Personally, I've never owned a photography book. I first owned a point and shoot film camera and then a digital zoom 'point and shoot' in my teens, then moved to dslr with a Canon 450D in my twenties, (bought a full frame 3 years ago). I've always watched Youtube videos. Bought dvds by Karl Taylor that someone increased my know-how of photography. In the last 10 years or so, I've watched countless videos from youtubers such as Serge Ramelli, Kelby One, and more recently, First Man Photography, Thomas Heaton and DanPearsonPhoto.
From my point of view you don't need books. Books won't show you how to do something without physically showing and explaining why that certain thing is being done. The internet is a good source of information on how to do things, such as getting the right exposure, composition, understanding depth of field etc.
I agree with Phil, that your friend could sign up to this forum and 'shoot' some questions.