[temeya]

'The Systems Bible, 3rd Edition, by John Gall as a light introduction to Systems Theory as well as 'How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know, 3rd Edition' to brush up on my Linux. "Computer Organization and Design, 5th Edition" after those two.

On the fiction front, I just finished "Queen City Jazz", by Kathleen Ann Goonan, and I've got "Daemon" by Daniel Suarez queued up as well.

[lofaszvanitt]

No starch books have a terrible track record... every superuser should know, is that book an exception?

[temeya]

I mean, so far, its helped make things a bit easier for me to understand. I've also read "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart, which as someone with a non-CS background, I found very helpful, even when going back as a reference.

[lofaszvanitt]

Maybe you chose the proper books. I had a terrible experience with them.

[temeya]

That's entirely plausible. The next No Starch published book I read may also be terrible. But, I try to recommend what I can (that I've read) and allow readers (present and future) to make their own judgements.

Best case scenario, you've found a new resource. Worse case scenario, you learn what works for you.