This book feels really dense at first, but once you get into the flow it becomes pretty easy to understand. In chapter 1 (Programming), the author will explain a programming concept, show some C code illustrating the concept, then disassemble the code, and then show process in memory with gdb. He repeats that process for several concepts and you can follow along in a VM with a provided .ISO.

The initial explanation of some concepts (like CPU registers) feels incomplete, but as he layers things on he explains more about those concepts. I can see a full picture coming together as the chapter winds on.

I wish I had an explanation of pointers this succinct when I was in school.