When I first started bass a few years ago, I bought some really bad french method. Coming from classical music, I thought I would learn it easily. It was a huge mess and I never came back to any music method.
Now I am using the Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition every single day, and I am learning easily and fast.
You first learn the basics (how to hold your instrument, where to play...) then each string, one after another, and the relative notes on the bass key (no tab). Everything is simple, with examples, and the more you dig into the method, the more you learn music theory as well (12 bar blues, etc...)
The only thing which sometimes disturbs me is the fact they provide tips above or bellow the notes (fingering, beats, chords) and it changes from one example to another. At the beginning, you are a little bit lost, then you get used to it.
Really the perfect method for bass beginner. I just cannot tell you if it is enough for a complete music beginner (which I am not), who might have some understanding issues (or not ?).