Hey Jared,

Well I think you got enough replies on this - but I have both books as well and I think the Concise Guide is much shorter and to the point, better for someone just starting out. Might be an easier read as well. So, IMO I'd start with that one if you're just at the curiosity stage right now. Some newbies could get a bit overwhelmed at all the info in EWOLD and eventually lose interest.

If you're ready to just dive right in and really interested in lucid dreaming, EWOLD is the one to go for.