Well, it is an accepted fact that online classes are not everyone’s cup of cake. Sometimes nothing can beat the learning experience of studying from a book. In this article, we will look into the top 10 books which will help you learn Linux right from scratch. To know more about Linux, it is a general operating system that works in many contemporary hardware platforms. Some of the platforms are Intel, MIPS, HP, IBM, SPARC, and Motorola.

There are a lot of factors to consider before getting into Linux. It is one of the most important skills to learn in the US since they always have a booming market. In fact, if you are looking for a top-paying skill that will help you live a great livelihood, then undoubtedly, Linux is the right choice to learn. The average salary for a Linux engineer is $112,096 per year in the United States, which is far better than most professional degrees that could ever help you sustain good pay. So what are we waiting for? Let us find the best books for learning Linux right from the basics in this article. Let us jump right in!

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

If you are looking for a Linux book that is not outdated and is relatively a classic yet new book, then  The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming is the best choice for you. It is the most recommended book on Amazon and a lot of other platforms.

The book is particularly focused on late 1990s development in Linux. Michael Kirrisk, the Author of the book, has elaborately helped you learn all the basics of Linux, which is taught like teaching to a 5-year-old. All the concepts of Linux come with extensively researched materials and come with more than 200 example programs, 88 tables, and 115 diagrams. This book is highly recommended.

2. How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know by Brian Ward

Most of the programmers will be very curious about how it works under the hood. That means if there is an application, what happens under a Linux machine will always be a fact of curiosity. One of the biggest mistakes most learners make is that they always excel in learning programming languages like Java, C++, and Python but fail to spend their valuable time learning the operating system like Linux.

So How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know is a fantastic book that will provide you with insights through a broad perspective. The book also covers all the important aspects of Linux through a combination of background, theory, real-world examples, and patient explanations. You can have this book with just spending around 30 dollars,

3. The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction by William E. Shotts Jr.

The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction is a first-class book that will help you learn Linux with ease. We all know for a fact that Linux is all about commands; without learning commands, there is no point in learning Linux. This book will help you accomplish learning commands, and you will also create commands with a creative mindset.

This book is like a beginner’s guide, which is predominantly used by most of the Linux beginning programmers since it literally covers all the aspects which are necessary to know for learning Linux. After reading this book, file navigation, environment configuration, command chaining will become a piece of cake for you. William Shotts will help you to master Linux.

4. Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment by W. Stevens, Stephen Rago

If you are looking for a more sophisticated programming book that will help you learn UNIX along with the Linux atmosphere, then I would highly recommend you to go for Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment book that will cover all the important areas of Linux and UNIX. If you start going through this book, there is no stopping you; get ready for your mouse to get dusted.

This is one of the best books to learn UNIX, a timeless classic written by Sir Richard W. Stevens. It is also to be noted that this book was written around 30 years ago, and it still holds strong in learning about the operating system before getting into the complicated programming languages. This advanced book will only cost you 17 dollars, making it super affordable.

5. Advanced UNIX Programming by Marc J. Rochkind

Advanced UNIX Programming by Marc J. Rochkind is yet another top-rated book that is fully updated with all the necessary subjects pertaining to Linux as well as UNIX programming. This book is largely used as a reference by many programming engineers who have done great in the research area of system programming. This book is highly recommended.

Another interesting fact about this book is that this book is like a bible for system programming beginners. It is either Steven’s book or this one that is considered to be having all the nuances of Linux. Additionally, the highlight of having this book on your shelf is that you will not only learn about Linux systems but also other contemporary systems like FreeBSD, and the Mac OS X kernel (Darwin).

6. UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook by Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Trent R. Hein, Ben Whaley, Terry Morreale 

If you are looking for a Linux book that focuses more on the practical aspects of system administration of Linux, then I would highly recommend you to buy UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook, the 4th Edition. This book is something that will be found on most of the Linus programmer’s bookshelves. You will also learn more about the commands and concepts in this book.

If you are willing to spend extra bucks for a more quality book, then this book can be a really good choice. All you have to do is spend 82 dollars on this book, and by the time you complete this, you will have mastered the art of Linux system programming. The authors present the facts along with seasoned advice and real-world examples, which makes this book absolutely phenomenal.

7. Unix Network Programming, Volume 1: The Sockets Networking API by W. Richard Stevens

Unix Network Programming, Volume 1: The Sockets Networking API is a first-class book which is not the first time you might hear this one. It is a contemporary book which can be found in all the school’s libraries since it is written none other by Richard Stevens.

One of the important tips before getting into this book is if you are looking for a book that will help you learn right from the beginning, this book is not for you. It is not exactly for amateurs. But anyway, you will have a great idea of concepts of networking and important system programming languages. They provide very in-depth material and first quality content on Linux.

8. UNIX Network Programming: Interprocess Communications by W. Richard Stevens

If you are done with Steven’s first volume book on Linux, and you feel like you want to master Linux system programming, then UNIX Network Programming, Volume 2: Interprocess Communications, is a fantastic choice. The book is strictly not for beginners. You will learn the mastery which will help you fetch high-paying jobs in the industry.

This network programming book will cover topics that are important for learning system programming; IPC, including message passing, synchronization, shared memory, & Remote Procedure Calls to name a few. The book will give a perspective from layman’s understanding so that it is easier to grasp the concepts of Linux easily.

9. The Design of the UNIX Operating System by Maurice J. Bach

The Design of the UNIX Operating System is like a godfather for learning Linux subjects. The more you learn about the nuances of Linux, the more you will get into the game. This book will be the right choice to dig in-depth analysis of the Unix Operating system. It is especially popular in universities, where it is frequently used for operating systems research and case studies.

This book will cover the programming interface as well as command languages that are useful for beginners, so you can buy this book even if you are just starting your game in Linux. The book was published in 1987 and has been in the market for more than 30 years. It still holds water for the complex solutions in learning the system programming language.

10. How Linux Works, 3rd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know by Brian Ward

Last but not the least, How Linux Works, 3rd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know, is a first-class book if you are looking to learn the core functionalities of Linux. At just 33 dollars, you will get this book on Amazon which will help you improve your understanding of the Linux system.

If you are looking for a book that provides the subject in a simple and layman’s language, then the book is highly recommended for you. You will learn Linux kernel boots, how the concept of userspace starts, system logging, and filesystem from this book in a detailed manner.