Teach Yourself Linux (Teach Yourself Series)

Rating:
Summary: Good overview for the beginner
Review: Like the author of this little gem, I also have decades of computer experience. I began by
teaching myself FORTRAN on an IBM 1620 in the mid-60's. Since then I have written
lots of 8-bit machine code, but most of my work has been with high-level languages. Now
in my dotage I have set a personal goal to teach myself Linux. So I started with Sams Teach
Yourself Linux in 24 Hours. It was ok to get the feel of Linux, but in the end it was too much of a formula cookbook.
About mid-way through the book I lost interest and let it go. Then I tried Marcel Gagne's Moving to
Linux. Although the bundled Koppix CD was fun to play around with, the book never
got much beyond the GUI desktop. I was looking for a reference that would give a better
overall view of how Linux works and what I could expect from it. I think Billing's book may be
the one. I found it on the new book shelf at the library and read it pretty much straight through.
As a Linux newbie I won't know for sure whether the book is really that good until I get
my own sea legs (and then I won't need it any more!) But for now I think it fit my needs perfectly.
I enjoyed reading it and plan to buy my own copy as soon as the library forces me to give back the one
I borrowed.