i learn either way, i 'spose, but i will say that there have been plenty of times where i just can't stand sitting in front of the PC any longer, so a manual, for me, does provide portability.  and before one says anything about phones/ipads and the internet, etc., i don't own a mobile, and even if i did, a girl can only take so much technology on any given day [heh].  plus, i'm a 'reader', have been my whole life, and in terms of a manual, i can think things through a bit better, a bit more clearly - where do i wanna go, what do i think is possible, etc. - a manual sometimes helps me see 'the bigger picture' as opposed to a singular type task.  that bit usually comes later on in my quest for knowledge/learning.

watching tuts is great tho, i'd think, because that way you can pause, alt+tab to your application, emulate/interact, restart, move along in the process...

though i'd say, overall, nothing beats talking things through/brainstorming with an actual individual.  i think i learn the best, and the most, this way.