All I know is that:
1. I want a receiver
Take a look at this site: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/index2.html
(there is a good choise of books too).
2. I want a good one
Personaly I like Drake. If you can aford those expencives tabletops (Drake,
Icom etc.) I'll recomend you to collect more information on antena first.
Finding right antena is the hardest part in shortwave listenig or SWL :-)


What do I want/need?
Is there some sort of book I can/should buy which will help me
decypher the lingo of shortwave?
www.dxing.com it is good web site to start.

Hope it helps,
Edgar
73!