I have many many hours in dwarf fortress and I agree with others here. Play the steam version. It even comes with a cute little tutorial.

Tips for a newbie are basically go into each fort knowing you will lose it but attempt to learn something new each time. Maybe the first time you learn how to dig and then everyone starves to death. Next time you already know how to dig so now maybe learn how to grow food and then everyone dies in a tantrum spiral because they don't have booze. That's okay next time you learn how to make booze and then you die to goblins. So next time you learn how the military works. Etc etc. That's kinda the FUN!

Or you can look up the dwarf fortress wiki and they have a really really solid new player article that basically explains how to setup a self sustainable fort from step one. You could just follow that guide and you'll do fine.

Anyway good luck it's a real magical game