I got my PPL while on furlough right after Sept 11th, my instructor loved me, (I was his only student, and the only one putting food on his table). I did the whole PPL in four weeks from first flight to checkride. The most important thing I can recommend is to find a good instructor, and listen to him/her. If your instructor tells you to do something (read this chapter in the FARs, review airspace rules, whatever) it's because they see it as important and something you need to know, or may need to improve on. So do what your instructor tells you to do, they know what they're talking about, and genuinely want you to suceed!
Good Luck!