The road to knowledge of informatics

Hi!

I followed the post "My conceptual problem with my computer." by roboq6. One of the answers that caught my attention by Pigpen is very interesting in my opinion. He stated the following:

"Here's my solution, take it step by step and realize that you won't get there overnight:

1) Great tutorials at www.tldp.org (click on "Guides" in the middle of the page)
a) Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide
b) GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary
c) The Linux System Administrators' Guide
d) Bash Beginners' Guide (if you're so inclined, I'm not really there yet)
e) Advanced Bash Scripting Guide (only when you're ready)

Note that these are all dated, but they all have great information that is still very relevant -- and they can all be downloaded to read at your leisure.

2) Other tutorials -- I don't recall the exact websites where these came from, but any good search engine (I recommend Startpage.com) can find them for you
a) Linux Essentials - The LPI Introductory Programme
b) Linux Fundamentals by Paul Cobbaut
c) The Linux® Command Line by William E. Shotts, Jr.

These are all also free and downloadable.

3) Books from the library or a second-hand store
a) I'm reading "Linux Essentials" by Roderick Smith, good basic stuff
b) Next up is "Linux Administration Handbook" -- I've glanced at this, and it's the best-written computer book I've ever seen."

What i want:

I want to change my life professionally to other area's job. And that area is informatics, or science of computation.
This guide is very good to begin the first steps on gnu-linux.

Although my bachelor's degree is based in litterature, i am now praticing maths, remembering it little by little before adventuring on heavy maths of the university. And i saw that the current curricular program of mosts courses in various portugueses universities only speak a bit of linux (if they speak).

So What i want to ask you guys, the pros in the language of programation, is: what are the best step to improve myself to gather knowledge to be prepared for the course when they speak only a bit about "linux" in general and even less about gnu-linux? Is this guide usefull to coexist alongisde with the "microsoftiiiishhh way" that is often taught in the universities?
I am asking it to save some time while learning and at same time maximizing my time while finding a part-time job.
Thanks to all. And have a nice night :P