React has an amazingly small surface area and really is quite easy to learn, compared to pre-existing libraries with similar goals.

What makes React seem so daunting is the rest of the ecosystem: Webpack, Babel, Redux/MobX/MST/Apollo/Relay, React Router, etc.

The most common misconception is that you have to understand all of those technologies to get started. Luckily tools like Create React App have started to change that.