I have a homebrew kit and a book, but have yet to try out any of the book's recipes.
There are a couple of companies that sell "beer in a bag". Directions are pretty foolproof, and it yields about 30 pints. There are a few different varieties ~ porter, lager, etc. Basically, you add water and let it sit for 3-4 weeks... then you have beer.
If you want to brew your own, sterility is the key. Make sure everything is clean, otherwise you don't know what might be growing in your beer. (How I wish I had an autoclave...)