What if you could grasp the heartbeat of modern technology through just ten books? Information Technology isn’t just about machines — it’s the backbone of innovation, business, and daily life. Today, IT professionals navigate sprawling infrastructures, cloud platforms, and agile processes that shape our connected world. Understanding these complexities is no small feat, but the right books can open doors to mastery and confidence.
Experts like Nicholas C. Zakas, creator of ESLint, and Marty Cagan, a leader in product strategy, have leaned on certain titles to sharpen their insights and skills. Nicholas found The Linux Command Line invaluable for bridging theory with command-line practice, while Marty highlights The Art of Scalability for its nuanced take on growing technology businesses. Meanwhile, Vint Cerf, one of the internet’s architects, points to Douglas Comer’s work for deep protocol knowledge essential to networking.
While these expertly curated books provide proven frameworks and real-world wisdom, your own background and goals matter. For tailored content that fits your specific IT experience, interests, and objectives, consider creating a personalized Information Technology book. This approach builds on expert insights with a custom roadmap uniquely for you.
Nicholas C. Zakas, a seasoned software developer and creator of ESLint, recommends this book as the ideal starting point for anyone new to Linux. Facing the challenge of mastering the command line himself, he found this text not only covered commands but also explained how the underlying components interact, deepening his understanding. As he puts it, "This is exactly what a Linux beginner needs to get up to speed quickly." His endorsement highlights how the book bridges practical skills with foundational theory, making it a valuable resource for building Linux proficiency.
“This is exactly what a Linux beginner needs to get up to speed quickly. The book goes beyond simply walking through all of the command line utilities, and ventures into the realm of theory and how things work together.”
William Shotts has been a software professional for more than 30 years and an avid Linux user for more than 20 years. He has an extensive background in software development, including technical support, quality assurance, and documentation. He is also the creator of LinuxCommand.org, a Linux education and advocacy site featuring news, reviews, and extensive support for using the Linux command line.
When William Shotts began exploring Linux decades ago, he recognized the need for a guide that goes beyond just commands to reveal the philosophy and practical power of the Linux command line. You’ll move from basic terminal commands to writing full Bash scripts, mastering file navigation, system administration, and text processing tools like grep and sed. Shotts’ clear, approachable chapters demystify concepts such as input/output redirection and environment setup, making the command line accessible to beginners and useful for those wanting to deepen their understanding. If you want to communicate with your Linux system efficiently and understand its heritage from Unix, this book gives you the essential skills and mindset to do just that.
Glenn Weinstein, co-founder of Appirio and an authority in cloud consulting, recommends this book as an essential reference for the evolving Salesforce ecosystem, especially as the platform matures into a true cloud development environment. After navigating the complexities of Salesforce development himself, Weinstein points out that Andrew Davis’s work goes beyond coding basics to position developers as professional software engineers. His endorsement highlights the book’s role in bridging gaps between Salesforce's rapid innovation and enterprise-level development practices. Similarly, Dan Appleman, author and Salesforce MVP, emphasizes the book’s depth in guiding both developers and admins through the emerging DevOps frontier on Salesforce, underscoring its immediate relevance for practitioners seeking modern methods.
“Andrew Davis has written the essential reference for the next 5-10 years of Salesforce evolution. Salesforce has become a true cloud development platform, but its ecosystem of enterprise-class tools and techniques are just starting to catch up. All prospective and existing Salesforce developers should read this book if they aspire to be not just coders, but professional software engineers.”
Andrew Davis is a Salesforce DevOps specialist who is passionate about helping teams deliver innovation, build trust, and improve their performance. He is a senior product manager for Copado, a leading DevOps platform for Salesforce. Before joining Copado, he worked as a developer and architect at Appirio, where he learned the joys and sorrows of release management and led the creation of Appirio DX, a set of tools to enable Salesforce CI/CD. At different times, he led Appirio’s technical governance, DevOps, and certification programs, and gained 16 Salesforce certifications. An experienced teacher and public speaker, he is a regular speaker at Salesforce conferences. He lives in San Diego with his amazing wife and very cuddly dog.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a Salesforce DevOps specialist and senior product manager at Copado, Andrew Davis delivers a focused guide that bridges the gap between traditional DevOps practices and the specific demands of Salesforce development. You’ll explore how to implement Salesforce DX to foster continuous delivery, build deployable packages, and include admins in workflows typically reserved for developers. For example, the book explains deploying automated testing tailored to Salesforce environments and managing releases to reduce risk and stress. If you’re aiming to elevate your Salesforce development from basic coding to professional software engineering, this book offers concrete methods and insights tailored to that goal.
