Linux Mint Forums

About books, I guess you should start with Linux for dummies. There is also Unix for dummies.

Learn by doing. Pull up a computer and install Gentoo. Just follow the manual, do it step by step. Then try some other distros. Read the forums. Google "bash commands" and whatever other keywords interest you, find the good websites, there are way too many to even start to list. There is a wealth of info in distro wikis. I wouldnt waste too much time with books, information changes too fast. Linux for dummies might be a good start but once you get your feet wet you will find Linux is very fast moving.

Take a look at this site and see if it is what you are looking for. http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Of course, I downloaded, both, the Users Manual for LinuxMint-7 and Ubuntu 9.04 (Important!!)

Then, I registered with several Linux Forums, like this one (LinuxMint) and Ubuntu Forums.
Also, some like LinuxQuestions Forum, among others.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/
http://ubuntuforums.org
http://forums.linuxmint.com/
http://www.linuxquestions.org
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/
http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/index.html
http://distrowatch.com/
http://www.osnews.com/
http://linux.softpedia.com/

There are others, some with lessons for n00bies to Linux and some that are resources for things to learn.
I also, read the Forums, they are a great resource for information about LinuxMint, Ubuntu, other Linux Distros ...
and work with desktop and windows managers, and most importantly, how to compile using terminal, and such.

Call it nerdy, but I actually am just about to buy a copy of Linux for Dummies later on this evening from good ol' Barnes and Noble. And yes, I will be curling up next to the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and some classical music.

Maybe not the classical music.

Or the hot cocoa.

But there will be fire, oh yes, there will be fire.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know if it was worth the 35 dollars I spent, what kind of information was contained therein, etcetera.