The Basics of Openings

What the best book or resource for learning how to play / defend various openings?  I really enjoy the tactics trainer and chess mentor portion of the website but the book openings section is not as strong.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

I suggest that you just practise one opening first. And when you know many sidelines of the opening, you can practice a new one. So... always play e4, or d4, or c4 or what else. And not play this time e4 and the next time d4. And you must find out what reply is best for you. I'd say : replay the same opening over and over again.

i buy books to learn and speed up my openning for example sicilian all the varition of sicilian ,,the offense and the defense of that openning ,where the weak and the strong point thats how i do.