This AI-created book on IT mastery is tailored to your specific background, skill level, and professional goals. By sharing what IT areas interest you most and where you want to improve, you receive a personalized guide focused exactly on your needs. This approach ensures you explore relevant concepts and practical skills without wading through unrelated material. It's designed to help you build a solid foundation and advance efficiently in your IT career.
TailoredRead AI creates personalized nonfiction books that adapt to your unique background, goals, and interests. Instead of reading generic content, you get a custom book written specifically for your profession, experience level, and learning objectives. Whether you're a beginner looking for fundamentals or an expert seeking advanced insights, TailoredRead crafts a book that speaks directly to you. Learn more.
This personalized book offers a comprehensive overview of essential Information Technology concepts and practical skills tailored to your unique goals. It provides a personalized framework that methodically covers foundational IT principles, network architectures, system administration, cybersecurity basics, and cloud computing strategies. The book cuts through generalized advice by focusing on the specific IT domains and technologies relevant to your experience and objectives. It also addresses implementation tactics for real-world IT challenges, enabling you to build a targeted expertise that fits your professional context. Its tailored approach ensures you engage deeply with content that directly supports your mastery of critical IT competencies.
Dr. Bhaskar Ghosh, Global DevOps Lead at Accenture, turned to this book during the complex challenge of modernizing legacy IT infrastructures. He highlights how the book's practical insights reshaped his understanding of scaling DevOps across enterprises, sharing that "whether you are just getting started with DevOps or you are a seasoned professional seeking counsel on how to apply its principles at scale, as you go through DevOps for the Modern Enterprise, you will find yourself infected by the enthusiasm Mirco has for DevOps and the benefits it can bring." This recommendation reflects how the book bridges theory and practice in transforming traditional IT organizations.
“Whether you are just getting started with DevOps or you are a seasoned professional seeking counsel on how to apply its principles at scale, as you go through DevOps for the Modern Enterprise, you will find yourself infected by the enthusiasm Mirco has for DevOps and the benefits it can bring.”
by Mirco Hering Global DevOps Lead Accent, Bhaskar Ghosh··You?
About the Author
For over a dozen years Mirco Hering has worked on accelerating software delivery through innovative approaches (what is now called DevOps) and 10 years ago started experimenting with Agile methods. As the global lead for DevOps at Accenture he supports major public and private sector companies in Australia and overseas in their search for efficient IT delivery. Mirco blogs about his experiences at NotAFactoryAnymore.com and speaks at global conferences to share what he has learned. Follow Mirco at Twitter @MircoHering.
Mirco Hering's extensive experience as Accenture's global DevOps lead informs this book's grounded approach to transforming legacy IT organizations. Drawing from over a decade of experimenting with Agile and modern software delivery, Hering offers detailed guidance on reshaping entrenched IT cultures to prioritize collaboration and creativity over rigid processes. You’ll encounter practical frameworks for adopting Agile, Lean, and DevOps principles tailored to complex enterprise environments, with specific chapters illustrating how to empower teams and integrate technology effectively. If you manage legacy IT systems facing modernization challenges, this book presents a clear roadmap to navigate that transformation with an emphasis on both culture and technology.
Vint Cerf, Senior Vice President at MCI WorldCom and one of the pioneers of the internet, recognizes the enduring value of this book in navigating the complex world of internet protocols. Having witnessed the internet's explosive growth firsthand, Cerf praises the book's clear exposition, stating, "Comer continues to prove himself the Baedeker of the Internet Protocols with this fine 4th edition." This endorsement highlights how the book helped clarify core TCP/IP concepts even for veterans like Cerf, making it a trusted resource for mastering internetworking fundamentals.
