The awesome thing about bread, and the reason I like making it so much, is that it requires nothing fancy-shmancy, it’s fun and relaxing (I think so, anyhow) to make, and its soooooo good!!! I have always had a “way” with yeast…I’ve never made dough that didn’t rise. People come from all around to see. JK, kinda, lol no, but really, my opinion is that it’s all in the temperature of the water you use. That’s really important. I’ve never had a thermometer though. I always just feel it with my hands and it always works. Then I have friends who use a thermometer and get it to the perfect temperature every time and it never rises. Honestly, I’ve heard some people say that they think their “body chemistry” just doesn’t work with yeast. It sounds silly, but what other reason could there be?! I really do think some people are just luckier with yeast than others. Anyhow, after you make some regular bread you should make challah, which if you don’t know if a Jewish egg bread that is really delicious for french toast and is super fun to make and you get to braid it too!
And, like @stranger_in_a_strange_land said, it’s an awesome ego stroke when someone says “this is some of the finest dough i’ve ever seen!” My brother’s picky girlfriend who is also an excellent chef said that to me this summer, and I almost fell over.
Oh, one more thing, if you haven’t made dough before, I would start with dough for a pizza! Even if it doesn’t rise as much, it still tastes sooo good.
Oh, one MORE thing, where do you live? Dough rises so well in the bay area, and it rises pretty well out here in Colorado where I am, but when I go home to Pennsylvania and make it, holy shit, it becomes gigantic! You have to keep an eye on it or else it just keeps growing and growing and can take over everything in it’s path and eat your pets!