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Everyone learns differently, so I'm going to go over various methods here...just because one person got their license a particular way doesn't mean it's the right way for everyone else. I got my Technician and General via the manual, and my Extra via Ham Test Online and the W5YI CDs, due to the time constraints I faced. Each one was right for me at that particular time.

ARRL License Manual

I started out with the Notice class manual, and then took a class that a local General gave to me and his son. However, when I actually got my Technician license I bought the manual, read it through in a weekend, and went in and took the test. I got my General the same way, although it took a little longer to go through the material. For both the Technician and the General I had more free time, which made it easy to work through the manuals.

There are two forms of the ARRL's books. One is their license manuals, and the second is a straight review of the current test pools.

Ham Test Online

Ahh, the Extra. The ARRL books were fine for the Tech and General...but dang, that Extra book is dense. And it needs to be, there is a lot of material there. So...what to do if you can't sit down and study, and are grabbing time as you can? I found the best tool for this situation to be Ham Test Online. This let me grab a few minutes here, and a few minutes there. It is very good at actually teaching the material, and on focusing on the material you are having trouble with. In my opinion if this is how you are needing to study, it is very worth it.

W5YI CDs

The Gordon West CD set was the second piece of the puzzle for me. At the time, I had a 1.5-2 hour drive one way to work, and wanted to make use of the time. Was talking to a fellow ham about the problem, and he pointed me to the Gordon West instructional CDs. They very quickly became my listening material for the drive, and between the CDs and Ham Test Online, I was able to pass the Extra in 7 months.

So why do I recommend the CDs? One, time management. I was able to make use of what would have been down time in the car. So the fact that I could study in the car or while walking was absolutely huge. Gordo is absolutely excellent with his explanations, and I can say this not only of the Extra CDs, but also of the Technician

W5YI License Manual

This book is a great companion to the CDs, and in my opinion functions best if you are already using the CDs. If you are depending on written material alone, I'd go with the ARRL manuals, or with the KB6NU materials. I find the ARRL license manual to be the most comprehensive, while the W5YI manual seems to me to be best as an accompaniment to the CD.

Dan Romanchik's Study Guides

I haven't had the opportunity to look at KB6NU's General or Extra materials, but the Technician material is very good, especially if you either already have an Elmer or are working with the other material. If you have prior theory or experience and need a refresher before testing, this is where I would begin. I would definitely recommend it as a night before the exam overview, and given the quality of his other material, would get his DVD for the Technician course regardless of your other resources.

Elmer

I am definitely not going to get into a discussion of the origins of the term "Elmer" here, but basically in amateur radio an Elmer is a mentor. My first Elmer was Wes Fahrion, KG0CY, and he was certainly not the only Elmer that I had. Even upon getting your license, having someone who can answer your questions and open up new vistas.

YouTube

There is a lot out there on YouTube, but the most consistently recommended is KE0OG's. He's got online classes for all of the ARRL books, and I'll throw a line up to the Technician Class videos here.

Classes

• HamCram
The benefits of a HamCram are obvious -- only one weekend needs to be set aside, and the testing is done at the end, and you'll have your license in hand at the end of a week. If you have a club or others willing to with you after you get your license, this can definitely be the way to go. However, they are often offered as a means of getting people into EmComm, so the result is that you have a license with no idea how to actually use it. Unless you see the Technician license as a license to learn, basically, as the learner's permit for amateur radio, I don't recommend a HamCram.
• Several session classes
This is a much longer time commitment, and can be a lot harder to find. However, there are some huge benefits. Classes are more hands-on, and focus on learning the material, not memorizing it just to pass the test session. Classes also tend to go into actually operating, so you've got some idea what to do with that license after you  get it. The classes are also often taught by a variety of people, so you get people who are experts on the various parts of the subject matter..

To sum up the differences, I see a HamCram as memorizing the answers, while a class as understanding the material. Both get you the license, but the HamCram doesn't prepare you for what to do once you receive your license.

Final Thoughts

So which if these should you use? A lot of it depends on how you learn, and how much experience you have with electronics and electrical principles prior to starting. If all you need are the rules, then what you need to learn is very different than if you need to learn everything. If you've the time, the classes, in my opinion, are the best way to go. If you can't get to a class, I'd recommend the ARRL manual regardless of the other route you go. There is no reason that you only have to do one thing, and often classes are going to be based on the ARRL manual anyway. However you happen to learn, there is a method and process for you.

Actually testing

If you've decided to go the class route, most classes will have a test session at the end of the classes. If you're in a class, they'll set you up with what you need for the test most likely.

If not, you can find a list of test sessions here. You will need to obtain your FRN prior to the exam time. You can no longer use your Social Security number on your application.

You should bring:

Get a good night's sleep the night before. Keep in mind that you only need the equivalent of a low C to actually pass. If there is one part of the exam that worries you, do your best, and work on the parts that you will get right. At most, your problem area is going to be three questions, and probably at most only one.

Post-license resources

So your ticket finally shows up in the FCC database...what next? In a lot of ways, your Technician's license isn't a license to get on the air, it's a license to learn. Many people think that Technicians are limited to just repeater control, but nothing could be further from the truth.You can work satellites, you can work HF on 80, 40, 15, and 10, you can talk to people around the world with voice on D-Star, DMR, System Fusion, and EchoLink. Don't think that your reach is only 25 miles because of your license.

21 Things to Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio License Dan Romanchik KB6NU

My wife got this for my son for Christmas, and I looked through it and thought it was a really great resource. It goes a long way toward answering the "what now?" question that I'm sure a lot of people have, and definitely worth the price.

Radios to Go! ARRL Inc., Steve Ford WB8IMY

Shows you what is possible with your new handie-talkie beyond getting on the local repeaters. Again, a very good "What do I do now?" resource.

Ham Radio for Dummies Ward Silver N0AX

This book is an excellent resource of additional information. I've always found the Dummies books to be excellent supplements, and this book is no excpetion.

ARRL Operating Manual ARRL Inc.

One of the bibles of amateur radio, now in it's 11th edition, the ARRL Operating Manual is an excellent starting point for many different modes and styles of operation.

Your First Amateur Radio HF Station ARRL Inc., Steve Ford WB8IMY

When I got back into amateur radio, this book was invaluable in helping me finish my shack setup. Not only had things changed from my first two attempts, but some of the paths that I had gone down actually turned out to be incorrect. I would highly advise this book to anyone wanting to set up their first shack.