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It is extremely overwhelming from the outside.(r/DnD)
You are mistaken if you think all those pages are rules after rules. The rules are actually quite few and simple. What takes most pages are content: spells, monsters, abilities, advice, helpful charts, and other things you don’t have to learn. It’s a game people play for years and in very different ways, so there has to be a lot of stuff to keep it interesting for a long time.
If you are still feeling intimidated but want to give it a shot, there is a an inexpensive Starter Set with minimal rules and a fine adventure for beginners. It’s a very good first step which will help you understand how the game works. It also looks nice on the shelf. You can buy it from amazon quite cheap: www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Starter-Set-Rolepl…
Or just find a local group and ask them if they can teach you. Most of us are happy to see new blood. Newbiews keep the hobby alive.