Best Linux Book?

[Magadass]

What is the Best Linux Book to read? I will list my credentials below to give you a good idea where I stand on my computing knowledge...

I am a Windows Engineer, currently I work with Microsoft Systems Management Server, and Microsoft Operations Manager exclusively at work. I deal with Active Directory, which includes writing programs either in .NET or C++ to interact with AD through LDAP or other means...

I have written over 60 applications for the Windows operating system using C/C++/VB6/.NET, but more recently on my spare time I have started to get involved with Java development, Ruby/Perl/Python and very recently Ruby on Rails. The Unix/Linux world seems more fasinating to me, so in order to see what its all about I installed Ubuntu on my main system (after trying 6 other distro's).

I can manage the command line pretty well, sometimes I forget the name of the command and I understand the structure of Linux sorta such as devices are in /dev but I am still a bit confused on where certain files are "Suppose" to be, like in windows all Programs are suppose to be in "Program Files", also in Linux I am sorta confused how the operating system is able to determine an executable from a text file, I am guessing it reads the header of the file to determine that...

These are things I want to read about, I dont want to read about stuff like this is a file and this is a folder, and this is a desktop. I dont want a book that is sooo newbie it makes me want to burn it and then send it through the stargate to the blockhole address or to the ORI planet!!

Any suggestions?

[KingBahamut]

Thats easy,

Anything Orielly.

[Magadass]

Thats easy,

Anything Orielly.
I was looking at Linux in a Nutshell by Oreilly cause I am HUGE fan of pretty much ALL of their programming books but looking at reviews on Amazon people are saying its pretty much just a reference book rather than a tutoring type....

[KingBahamut]

For good tutoring....I trust John Wiley & Sons and Sams. Dont buy into the Learn X in 24 hours , those arent helpful in my opinion. JW ans Sons publish the Bible Series, specifically the Linux Bible a personal fav of mine.

[Havoc]

Well, when I started out (6 Months Ago), I thought that all this filesystem confusion, packages, RPM, DPKG, etc., was too much, so I bought a little book.It was Orielly's Linux Pocket Guide.It helped me quite a bit at the start, and even now It's good reference material (It always was...), but I've found out that you don't need much more.It all comes naturally, most of the time.Time will be your tutor.From what I can gather, you have a (computer) logical mind, so after a while, things will come natural.So, since you don't seem to be in a hurry, experiment! Even in these six months, I've thrashed my system many times (Boot Problems, missing files, whatever), but, with some help from the (Great!) community here, I've surpassed them.And let me tell you, you learn a LOT of stuff. :^o

:-P

[matthew]

I strongly agree with the O'Reilly recommendation. Here's a link to their Linux books page for starters.

http://linux.oreilly.com/

The page also has several references to programming and so on. I think you will find it a good place to start. Many of the books have pdf sample chapters as well.

Sounds like all you really need is a reference with short descriptons. For that I have really been helped by Linux in a Nutshell. (I have the 4th edition. The 5th just came out and I haven't seen it yet. You might find the 4th on clear-out sale somewhere if you look quickly.)

I should also mention that most Unix books will apply as well. The one I have seen recommended most highly (disclosure: I haven't read it) is Unix Power Tools, also on that web page.

[somuchfortheafter]

linux power tools

[WebbyBabe]

I would get Linux Bible by Wiley. i learned a whole lot from it and was able to move
from Fedora to Ubuntu in two weeks. It's a really good book to read. :grin: Too bad Wiley doesn't make a book just for Ubuntu.

[Magadass]

Thanks guys, really helpful forum with really kind people, was expecting to get blazed by someone like "you noob go back to window$"...

Thanks again, I like oreilly I will goto Borders and take a look see if its what I want than order a used one online :)

[matthew]

Thanks guys, really helpful forum with really kind people, was expecting to get blazed by someone like "you noob go back to window$"...

Thanks again, I like oreilly I will goto Borders and take a look see if its what I want than order a used one online :)
I've gotta say, the people in this forum are among the absolute best anywhere...

Borders usually has a great selection. If you don't find the one you want to see there you can try Barnes & Noble as well. I find they each seem to have things the other doesn't.

[j.hill]

Are the O'Reilly and Wiley books suitable for someone less technical?

I'm a longtime Windows/Mac user with little technical background, who moved to Ubuntu about a month ago. I've learned tons so far, but I'm struggling with the learning curve: arcane commands, elliptical man pages, mysterious malfunctions, and of course the constant terror of destroying my computer. Google is useful and these forums are awesome, but I'm a book-lovin' guy and I'm feeling the need for a real book instead of Web pages. I'm advanced enough that I don't need "this is a desktop," but I don't want to struggle with something written for hackers. Not yet, anyway. I need a book that can lead me out of trouble when trouble threatens to overwhelm me.

So, anyway: will I be OK with O'Reilly or Wiley? and if not, whose books would serve me better?

Thanks --

[jdong]

I recommend O'Rielly. They are amazingly clear in explaining everything about your Linux system, from the ground to the GUI.

Especially, Running Linux is a great resource. Unlike "for dummies" or "24 hour" books, which teach you how to point and click (which you already know how), these books give you all-around knowledge about the way Linux works, and how to fix things when they go wrong.

[matthew]

Are the O'Reilly and Wiley books suitable for someone less technical?

So, anyway: will I be OK with O'Reilly or Wiley? and if not, whose books would serve me better?
I'm going to repeat the O'Reilly recommendation, and for the same reason: they are clear, precise, and not "dumbed down." They will require you to think, but they don't necessarly assume prior knowledge--that statement really depends on the specific book, though.

