After watching that Sam Adams "all our employees learn to brew beer" commercial with some friends in college, I thought to myself, "man, that be a great gig to work there. It almost sounds like they're forced to learn to make beer. I like it." After seeing the commercial several more times, I realized that I probably wouldn't ever work for Sam Adams, and that I might as well look into it on my own.
Funny thing was, I wasn't really a huge fan of beer at the time (and also just shy of 21), but I bought a copy of Palmer's book, and read some in it before bedtime for a week or so. I later got Stephen Snyder's "The Homebrewer's Bible," and was absolutely glued to it. I'm not a huge reader, but this book just had me hooked. I almost immediately brewed my first batch, and after tasting that first bottle, I've been obsessed. Not to mention, homebrew parties reeled in the ladies (esp. with EdWort's Apfelwein in the kegerator!). Few people have seen student loans disappear so quickly, and I'll drink to that.