Security Books

Excellent Book. Who said an old dog can't learn new tricks. Found several little tid-bits that have trimmed a number of my scripts or changed the way I've implemented services! A great desktop companion for advanced and intermediate admins.

This is a very good book. These remarks are for Linux users on the way up. If you are already an über-üser, well, you will probably like this book anyway.

If you don't have the first volume, you might want to start with it. It has some simple but very useful things that apply to just about anyone with their own Linux box and a command line.

This volume is much more advanced, and most of the tricks and techniques deal with much more specialized problem domains, ie. things you might not have run into yet. One advantage of this book over the first is that it is very up to date in its recommendations of existing software to use.

'Linux Server Hacks Volume Two' by William von Hagen is an outstanding companion guide for ALL Linux users and administrators. Packed with over 450 pages and 100 new hacks not in Volume 1, these aren't just known by everybody things that you can do with Linux, these are hot tips and tricks that most any Linux freak can excel from learning about.

Chapters Covered:

01. Linux Authentication
02. Remote GUI Connectivity
03. System Services
04. Cool Sysadmin Tools and Tips
05. Storage Management and Backups
06. Standardizing, Sharing, and Synchronizing Resources
07. Security
08. Troubleshooting and Performance
09. Logfiles and Monitoring
10. System Rescue, Recovery, and Repair

Pick this book up now, you will NOT be disappointed in this delcious Linux FEAST!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I can't say enough about the work done in Linux Server Hacks vII by the two Bs. Bill and Brian have hit the ball out of the ballpark with this one.

Just the section on LVM (Logical Volume Management) have saved my bacon!

Every single "hack" (read tip) is extremely practical, applicable and relevant to managing and administering Linux systems whether "servers" or not!

The absolute best part of this book is that you get really useful, insightful views into the experiences of seasoned veterans of Unix systems. If you sit in a NOC or if you're the 24x7 guy/gal on a server farm, this book is an occupational requirement! Everyone else will appreciate it if they're running Linux. In my modest network of perhaps 30 Linux systems, I can tell you that I saved hours of effort with just two of the hacks included in this volume. Considering the time savings, buying this book saved my company more than 300% on the cover price.

Are you a system administrator? If you are, then this book is for you! Authors Bill Von Hagen and Brian K Jones, have done an outstanding job of writing volume two of a book that focuses on cool hacks they developed or used in their server and system administration careers.

Von Hagen and Jones, begin by exploring the authentication options that are available to you in heterogeneous networked computing environments and simplify administering user accounts and passwords. Then, the authors explore ways of connecting to remote systems. Next, the authors explain how to set up central servers that do things like synchronize the time on all the systems in your environment, deliver IP addresses to newly connected hosts, and integrate these services with existing ones. The authors then present a variety of cool sysadmin tips and techniques that they've accumulated over the years, including how to keep processes running without writing a daemon or staying logged in, how to use PXE to netboot Linux, how to share information with fellow sysadmins in a centralized fashion, how to get the most out of classic but incredibly useful terminal-oriented applications, and so on. They continue to explore some cool ways of making it easier for you to manage storage, deploy new systems, do backups of today's huge disks, and even reduce the need for some of the restore requests that occasionally clog every sysadmin's inbox. Then, the authors provide some tips and tricks for managing distributed storage and making sure the administrative environments on your servers are synchronized. They then discuss a wide range of security tools and techniques that can help you sleep at night and protect your systems at the same time. Next, they provide techniques for optimizing system performance, whether by figuring out who's hogging the entire CPU and shooting down that user's network sessions or by using cool knobs in the /proc filesystem to tweak system performance or using journaling filesystems to minimize system restart time. Then, they include hacks that enable you to centralize log information in a variety of ways, be warned when problems arise, and get the most out of system status information, whether it's log information, internal disk controller status data, or remote hardware status information that you can collect via SNMP. Finally, the authors show you how to boot crippled systems so that you can diagnose problems, repair munged filesystems, and even recover deleted files of data that was stored on disks that have gone belly up.

This most excellent book has presented hacks that are techniques that the authors have used at various times. More importantly, they view these techniques as time- and hassle-savers that are usually downright fun and cool.

Mutual fund investment Strategies is 260 pages and 18 chapters, packed with powerful investment strategies. Mr. Dicks does make a strong case for mutual fund investing in place of individual stock investing. Dicks explains that you can invest in stocks and invest in a mutual fund, check your results in 1-2 years and see which has performed better. In most cases, it will be the mutual fund as most investors lose on individual stocks. On the other hand, if your individual stocks have performed better, then go with individual stocks...BUT...be sure to check your net rate of return.J.W. Dicks also talks about how to reduce risk and the fact that he discloses risk with mutual funds unlike other financial authors, is refreshing.Mr. Dicks also discusses investing for the "Times of Your Life" offering model portfolios for investors at various stages of their life.Overall, a very good investment book and I highly recommend it.

