10 Best AWS Books For Beginners and Advanced Programmers

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Cloud computing has changed the world for the better. With the advent of the Cloud, the need to buy, own and maintain physical data servers is eliminated outright. A cloud provider allows easy access to technology services whenever required.

The Cloud comes with some inherent advantages in terms of agility, elasticity, cost savings, and global reach. As such, an increasing number of organizations are embracing the cloud. They rely on cloud services for a variety of applications, from software development and data backup to data analytics and web applications.

Primarily, Cloud Computing has three types:

  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS)
  • Software as a Service (SaaS)

What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the leading cloud services providers. Over the years, it has powered innovation in cloud computing. AWS makes for a big chunk of the cloud computing pie. As such, learning AWS is existentially useful for coders and cloud programmers.

Whether you seek AWS certification for your career growth or simply wish to get intimate with all the AWS fuss around, books can be a helpful resource. Here’s a well-curated list of the top 10 AWS Books to help your cause.

10 Best AWS Books

1. Amazon Web Services in Action

Amazon Web Services in Action

Description: “Amazon Web Services in Action” is a beginner-friendly book. It is an extensive guide to help you know how to integrate web apps in the AWS cloud. The book starts with an introduction to AWS and WordPress and then builds virtual infrastructure consisting of computers and networking. The subsequent parts of the book deal with storing data in the cloud and architecting it on AWS.

Released in 2018, the second edition of the book has some much-needed upgrades over the first edition published in 2015. The new topics include sharing data with EFS, serverless infrastructure with AWS Lambda, and in-memory storage with ElastiCache.

  • Originally Published: 2015
  • Authors: Michael Wittig and Andreas Wittig
  • Level: Beginner to intermediate

You can buy this book here.

2. AWS for Dummies

Amazon Web Services For Dummies (For Dummies Series)

Description: It’s an excellent introduction to AWS, written with beginners in mind. You can rely on the book for hands-on information on the various web services like S3, Amazon EC2, Amazon Flexible Payment and Glacier, etc. If you’re aware of AWS products, you are free to skip some sections of the book.

As an ideal AWS resource for beginners, it also explains how AWS can help increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. in the book, you will come across step-by-step instructions to create a robust website using different AWS features.

  • Originally Published: 2013
  • Author: Bernard Golden
  • Level: Beginner

You can buy this book here.

3. Learn Amazon Web Services in a Month of Lunches

Learn Amazon Web Services in a Month of Lunches

Description: It is a beginner-level book that teaches AWS fundamentals in 21 well-curated chapters. The author uses a unique pedagogical approach to free you from lengthy AWS documents, thus shortening the learning curve.

As the name suggests, it follows a 30-day challenge to learn all the basics of AWS. The author, Clinton builds the foundation for AWS for the most part and elaborates how to proceed further with the information gained from the book. All you need is to know how to use Windows or Linux and some basic idea about the working of web applications. That will set you up nicely to work with this book.

  • Originally Published: 2017
  • Author: David Clinton
  • Level: Beginner

You can buy this book here.

4. AWS Automation Cookbook

AWS Automation Cookbook

Description: This book is for developers or system administrators and DevOps engineers interested in continuous integration deployment. This essentially means you require knowing AWS fundamentals to fully capitalize on the book. Some of the topics covered in the book are CI/CD, EC2, Autoscaling, AWS Lambda, etc.

AWS Automation Cookbook is primarily about how to automate your application deployment using AWS developer tools. The examples provided in the book are detailed and well-illustrated. It also has a dedicated chapter for troubleshooting and best practices, which makes it one of the top books on Amazon Web Services.

  • Originally Published: 2017
  • Author: Nikit Swaraj
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced

You can buy this book here.

5. Learning Amazon Web Services (AWS): A Hands-On Guide to the Fundamentals of AWS Cloud

Learning Amazon Web Services (AWS) A Hands-On Guide to the Fundamentals of AWS Cloud

Description: This book by Mark Wilkins is an introductory book to AWS. Some even call it the Amazon AWS tutorial. Mark explains the key features of AWS in the context of a running case study. The case studies discussed are practical, and the book itself is a great resource if someone’s looking to get their AWS certification.

