10 Best Linux Books for Beginners and Experts

Linux is one of the most widely used operating systems, alongside Windows and macOS. It is a family of operating systems with different features and functionalities. This family of OS is nothing but different Linux distributions. So, whether you are a developer or video editor, there is a suitable Linux distribution for you. 

This OS can come in quite handy for a number of reasons. As a result, learning how to use and operate Linux is a must for today’s computer science students. The best way to learn the basics of Linux is by referring to a book, as it provides comprehensive knowledge from scratch. 

This article aims to provide you with a list of some of the best Linux books intended for beginners as well as experts. But before delving deep into the list, let us first understand what Linux is and its features, advantages, and disadvantages. 

So let’s begin!

What is Linux?

We all know about Microsoft and Mac OS being the two big guns of the operating system world. But there is an underdog in the realm of operating systems, and its name is Linux. It is considered the most powerful operating system, along with Microsoft and Mac OS. An operating system is like a bridge between the hardware and the software, and its main objective is to provide services for the applications and manage computer hardware. 

At its initial stage, Linux was just an operating system, but over time it has turned into a platform that could easily run a desktop, embedded systems, and even high workloads such as servers. The developers of Linux came up with the idea of creating it as they were looking for an alternative to Minx, which was a UNIX clone developed by Andrew S. Tanenbaum.  

One of the great things about Linux is that it comes with a number of distributions and variations due to its modular design. A kernel is one that is present at the base or core of the Linux operating system. As a result, it is the job of Kernel to schedule applications and processes and manage basic peripheral services. 

Apart from this, Kernel also takes care of network access and file system services. Linux operating systems can run on any machine, which means your smart fridge, cars, supercomputers, and even smartphones can take advantage of this open-source operating system. 

Features Of Linux

Here we have mentioned some salient features of Linux that help you better understand the operating system. 

1. Environment 

Linux can run flawlessly on a number of hardware platforms. As a result, you don’t have to worry about issues such as incompatibility, running bugs, faulty shutdowns, and more. This operating system runs on both high-end and low-end hardware in the same exact way.  

2. Free & Open Source

Being an open-source operating system, Linux can be customized according to your needs. Many developers can collaborate in order to strengthen the security, user interface, and other components to make it fit their work. 

3. Shell/ Command-line Interface

All the necessary programs and tools are present in the Linux operating system to make developers use it for writing command line code for execution. On the other hand, the command line is also helpful in carrying out the number of processes that would require more time if done manually by using the user interface. 

4. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

In previous or older versions of Linux, one could only use the command line to get the work done, as there was no GUI. But the latest versions or distributions have come up with multiple forms of GUI to make it easier for the user to work with it. Right now, the GUI of this operating system is as good as any other Windows and Mac OS. 

5. Configuring Keyboard In Different Languages

This OS is available in multiple languages. As a result, you can configure inputs in different languages according to your preference. 

6. Constant Updates

In Linux, environment updates are not controlled by a single company or an organization. Here, users are in complete control of what and how they want to update their system according to requirements. In addition to this, there are a plethora of updates available, and these updates are quite frequent than other operating systems. It is up to you to choose whether you want to update to the latest version or stick with the current one which you are using. 

Linux is known for being flexible in nature. As a result, it can surpass operating system limitations, which makes it possible for a user to install essential components straight from the administrator.

8. Great For Developers

With Windows and Mac OS, you need to install multiple applications to start programming manually. But that’s not the case with Linux; in this operating system, you get support for every popular programming language, such as C/C++, Java, Python, and Ruby. 

Pros Of Using Linux

As Linux is a versatile platform, using it offers a wide range of 

• You do require any sort of license. You can download any mainstream Linux distribution and run it on your system without having to pay a single dime. 

• In addition, this operating system is less exposed to hackers and malware. Malicious acts tend to target operating systems that are more popular, and Linux does not have a massive market share in the operating system space. 

