LPT: While learning Clojure, the following (almost always true) mental-model help me massively at "getting" Clojure.
"It's Maps All the Day Down"
Spend a lot of time, just learning how you (CRUD) map contents.
There will be enough time to tackle the other cases/tech (atoms, protocols etc) but until you get good at maps don't get bogged down by the other cool stuff.
In reality - its actually Trees all the way down. But, because you don't have proper structures in Clojure, one uses Maps when one should actually be using Trees.
"It's Maps All the Day Down"
Spend a lot of time, just learning how you (CRUD) map contents.
There will be enough time to tackle the other cases/tech (atoms, protocols etc) but until you get good at maps don't get bogged down by the other cool stuff.