I REALLY don't care for the George Hurst videos(with him in it) but he produces some good ones with Jim Linnell and Chan Geer. Get the ones on making a sheridan notebook (Chan) and Sheridan style leather carving with Jim.
To read, get the big Stohlman leather book. It's about 24" wide and 12" high and has a brown/sepia colored cover. A great book to get the visual feel for using the tools. Don't feel that this is the only order in which to complete a piece, but if you do then you can't go wrong.
I just prayed for a successful operation, fast recovery, and to guide the doctors hands.
Through Christ, all things are possible.
pete