The best way to learn the Linux command line is as a series of small, easy to manage steps. This book is organized as such, with each section building upon the knowledge and skills learned in the previous sections. If you work through them in order, read them fully (there is a fair bit of material but it is important for getting a proper understanding) and practice on the command line as you go I believe you should have a fairly pleasant and smooth journey to Linux command line mastery.
99 times out of 100 when a student has troubles with this stuff, I find that it is not that they are incapable but that they were lazy and didn't read the material fully.
Each section is structured in the following format:
- An introduction outlining what you will learn in that section
- Detailed material including extensive examples
- A summary of programs covered in that section and the most important concepts
- A set of activities to help you solidify your knowledge and skills
Think of the activities not as tutorial questions (such as you may get in a class at school) but as direction on where to explore in the Linux environment to benefit from your new knowledge and skills. Treat the activities as a starting point for exploration. The further you take it, the better you will do. (How well you do and how far you go depends on how unlazy you are.)
