There are a lot of Docker books that claim to be the best. There are many options, and it can be hard to know which books are the best ones to read. So, which one should you choose? If you want to learn about Docker, where do you start?

Top Rated Docker Books of July 2025

1

Using Docker: Developing and Deploying Software with Containers

Rating is 5 out of 5

Using Docker: Developing and Deploying Software with Containers

O Reilly Media

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2

Docker: Up & Running: Shipping Reliable Containers in Production

Rating is 4.9 out of 5

Docker: Up & Running: Shipping Reliable Containers in Production

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3

Mastering Docker: Enhance your containerization and DevOps skills to deliver production-ready applications, 4th Edition

Rating is 4.8 out of 5

Mastering Docker: Enhance your containerization and DevOps skills to deliver production-ready applications, 4th Edition

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4

Docker: A Project-Based Approach to Learning

Rating is 4.7 out of 5

Docker: A Project-Based Approach to Learning

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5

Docker for Developers: Develop and run your application with Docker containers using DevOps tools for continuous delivery

Rating is 4.6 out of 5

Docker for Developers: Develop and run your application with Docker containers using DevOps tools for continuous delivery

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6

Rating is 4.5 out of 5

Docker Deep Dive

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7

Rating is 4.4 out of 5

Docker in Practice, Second Edition

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8

Rating is 4.3 out of 5

Docker in Action, Second Edition

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9

Learn Docker - Fundamentals of Docker 19.x: Build, test, ship, and run containers with Docker and Kubernetes, 2nd Edition

Rating is 4.2 out of 5

Learn Docker - Fundamentals of Docker 19.x: Build, test, ship, and run containers with Docker and Kubernetes, 2nd Edition

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10

Docker Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for Building Distributed Applications

Rating is 4.1 out of 5

Docker Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for Building Distributed Applications

O Reilly Media

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11

Rating is 4 out of 5

Docker Networking Cookbook

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What is Docker, and why is it used?

It is a software platform that allows developers to build and run their applications in containers. A container is a package that holds everything your application needs to run. This includes the code, runtime, system tools, libraries, and settings. Containers let you package your application and its dependencies into a single unit. As a result, your applications become easier to deploy and manage because you don't have to worry about compatibility issues. Docker is used by developers worldwide because it allows them to quickly and easily build and run their applications in a consistent environment.

What is Docker vs. Kubernetes?

Docker and Kubernetes are different technologies that are often confused. Kubernetes is a platform for managing and orchestrating containerized applications. It allows you to automate your applications' deployment, scaling, and management.

In simple terms, Kubernetes does not make containers. Instead, it relies on containers realization technology to make them. One of the most significant differences is that Docker runs on a single host, while Kubernetes can scale to manage multiple hosts. Kubernetes is also more complex and requires a bit more of a learning curve. However, if you want to orchestrate and manage containers at scale, Kubernetes is the right tool.

Why should I use Docker?

There are several benefits of using it:

Security

An application in a container is considered more secure than running the application directly on the host. This is because containers are isolated from each other and the host operating system. If one container is compromised, it will not affect the other containers or the host operating system.

Faster deployments

When you set up an application in a container, it only takes seconds to minutes to get up and running. This is significantly faster than deploying an application on traditional server infrastructure.

Easier scalability

Containers allow you to quickly scale your applications up or down, depending on your needs. You can also add more resources to a container without affecting the rest of the environment.

Portability

Since the containers are lightweight and portable, they can run on any platform, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Simplicity

It is simple to use and easy to learn. Developers can use it with no previous experience in container technology.

Cost-effective

Using containers can save you money because it allows you to consolidate your infrastructure. You don't need as many servers, so there are fewer costs associated with running and maintaining physical servers.

Easier debugging

It is easier to debug an application by providing detailed logs of the container's environment. This includes CPU usage, memory usage, network traffic, and more.

What is the difference between Docker vs. Virtual Machine?

Docker containers are often compared to virtual machines because they provide a sandboxed environment for an application to run in. However, there are differences between them: A virtual machine runs on top of the host operating system while a container runs directly on top of it. This means that containers use less memory than VMs because they don't need their copy of the OS running inside each one. Containers also start up faster than VMs since they don't have to boot up an entire OS every time you want to run one (just like how much quicker it takes your computer when booting from disk versus DVD or CD).

Why is Docker better than Virtual Machine?

While it cannot wholly substitute a visual machine, it is not a direct competitor to the virtual machine. Its main advantages against Virtual Machine are:

The ease with which you can work with containers compared to virtual machines. You do not have to manage VMs, install an operating system on each VM, or configure networking between them because this has already been done for you by default in Docker.

When using containers instead of VMs, there are usually several containers per host OS rather than one VM per host OS. This allows more applications to run on fewer physical servers than if they were running inside their own dedicated VMs. Also, smaller footprints mean less disk space and memory usage when packaging up your application into container images.

Lastly, the efficiency of managing containers on your system gives you a significant advantage in terms of performance and density over traditional virtual machines.

Is Docker good for local development?

Most developers gamble when it comes to whether their teams should use Docker for production or not. But with its growing popularity, an increasing number of developers are using it for their local development environments.

Docker has quickly become a popular tool for setting up isolated development environments. This is because you can easily create a container that mirrors the production environment. You can also include all of the dependencies and tools needed for your application to run inside the container.

This makes it easier to catch errors early in the development process since you're running in an environment as close as possible to the final product. Additionally, if there are any problems with your application, you can be sure that they will occur in the local development environment instead of on Production servers.

In Conclusion, Docker is a valuable tool for software development and DevOps. It allows developers to easily create containers that can deploy on any machine running the container engine. Using these containers will also have better control over your applications with less overhead than virtual machines provide.

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