Not sure why this is downvoted. ISLR is widely considered the "easier to read" / more pedagogical version of ESL. It's still mathematical but is closer to what the poster wants - a textbook that teaches them.

Interesting, thanks - I wasn't aware of this text.

But according to your link, ESL isn't a prototype of ISL, but a more 'advanced treatment'. The R applications in ISL seem like they might be very useful, though.

ISLR was written after ESL to be an easier to read version. I guarantee you will have trouble if you try to teach yourself ML with ESL.