On Oct 9, 2007, at 9:40 PM, M. Edward (Ed) Borasky wrote:

> Giles Bowkett wrote:
>>> What books would you recommend for a course on Ruby and Ruby on  
>>> Rails?
>>>  I am currently evaluating books for a course I'm teaching next
>>> semester and am trying to get a good sample before I make any
>>> decisions.  I'd be happy to have separate books for Ruby and RoR.
>> My favorite Ruby book is still "The Ruby Way." "Ruby By Example" is
>> also excellent, especially if you want to cover basic functional
>> progrmaming. "The Rails Way" is aiming to be the dominant reference,
>> currently that position belongs to "Agile Web Dev w/Rails," which is
>> the default book. I'd say go with both there also and you can't go
>> wrong.
> The only single book I know of that *adequately* covers *both* Ruby  
> and Rails is David A. Black's "Ruby for Rails". Some folks think  
> it's light on Rails and heavy on Ruby, but I disagree.
>
> If you're going to go with separate books, I'd stick with the  
> Pickaxe and AWDR. There just aren't any substitutes worth talking  
> about.
>
Ruby for Rails is great, but it is very light on a lot of Rails  
things, but that's because it's a few years old, and more  
importantly, its focus is Ruby more than Rails. Actually, Ruby in the  
context of Rails.
It could certainly use a sequel. Lord knows, Mr. Black could probably  
write 3 sequels to that book without batting an eye.