Russ,
For a first guitar, or a first few guitars, David Russell Young offered shorter, more pointed, very plain spoken and clearly reasoned directions. He tells you what you need to know and gives you efficient methods to achieve the result you need to have without the use of exotic tools. You don't need a thicknessing sander or side bender, for instance. He is above all rational in his discussions. Rational does not always mean "best" but it does mean comprehensible. His design tends to produce an overbraced instrument that has lots of sustain and durability, but so do the designs in most books, including Cumpiano's. Either book will give you a guitar that sounds like a guitar, and sounds quite good, compared to most factory guitars. Cumpiano will just give you construction complications that you don't need and in some cases, don't want.
David Russell Young, on the other hand, will give you his infamous butt jointed neck. Whatever you think of it (most think extremely little of it) it offered the beginner a couple of advantages, the main one being the ease of getting the joint between neck, sides, and top perfect. Epoxy is also forgiving, somewhat, of less than perfect mating surfaces, and its lack of water does not affect the dimensions of the parts after it is applied.
Myself, I "fixed" the main issues by pre-coating the end grain portions of the joint and installing a "strap style" heel, a discussion of which can be found elsewhere on this forum.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=802
There is a pix of a guitar with a modified butt joint that has held together for over 30 years. Just as importantly, it maintains a very close action that is very stable. But nothing is forever and I pity anyone who attempts a reset on DRY necks. Yet a 12-string I built at the same time with a 14 fret neck has been strung at full tension for 36 years and retains the same action today as it had the day it was finished.
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=805
I've seen used DRY books for as little as $20 on Amazon, but then again, they sometimes are priced over $100.
This is not a put down of the Cumpiano book. I have read it cover to cover at least five times and find something new and worthwhile every time I read it. Guitar building is an adventure that offers many paths to success, but beginners can often benefit from being shown one that is relatively uncluttered. David Russell Young offers more of that than Bill Cumpiano as far as I am concerned. You might eventually want both books.
I also suggest you read the "Success Kit" instructions posted on the KGM site that sponsors this forum.