Amateur Radio:
Where to start?

If you are just starting out, amateur radio may seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. First, you do not have to learn Morse Code for any amateur radio license level. You only need to pass one exam by getting 26 of 35 multiple choice questions correct. Once your call sign appears on the FCC website, you can be "on the air." There are some fees involved but as of today it is possible to be licensed and on the air for less than $50 plus a few hours of your time.

How to get your license:
I recommend you find a Amateur Radio club near your location and attend a meeting. It is likely the club will have Volunteer Examiners that will administer your license exam.
Study for the Technician class exam - use a free online resource such as hamstudy.org
Take your Technician class examination. Your exam will be graded while you wait.
Once you pass, the VE will submit the paperwork and a week or so later, the FCC will issue you a call sign.
That's all there is to it!

If your still with me, lets talk license levels: There are three license levels in amateur radio - Technician, General and Amateur Extra

Technician - 1st license level and earns the licensee phone privileges to multiple frequency bands, plus repeaters with ranges that routinely exceed 40+ miles. That is 40 real American miles, not 40 imaginary "FRS" miles. You may also transmit digital data, forms and email with a computer and $200 in equipment.

General - 2nd license level and in addition to all the Technician privileges, the licensee has access to most high frequency (HF) amateur bands. With these bands, you can literally talk to every place on Earth and every amateur station in Earth's orbit. You can send email across the country with out an internet service provider. The world is at your finger tips.

Amateur Extra - 3rd and highest license level and access to all the amateur frequency spectrum. It is not a lot more, mostly just lower segments to the bands the General licensees have access to. I'd call these lower segments the "bragging blocks" because the operators in those segments consider passing the Extra class exam a real achievement. These are the folks that run the local ham radio clubs, administer test sessions and will happily steer you in the right direction when you are just getting started.

Remember, a Technician license will get you talking across your county and is probably sufficient to get you communicating off-grid with like minded individuals in your area. No license needed to just listen.

Useful links:
Hamstudy - A free study and practice exam website. I studied and passed my Amateur Extra using this site.
Amateur Radio Service - FCC website