Computer Networks

In an effort to fill a massive gap in my technical knowledge, I read Andrew Tanenbaum's textbook Computer Networks. Tanenbaum is a CS prof in Amsterdam who has written a few textbooks, though politics junkies may be more familiar with his website http://www.electoral-vote.com/. The book discusses each of the layers in the standard transport models, along with a chapter on security issues. Tanenbaum focuses on the fundamental concepts; you won't learn any practical networking skills. Still, Computer Networks is a good way to learn the underpinning and what all those acronyms mean.