Yes, a beginner should probably try a tutorial like the OP
(or the NeHe tutorials), and once they get some understanding of what OpenGL is move on to in-depth tutorials, like arcsynthesis.
"This may mean a slower start overall, but when you finally get to the end, you truly know how everything works. [...] One thing this book is not, however, is a book on graphics APIs. [...] This book is intended to teach you how to be a graphics programmer."
The arcsynthesis tutorial has different goals than your typical tutorial, but that is what makes it so great: http://www.arcsynthesis.org/gltut/About%20this%20Book.html#d...
"This may mean a slower start overall, but when you finally get to the end, you truly know how everything works. [...] One thing this book is not, however, is a book on graphics APIs. [...] This book is intended to teach you how to be a graphics programmer."