With so many investing books out there, what a pleasure it is to read one that has practical information that actually works.

The "Profit-Line" Strategy will have you in the right investments at the right time and out before the roof caves in.
Dicks also goes into detail discussing sector funds and international funds. When to be in a money market fund and when to be in a bond fund. He also discusses "Investing for the times of your life" offering tailor made advice for people in their 20's, 40's and during retirement.

Overall, a very practical and workable book on how to successfully invest in funds. Also interesting is that Dicks was one of the first to warn about back-end loads and hidden fees and costs that most mutal fund companies used to keep hidden in the small print.

Although the book was written back in 1997, the principles are still very sound. I would like to see Dicks write and updated version with perhaps his feelings on ETFs which are low cost but charge commissions.

For business owners, I highly recommend Dicks "How to Incorporate series" and "Form Your Coporation and Launch a Business in Any State."

This excellent book by J.W.Dicks will take you from thinking about investing to actually investing and more importantly, investing profitably.Mutual funds are still the safest, most powerful way to invest in securities despite what is going on right now in the industry. The key is education and taking personal responsibility in lieu of turning your money over to a broker and saying "Here you invest it and watch it for me."J.W. Dicks will show you how to take control over your investments, start with little money but get big returns.I also recommend "Moonlght Investing", another book by Dicks as well as two other books by Dicks that were recommended to me and I jsut read are "Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State" and"The Small Business Kit.Dicks is an attorney as well as a successful entrepneneur. Beware of other books written by people who are essentially brokers and write strategies to match the products they sell. There are also some book written by "How to Incorporate" by people who have yet to launch their own business, save selling used books and writing self published books.

This book by J.W. Dicks is possibly the best mutual fund book available today. I have been using his profit line strategy for the past 3 years and have made money while others have lost money. Dicks is one of the very few that recommends moving averages and relative strength factors with mutual funds.The chapter on how to reduce taxes was also very helpful.I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by J.W. DICKS.

I bought this book over 5 years ago and consider it the single best investing book out there. Especially when you consider what is going on right now in the mutual fund industry, the old mantra that "a mutual fund is a mutual fund" is not true at all.

Dicks shows you how to take the risk out of investing. How and when to move in and out of stocks, bonds and money market funds. He covers international funds as well and sector funds.

Dicks was also one of the first people to caution that mutual funds are not without risk. I believe that investors could have saved a small fortune (I know I did) had they had this information back in 2000 and even more recently.

I also recommend Moonlight Investing also by Dicks and the 100 Best Investments for your retirement by J.W.Dicks et all.

If you are in business then Form a Corporation and Launch a Business in Any State is a must read as well. Dicks is one of those authors that most people have never heard of, but he packs powerful information in his books that actually works and is based on experience not opinion.

Highly recommended.

A simple concise way of managing your money. No fluff and it comes from a man who has done it and helped a lot of people manage their money successfully. He is a self made millionaire, not from writing books, but from actually making and managing money (unlike many other so called financial gurus)

I can't put it down. The book is concise and to the point. It feels like Mr. Sestina is speaking directly to you. This is not a book you just read and put down to collect dust. You definitely need to have a pen, highlighter, and paper so you can put his principles to work immediately. It's no wonder John Sestina is the BEST Financial Planner in the country. Get the book.

A great book for persons of any income to help get started on the path to financial freedom.

This book is an absolute pleasure to read! Not only because learning the fundamentals of successful financial planning from the most qualified financial planner in the country but also the information in this book is written in a very easy to understand, very structured, not confusing language. It certainly takes the fear and myth out of financial planning. Regardless of your current financial knowledge and status, you can start to apply John's most insightful experience and valuable advice for the price of a book. This cost of this book will, for sure, give you the highest ROI. Get one today if you don't already have one and read it! Believe it or not, you will enjoy reading it too!

John Sestina shows how with Common Sense you can get on track to having a truly secure financial future. The steps he describes are in laymen's terms that can be followed without having to have a Doctorate Degree in Finance. Great Book. I've given copies of this book to my family.

Donald T. Phillips does an exceptional job at narrating the life of the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He does an incredible job in tying in the aspects of Dr. King's life as a man, and activist together with the principals of Leadership.

