At work it's all Microsoft. At home, Ubuntu with VMWare Workstation for those times when I need Microsoft. I like the ease of use and control Ubuntu/Linux provides.

My recommendation would be 'C# 6.0 and the .NET 4.6 Framework' by Andrew Troelsen and Philip Japikse [^].

I have used a combination of Pioneer SE-NC31C-K earbuds and an app called SimplyNoise (available as a webpage too) to block out ambient noises so I can concentrate. The ear tips make a decent mechanical seal and the noise canceling is very effective, especially at slightly higher volume. A fairly low volume is all that is needed to block out most conversation while still being able to hear people addressing me directly.