# AWS Essentials (Book)

> A practical guide to getting started with Amazon Web Services — no fluff, just the essentials you need to build in the cloud.

## What you'll learn

- Core AWS services explained in plain English
- How to architect your first cloud application
- Cost management strategies that actually work
- Security best practices from day one
- Real-world examples and hands-on exercises

## Get it

- [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GTPKTM9) — available in paperback and Kindle editions.

## Related: Squeeze the Cloud

Nat's other book is **Squeeze the Cloud: The CIO's Guide to AWS Cost Management** — a 90-day execution playbook for technology leaders who want to reduce AWS waste without sacrificing performance. ~15,000 words, $7.99 on [Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWXMNT5G).

Topics: cost visibility & tagging, right-sizing EC2 + Graviton, Savings Plans/RIs/Spot, S3/EBS/storage lifecycle, NAT Gateway and VPC Endpoints, Lambda vs EC2 economics, AWS Budgets, SCPs, cost-aware engineering culture.