Computer Networking : A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet (3rd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Best introductory textbook in the market
Review: This is the best book from two respected networking researchers. It explains the TCP-IP model unlike the most other networking books which explore the outdated OSI model. Compared to Tanenbaum, the new networking concepts (such as Diffserve) are addressed and well explained. A side effect of Tanenbaum's book is that you are lost in the details and can not see the overall picture. I loose my motivation and excitement when I read Tanenbaum's book.

If you want to really learn the underlying motivations for the current Internet protocols Kurose and Ross's book is the best. Highly recomended, even for the professionals in the networking business to brush up their knowledge and improve their understanding of networking concepts.