He breaks down the book into 4 sections, that each details the start and end of the American Civil Rights movement. Phillips does an amazing job at chronicling the events that most shaped the philosophy of Dr. King.

I truly enjoyed this book because it helped me realize that it is possible for me to achieve my goals using the same techniques that Dr. King used. The book does a great job at outlining how a normal person can create change the way Dr. King did. Whether you live in turbulent times like those in which the Civil Rights took place or not.

I recommend this book to anyone in a leadership position to those who aspire to be leaders, but mostly to those with a goal to succeed. The knowledge you will acquire with this book is invaluable to future successes.

The book targets all, but I think it specifically aims to inspire African- Americans especially those who wish to be in leadership positions. The book in general is a great read for businesses and for groups in general. It informs the audience about the dynamics of groups and how to work through the problems that groups face.

It helps inform leaders as to the advantages and disadvantages of being a leader. Overall the book is a great read. And you will truly enjoy it.

Donald Phillips did a wonderful job of telling the story of Martin Luther King Jr. from his childhood to his death, and connecting it all to a marvelous leadership style. Being a student of leadership studies and a fan of Martin Luther King Jr., I chose this book as a study of both subjects. Having read it, I have to say I learned more about leadership from this book than any other I have read. However, I am no longer a fan of MLK......... he is now a hero of mine.

As Donald Phillips points out, for every major turning point in American history, creative leaders - right for the times and uniquely suited to the task - assume the mantle of leadership. Donald Phillips not only describes how MLK ended up at the mantle, but how and why he was the right person for the job.

MLK's movement is not the same civil rights movement being pushed by the self-serving, so-called, activists today. Read this book, you will learn about a true leader and what a true leader is. It is easy reading and inspiring. Highly recommended.

I am a student and a teacher of leadership skills, and I have found no better example than Martin Luther King Jr. This book combines the history of King's movement, but also chronicles the qualities which made King great. The text is easy to read, and fascinating. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Leadership should be required reading for anyone who hopes to impact their world. The famed Harvard psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, who studied moral development, named King as one of the greatest moral thinkers in history. Read this book, and you will understand why.

I picked up this book simply thinking it would be a great story about leadership, but the underlying history of Martin Luther King is riveting as well. The leadership stories translate well to business and personal leadership--they speak to (all) people wanting to be part of a higher, unifying mission. If you like to "mark-up" the margins with thoughts keep a pen handy for this one. Its a book I talked about with colleagues and family more than any other I've read.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was voted the most electrifying public address of the twentieth century. It takes some kind of a leader to give that kind of a speech. Donald T. Phillips presents the ideals of leadership that Martin Luther King Jr. followed in an overview of the history of the civil rights struggle. Phillips describes the techniques King used at various stages of the civil rights battle. He also shares King's comments on leadership. Many of the principles will be quite familiar: listen to learn, lead by being led, awaken direct action, encourage creativity and involve the people. However, the book is especially interesting when it demonstrates how King put these principles into practice. This well-organized, well-written book is clear, direct, and easy to read. While it is written for the general public (especially for African-Americans and those interested in civil rights), we [...] find this book interesting for all managers and executives, particularly those who like to learn the lessons of history.

For many people looking for information on how to start an investment club, there's lots of free information online about how to get started...but they all seem to be lacking something. This is especially true for the person who wants to do more than start an enterprise that never seems to grow beyond the "social club" atmosphere.

Good for investing novices but EXCELLENT for groups that are established but want to shake things up, Money Does Grow On Trees provides not only the how but the WHY in an informative and delightful read. And even more importantly, it doesn't just limit itself to stocks and bonds, but also business ventures and privately created investments. A GREAT RESOURCE for expanding your group's investing horizons!

Having enough members, dues,and a realistic investment strategy is important when starting an investment club, but the most important thing to have in order for an investment club to flourish is for it's members to have the proper frame of mind."Money does Grow on Trees" is a book that gets a person in the right frame of mind to create a successful investment club.

I thought I would take my time reading the book, but once I picked it up, I read it in one sitting! I learned a great deal from this book, and it was entertaining at the same time, which isn't exactly common in this genre.

"Money Does Grow on Trees" is an inspirational and motivational read. Not only do you learn about investing and building wealth, you also learn what it takes to run an investment group utilizing the concepts of collective economics. More importantly, the concepts are intricately woven into a thrilling narrative that takes the reader on a journey! I would recommend this book to all.

Everyone that has read this book has said the same thing. Quick, Easy, Interesting and Fun. It is a must read for anyone trying to build wealth.

This is a treasure for all to enjoy!