Douglas E. Comer is a Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University and a Fellow of the ACM. He is the author of many best-selling books, including the three-volume series, Internetworking with TCP/IP, Computer Networks and Internets, and The Internet Book. Comer served as Chairman of the DARPA Distributed Systems Architecture Board and the CSNET Technical Committees, and is a former member of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
What if everything you knew about internet protocols was challenged? Douglas E. Comer, a Purdue University professor and ACM Fellow, dives deep into how voice and video traverse IP networks, unpacking complex concepts like IPsec security standards and IPv6 updates. You’ll get a thorough understanding of TCP/IP architecture, protocol theory, and telecommunication networks, including advanced topics like Random Early Discard (RED) for routers. This book is tailored for IT professionals and network engineers seeking to grasp the foundational principles that govern modern internet communication rather than a casual overview.
Mikael Krief is a recognized expert in DevOps practices and methodologies, with extensive experience in software development and cloud technologies. His background drives the practical approach of this book, which focuses on applying DevOps tools like Terraform and Kubernetes to enhance productivity and collaboration in software projects. Krief's expertise ensures the guide is grounded in real-world software delivery challenges and solutions, making it a valuable resource for developers and system administrators seeking to adopt modern DevOps culture.
Mikael Krief is a recognized expert in DevOps practices and methodologies, with extensive experience in software development and cloud technologies. He has authored several books on the subject, focusing on practical applications of DevOps tools and techniques to enhance productivity and collaboration in software projects.
2022·560 pages·Devops, Information Technology, Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure As Code, Continuous Integration
When Mikael Krief first discovered the transformative potential of modern DevOps tools, he set out to craft a guide that demystifies infrastructure as code and continuous delivery pipelines. Drawing on his deep expertise in software development and cloud technologies, this book teaches you how to leverage Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, and Jenkins to build scalable, reliable cloud infrastructure. You’ll gain hands-on skills for provisioning, containerizing applications, and integrating security practices like DevSecOps. This book suits developers and system administrators looking to solidify their grasp of DevOps fundamentals and elevate software delivery workflows.
This AI-created book on rapid IT skill development is crafted based on your existing knowledge, areas of interest, and specific goals. It recognizes how diverse IT roles require different focuses, so your custom book zeroes in on what matters most for your career or projects. Instead of overwhelming you with generic information, this personalized guide lays out daily actions designed precisely for your learning pace, making skill growth both manageable and efficient.
TailoredRead AI creates personalized nonfiction books that adapt to your unique background, goals, and interests. Instead of reading generic content, you get a custom book written specifically for your profession, experience level, and learning objectives. Whether you're a beginner looking for fundamentals or an expert seeking advanced insights, TailoredRead crafts a book that speaks directly to you. Learn more.
2025·50-300 pages·Information Technology, IT Fundamentals, Networking Basics, System Administration, Cloud Computing
This personalized book provides a targeted, step-by-step daily plan for rapidly advancing IT skills tailored to your background and goals. It focuses on practical skill-building activities in core IT areas such as networking, system administration, cloud technologies, and DevOps practices. By delivering a tailored framework that cuts through generic advice, it directly addresses your specific IT context and learning objectives. The book emphasizes actionable daily guidance designed to fit your unique skill level and accelerate competence in key technologies, making it a focused resource for efficient skill acquisition in today's fast-evolving IT landscape.
Marty Cagan, Partner at Silicon Valley Product Group and a recognized voice in product leadership, recommends this book for its broad approach to scaling technology enterprises. He points out that "this book is much more than you may think it is. Scale is not just about designing Web sites that don’t crash when lots of users show up. It is about designing your company so that it doesn’t crash when your business needs to grow." Cagan values the authors' frontline experience at major tech companies, noting how their insights helped him rethink scaling as a holistic organizational challenge rather than just a technical one.
“This book is much more than you may think it is. Scale is not just about designing Web sites that don’t crash when lots of users show up. It is about designing your company so that it doesn’t crash when your business needs to grow. These guys have been there on the front lines of some of the most successful Internet companies of our time, and they share the good, the bad, and the ugly about how to not just survive, but thrive.”
Martin L. Abbott is a founding partner at the growth and scalability advisory firm AKF Partners. He was formerly chief operations officer at Quigo, an advertising technology startup sold to AOL, where he was responsible for product strategy, product management, technology development, and client services. Marty spent nearly six years at eBay, most recently as senior vice president of technology, chief technology officer, and member of the executive staff. Prior to his time at eBay, Marty held domestic and international engineering, management, and executive positions at Gateway and Motorola. He has served on the boards of directors of several private and public companies. Marty has a B.S. in computer science from the United States Military Academy, has an M.S. in computer engineering from the University of Florida, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, and has a Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University.
