I want to learn as many programming languages as I can, as fast as I can. What's the best way to do this?

It took me about a year to write all the code (18+ language/API combinations) for my programming book so I think you could reach your goal in a year. I plan on adding Lisp, Ada, and ASP.NET examples to the site in the near future. The book contains examples in the following language/API combinations: Java, C/C++, VFP, VB6, C++/MFC, C#, VB.NET, Managed C++, Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Tcl, Delphi, C++/QT4, C++/wxWidgets, C/Carbon, Objective-C/Cocoa, C/GTK+, JavaScript Example programs and video tutorials are available at http://programphases.com These will probably help speed you on your way.

You can learn many languages but it takes years to truly master some of them - especially languages like C++/C# - even if you are a genius. My boss is the most gifted programmer I've ever worked with and he says that he still hasn't mastered the languages he works with. Technology is constantly changing and everything can change in a year. IQ means nothing when it comes to programming. It's all about the way your brain processes logic. Start with the basics - like SQL, C and VB or VB.net. Find your niche and good luck.

First off, I would go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programming_languages_by_category. This site lists a lot of languages organized by category. Choose one of the categories (for example: 'Curly Bracket Languages'). By learning one of the languages in the category, you will find that the other languages in that categoty are easier to learn since you already have the basic principals down.

http://www.programmingtutorials.com/

If you don't know even HTML aren't you sort of aiming a little high? Why not start with that and PHP. Go from there.

Don't do it. Concentrate on one or two related languages and be good or even very good at them. Choose something new and powerful especially something used online. That is all you need. Otherwise you will end up knowing a bit of everything but you can't do anything with them as you are not good enough at anything. Instead of spending more time in learning a couple of them and excellenling in them, you will waste your time learning other ones. You just need to know what the other ones do, that's all. Do you get my message?

get a book... mess around with it... read... mess around with it... this should work for you... you seem to be a hands on person....

I'd recommend adding SQL w/Oracle to that list. :D Thats a pretty hefty load, and while its noble to want to learn all of those languages in a short amount of time, please don't sacrifice your proficiency in any one of them just to say you know others. I speak from experience when I say that it does indeed take time to learn, and more importantly, apply a language. But if your mind is set, try those "Learn blah blah in 21 days" books..it will at least set a groundwork for ya. :) Good luck!

College.