One of the best first hand accounts of the civil rights movement I have read. There were things in this book you will not find in the history books. A must read

A wonderful piece of work, Raines merely interviews the people from the wide and varied perspectives of the movement and gives them free rein to tell "their story" "their way" managing within this framework to lace a compelling and interesting plot around some states and some history that time and justice seemed to have forgotten.

Seven years Raines' junior, I grew up white and a carpetbagger (from the North. . .)in Augusta, GA and I now have context for stories I was told. One among many, I knew the Hamilton Holmes' car story told by the KA frat guys when they were adults, still bragging but also, "they didn't really mean it."

I am still quite mystified how a Birmin'ham boy, bragging that his Alabama ancestors fought for the Union, lived to tell about it.

I highly recommend "Fly Fishing . . ." as well. IT's NOT ABOUT THE FISH. Great read.

He thought it was tough being the baby brother; I can only suggest that he try getting fishing privileges as the Irish twin younger sister.

This book is on the list of 100 best or most influential books I've ever read--mainly because it is observant, honest, humble and direct, with no political agendas and no effete overtones. This is a title well worth re-examining some 20 years after publication. It can be browzed through at random, with something startling jumping at you on virtually every page. Or, it can be read straight through. It's quite a white-knuckle event. Many books have been written on the subject, but there's something quietly compelling about this one. Raines is one of our great journalists. This is a good way to become acquainted with him, in the days before he became elevated to one of the most prestigious newspaper jobs in the world.

--Jim Reed, author, DAD'S TWEED COAT: SMALL WISDOMS HIDDEN COMFORTS UNEXPECTED JOYS jimreedbooks.com

It was difficult to stop reading the book, once I started. This collection of interviews with the idealists, the activists, the real "fighters" in the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s -- and the people who stood against them -- is an empowering, educational read. Truly, this book is a must for those interested in learning more about the civil rights struggle (a struggle that continues until today), and about movements for peace and social justice in general.

Howell Raines is the new executive editor for "The New York Times," but he is at heart a writer. Both strengths come to the fore in this excellent book on the American civil rights movement. As an oral history, it necessarily contains first-hand accounts of dozens and dozens of the main (and not-so-important) players in the movement. Raines does a fine and fair job of putting their stories into essentially chronological order and editing or moving bits and pieces only where necessary to ensure good flow for the reader. There were a few names I had heard of before, but many were new to me. There are surprises in this book. While we mostly associate the civil rights movement with the deep south in the mid-1960s, it actually got its start in Chicago in the 1940s when groups of people protested with the first lunch-counter sit-ins (when a manager came out to scold one of these groups with the flat, "We don't serve colored folks here," one quick-witted participant fired back, "That's OK, we don't eat 'em!"). Another revelation was the tensions between the older blacks and the younger black student generation. The older blacks, while not happy with segregation, sometimes felt that at least everyone knew where they stood with it--while the younger generation was champing at the bit to get out there and change the world overnight. Finally, it was interesting to read that many of the original founders of the movement were inspired far more by Gandhi than by Martin Luther King, Jr. A number of them express their opinion that King--while undoubtedly important and absolutely essential once the movement got underway--was not himself so convinced as to the value of a) the movement itself and b) non-violent protest--many of this friends and co-workers say here that he continued to espouse it only because eventually, he felt he had been thoroughly and unmistakeably identified with it. Although I was surprised that neither Coretta Scott King nor the Reverend Jesse Jackson were inteviewed for Mr. Raines' book, their absence is my only quibble with what is otherwise an enormously valuable and terrifically readable history.

So mucy of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives or the Library of Congress (if unclassified). Insightful!

Excellent and comprehensive review of US policy in Micronesia during a key period in its history. Fascinating insights into the relationships that influenced policy development. Thorough and scholarly research that should be a classic in years to come.

So much of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives and the Library of Congress. That is if the documents were declassified. This book is insightful.

So much of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives and the Library of Congress. That is if the documents were declassified. This book is insightful.

I speak as one who has lived in the Northern Mariana Islands for more than thirty years, and who had a role in the events (I was one of those who were interviewed) and who knew and worked with many of the central figures involved in them. Willens and Siemer have written a thoroughly researched and historically accurate work, and one which I enjoyed reading immensely -- as will anyone interested in this corner of the Pacific.

I bought this book to help me learn about my family's history as a Native American Indian. I was always concerned that the Native American Indians had a unfair portrayal in American History. This book I think is a valuable literary piece. It breaks events down in historical order. They are easy to read. Once I finished with I felt I had read the Native Indian's perspective which is amiss in the Northeast school teachings of history. There were some interesting stories that were accounted as well.