My best advice: now that you know what we think, go to a large bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble and look at all the books in the Linux/Unix/Operating Systems section and decide for yourself which will be most useful to you.

[jdong]

Another tip: browse and preview books at the bookstore, but order ONLINE, like at amazon.com. You'd be amazed at how much you can save.

[j.hill]

now that you know what we think, go to a large bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble and look at all the books in the Linux/Unix/Operating Systems section and decide for yourself which will be most useful to you.

Don't worry; that part's a reflex with me. I just wanted to know where to start looking. :) And I'll take any excuse to go into a bookstore anyway.

[j.hill]

Another tip: browse and preview books at the bookstore, but order ONLINE, like at amazon.com. You'd be amazed at how much you can save.
<grin>I'm lucky: there's a warehouse bookstore near me. So I can browse and get Amazon-esque prices in the same place.</grin>

[matthew]

Don't worry; that part's a reflex with me. I just wanted to know where to start looking. :) And I'll take any excuse to go into a bookstore anyway.
Me too. I will echo jdong's idea to buy off amazon--often you can find the same books used in new condition for amazing prices...like 70-80% off on occasion. If I find something while browsing that just grabs me, though, I will often forget about the money and buy it on the spot. Bookstores are dangerous places for me. The warehouse place sounds pretty cool as well. Is it mainly slightly older books being wholesaled out or does it stock current releases as well?

[j.hill]

Me too. I will echo jdong's idea to buy off amazon--often you can find the same books used in new condition for amazing prices...like 70-80% off on occasion. If I find something while browsing that just grabs me, though, I will often forget about the money and buy it on the spot. Bookstores are dangerous places for me. The warehouse place sounds pretty cool as well. Is it mainly slightly older books being wholesaled out or does it stock current releases as well?

A bit of both. It's about 2/3 new books, at 20% off cover price. The other 1/3 is the remainders room, where you can get some really great deals. I got *Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell*, in hardback, for $8 -- i.e,. about 75% off.

Amazon is usually my bookseller of last resort: I go to the independents first, the chains second, and Amazon third. (And I once went to Amazon.co.uk when the American Amazon didn't have what I needed.:))

[Dana]

I stopped at a book store today to look at the Gnu/Debian Linux 3.1 Bible.Turns out it may not be what I thought. Upon reflection what I am looking for is a book that really deals with desktop linux. This particular Bible edition devotes more than 200 pages to covering internet servers and intranet severs. In my case that is certainly not what I am looking for.

I'm much more interested in more information on configuring a linux desktop whether it be general applications, image and video software, content creation, web oriented things such as Flash, etc, audio, winmodems, compiling source code and on and on.

Clues for building a stable, functionally useful desktop and how to tweak and update/upgrade it. Command line information where it is most useful. I do think that eventually an Ubuntu oriented book would be rather nice and why not have an additional revenue stream for Ubuntu.

Dana

[escuchamezz]

I was looking at Linux in a Nutshell by Oreilly cause I am HUGE fan of pretty much ALL of their programming books but looking at reviews on Amazon people are saying its pretty much just a reference book rather than a tutoring type....

the reviewers are right, the 'in a nutshell' books by oreilly are intended as reference books, only a madman could read a book like this cover to cover - like reading a dictionary.

[jdong]

Correct; "In a nutshell" and "Pocket Guide" books are designed to be references, comprehensive and quick, respectively. More useful for the sysadmin's bookshelf.

[John.Michael.Kane]

I dont know if folks here are still looking for suitable books but i will add what i have found though searching.

http://linux.oreilly.com/

Learning Debian GNU/Linux
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565927052/qid=1126043608/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl14/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Linux Bible, 2005 Edition
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764579495/qid=1126043868/sr=8-5/ref=pd_bbs_5/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Knoppix Hacks not to sure howthis would help it did pop up during a search..
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596007876/qid=1126043868/sr=8-8/ref=pd_bbs_8/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

The Linux Cookbook
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1593270313/qid=1126043868/sr=8-11/ref=pd_bbs_11/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Running Linux, Fourth Edition
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596002726/qid=1126043868/sr=8-12/ref=pd_bbs_12/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

How Linux Works
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1593270356/qid=1126043868/sr=8-13/ref=pd_bbs_13/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Linux Pocket Guide
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596006284/qid=1126043868/sr=8-15/ref=pd_bbs_15/102-9005997-9489748?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors and Shell Programming
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0131478230&itm=10

Linux in a Nutshell Edition Number: 5
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0596009305&itm=13

Linux Kernel Development
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&pwb=1&ean=9780672327209

Linux Network Administrator's Guide
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0596005482&itm=43

Linux Iptables Pocket Reference
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0596005695&itm=49

Linux Desktop Hacks
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0596009119&itm=60

Linux Security Cookbook
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=rf1WgZ8C0v&isbn=0596003919&itm=73

Hope this list helps theres more books then i can list here. however i'm sure this will get most started..

[wvslkr]

Hello all. A couple links for online things. Not printed out but free :)

http://linux.2038bug.com/rute-home.html

http://www.techbooksforfree.com/

[factotum218]

I started out with a copy of O'Reilly's Running Linux and a copy of Slackware, the rest is history

[mstlyevil]

I just went out and bought the 4th edition of Running Linux by O'Reilly. It seems like the name that always came up for linux books was O'Reilly so that is what I went with.

[matthew]

I just went out and bought the 4th edition of Running Linux by O'Reilly. It seems like the name that always came up for linux books was O'Reilly so that is what I went with.
Excellent first choice. I hope you find it useful.