Autocad version 'transparency' question

I'm new to AutoCAD. I planned on giving it a go back in 2007, but the project had to be placed on 'hold'. At that time I purchased a few AutoCAD 2007 tutorial books (by Omura and Frey). Now, I'm ready to restart but now with AutoCAD 2011. In terms of use, how close is AutoCAD 2007 to AutoCAD 2011? Can I still use the AutoCAD 2007 books as my tutor? As the AutoCAD versions change from year to year how much must the AutoCAD skill-set change to accommodate the version changes. Relating this back to my experience with Microsoft Excel, I have been using various versions of Excel for over twenty years and my Excel skill-set has served me well for all versions. I never felt that I had to 're-learn' Excel. Will this be the case for AutoCAD? Thanks!

any information gleaned from an earlier version should work on a newer version, especially if you use the command line rather than menus (if possible - don't use 2011) but of course there may be newer ways to do a particular thing so you are not making the most of the newer software. I believe that the interface is considerably different so if you use menus there could be a problem.

To make it look more like what your books will show you, find the "workspaces" button in 2011 and then click on "autocad classic". Well, it works that way in 2010, so I'm assuming 2011 still has it. There will still be some differences, but you should be able to find your way around them. Straight out of the box, the interface uses the "ribbon" concept that Microsoft Office has gone to and trying to find your way around with your 2007 books in that will be like trying to drive in Dallas with a map of Minneapolis.