On this topic I recommend the "learn X in 20 minutes a day" series of math books for folks trying to get started in subjects they've had difficulty with in the past. I always struggled with Calculus until that book. The math is taught almost entirely by visuals and intuition hints. I came away understanding Calc, not just how to perform the steps. It helped me divine the purpose of calculus, not just the process. I've used them for Geometry and stats to similar effect. Highly recommend for anyone who share the sentiments of the OP.