The artist’s guide to GIMP effects : creative techniques for photographers, artists, and designers/ Michael J. Hammel, No Starch Press, 2007
The Gimp has needed this book for years. Gimp has a quirky GUI that can be learned with a bit of patience. Now, with this book, an artistically inclined person can jump in and easily learn how to use Gimp.
Producing Open Source Software: How to Run a Successful Free Software Project, by Karl Fogel, O’Reilly, 2005
Producing Open Source Software is a book about the human side of open source development. It describes how successful projects operate, the expectations of users and developers, and the culture of free software. The book is released under an open copyright: it is available here.
TCP/IP architecture, design and implementation in Linux / Sameer Seth, Wiley, IEEE, 2008
Here is a book that delves into the architecture and code details of networking in Linux. 750 pages, hardcover.
The all-new switch book : the complete guide to LAN switching technology / Rich Seifert, Jim Edwards, Wiley, 2008
If you think Ethernet hubs and switches are simple, you need to do some reading in this well written book. Topics include link congestion, security, source routing, and Virtual LANs (VLANs). 750 pages, hardcover.
Learning JavaScript / Shelley Powers, O’Reilly, 2009
Here is an excellent introduction to Javascript, covering the basics, AJAX and DOM. You will like this book.
Design-build-run : applied practices and principles for production-ready software development / David Ingram, Wiley, 2009
Here is a book with good practical advice for you when you are planning a software project. From the back cover: “What is the secret to successful software development? Veteran software architect David Ingram believes that a true success story is a project that delivers a system with all the required functionality, on time and within budget.” 650 pages.
Linux bible : boot up to Ubuntu, Fedora, KNOPPIX, Debian, SUSE, and 13 other distributions / Christopher Negus, Wiley 2009
Here is a user and admin manual for Linux. You can enjoy many hours of poking through and trying out all the tools and packages discussed in this book. It contains a DVD and a CD containing various distros. At 800 pages, this is a fat book.
Getting started with Flex 3 / Jack Herrington, O’Reilly, 2008
This book will help you develop Flash or RIA applications. It’s amazing how much useful info for a beginner programmer they can pack into a pocket sized book. 125 pages.
Building the perfect PC / Robert Bruce Thompson, O’Reilly, 2007
Here is great information for choosing PC components, written by the maintainers of hardwareguys.com
101 boardroom problems and how to solve them / Eli Mina, American Management Association, 2009
This excellent book applies to business meetings in general. “… bring order and sense to any boardroom and enable the best possible decision-making.” –The CEO Refresher