• It has multiple distributions that try to focus on different things. You can go for the latest features, or you can go for the distribution that provides maximum security and constant maintenance updates. 

• Some companies demand developers to have a working knowledge of Linux, as it is an important skill to have. You can become a Linux system administrator or even a security expert. 

• One can use this OS for single-board computers such as Rasberry Pi to create amazing tools like retro gaming consoles, home automation systems, and more. Moreover, Linux’s open-source ability allows it to be used for server maintenance as well. 

Cons Of Using Linux

Linux, even though it is a great operating system, still comes with disadvantages. Here we have mentioned some of the most common drawbacks of using it. 

• Someone who is using Mac OS or Windows might take a handful amount of time to get comfortable with Linux operating system. As a user, you will need to put a little bit of effort into understanding the working of Linux as things are not so obviously presented in Linux. 

• Choosing the right distribution for yourself might be a hard task for newcomers. You might end up having a distribution that is too complicated for you. As a result, for starters, always choose the ones recommended and used by others around you. 

• Less than 3% of the total computer space is acquired by Linux operating system. The rest remaining 97% population is either using Windows or Mac OS. This also results in niche software to be not available for Linux OS. 

• If you love gaming, then Linux is not the right option for you. To run a game in Linux, you need to find your way around from lots of “ifs and buts.” 

• Lastly, there is no professional tech support to handle things when something goes wrong. Yes, there is a good amount of online forums, blogs, and videos to help you out with common problems. But all of these will look as seamless in comparison to professional tech support, which is provided by the other operating systems. 

Best Linux Books For Beginners & Experts 

Now let’s come to the main point and discuss some of the best Linux books which are equally good for both Linux beginners and experts. Linux has multiple distributions, and when it comes to learning about Linux, you need to be on the right track with the essential tools to move you forward. These books that we have mentioned in our list will surely help you attain deeper knowledge and also will provide improvement to your Linux-based skillset. 

1. The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming By Michael Kerrisk

Linux programming interface is a book that gives you an in-depth knowledge of how Linux and the Unix operating system. In addition to this, the reader of this book also gets to know about Linux’s library functionality and how it is different from the other operating system. The book was first published in the year 2010. Still, it is able to provide readers with relevant knowledge due to how comprehensively it is written by the author. There are more than 200 examples written for the readers to understand how to work with programs, OS functions, user interfaces, and more. With this book, you will also get to learn how to write and execute a program, create files, share libraries, and much more from the command line. 

You can buy this book from here.

2. Linux For Beginners By Jason Cannon

For some people, when they learn Linux is an open-sourced or Kernel-based operating system feels like it is a complicated OS and working with it is going to be a hard thing. Well, for those people, Linux for beginners by Jason Cannon is the perfect book to start the Linux introduction. The author of this specifically wrote this book in order to make readers learn how to write a program proficiently with the help of Linux OS. Moreover, there are no assumptions made by the author on what the reader does and how much knowledge he possesses about Linux operating system. 

This results in a thorough explanation of Linux fundamentals in layman’s terms without keeping the tone of the text too dry or boring. There is a lot of effort put in by the author in this book. As a result, it is one of the highly rated and recommended books for all those people who want to learn all the important, minute, and hidden concepts of the Linux operating system. 

You can buy this book from here.

3. Linux Command Line And Shell Scripting Bible, 3rd Edition By Richard Blum

This book is subtle with its introduction to Linux and its working. Here you will learn about the basics and the other essential elements of Linux via multiple examples. The book starts right off with the uses of the command line and how one gets to interact with it when working on Linux. 

This book introduces readers to bash scripting, which goes a long way to help Linux users to solve their day-to-day tasks with much more efficiency. The third edition is considered to be the latest version as we are writing this article. But we recommend you always go with the latest edition of the book as it will have more updated content and examples that are specifically designed to explain features of Linux with point-blank accuracy. 