On buying this book, buyers can expect free online videos to beef up their knowledge. These videos are a step-by-step guide to AWS setting, storage, computing, networking, security, scale, and automation.

  • Originally Published: 2019
  • Author: Mark Wilkins
  • Level: Beginner

You can buy this book here.

6. Learn AWS Serverless Computing

Learn AWS Serverless Computing A beginner's guide to using AWS Lambda, Amazon API Gateway, and services from Amazon Web Services

Description: Learn AWS Serverless Computing by Scott Patterson is a guide to using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and other Amazon Web Services. In the early part, the book discusses the history of computing and its subsequent evolution. If you are looking for such info in the top books on Amazon Web Services, “Learn AWS Serverless Computing” makes sense.

The book explores the topic of Lambda functions in depth. It walks us through topics like how to create your Lambda functions and build and deploy serverless applications using AWS Lambda. Although the book is written for novices, a basic knowledge of AWS before reading the book would get the most out of it.

  • Originally Published: 2019
  • Author: Scott Patterson
  • Level: Beginner to Intermediate

You can buy this book here.

7. Programming AWS Lambda

Programming AWS Lambda Build and Deploy Serverless Applications with Java

Description: It’s a guide on how Java engineers can use their experience in the world of serverless computing. As AWS is explained through Java, one must have a working knowledge of Java or other programming languages.

While the book provides excellent insights for every reading level, it’s especially great for someone new to serverless computing and AWS concepts. Throughout the book, emphasis is on explaining the concepts rather than on the code. Every chapter is concluded with exercises that help practice the concepts learned.

 

  • Originally Published: 2020
  • Author: John Chapin, Mike Roberts
  • Level: Beginner to Intermediate

You can buy this book here.

8. AWS Certified Advanced Networking Official Study Guide

AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty Exam Guide Build your knowledge and technical expertise as an AWS-certified networking specialist

Description: If getting AWS certification is a priority, this book would exceed your expectations. AWS certification validates advanced technical skills, which is why techies often take these exams. Even if you don’t plan on getting any certification, you’ll still find this book to be a valuable resource.

Since the book is written as a guide to exams, there are ample exercises and questions at the end of each chapter. When you lay your hands on the book, expect a free one-year subscription to Sybex Online Study tools and an interactive learning environment. It could be the best way to learn AWS.

  • Originally Published: 2019
  • Author: Siddhartha Chauhan, Alan Halachmi, Steve Morad, Nick Matthews, James Devine, Matt Lehwess, Stephen Seymour
  • Level: Intermediate

You can buy this book here.

9. Mastering AWS Cost Optimization

Mastering AWS Cost Optimization Real-world technical and operational cost-saving best practices

Description: For Mastering AWS Cost Optimization, the name says it all. It is an advanced-level book on the subject, helping you get proficiency in the cost optimization part of cloud computing. You get an in-depth insight into both the technical and operational aspects of AWS. Compute services, storage services, and application layers are some of the topics covered in the book, besides cost optimization.

It is a detailed guide, and the contents are discussed elaborately. It’s one of the top books on Amazon Web Services but isn’t fit for a beginner. If you have an organization running on AWS, it could prove to be helpful to you too.

  • Originally Published: 2019
  • Author: Eli Mansoor, Yair Green
  • Level: Advanced

You can buy this book here.

10. Cloud Computing Solutions Architect

Cloud Computing Solutions Architect A Hands-On Approach A Competency-based Textbook for Universities and a Guide for AWS Cloud Certification and Beyond

Description: Cloud Computing Solutions Architect by Arshdeep Bagha is another advanced level book. The reader is expected to possess a working knowledge of AWS programming. The book goes well into detail to explain concepts. Case studies provided in the book have real-world usage in different sectors.

The book is divided into three parts. Part one is about fundamentals like REST, Python, Django, etc, while the second part details more advanced topics like analytics, storage, and security. The third part has much to do about security, reliability, cost optimization, and other key topics.

  • Originally Published: 2019
  • Author: Arshdeep Bagha
  • Level: Advanced

You can buy this book here.

Conclusion

AWS is a vast and relevant topic. Identifying your purpose in learning might be the first step towards choosing a book on the subject. If you’re looking to get AWS certified, you will opt for a different book compared to someone who’s only looking to introduce themselves to AWS.

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