Why you should learn Kanji meaning before the Reading.

Meaning before Reading.
I have found, when studying Kanji that knowing the meaning before the reading has helped me much more than just seeing this:　本 and then the computer or textbook says THIS MEANS HON! THIS CAN BE USED IN THIS AND THIS AND THAT AND THIS.... and so on.
It's intimidating.
Your brain works better when you can connect things, and if you learn the meaning before the reading, then your brain can connect it better to other things and you will remember it longer.
I recommend:
Remembering the Kanji by James W. Heisig
Vol 1.: http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Kanji-Vol-Complete-Characters/dp/0824831659/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302147088&sr=8-2
Vol 2.: http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Kanji-Vol-Systematic-Characters/dp/0824831667/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Vol. 3: http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Kanji-Characters-Upper-Level-Proficiency/dp/0824831675/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302147215&sr=1-2

Kanji de Manga by Glenn Kardy and Chihiro Hattori
http://www.amazon.com/Kanji-Manga-Special-Box-Set/dp/492120506X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302147252&sr=1-2

Kanji in Mangaland by Marc Bernabe, Veronica Calafell, Alberto Aldarabi, and Gea Cassinelo
http://www.amazon.com/Kanji-MangaLand-1-Marc-Bernabe/dp/4889962212/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302147252&sr=1-11

BONUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (*sigh* once again... I try.... I think everyone who reads to the end should get a reward)
Remembering the KANA!
http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Kana-Reading-Japanese-Syllabaries/dp/0824831640/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302147525&sr=1-1

Hope this helped anyone who wants to learn Kanji, and... Kana!