That's how I learned too! I haven't looked at it in ages, but assuming it's still maintained, got through the Gentoo Handbook at http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/h

That's how I learned too! I haven't looked at it in ages, but assuming it's still maintained, got through the Gentoo Handbook at http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/ http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/ and do all of it. Research anything you encounter that you don't undertand, rather than just following the directions blindly, and you'll end up knowing more than many casual linux users.