17+ Best Linux Books - For Different Target Groups and Use Cases

This article will go through the best Linux books for all the different target groups and use cases.

Best Linux Books – Quick Overview

Here’s a quick comparison table of the best Linux books:

Book	Cost	Latest Release	For	Themes
The Linux Command Line	Paid	March 7, 2019	Beginners	Commands, CLI, bash
How Linux Works	Paid	April 19, 2021	Beginners	Boot loaders, kernels, drivers, networking
Linux Basics for Hackers	Paid	December 4, 2018	Advanced	Networking, hacking, security, scripting, Kali Linux
Linux Cookbook	Paid	September 7, 2021	Beginners/intermediate	Networking, command-line, GUI, security
Linux Bible	Paid	June 10, 2020	Beginners/experts	Basics, automation, shell scripting
CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide	Paid	August 2, 2022	Professionals	Linux+ exam
Linux Pocket Guide	Paid	July 19, 2016	Beginners	Commands, CLI, bash
Linux All-in-One For Dummies	Paid	July 11, 2018	Beginners	Installation, desktops, networking, administration, security, scripting, certifications
Linux for Beginners	Paid	January 2, 2014	Beginners	Getting started, servers, CLI, distros
Linux System Programming	Paid	June 18, 2013	Advanced	Linux kernel, C library
Practical Linux Forensics	Paid	December 21, 2021	Advanced	Digital forensics and investigation
Learning Modern Linux	Paid	May 24, 2022	Advanced	Linux cloud, kernel, terminal, networking, VMs
Linux From Scratch	Free	September 1, 2022	Advanced	Building a Linux distro from scratch
Command Line Kung Fu	Paid	April 17, 2014	Beginners	Commands, CLI, bash
Linux FUNdamentals	Free	October 3, 2021	Beginners	Fundamentals of Linux
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook	Paid	July 9, 2010	Intermediate	Unix and Linux system administration
Efficient Linux at the Command Line	Paid	March 29, 2022	Intermediate	Commands, CLI, bash

If you want to learn more about each book in detail, scroll down.

Humble Bundle often has bundles of Linux books for as cheap as €1. The bundles are often on a different topic, but chances are, if you are looking for Linux books, they have a great bundle for cheap.

Why read a book about Linux?

Before buying a book, you might wonder “why even read a book about Linux”? Reading a book is one of the most popular ways of learning Linux. There are some advantages to learning Linux through a book, like:

Everything is usually in-depth. Tutorials online are generally short and straight to the point, but books dig deep into the subject matter and explain everything you need to know, starting from the basics all the way to the advanced techniques and methods. That’s why books are often recommended for beginners. Technically, you can also learn everything from random articles online that dig deep into a subject, but a book is more organized, focused, and has the same theme and tone throughout, whereas articles and tutorials may each be different and not as well organized.
Learning Linux from a (physical) book forces you to rewrite/retype every command line and code. This is a good technique to learn and remember something better. If you’d follow an online tutorial (or even an eBook for that matter), you’d just copy and paste the command line or code. If you used a physical book, you’ll be forced to rewrite/retype everything, making everything easier to remember and understand.
Books are usually peer-reviewed, professionally edited, and proofread. Most online tutorials are not. Mistakes and grammar errors always happen, and small mistakes in commands and code also always happen. Chances are, in an online random tutorial, all those might go unnoticed by the publishers, but a book always has fewer chances of having an error or a mistake.

I understand that this is a generalization about online tutorials and books. There are advantages to online tutorials and eBooks, like having an easy search function and being short and straight to the point (if you need it). Some books also may be (or become) outdated, depending on the topic they cover. In a perfect world, you should use everything that’s at your disposal, including physical books, eBooks, online tutorials, videos, courses, etc.

Now let’s get to the main part of the article, the best, top-rated books about Linux:

The Linux Command Line – Best for CLI beginners

If you’re a beginner to the command-line interface (CLI) or Linux in general, this is a perfect book for you. It will teach you the basics, and complex tasks like writing bash scripts. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the CLI/terminal.

Available in: eBook, Hard copy
Cost: Paid
Number of pages: 504
Latest edition release date: 2nd edition (March 7, 2019)
Targeted to: beginners
Themes/topics: command-line interface, bash
Author: William Shotts
Publisher: ‎ No Starch Press

Best Linux Books – Quick Overview

Why read a book about Linux?

The Linux Command Line – Best for CLI beginners

How Linux Works – Best for beginners that want to become a superuser

Linux Basics for Hackers – Best for advanced users

Linux Cookbook – Best for beginners that want to become sysadmins

Linux Bible – Best for beginners or experts wanting to stay current

CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide – Best for professionals taking the Linux+ Exam XK0-005

Linux Pocket Guide – Best for CLI beginners

Linux All-in-One For Dummies – Best for beginners

Linux for Beginners – Best for beginners

Linux System Programming – Best for advanced users

Practical Linux Forensics – Best for advanced users

Learning Modern Linux – best for advanced users

Linux From Scratch – best for advanced users

Command Line Kung Fu – best for CLI beginners

Linux FUNdamentals – best for beginners

UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook – best for intermediate users

Efficient Linux at the Command Line – best for CLI intermediate users

Best Linux eBook readers

What Linux Books would you recommend?

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