Apart from this, the author of this book has taken a lot of pain for the readers in order to provide them with the best of the tutorials, which can be easily followed through and can be understood by beginners. The examples written in this book are mostly relevant to every reader. Thus, with a little bit of patience and perseverance, this one book can feed your appetite for gaining knowledge about Linux. 

You can buy this book from here.

4. Linux Pocket Guide: Essential Commands By Daniel J. Barrett

There is no doubt that working with the Linux command line could be a little daunting task if you have never had a proper introduction to it. Googling every single command is going to take you a lot of time and will leave you with finicky details about how the shell of the command line works. With the help of this Linx pocket guide, you will have an understanding of the underlying concepts of Linux along with working with Unix as well from the command line. 

All the basic sets of commands are written here for you to use and learn from their examples so you can get your stuff done in the shortest amount of possible time. Without having some basic knowledge of how Linux’s file system work, you will find yourself having a hard time working with the copying and editing of files in Linux. This book makes those concepts understandable for you and also helps you in learning commands which will keep the Linux OS in your full control. 

The commands present in this book are gathered from a number of topics. Some of them are file and directory operations, viewing processes, emailing, and others. All the relevant commands which are present in this book come with an explanation of what doe it does, along with their most commonly used options, samples, and finally, the outputs. 

You can buy this book from here.

5. How Linx Works: What Every Superuser Should Know By Brian Ward

The title of the book clearly shows what you are about to read inside. This is a conceptual book from all sides, and it help readers understand the internal working of Linux. As we know, Linux is the one OS that gives complete control to users. But in order to take full control, one needs to learn how things work. 

As a result, the author of this book takes on a journey where he tells you all sorts of examples to help you get familiar with Linx OS. For those who are curious enough to learn about Linux, this book is a complete package as it showcases the concepts of Linux boot, its Kernel working, development tool working, and more. 

Furthermore, you will also read about the functionalities of Linux firewalls, their user interfaces, and the working of the network. Brian Ward took special care when explaining the concept of containers, logical volume managers, virtualization, and other things which are possible in Linux OS. Lastly, we recommend this book as it is beginner friendly and is filled with real-world examples of the theory and methods that show the reader how to solve their technical problems.

You can buy this book from here.

6. The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction By William Shotts

Learning about Linux is one thing and learning about the Linux command line is another. Taking this fact into consideration, we are adding this book to our list as this book is actually able to cover a lot of command line stuff that other Linux books won’t be able to do, in addition to having some extra nuggets of tips and tricks. All these additional pieces of information, along with the refresher course, makes it an ideal way for the readers to memorize the working of commands and how multiple of them fit together. 

People who have already installed Linux in their systems can go along with the author to understand how to write and run a program in Linux OS using Bash. Besides this, you will also learn about important concepts and functionalities of Bash. Once you are done reading this book, you will be able to perfectly navigate your way through Linux’s file system, chaining commands, networking protocols, managing processes, regular expressions, and many more. One more thing you need to know about this book is that the author William Shotts also runs the website LinuxCommand.org which shares all the latest news which is happening in the field of Linux.

You can buy this book from here.

7. Introduction to Linux: A Hands-on Guide By Machtelt Garrels

When you first install the Linux, and the fresh desktop screen comes in front, you will be confused as to where to go next. This is a command problem faced by Linux beginners, which Introduction to Linux is going to easily resolve. Its thoroughly written and simple-to-understand guide will help you learn about the history of Linux along with how the different Linux distributions came into existence. 

The book has been written for complete beginners, and it’s a complete resource of Linux. Thus, you don’t have to traverse the internet in order to find the missing concepts. After reading this book, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how the Linux operating system works and functions. Furthermore, at the end of each chapter, you are going to find exercises that you need to perform to see how much you have learned from the chapter. We can say this book is an amazing foundation builder, and as you keep on reading this book, you will gain much deeper learning of Linux.

You can buy this book from here.

