The CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide (XK0-005) does touch on many important Linux topics, but often only at a surface level. It’s easy to go through each chapter, feel confident with the material, and score well on the built-in review questions... only to discover that the actual exam expects a much deeper understanding. You could study the book thoroughly and still find yourself unprepared when facing real-world scenarios or the exam’s more challenging questions.
What makes this tricky is that the book can give a sense of readiness that isn’t fully deserved. There’s also a companion book, CompTIA Linux+ Practice Tests by Steve Suehring, which adds valuable perspective... but the jump in difficulty between the two can be discouraging. While the Study Guide feels too light, the Practice Tests can feel too demanding, and many of the questions in this latter book don’t provide enough explanation to bridge the gap. It’s a tough balance, and I found myself overwhelmed at times despite putting in a lot of effort.
In the end, this Study Guide works best as an introduction or a supplement rather than a complete preparation tool. It can help build a foundation, but most learners will likely need additional resources to truly feel confident for the XK0-005 exam. For clarification: I did manage to pass the exam, but I can honestly say that it was not thanks to this book.
PS: The above review is about the XK0-005 exam and book. The new version of this exam (XK0-006) is just around the corner, and I am sure the corresponding book will be released soon. Although this may be an opportunity to improve things, I can only suspect that the dynamic will not change much.