# Ruby Cookbook vs Programming Ruby

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-cookbook-vs-programming-ruby/66589>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 27, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-cookbook-vs-programming-ruby/66589 "2006-08-27T13:10:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JoSSSSo_Michigan)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-cookbook-vs-programming-ruby/66589/1 "2006-08-27T13:10:18Z")

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Hello again,

```
Just wondering if anybody could help me choose between O'Reilly's 

```

Ruby Cookbook and The Pragmatic Programmer’s Programming Ruby (2nd  
edition). I’m having a real hard time figuring which one to spend my  
savings on.

```
Thanks,
João Michigan
```

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**Author:** ![JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JoSSSSo_Michigan)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-cookbook-vs-programming-ruby/66589/2 "2006-08-27T13:22:19Z")

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Your not comparing apples to apples here. Both serve seperate  
functions. Depends where you are at with the Ruby language.  
Programming Ruby 1st Edition is online and available for reading.  
Edition 2 though is a great revision with plenty of additional and new  
material. Ruby Cookbook blows me away in a good way. The recipes in  
there are incredible for a number of reasons. The range and number of  
recipes in the Cookbook are exceptional. Personally I couldn’t choose  
between either but if you want to come up to speed with Ruby then  
Programming Ruby is the one too get. It’s a must have for learning  
and reference. Once you’ve gained some ground defintely go for the  
Cookbook as well. Put it on your wishlist or sell your grandmother.

Stuart

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**Author:** ![JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@JoSSSSo\_Michigan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/JoSSSSo_Michigan)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-cookbook-vs-programming-ruby/66589/3 "2006-08-27T16:22:38Z")

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Both are worth having, but if you can really only afford one, I  
recommend going with Programming Ruby. But get both the print and the  
PDF versions. I find the PDF version an essential reference while I’m  
coding.

Regards, Morton