Binoculars will show the ever-changing positions of Jupiter's satellites and the crescent phase of Venus. On the Moon you can learn dozens of craters, plains, and mountain ranges by name. You can split scores of colorful double stars and spend years following the fadings and brightenings of variable stars. If you know what to look for. A sailor of the seas needs top-notch charts, and so does a sailor of the stars.
Fine maps bring the fascination of hunting out faint secrets in hidden sky realms.
Many reference books describe what's to be hunted and the nature of the objects you find. Moreover, the skills you'll develop using maps and reference books with binoculars are exactly the skills you'll need to put a telescope to good use. Find other amateurs. Self-education is fine as far as it goes, but there's nothing like sharing an interest with others. Call or e-mail the clubs near you.