Drawing from Martin L. Abbott's extensive experience as former eBay CTO and co-founder of AKF Partners, this book addresses scalability beyond mere technology. You learn how to structure your organization, processes, and architecture to handle growth sustainably, with insights on cloud transitions, NoSQL, and DevOps. For example, the authors present 15 key principles to guide scalability decisions and explain why organizational design often triggers scaling challenges. If you're involved in leading tech teams or managing growth in modern enterprises, this book offers a grounded perspective that balances technical and managerial aspects without fluff.
Dr. Logan Song is the enterprise cloud director and chief cloud architect at Dito, bringing over 25 years of experience in information technologies, specializing in cloud computing and machine learning. His extensive certifications across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, combined with his academic roles, uniquely position him to guide professionals through the complexities of cloud platforms. This book reflects his deep expertise and commitment to helping you build a robust foundation in cloud computing, making it a valuable resource for anyone aiming to advance in this fast-evolving field.
Dr. Logan Song is the enterprise cloud director and chief cloud architect at Dito. With 25+ years of professional experience, Dr. Song is highly skilled in enterprise information technologies, specializing in cloud computing and machine learning. He is a Google Cloud-certified professional solution architect and machine learning engineer, an AWS-certified professional solution architect and machine learning specialist, and a Microsoft-certified Azure solution architect expert. Dr. Song holds a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, an MS in computer science, and an ME in management engineering. Currently, he is also an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, teaching cloud computing and machine learning courses.
When Dr. Logan Song developed this guide, he aimed to solve the challenge many IT professionals face in mastering cloud computing across multiple platforms. You learn not only fundamental AWS services but also advanced features in data, machine learning, and security, extending to Azure and Google Cloud Platform. The book walks you through real-world cloud projects and career development strategies, offering concrete skills like designing data pipelines and securing cloud environments. If you want to build a solid, multi-cloud proficiency and pursue certifications, this book provides a structured path without overwhelming jargon.
Jon Postel, RFC Editor and former Deputy Internet Architect, brings unmatched credibility to his recommendation of this book. During his pivotal role shaping Internet standards, he found this volume indispensable for understanding TCP/IP. He calls it "THE classic text for an introduction to TCP/IP," emphasizing how it shaped his grasp of core networking principles and protocols.
Douglas E. Comer is a Distinguished Professor of CS and ECE (courtesy) at Purdue University. He formerly served as the inaugural VP of Research at Cisco Systems. Comer began working on the Internet project in the late 1970s, and was a member of the original IAB. He is internationally recognized as an authority on TCP/IP Internet protocols. Comer has written a series of best-selling books on the Internet, Computer Networks, Operating Systems, Computer Architecture, and Cloud Computing. His 3-volume Internetworking series is cited as an authoritative work on Internet protocols and the scientific principles that underlie the Internet. Comer's books have been translated into 16 languages, and are used in industry and academia in many countries. A former editor-in-chief of the journal Software -- Practice and Experience, he is a Fellow of the ACM, the recipient of numerous teaching awards, and a member of the Internet Hall of Fame.
Unlike most networking texts that skim over foundational details, Douglas E. Comer draws from decades of hands-on experience with the Internet's earliest architecture to deliver a thorough exploration of TCP/IP principles. You’ll gain a solid grasp of IPng development, routing architectures for diverse network sizes, and security concerns including firewall design. Chapters dive deep into TCP transport services and the practical mechanisms behind bridges and routers. This book suits IT professionals, network engineers, and students seeking a grounded understanding of internetworking protocols rather than surface-level overviews.
Gustavo A. A. Santana, a Cisco Technical Solutions Architect with over 15 years of experience and dual CCIE certifications, wrote this book to share his deep knowledge of integrating virtualization across data center technologies. His background working on enterprise and service provider projects informs a practical approach to virtualization that spans networking, storage, servers, and application optimization. This foundation makes the book a valuable resource for professionals aiming to build agile, efficient data centers that support cloud and IT-as-a-service models.
by Gustavo Alessandro Andrade Santana, Yusuf Bhaiji, Maurilio Gorito, Krishna Arji··You?
