I recommend a pencil, it's more useful than trying to etch out a drawing with a book... however I do like that people aren't suggesting art classes to learn drawing.

I'm a self-taught writer and I think my biggest selling point is my personal voice in my work. I don't think you'd learn a personal style in artistry without brute forcing. I also think brute forcing your way to being talented is going to give you the ability to brute force your way through a block.