Unconventional advice: For beginners looking to learn Mishne Torah in order to understand how to practically observe the law, reading the book straight through from the beginning can be a mistake, especially for the modern reader.
As fundamental as philosophy is to the Maimonidean system – and I don’t mean to undermine that centrality in any way, it really is important to understand certain basic ideas about the Creator and the creation – a reader looking for practical guidance can easily get distracted and confused by the Aristotelian cosmology and theological details (much of which I think is better learned from a teacher, in a seminar setting, and/or with an experienced study partner).
Instead, I suggest reading the Introduction, to get an overview of the Maimonidean-Talmudic halakhic system, and then contemplating the following points before moving on to actually start studying the second book:
– The Creator exists in a way that is essential, and completely different from all created things, certainly with no physicality or dependency on anything created; but nevertheless establishes communication with created beings via prophecy, at which Moshe rabbenu surpassed all others
– It is possible for a created being to self-regulate and seek self-perfection, and this is the path of wisdom
– Continually learning, teaching, and studying Torah, which is wisdom and law communicated by the Creator to the creation via Moshe rabbenu, is a fundamental obligation of the nation of Israel
– Worshipping or deifying any created entity – any entity other than the Creator – is tantamount to rejecting all of the above
– The choices of created beings have consequences and yet it is always possible for a created being to reconsider their choices, and furthermore to learn to serve the Creator not just in order to avoid negative consequences, but out of love for the Creator itself, Law-maker of the kosmos
…and now you’re ready for the Book of Love, starting with when and how to recite the Shema’ properly.