The book explains the use and effectiveness of Linux commands. It starts with everyday commands for novices, and then gradually introduces commands for advanced Linux users, such as administrators. Considering that even mobile phones have a graphical user interface (GUI), the command line--typing commands instead of pointing and clicking with a mouse--seems to be a rather archaic way to interact with a computer’s operating system (OS). But, for many complex tasks, such as the administration of a network server, the command line is still the first choice [1]. Linux users, in particular, prefer the command line to the GUI, perhaps because it is so efficient. Since the book was not written specifically for computer experts, Linux beginners will also find it helpful.

The book consists of 14 chapters. It starts with command line basics, including how to log on to the computer and how to get online information on commands and parameters. More commands are added, chapter by chapter, until the reader is able to work with Linux from the command line alone. Each chapter is devoted to a certain task or theme, such as network configuration, managing permissions, system logging, and shell scripting. The book is much more than just a commented list of Linux commands; it teaches the reader how to accomplish important tasks, without a GUI. At the end of each chapter, the command names and their meanings are summarized for quick reference. Each command is described in great detail, together with the most useful parameter settings. As the author states, “this book is distribution agnostic,” which means that the commands work the same for the most popular Linux distributions--Ubuntu, Red Hat, and SUSE.

The book is for readers who want to become proficient in Linux. The writing is clear and unpretentious.