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From: nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather)
Newsgroups: net.unix
Subject: Re: Best UNIX intro text
Message-ID: <299@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-May-84 10:43:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.299
Posted: Fri May 18 10:43:13 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 19-May-84 01:15:31 EDT
References: <3333@fortune.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 20

[...but I'm not hungry!]
	>For the moderately advanced person, I recommend the Bourne book "The
	>UNIX System". This is an excellence reference that I use every day.
	>
	>After mastering Bourne, try Kernighan and Pike's book "The UNIX
	>Programming Environment".

I'd put it the other way 'round -- read K&P first, *then* tackle Bourne.

K&P is *far* better written and easier to read than Bourne, and handles
much of the same material in a more digestible form.  Bourne is excellent
as a reference (about half the book is devoted to appendices) but his
excessive use of passive contructions and his unimaginative prose can put
even the most ardent hacker to sleep.

-- 

                                       Ed Nather
                                       ihnp4!{ut-sally,kpno}!utastro!nather
                                       Astronomy Dept., U. of Texas, Austin