Native Americans have been fighting for ages to tell their side of the story, but they haven't been able to get through to the mainstream. In this book, Nabokov presents us the Native American perspective from prophecy to present. By reading the testimony of Native Americans themselves, we get a clear picture of their plight. This book doesn't give a detailed history of Native Americans, but rather gives us a finger on the pulse of the Native spirit.

Native Americans have lost a great deal. When Europeans first arrived in North America, they did what they could to help these new brothers, and were happy to share what they had. However, the Europeans kept on coming and they started taking what didn't belong to them. The Europeans started fencing off the native lands. They destroyed the land and the animals with their greed. The Native Americans were continually pushed off their ancestoral lands and were driven to less desirable lands. They suffered the loss of their lands, traditions, and way of life. It's important for us as Americans to examine this sad episode of our history. We should take this lesson and apply it to our lives, and think about how we treat others who are different from us. I really recommend this book to those who are interested in reading the other side of the history of our nation.

Native American Testimony is one of the best books I have ever read regarding the real history of the native peoples. It tells of the first meeting of the white man through the present. This is all from the Native American perspective. All tribes are represented throughout this book showing the different expereinces they each had with the white man. And the white mans need to change a beautiful culture. This book should be read by everyone at some point in there life, it should be mandatory within the school system as well. It shows the strength these people had to survive and how they fought for there rights. I enjoyed this book because for the first time in my life I felt I was being told the truth about the relationship of the US government and the Native Americans. Past to Present.

Testimonies from all different tribes of Native Americans which are grouped by subject in part and chronically in part. Very informative primary sources. Wonderful for research.

Nabokov's book is a fantastic compilation of Native American history as remembered and documented by the First People of America. I bought this book for a class that I am taking and will definitely keep this in my library as a valued treasure. It's easy to read and is in somewhat of a chronological order

As a fan of the TV show "The West Wing", and considering how much the Situation Room was an integral part of the shows storylines, I wondered and wondered what the real Sit Room was about. Even more, I always wondered if there was a book that takes you inside the Sit Room, just like a book that takes you inside the Pentagon, or inside the White House. Naturally, there is such a book in "Nerve Center". Even better, it's the only book on record that takes you into the Sit Room.

This book has it all: political intrigue, history, secrets, clashes of personalities, clashes of organizations, character development of those who functioned in the room, even a bit of fiction. It greatly clears up the perceptions about how the Sit Room is depicted in TV and in the movies.

A bit of warning! If you were not a political junkie before reading this book, you will become one after reading this book. The book influenced me greatly. I am now one of them, whether it is fact or fiction...I want more. You WILL NOT be disappointed after reading this book. Great reading!!

Excellent sneak peak into the White House Situation Room, dispelling myths and showing us the American people how our leaders handle a crisis.

I first read this book 2 years ago after purchasing it from Amazon, and loved it the moment I saw it. Sitting down to read it was almost like opening a chocolate box, with wonderful anecdotes from dozens of men and women who have served in the nexus of American Military decision making. I highly recomend this book to anyone who would like to find out more about the White House Situation room and it's impact on the world and the West Wing itself.

Bohn, Commander Bohn. Shakes not stirs events in the White House from the Situation Room. He takes the pulse of the Sit Room and displays it with humor and humanity. This is the first account of the people who watch and report on events that shape our world. Well done and well written!

Mike Bohn has succeeded in opening to the reader a portion of the White House that few understand - let alone acknowledge its existence or function. The Situation Room truly is the "Nerve Center" for the country - both in times of crisis and in peace time. It is a central briefing room for the President, and a contact center for countries around the globe. Before reading this wonderful book, I hadn't thought about how calls to heads-of-state were made on behalf of the President, but now I can see why they would all go through the Situation Room.

If you are a fan of political movies, and want to know the truth behind the Hollywood fiction, or are just a political junkie, then this truly is the one book you want on your shelf!

I bought this book for a class but will definitely keep it afterwards. A lot of well organized information on computer security, from policy to implementation.

This book wasn't required, but suggested for one of my classes. I am so glad that I bought it. I'll be referencing it for years. So much info in it. Why is it so cheap?

A true bible for network security. Also covered are items on risk management, network security policies etc. The book includes simple to advanced topics on network security

Network Security: The Complete Reference is simply an awesome security book.

It has just about everything you need to know when it comes to infosec.

I'm working in Information Security, and I was looking for a good security book, fortunately my decision was the best. This book is very complete and not only explain the concepts of network security but Information Security in the general context. The topics are technical as well as administrative. Explain how the security should be implemented and assessed or audited. I really improved my knowledge and my productivity in my job.