Rating: 
Summary: Did the author ever _really_ run Linux?
Review: Geez. I really wanted this book to be great, in the tradition of the O'Reilly "Nutshell" series. The first clue that this would be a flawed attempt at a much-needed references comes from the author's credentials. Although equipped with magna cum laude honors form Harvard, Hickman's speciality is Middle Age lit. The lack of attention to detail in this publication shows that the author's heart wasn't in the 1990's and Linux. The section on the bash shell is laughable, showing syntax such as (< list) as available. It also shows "print" as a bash-ism. There are many more serious errors in just this section alone. The discussion of "gcc" is equally weak. There's a reference for options but _none_ of the -f flags! Also lacking is an mention of "ed". This idea for this book is excellent -- but it fails to meet the expections one takes for granted from ORA.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than average
Review: This book is a solid, keep-beside-your-computer reference book, emphasis on reference.
All the material is well-indexed and easy to find, with sub-sections relating to specific areas, such as Sys Admin.
Note that there are no examples or tutorial-style material in this book; the material seems aimed mostly at jogging your memory or pointing you in the right direction.
Unfortunately, though very extensive, you will probably find yourself using the Linux Man pages just as frequently as you may, now, especially if more detail on commands, etc, is needed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference, better than the man pages
Review: This book was listed as an optional textbook for a Unix (Linux) class that I took, but I quickly realized that there was nothing optional about it. I had to have it. I use this book often since Linux's man pages can be somewhat cryptic to a new user like me. The author does an excellent job of explaining the commands and options in plain english.
Obviously since this is a reference book (basically a Linux dictionary) you will not read it cover to cover. Instead you will find yourself constantly referring back to it, looking up new things you haven't seen before or old things that you can't quite remember. Having this book on your shelf is sort of like having a good Webster's dictionary, it's a must.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: ~~
Although not for "Newbies," of my dozen or so Linux books, "Linux In a Nutshell" is the most thourougly concise (is that a contradiction of terms?) of them all. A virtual "Bible" of commands, options, and information.
This book will stay alongside your computer while the others will remain on your bookshelf. ~~ Lloyd W. Cary ~~
Rating:
Summary: Good for every Linux user
Review: This book isn't for just experienced users. While the beginner won't find it to be a tutorial, it is a great book to have on the desk when you need to look up a command. For that use it is much easier than trying to find the information in that big tutorial book you just read ;)
Rating:
Summary: well-written, and to the point
Review: I picked up this book about three and a half years ago, and have found it to be extremely useful. It covers many of the basic editors and utilities (vi, emacs, etc), plus has a bit on shell programming (all I've needed, actually) for bash and tcsh. I refer to this book constantly, as it's easier to read than man pages, while keeping the succint, to-the-point feel that they provide. An excellent reference.
Rating: 
Summary: the on-going fall of o'reilly
Review: I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that I do not like about "Linux in a Nutshell". Basically, it seems that everytime that I need a bit of information the book does not have what I need. I also dislike the organization of the book. I've had it for 2 or more years and it still just doesn't give me the good use that most other O'Reilly books do. Basically, it's not a must-have and I'd gladly trade it back in for the money I shelled out for it. This book continues the fall from grace of O'Reilly & Associates. Once *the* best computer publisher but now - starting to have more misses than hits (where before EVERY O'Reilly book was almost guaranteeded to be worth every penny paid.
Rating:
Summary: Another hit from the O'Reilly crew.
Review: As is typical from the O'Reilly crew, this "nutshell" book proves to be invaluable. This book is a must have reference book for anyone using Linux. This is a well written book that guides you through the linux world. My copy is well dog earred and has paid for itself many times over by helping me with problems.
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