I am starting to think about taking two years off to travel the world. Any recommendations on websites or books to get me started in the right direction?

www.lonelyplanet.com has a forum called The Thorn Tree, with a branch for RTW travelers

Pack light.

Other than that, pick a locale and go! Then go from there! What a good time!

Figure out do you want to go round-the-world, or spend longer times in a few destinations. Sure, get a stack of guidebooks, travel magazines, the atlas, etc.

Do you have a focus or feelings for what you want to do... urban, rural, cultural, historic, world heritage sights, less-developed places, etc.??

Well I am a huge fan of SE Asia, so I will want to spend a fair amount of time exploring that region. I will also want to spend a fair amount of time in South America. I am a culture shock/stimulus junkie, so the more wild and different - the better. Time in Spain is key. No need to spend lots of time in expensive cities. Madagascar, Rio, Reykjavik, Burma... Sounds like this will be more of an all over trip.

Oh, sounds like you already have a fantastic plan in mind! Very creative and exciting.

I would work with guidebooks from the library and research on the net at first so you're not spending money upfront. The Thorn Tree & Lonely Planet recommendation above definitely holds for adventure travel, also Rough Guides for print.

I'd look for expertise to help get advice about how to handle all those plane tickets. That's going to be your biggest expense, seems like.