There are lots of "How to Use Linux" books on the market and some may help you learn the Linux OS (operating system), but lots of these Linux books just don't work for someone new to Linux.

5 Things to Consider When You Need to Get Linux Books:

1. Linux Books - In General

Linux books are often outdated as soon as they're printed, due to the slow nature of the publishing and printing process. Some Linux books look current, but only the cover and the "free" Linux CDs inside have changed. For example, there are some popular Linux books that continually come out with a new cover and new Linux CDs, for a "new" Linux version, but the content in the book isn't updated nearly as frequently as the cover!

If you are new to Linux, getting confused by outdated Linux books is the last thing you want.

2. "Easy Linux" books or "Simple Linux" books

Although promoted as "Easy Linux" books or "Simple Linux" books, a lot of these books start Linux training at an intermediate or advanced level and never cover the basics that are required for new Linux users.

These types of Linux books can be extremely frustrating for someone trying to learn Linux. Books, unless they are written at a very basic level, specifically for someone new to Linux, are often just a waste of time.

3. Free Linux Books Online, including Free Linux eBooks

There are free Linux books online at lots of web sites, but they are often written "by" highly technical people . . . "for" highly technical people - they are often far too advanced for people who are new to Linux.

Once you've short-listed a few Linux books, try to find the table of contents and one or more sample chapters of each and read them. This will give you an idea of how well these Linux books describe the Linux concepts and commands you need to learn.

4. "Vendor Neutral" Linux Books

There are over 130 Linux distributions (versions) and about 5 of these are the "major" (very popular) ones. And there are lots of Linux books for each major Linux distribution, such as Red Hat Linux and Ubuntu Linux. There are also Linux books that are "vendor neutral" - they are about Linux in general and not a specific distro.

The best Linux administration books to get are ones that describe Linux commands and spend little or no time on Linux GUI (Graphical User Interface) utilities - and here's why.

Linux GUI utilities can be used to do Linux administration tasks, but they are very slow and cumbersome to use, in comparison to using Linux commands. Also, Linux GUIs are usually different from one distro to another!

However, the way a Linux command works in one distribution is usually identical, or very similar, to the way the same Linux command works on a different distribution. And the best way to do Linux administration is by running Linux commands.

You want to get Linux books so you can get Linux training on how to use Linux commands. In this way you are learning how to use Linux on all distros!

Linux Tips: Try to find Linux books that are not written for just a single Linux distribution and that provide Linux training on the use of Linux commands.

Although rare, some Linux books will even compare the way various Linux distributions work. This includes describing the minor differences between how a Linux command works in one distro and how the same command works in another.

5. Reviews of Linux Books at Linux Forums

Linux book reviews may be able to help you in your selection of some good Linux books, but you need to try to determine if the review is unbiased.

To get accurate, unbiased reviews of Linux books, try going to some Linux forums and looking for a "Linux Books" category. Some forums even show ratings of Linux books and comments by the members of the forum.

Also, try posting a question at one or more Linux forums describing the type of Linux books you are looking for.

Linux Tips: Do an internet search for "linux forums reviews of linux books" to find Linux book reviews at Linux forums.

An excellent alternative to Linux books are Linux video tutorials (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Good luck in your search!

Copyright © 2007 Clyde Boom. All rights reserved.

Articles Source - Free Articles
About the Author

Clyde Boom, Author and Expert Trainer with 20+ Years of Training Successes.

Watch Free Sample I Learn Linux Video Tutorials now at http://www.iLearnLinux.com and get over the steep Linux learning curve.

Sign up now for Free I Learn Linux News!