8. Linux Administration By Jason Cannon 

If you are done learning the basics of the Linux operating system and want to move to the next level, then Linux Administration by Jason Cannon should be on your list of books to read. This book is also reader-friendly for those who come from years of experience as a Windows administrator. Apart from this, it’s a great book for those who are switching from Unix administrators to Linux administrators. You will get to know how to boost the process works on various Linux servers and how you can control them in a much better way. 

Also, you get to learn disk management, partitioning, file system creation, and how does Linux permission system work. Networking concepts that help in the administration and configure Linux network interface and many more. Jason Cannon is the first author in our list who is mentioned twice, and if we are being honest, we can provide you with a whole list of Jason Cannon’s written books, but that list is due for some other time. 

What we are trying to imply here is that with Jason Cannon as the author of this book, you are going to learn the concepts of Linux administration from a well-experienced individual, so it’s a double thumb to this book from our side. After completing this book, you can easily apply for a Linux system engineer or system administrator.

You can buy this book from here.

9. Advanced Programming In The Unix Environment By Sir Richard W. Stevens

For those who are looking for a Linux reference book, this book is going to put an end to their search as it holds one of the finest explanations of Linux programming. Keep in mind this book is good for both beginners and for experts. In this book, the author covers multiple processes along with 70 different interfaces like spinlocks, POSIX asynchronous I/O, barriers, and more. You will also read about tons of case studies that come with illustrations and graphics to make the explanation of your UNIX concepts much more fun to learn. There are multiple editions of this book, so make sure you get the latest edition when you are purchasing it.

You can buy this book from here.

10. Mastering Linux Security And Hardening By Donald A. Tevault

Last on our list is the book that deals with the knowledge of Linux security and the operations relating to it. In order to help readers beef up the security of their server or cloud infrastructure, which uses Linux as its operating system. This book has tons of useful information to understand how malicious actors manipulate the system to get bypass access to private data. On the other hand, as this book tells you how hackers perform the hack, it also showcases preventions that one can take to make sure intruders won’t succeed. 

The author of this book is a professional Linux trainer who has Level-3 Security and GIAC Incident Handler Certification. In case you want to learn how to protect your Linux-driven assets, then this is the best book that you can purchase right now.

You can buy this book from here.

Conclusion

So these were some of the best Linux books that will help you learn all the important concepts of Linux and its main distributions. Truth be told, there is time for understanding the theory, and then there is a time for performing the practicals. As you read through any of these aforementioned Linux books, we want you to constantly practice the concepts that you have learned. This way, you can see how well you were able to grasp the concept explained in the chapter. Learning without practice is not complete learning. As a result, try to practice as much as possible when reading these Linux books. 

We hope this article has helped you find that one book that will accompany you on your journey to learn Linux. If there is any other book that you want to add to our list. Then make sure to write down its details in the comment section of this article for other readers and for us to know about it. Till then, happy learning!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which Linux book should I read as a beginner? 

Linux For Beginners By Jason Cannon is the book we recommend for beginners. This book has all the necessary information that you need to work and code on Linux is present in this book. Thus, it’s a complete Linux learning package for beginners. 

2. Is Linux easy to learn for beginners? 

It depends on person to person, for some who have been into programming can easily get accompanied to the working of Linux. At the same time, others may take some time to get used to it. But overall, Linux operating system is not easy to operate. 

3. Can I learn Linux from books? 

Absolutely, Linux can be learned from books as well. The thing is, Linux is an operating system, so whatever is written in the book is based on how Linux operates. Over the years, there have been a few cosmetic changes to Linux OS. But, as a whole, it still operates and functions on the same principles. As a result, any Linux book can help you learn its basics with ease. 

4. How do I master Linux?

It is simple to master Linux; all you have to do is make Linux your first and only operating system. This way, even when performing the smallest of the task, you will be using commands and the UI of Linux, which over time, will help you master its working.

Vijay Singh Khatri

Graduate in Computer Science, specialized in Digital Marketing. I am very fond of writing tech articles and creating my own blog to teach my audience.

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