Ask HN: Programming for non-programmers?

I would like to teach some friends how to use scripting to speed up basic tasks. I regularly write scripts to do stuff like bulk download photos, downsize MP3s for copying to my phone, renaming files, etc. Sometimes a non-programmer friend will talk about some mundane task he spent a lot of time on, and I cringe and think, if only you knew how to script!

I was wondering what ideas other HN'ers have for essential programming things non-programmers should learn. Also, are there any good books or resources on pragmatic/applied programming?