This page features a collection of some of the best Ruby books for all learning levels.I will guide through the process of selecting the best Ruby book for you, based on my expertise with the language (programming in it since 2005), my extensive experience with mentoring young programmers, and having reviewed dozens of Ruby books over the years.Searching for the right programming book can be a challenge. I don’t like wasting time or money, so when I buy a programming book it’s typically the result of reading a large number of opinions and reviews to narrow down my selection and then reading parts of the books in a bookstore if possible. Of course, what I’m looking for in a book varies: sometimes I want to know what the best reference is; sometimes it’s looking for the best in depth insights into how and why a language works the way it does; and other times, I’m looking for a book with good hands-on tutorials so I can actually play with a language and learn. No matter which type of book I’m looking for, I expect it to have insights into the “best practices” of the language it’s written about. Typically, I look for the good tutorial book first, followed by the how and why and eventually progress to needing the ultimate reference. Knowing which of the goals I’m trying to satisfy helps me decide which book to choose.
1. Beginning Ruby: From Novice to Professional (3rd Edition) by Peter Cooper
This is a great introduction to Ruby for beginner programmers. It lays down solid foundations for the 
language, while also nicely introducing the whole Ruby ecosystem. The author, Peter Cooper, is a well-known figure in the Ruby community, and in this book he clearly demonstrates his ability to teach and communicate with newcomers. This third edition was released recently and is comprehensive enough to act as a good, current reference book as well.
language, while also nicely introducing the whole Ruby ecosystem. The author, Peter Cooper, is a well-known figure in the Ruby community, and in this book he clearly demonstrates his ability to teach and communicate with newcomers. This third edition was released recently and is comprehensive enough to act as a good, current reference book as well.2.David Flanagan
(By: The Ruby Programming Language )
David Flanagan is a well-known author of several programming language books, which include his instructive best-selling works on JavaScript and Bibles. The book is a complete guide to version 1.8 and 1.9 of Ruby. It is an expert-illustrated edition, comprising of instructional overviews on mastering Ruby Framework. The book is specifically designed for beginners and intermediate Ruby programmers who wish to accomplish pivotal Ruby tricks and techniques to progress in the stream of Ruby programming quickly and uncompromisingly.
3. Practical Object-Oriented Design in Ruby: An Agile Primer
(By: Sandi Metz )
The author has compiled an ultimate edition for advanced Ruby learners, who may use it as a guide to their emergence as top level object-oriented language programmers. The text aims at easing the Ruby-execution-process for programmers who may initially be perplexed over so many unmanaged Ruby frameworks flooding the internet. Metz’s work serves as an ultimate guide to mastering original object-oriented mechanisms and designs, implementing pleasing and manageable codes with vivid illustrations and instructions quoted from a practical approach to Ruby programming.
4. The Ruby Way: Solutions and Techniques in Ruby Programming (3rd Edition) by Hal Fulton and André Arko
It looks like a cookbook, and within its pages you’ll find plenty of how-tos for several common tasks. It is, therefore, a valuable book if treated as a cookbook, but that’s not its main purpose. The Ruby Way is about learning how to deal with a variety of programming tasks in an idiomatic manner. This book is about learning to code the Ruby Way.
The first edition of this book is where David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Rails, learned most of what he knows about meta-programming and Ruby. I personally consider The Ruby Way 3rd Edition to be a definite must-have, it’s chock-full of practical examples and advanced lessons.
5. Ruby under a Microscope: An Illustrated Guide to Ruby Internals
(By: Pat Shaughnessy )
The author has dedicated his book to Ruby programmers of all levels. It is important to understand the deepest and core syntax of a programming language in order to use it for easy coding and advanced application development. The book covers extended information on alternative Ruby implements like Rubinius and JRuby. As a reader proceeds with this book, he/she may be surprised to find the most interesting facts about Ruby that were previously unknown and the way these can utilized in making a super-easy approach to Ruby programming.
When I put together a list of books, I typically aim to highlight a strong book from each of these categories: the getting started tutorial, the deep knowledge book, and the in-depth technical reference. This tends to cover varying levels of programming knowledge and learning styles, which hopefully will give you a better idea of which of the books you will find most valuable.