Inept about construction matters. Help!

[Paul Winka]

Long time lurker, first-time poster here.

While growing up, my dad was an office man, not a handyman. As a result, I am now grown up and know almost nothing about construction. I am a bilking contractor's dream come true. But I don’t want to learn about construction this so that I can do the work to save money. I just want to know enough to not be “taken for a ride” with any contractors I do business with. As it stands now, if doing a walk-through with a GC in a property and he is telling me what work needs to be done, I would just be nodding my head to what he says in ignorance. Oh, it makes me cringe, because I have been that situation before.

So, how would you educate yourself on construction?

Habitat for Humanity?

Take a shop class or some other hands-on at a community college?

Take the same classes as a home inspector, or even get certified as one?

Pay a respected general contractor a high enough fee to show you the ropes or beg him to be his apprentice?

What book suggestions do you have?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.