Java Network Programming, Elliotte Rusty Harold, O'Reilly, 1997.

Early chapters are a good explanation of Internet concepts. But uses outdated versions of Java libraries - this affects event handling and io streams.

A Brief History of the Future: The Origins of the Internet, John Naughton, Weidenfeld, 1999.

Very powerful arguments about freedom.

Where wizards stay up late. The Origins of the Internet, Katie Hafner & Matthew Lyon, Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Reads like a thriller – great read. Traces the origins of the internet, TCP/IP, e-mail.

Internetworking with TCP/IP, volume I; Principles, Protocols, and Architecture 2nd ed Douglas Comer Prentice-Hall Int 1991

Very clear. Explains how the DNS system works amongst many other things.