About the Author
Gustavo A. A. Santana, CCIE® No. 8806, is a Cisco Technical Solutions Architect working in enterprise and service provider data center projects that require deep integration across technology areas such as networking, application optimization, storage, and servers. He has more than 15 years of data center experience, and has led and coordinated a team of specialized Cisco engineers in Brazil. He holds two CCIE certifications (Routing & Switching and Storage Networking), and is a VMware Certified Professional (VCP) and SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert (SCSN-E). A frequent speaker at Cisco and data center industry events, he blogs on data center virtualization at gustavoaasantana.net.
This book challenged my earlier view that virtualization was just a server-side technology by revealing its integral role across all data center components, including networking, storage, and security. Gustavo Alessandro Andrade Santana draws on his extensive Cisco and virtualization expertise to guide you through designing efficient, interoperable virtualized data centers that support cloud initiatives and agile provisioning. Expect to understand complex concepts like virtual PortChannel, FabricPath, and overlay transport virtualization through clear use cases and configuration examples. If you're involved in data center architecture or preparing for Cisco certifications, this book equips you with a multi-dimensional grasp of virtualization beyond mere theory.
John Doak is the principal manager of Layer 1 Reliability Engineering at Microsoft, with a background that includes leading Azure Data Explorer and Microsoft Authentication Library SDKs, plus a prior role as Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Google. His deep expertise in network automation and Go programming drove him to write this book, aiming to equip DevOps engineers with practical skills to automate complex infrastructures. His work transforming network teams and developing Go classes worldwide underpins the book’s thorough approach to using Go in DevOps environments.
John Doak is the principal manager of Layer 1 Reliability Engineering at Microsoft. John led the development of the Azure Data Explorer and Microsoft Authentication Library Go SDKs. Previously, he was a Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Google. As part of network engineering, he created many of their first network automation systems. John led the migration of that group from Python to Go, developing Go training classes that have been taught around the world. He was a pivotal figure in transforming the network team to a network/systems group that integrated with SRE. Prior to that, he worked for Lucasfilm in video games and film. You can find his musings on Go/SRE topics and his Go classes on the web.
When John Doak discovered the power of the Go programming language for automating complex infrastructures, he set out to share that knowledge with DevOps professionals. Drawing from his extensive experience at Microsoft and Google, this book teaches you how to write Go software that automates configuration management, interacts with Kubernetes, and creates custom GitHub Actions. You’ll learn to build scalable command-line tools and extend popular DevOps frameworks like Terraform and Packer. If you have some programming background and want to deepen your automation skills specifically using Go in a DevOps context, this book offers concrete examples and practical insights from real-world cloud environments.
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Conclusion
This collection underscores three themes: foundational knowledge, practical application, and strategic growth. Whether it’s mastering TCP/IP protocols, deploying cloud infrastructure, or scaling organizations, these books equip you with layered expertise to tackle IT’s evolving challenges.
If you’re starting out, The Linux Command Line offers a solid footing. For those advancing toward leadership or architectural roles, The Art of Scalability and DevOps For The Modern Enterprise provide actionable strategies. Combining these with hands-on guides like Learning DevOps and Go for DevOps accelerates your ability to implement solutions.
Once you’ve absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized Information Technology book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. Tailored learning makes your journey efficient, relevant, and deeply practical — exactly what IT mastery demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?
Start with The Linux Command Line, 2nd Edition if you're new to IT. It builds fundamental skills that underpin many IT disciplines. From there, explore books like Learning DevOps to understand modern practices.
Are these books too advanced for someone new to Information Technology?
While some books dive deep, several like The Linux Command Line and Mastering Salesforce DevOps are approachable for beginners, explaining concepts clearly with practical examples.
What's the best order to read these books?
Begin with foundational topics such as Linux commands and networking protocols, then move to specialized areas like DevOps and cloud computing. Finally, tackle scalability and enterprise transformation perspectives.
Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?
You can skip around based on your goals. For example, if automation interests you, jump to Go for DevOps. But reading core foundational books thoroughly provides a stronger base.
Are any of these books outdated given how fast Information Technology changes?
Some classics like Internetworking with TCP/IP remain relevant for foundational understanding, while others like Learning DevOps and The Self-Taught Cloud Computing Engineer cover the latest tools and trends.
How can personalized Information Technology books complement these expert recommendations?
Personalized books build on expert foundations tailored to your skills, interests, and goals, helping you focus on what matters most. They complement classics by customizing your learning path. Explore more here.
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