Best Linux books?

[lazygamer]

So I'm soon gonna be going on my second Linux journey.

I was wondering what you guys would recomend for Linux books. I want something that is:

1)Designed for newbies, is very large, covers alot.
2)A large book.
3)Covers alot of different topics.
4)Is very modern.
5)Goes from core basics to semi-advanced stuff, or at least advanced basics.

[JH]

quote:Originally posted by lazygamer:

I was wondering what you guys would recomend for Linux books. I want something that is:

1)Designed for newbies, is very large, covers alot.
2)A large book.
3)Covers alot of different topics.
4)Is very modern.
5)Goes from core basics to semi-advanced stuff, or at least advanced basics.

Man pages?

Well, being seriouse what topics do you find interesting: system administration, kernel hacking or just using utils such as sed and awk? It's hardly possible to write an up-to-date book on Linux as it changes quite rapidly in some points but there are some general truths for any *NIX system so I'd suggest something like 'UNIX Power Tools' or 'UNIX Unlished'. And again, I'd prefer rather a general book to anything that's modern but only for a couple of months.

[lazygamer]

Well by modern, I mean something from 2003. For example, my library has Linux books from 2000, but they suck anyways.  

You got a point there about general being better than specfic. But how similar are Unix and Linux? I know they are similar, but THAT similar? Maybe something that's general Linux stuff(and was written recently), rather than general Unix stuff.

The fact that Linux changes so frequently is why it's important to have something that's modern. Why get a Linux book from 2000, when there is  Linux book from 2002?  

What topics do I find interesting? Well I was hoping there was somewhat of an all-in-one book out there.  

Mainly, I want something that's meant to take a newbie from newbiedom to a higher status. So you start at all the basics, and get a taste of more advanced stuff as you read on.

[JH]

One of my favourite books is 'The UNIX Programming Environment' by Kernighan and Pike, 1984.

Book from 2003 is old anyway, as it was started a year ago. Writing and publishing take some time, you see. I meant that you won't find a book that have all the solutions for you so it's better, IMHO, of course, just to get the direction, the main idea. Even you get the latest book it'll be older than your system and will get no use in a month if it's specific.

And about UNIX and Linux... They are similar. I used a book about Solaris to administer a Linux computer ages ago... Utils are standard. Some details, of course, differ, but it's mainly about administration and kernel internals etc.

[oolooz]

I'd never used Linux before and found "Sams Teach Yourself Red Hat 9 in 24 Hours" has got me up and running.

The way each chapter is a lesson workes for me and it includes a copy of Red Hat 9.

Do remember I am very newbie.

I'd buy one of these "In 24 Hours" books again.

zooloo