One of the best things you can do in any hobby is to educate yourself about it. While some sites prefer you educate yourself in marketing terminology and flavors of the month, I think it's best to educate yourself on the fundamentals first so you can see through marketing hype and the snake oil that is all to pervasive in this hobby. So...where to start? How about with these books. I have owned all of them but one and highly recommend them: 
Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science
NOTE: This is THE mastering bible and probably the best book on the subject of mastering. It contains information on equipment, equipment set-up and mastering chain, physics, how EQ works, restoration, etc etc. A great read with a lifetimes worth of information.

 
The Physics of Music


Music, Physics and Engineering



Mixing Engineers Handbook
 
The Mastering Engineers Handbook
 
Spatial Hearing
 
This is some easy reading of hardcore stuff. Reading all of it will not make you the next great mastering engineer or producer but it will give you a solid understanding of music and how studios work as well as how your ears work.