Top Linux books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Linux books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Linux

Understanding the concepts of Linux starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Linux pour les nuls

One of the fastest ways to learn Linux is with this perennial favoriteEight previous top-selling editions of "Linux For Dummies" can't be wrong. If you've been wanting to migrate to Linux, this book is the best way to get there. Written in easy-to-follow, everyday terms, "Linux For Dummies 9th Edition" gets you started by concentrating on two distributions of Linux that beginners love: the Ubu…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux Administration Handbook

This book is divided into three large chunks: Basic Administration, Networking, and Bunch o' Stuff. Basic Administration provides a broad overview of Linux from a system administrator's perspective. The chapters in this section cover most of the facts and techniques needed to run a stand-alone Linux system.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux pocket guide

Linux Pocket Guide provides an organized learning path to help you gain mastery of the most useful and important commands. Whether you're a novice who needs to get up to speed on Linux or an experienced user who wants a concise and functional reference, this guide provides quick answers.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux in a Nutshell

Linux in a Nutshell covers the core commands available on common Linux distributions. This isn't a scaled-down quick reference of common commands, but a complete reference to all user, programming, administration, and networking commands with complete lists of options.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux administration

Fully updated for the most current Linux distributions, Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition, shows you how to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot Linux on a single server or an entire network. Get full details on granting user rights and permissions, configuring software and hardware, providing Internet and intranet services, and customizing Linux kernel 2.6. You'll also lea…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux Essentials

Linux Essentials, 2nd Edition provides a solid foundation of knowledge for anyone considering a career in information technology, for anyone new to the Linux operating system, and for anyone who is preparing to sit for the Linux Essentials Exam. Through this engaging resource, you can access key information in a learning-by-doing style. Hands-on tutorials and end-of-chapter exercises and revie…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Linux Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Linux, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Linux System Programming: Talking Directly to the Kernel and C Library

Write software that draws directly on services offered by the Linux kernel and core system libraries. With this comprehensive book, Linux kernel contributor Robert Love provides you with a tutorial on Linux system programming, a reference manual on Linux system calls, and an insider’s guide to writing smarter, faster code. Love clearly distinguishes between POSIX standard functions and special…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Linux Bible

Written by a Red Hat expert, this book provides the clear explanations and step-by-step instructions that demystify Linux and bring the new features seamlessly into your workflow.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Command Line Kung Fu

Command Line Kung Fu is packed with dozens of tips and over 100 practical real-world examples. You won't find theoretical examples in this book. The examples demonstrate how to solve actual problems and accomplish worthwhile goals. The tactics are easy to find, too.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Understanding the Linux Kernel

The Linux kernel is the kernel used by Linux-based operating systems and the interface between the hardware and the computer processes. A kernel is a special program responsible for managing the low-level functions of a computer.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Linux Programming Interface

The Linux Programming Interface (TLPI) is the definitive guide to the Linux and UNIX programming interface—the interface employed by nearly every application that runs on a Linux or UNIX system.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

How Linux Works, 3rd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know

This edition has been thoroughly updated and expanded with added coverage of Logical Volume Manager (LVM), virtualization, and containers. You'll also explore the kernel and examine key system tasks inside user space, including system calls, input and output, and filesystems.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Specializations and Deeper Linux Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Linux is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Kali Linux for Beginners; A step-by-step Guide to Ethical Hacking: Mastering Cybersecurity with Hands-On Exercises

Are you fascinated by the world of cybersecurity? Do you want to learn the same tools used by hackers and penetration testers—but without feeling overwhelmed by technical jargon? Kali Linux for Beginners offers an accessible way to step into the realm of ethical hacking, even if you have zero prior experience. This comprehensive guide takes you from a beginner to a capable ethical hacker with …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Debian Administrator's Handbook: Debian Jessie From Discovery To Mastery

Accessible to all, this book teaches the essentials to anyone who wants to become an effective and independent Debian GNU/Linux administrator. It covers all the topics that a competent Linux administrator should master, from the installation and the update of the system, up to the creation of packages and the compilation of the kernel, but also monitoring, backup and migration, without forgett…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

Augment your Linux books

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

Only 1 Spot Left

Are you a junior developer looking to fast track your career in web development? Do you need guidance on learning the right and up to date content, building real-world projects, and preparing for job interviews? Look no further! I am a Senior Software Engineer with 9 years of experience in …

$180 / month


I am an experienced DevOps/Cloud technical leader who has worked with both Azure and AWS to help organisations build highly-available, scalable, easy-to-maintain and secure cloud platforms. As a big advocate of "everything-as-code", my experiences range from enhancing microservice speedy and simple deployment with Ansible, to supporting/improving enterprise production system serving …

$180 / month

Only 5 Spot Left

Greetings! I'm Andreas, a seasoned software and platform engineer with almost 20 years of diverse experience. My professional journey has taken me from the heart of non-profit organizations to the dynamic landscapes of large corporations, where I've seamlessly navigated through various engineering roles. One of the most fulfilling aspects of …

$240 / month

Only 1 Spot Left

Need help with data science and machine learning skills? I can guide you to the next level. Together, we'll create a personalized plan based on your unique goals and needs. Whether you want to build a strong portfolio of projects, improve your programming skills, or advance your career to the …

$390 / month


10+ year industry veteran with experience in working with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and open source contributions to Terraform and Ansible. If you are looking for practical real world experience then you have found the right mentor! This will be a fully hands on mentorship, roll your sleeves …

$450 / month


I have worked at Meta as both a Production Engineer which is a hybrid role between a Software Engineer and an SRE as well as a pure Software Engineer. I've worked on the upstream Linux Kernel as well as Meta's custom AI/ML ASIC stack. I have over 15 years of …

$270 / month

Browse all Linux mentors

Still not convinced? Don't just take our word for it

We've already delivered 1-on-1 mentorship to thousands of students, professionals, managers and executives. Even better, they've left an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for our mentors.

Find a Linux mentor
  • "Naz is an amazing person and a wonderful mentor. She is supportive and knowledgeable with extensive practical experience. Having been a manager at Netflix, she also knows a ton about working with teams at scale. Highly recommended."

  • "Brandon has been supporting me with a software engineering job hunt and has provided amazing value with his industry knowledge, tips unique to my situation and support as I prepared for my interviews and applications."

  • "Sandrina helped me improve as an engineer. Looking back, I took a huge step, beyond my expectations."