# Beginner to Ruby **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 17, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722 "2010-01-17T01:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/1 "2010-01-17T01:25:23Z")
Hello to all Ruby members, I am eager to learn Ruby for Rails… I just bought the book “Ruby For Rails” by David A. Black Is it good enough for the beginner like me to start with this book Please Suggest… ---
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/2 "2010-01-17T02:43:47Z")
I started learning a little over a year ago. Although I have a long way to go, I can look back and see that creating an example app that was in the book (Agile Web D. with Rails, Third Edition), really helped me to learn what RoR can do. From there, I read through the details of the language while starting to build my own app. It’s a slow process, learning while coding, and frustrating at times because it can take forever to figure out how to do the simplest thing BUT… slowly but surely, I’m learning. Whatever you decide to read, just stick with it. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/3 "2010-01-17T13:54:53Z")
Akshay, Personally, I liked Ruby on Rails: Up and Running (http:// [www.amazon.com/Ruby-Rails-Running-Bruce-Tate/dp/0596101325](http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Rails-Running-Bruce-Tate/dp/0596101325)). The reviews on Amazon are mixed, but let me say it this way: as a stand- alone book, it will not teach you the in-depth aspects of Rails development. What it WILL do is let you, in an afternoon, fire through an entire book and build an application quickly. I love the Agile Web D. with Rails book. Absolutely love it. But it’s a decently large book that does take some time to get through because it covers all the bases. If you read the RoR: Up and Running book, learn the Rails environment and how these apps work, then go back and read the Agile book to get a deeper understanding, I think you’ll be in good shape. Just my $.02! Good luck and welcome to the RoR community. - Alan [http://twitter.com/anachronistic](http://twitter.com/anachronistic) ---
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/4 "2010-01-18T00:30:29Z")
I haven’t read the book you bought. But Why’s (poignant) Guide to Ruby is a pretty good free beginners book. It is also pretty fun to read. [http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/](http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/) ---
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/5 "2010-01-18T00:30:29Z")
It’s a fine book but if you’re totally new you might want to check beginning ruby: novice to professional by Peter C… It’s very clear and concise and more up-to-date. Sent from my iPhone On Jan 16, 2010, at 5:02 AM, Akshay N. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@aksnavs](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/aksnavs)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginner-to-ruby/181722/6 "2010-01-18T01:19:22Z")
csuper wrote: > I haven’t read the book you bought. But Why’s (poignant) Guide to > Ruby is a pretty good free beginners book. It is also pretty fun to > read. > > [http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/](http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/) It’s a fun read, but I didn’t find it terribly useful for learning. I basically just taught myself from Programming Ruby. Best, –Â Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid