Reddit reviews Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive

>As a layman, do you have a way that I may be able to use as far as learning some of these things? How do I begin? What is a good source?

Help with learning computers?

If you want to learn about computers I'd recommend this book. They use it in my college's equivalent of computer 101. Very accessible, easy to understand.

It's long as it's comprehensive, but you don't need to read it all cover to cover! When you see a section on like, how does hard drives or optical drives work with their explanations you can just skip that section if you're not interested. You could come back to it later if you want or read it then and there if you're curious. I will say as a bit of a tech person the exact way an optical disc is read or how platter drives read data has never come up. [Other than a brief why platter "spinny" hard drives are risker and slower than solid state hard drives.]

This edition is from 2012. Info still good although the sections talking about 'cutting edge' tech is not as cutting anymore, but that wouldn't matter for your purposes. 8-10$ for the book including SH.
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Computers-Today-Tomorrow-Comprehensive/dp/1133190243/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=

This edition is from 2014. The cutting edge sections are more cutting edge than 2012, but it still doesn't matter too heavily for your purposes. About $25 w/SH included.
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Computers-Today-Tomorrow-Comprehensive/dp/1285767276/