Not that I am an expert at this, but have you tried looking at rich's notes? He seems to have written these notes keeping a total dud in mind like me. I think he should get a Nobel. These notes are based on Kaplan chapters. After banging my head with kaplan's chapter 1 for six months, I got his notes from somewhere on AREforum, it is making so much sense. I read his notes, then go to the corresponding chapter. Also, my boss swears by the Salvadori 'why buildings stand up & fall down' books. The stand up book is all general structures.
http://www.ironwarrior.org/ARE/General_ ... 0Notes.pdf