"A Quick Guide to Screenwriting" is in my opinion a must read, if you are a beginner and not wanting to start off reading a complex How-To. Not only is it a short read, but its very straight to the point of what a beginner needs to know when working towards moving forward in the area of screenwriting.
I have read some good articles concerning this topic, and did some research as to which book titles made for a good starting point to become more educated with screenwriting, and I found this one made the cut within a list of recommendations. "The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script" by David Trottier, makes the top of each list I've come across - respectively, I'm sure (hoping to get my hands on a copy at some point). My local library only has a very select few titles on screenwriting though, but I still thankfully found that it carries this Quick Guide. Fully grasping the concept of formatting is what I've had a rather difficult time with. This book served helpful in that area of screenwriting, as well as in other areas I had in mind when thinking of the original story I'll use to practice on, but I hadn't realized until I read this that such features are part of the ingredients that go into creating a script.
To some this book up, it gives a basic look on the ingredients and technique used in formulating a screenplay for beginners - even giving you the do's and don'ts. If you want to take up screenwriting but don't really know where to begin, and want a read that is insightful but not so in depth that it might leave you feeling even less understanding of the concept of screenwriting; this is a book for you. I found it to be quite helpful, and its one I may find myself reading again, while I'm still new to the idea of screenwriting.