Seconded. In my experience, meditation can lead you into some wonderful states of consciousness, but its effects on stress reduction are relatively minor compared to other options e.g. getting enough sleep, exercising, eating a healthy diet, removing causes of unnecessary stress.
I think you're overgeneralizing, especially 100 various things can be understood under the term "meditation". There is a program for mindfulness-based stress reduction using meditation as one of the elements, with scientifically proven effects: http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/whatMBSR.php
Addressing the original question, this is an exceptional introduction: http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Mindfulness-Thich-Nhat-Hanh/dp...
in general, the best ways to relieve stress follow the rule of thumb: "take care of yourself". sleep long/well enough, exercise, eat right, ensure personal health (go to doctor/dentist, get a massage, etc.), and take the time to do the things you enjoy.