Depending on what you want to specifically learn, I'd start with the easier distributions, no need to waste hours unable to install or use an OS. Then if you wa

Depending on what you want to specifically learn, I'd start with the easier distributions, no need to waste hours unable to install or use an OS. Then if you want to "REALLY LEARN" I'd suggest trying out something like Slackware first before jumping straight into the Gentoo or Arch Linux bandwagon. What you'd learn from Slackware is things like partitioning during installation, and how useful package managers can be ;) Also some commands you want to always use: man is #1 cause it will show you documentation on any other command and how to use them almost every program has a -h or --help that tells you how to use them as well.