I have half read about 5 different Ruby books, but this book outshines them all by miles. It's a fun read, with some great tidbits that aren't even in the other books. It cuts to some very core concepts without being overly pedantic. If the first Ruby book I bought had been this good, I might never have tried another. (Well, OK, the pickaxe is still good to have for reference). I can't wait to see more from this author!