The 2nd linux book you should read

I've noticed that there is a glut of ultra beginner linux books on the market... books that teach basic linux commands, explain what shells are, lead you through installations... this is not quite one of those books. Mr. Smith's text dives a deeper into linux issues and tackles subjects such as security, kernel compiling, optimization, hardware configuration, and server setup, among other topics.
Being an uber-geek myself, the first thing I wanted to do with linux was compile a kernel. How cool is that? Its tough to find a good coverage of all the kernel options (even the help inside the kernal configs are spotty), but while the chapter on kernels is not complete, it is definately a nice survey.

My only major complaint with this book is in regards to the chapters on the UIs. They do not provide any more information other than enumerating different programs and window managers one can use on their system.

For those diving into Linux, this is definately a top pick. I'm sure experienced users may find some nuggets as well.

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