There are books yes and I've read some of them mostly cover to cover (1 Haskell, 1 F# and 3 common lisp) and still can't proficiently use any of those. Yes there are some things you have to learn like macros, currying, monads. I fully agree with you on that, but feel the task could be much simpler with better intro material. Perhaps the shear amount of material failing to work for so many people is a 100% indication that you're correct and the hurdle can't be made easier to overcome...I don't know. Slightly off-topic, if you're correct...do you ever think FP will take off with the masses?
