I have a mate, an all grain brewer no less, who has vouched for "
Homebrewing for Dummies" before. I don't have the book myself, but have looked at it. In the "dummies" style it looks easy to read and use, and though you don't want recipes, per se, it has heaps - all of which have extract and all grain examples. It spends a lot of time, like a lot of US books, discusing the finer points of extract brewing, but it does move up to all grain. Stores like Dymocks and Angus and Robertson often have it, so it might just be easier to find than the others, but prices vary anywhere betweeen $30 and $40. Have a look, maybe, and see what you think.
Otherwise make sure you have
how to brew in your favourites for access to Palmer's book, or look to pay about $50 at a homebrew shop for the second edition. Palmer's is probably the recognised "primer".
If anyone has read or used the Charlie Papazian books, it would be good to hear what they thought of them.
Once you're into it Ray Daniels
Designing Great Beers looks like a must buy, and is the next on my list.
FWIW. I bought Noonan's
New Brewing Lager Beer today. Looks like my tram rides to work could be more challenging, and enjoyable, than work itself for the next little while
Bit of a long ramble, but hope it helps.