I have another suggestion: Sharman-Burke's Beginner's Guide to the Tarot (which includes a study deck as well) is inexpensive and introduces you to the deck gradually, walking you through symbolism a suit at a time in a deck that is designed for clarity of symbol. By the time you've worked through it, you have a feel for the entire deck and the way the cards work together that you could carry over into any Waite-Smith derived deck.
Scion