If you just want to dip your toe in the waters of FreeduinoLand (which is actually also known as "The Fabulous Republic of Arduino"), this basic bundle is what you're looking for. It's the minimum you need to get rolling with your Arduino, and particularly suitable for people that already have a pile of electronic bits they experiment with.

This will provide you with the essentials, including the Arduino Uno R3 (which doesn't require soldering) to work, and includes Getting Started with Arduino by Massimo Banzi (the co-founder of the Arduino Project).

Included Items:
1x Arduino USB Board (Uno R3)
1x Single Panel Breadboard
1x Breadboard Jumper Wire Bundle
1x USB A to Mini-B Cable (6 ft)
1x Getting Started with Arduino 2nd Edition