Wiil purchase this book but my question is what is the best path to learn JQuery being a JavaScript / CSS DOM dummy?
The book assumes that you know some JavaScript, HTML and CSS. But the basics will get you by. There's an appendix that covers advanced JavaScript topics that you'll need beyond the basics.
Are the tutorials on w3c schools worth it or is there a wiki page that Ranchers have made that can help me learn quickly (job starts in a week)?
The w3c tutorials are not bad. If you know little about the subjects, they may be a good place to start.
Is there a good JavaScript debugger for Eclipse?
I just use the built-in debuggers in the browsers.
So, what I am getting at is that I don't need to learn the intricacies of JQuery (yet), but should I take a couple of tutorials on JavaScript and CSS before diving into JQuery?
Most probably. To use jQuery effectively you need a good foundation in the basics.
Also, your book mentions that it covers JQuery 1.4...
Yes, jQuery advances faster than any book can keep up, but the basics don't change so the book is entirely relevant.