http://www.amazon.com/PICAXE-Microcontroller-Projects-Evil-Genius/dp/0071703268
This book is a really good introduction to microcontrollers for beginners, but also builds up as the book progresses, and eventually tackles some complex projects. It uses a picaxe, which is a PIC micro with some easier code to implement the projects. I would suggest this if you are an interested beginner. I graduated EE last year, and really wish I would have been exposed to something like this before we learned about micros in school. Makes the learning curve much less steep, and helps you implement better designs because you already know the basics when it gets to that point. Good Luck.!