Don't be intimidated.
You only need to read the first 200 or so pages. Chapters 1-11. Get some post-it dog-ears so that you can mark places of interest as you will refer back over time. The rest is about HTTP, JSON, and other browser Javascript extensions. Also covers a bit of Flash Player, etc, which you don't need for Pronto.

Once you are done with the chapter on Modules (Chapter 10 or 11, I forget which), open up one of the Philips modules and you will see lots of similar things there. ;-)