[tptacek]

I think you'll learn more from porting a simple C compiler than you will from any compiler book, at least given a fixed amount of time to do either task in.

[wglb]

This book, http://www.amazon.com/Compiler-Generator-Automatic-Computati..., which by today's standards is not a very good book, got me started in my compiler career.

And I agree with your basic point that building one is the only to gain true understanding.