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Home > Archive > Linux/Unix > November 2002 > What's the best book for a beginner in UNIX/Linux?
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What's the best book for a beginner in UNIX/Linux?
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| I have heard/read many different opinions on which book is best. Now I'm asking you guys, the experts. Which book is best for me to learn the basics of Linux/UNIX? I have worked with Solaris machines before but I was never really proficient.
Hopefully you guys can shed some light on this..
Thanks!
Jwax | |
| Mr. Linux Guy 2002-11-01, 7:41 pm |
| The book that I usually recommend is "Running Linux" published by O'Reilly and writen by Matt Walsh, et.al. It is kind of dated now and gives a broad overview of the whole Linux world. It focuses more on the command line and may be a bit much for a newbie, but it is a great resource.
One of the "IDG Bible" series or the "Unleashed" or "Vue" series of books I have found to be great as well. Main thing is to install Linux and hack around with it as the book suggests from beginning to end. Don't be afraid to screw your system up. If you never do that, you can never fix anything and won't learn anything.
For a more intimate look at UNIX, the UNIX CD Bookshelf may be indispensible.
Once you can do Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, DG-UX, Ultrix, Irix, BSD, et. al. will seem a lot friendlier. | |
| GraceTech 2002-11-15, 7:45 pm |
| I think the customer reviews on Amazon.com are very good references for choosing the books. | |
| namrak 2002-11-15, 8:08 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Linux Guy
The book that I usually recommend is "Running Linux" published by O'Reilly and writen by Matt Walsh, et.al. It is kind of dated now and gives a broad overview of the whole Linux world. It focuses more on the command line and may be a bit much for a newbie, but it is a great resource.
One of the "IDG Bible" series or the "Unleashed" or "Vue" series of books I have found to be great as well.
For a more intimate look at UNIX, the UNIX CD Bookshelf may be indispensible.
Just wanted to add a couple quick comments here. O'Reilly will be releasing an updated "Running Linux" by Matt Welsh. I noticed that they added about 4 new pages, but I don't know how much has changed from the original. I am looking forward to picking this one up since I've heard so much about it, but they keep pushing back the date. Originally, it was suppose to be in October. Then November. Now its mid-December I think.
The CD Bookshelf packages are great value since you get multiple electronic books of O'Reilly titles and a paperback Titlename in a Nutshell. They usually range around $70-$90 retail, but you might be able to find them in second hand store. | |
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| These are the books I'm using...
The aforementioned Running Linux from O'Reilly
The Complete Reference Linux, Fifth Edition by Richard Peterson
Linux Administration - A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition by Steve Shah
Linux System Administration - A User's Guide by Marcel Gagne
All-In-One SAIR Linux & GNU Certified Administrator Exam Guide
I would suggest buying more than just one book. Anything that says Complete/All-In-One/All Encompasing Guide/etc. is just flat out lying. I'm finding that, as I cross reference topics between books, one book will skim over something that another book went into much more detail. Yet another will mention something that the other two didn't. It's kind of frustrating, but you do what it takes (As I sit here looking up information on inodes, ready to rip out my hair. I need a drink).  | |
| Boulware5 2002-11-15, 9:48 pm |
| You may not have thought of this as an actual "book" but I am finding the slackware guide on their site ( http://www.slackware.com/book/ ) a very comprehensive "book" that is slightly slackware specific (the install, its package management, etc) but a lot of it you can use on any distro. There's nothing advanced, just basic stuff. | |
| Mr. Linux Guy 2002-11-16, 5:29 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by Zinji
These are the books I'm using...
The aforementioned Running Linux from O'Reilly
The Complete Reference Linux, Fifth Edition by Richard Peterson
Linux Administration - A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition by Steve Shah
Linux System Administration - A User's Guide by Marcel Gagne
All-In-One SAIR Linux & GNU Certified Administrator Exam Guide
I would suggest buying more than just one book. Anything that says Complete/All-In-One/All Encompasing Guide/etc. is just flat out lying. I'm finding that, as I cross reference topics between books, one book will skim over something that another book went into much more detail. Yet another will mention something that the other two didn't. It's kind of frustrating, but you do what it takes (As I sit here looking up information on inodes, ready to rip out my hair. I need a drink).
I agree, any UNIX system is too complex to be documented entirely in one book (except the source code). "Running Linux" was indispensible to me. but there are many more good books out now. Cross-referencing is indispensible, as is USENET (I hate it, but it *is* a great source of information about problems that you are now having that others have already solved) and the man pages.
Take plenty of time to mess around with your system, playing about in various nooks and crannies and finding out what everything does. Little will take the place of this kind of familiarity. |
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