Editorial Review

A guide to publishing your book on Kindle with Amazon’s Digital Text Platform (DTP).DTP is a fast and easy self-publishing tool that lets anyone upload and format their titles for sale in the Kindle Store.

It's Your Thing.
Have a book you want to sell? Sign up with Digital Text Platform and publish your content in the Amazon Kindle Store.

Do It.
If you have an Amazon.com account, you're already signed up with Digital Text Platform. Start publishing now!

Your Way.
Digital Text Platform gives you everything you need to become your own publisher today.See for yourself.

Visit us at dtp.amazon.com1 ... Read more

Reviews

Bare Bones Introduction to Publishing Books on Amazon, September 4, 2010
Kindle has been a revolutionary device when it comes to reading books. However, it is also, albeit more slowly, changing the way that books are published. Thanks to the zero cost of publishing electronic books almost anyone who has something to write about can now write a book of their own. The only aspects of the publishing process that still need to be outsourced are the access to a distribution network and a way to collect payment for the books that are sold. Fortunately, the Kindle Store provides a way of elegantly and effectively solving both of those issues, and this very short documents explains how this can be accomplished. This document is more of a step-by-step easy to understand and follow how-to guide rather than a full-fledged introduction to publishing with on Kindle store. Most of the material could be figured out just by going to Amazon's website, but it's useful to have it in a self-contained and accessible form. There are a few points that I think are important to keep in mind if you are interested in publishing on Amazon:

* Your book needs to be in an HTML format. This may exclude some more complex and technical works that are not easily converted into HTML.

* If you are only publishing your book in online Amazon Kindle store you will not get and ISBN, which may or may not be an issue when you try to promote your book.

* Your book will be subjected to Amazon's internal review, so publication is not automatic.

* Amazon will take either 30% or 65% royalty cut, depending on the size of your book and the price that you charge for it.

* If you are publishing your book from outside of the US Amazon will also withhold about 30% of all royalty payments for tax purposes.

As I mentioned already, this is just the barest-bones introduction to publishing in Kindle Store. For more elaborate explanation and tips on how to publish your books this way you may need to look elsewhere. There are a few books out there that deal with this and if you are serious about publishing books directly to Kindle I would recommend taking a look at one of these other publications.

Clear, direct, and complete, September 30, 2010
How-to-do-it books come in 3 modes: super technical, sloppy, and helpful.
This book is in the third categoary. It has straight forward instructions and explanations.
I should know. I spent several years myself writing software manuals.
I also just published my first ebook on Amazon.

For ebook authors, "Publish" is a must.
Thanks for making it so easy, Amazon.

The Rose Killer

A Useful Guide, Praise, and a Complaint, September 13, 2010
This review was written on a Kindle, from a town in the midst of a long power outage. I really wanted to write a review for the Kindle, and how fantastic it was in dire circumstances. Unfortunately, the Kindle itself seems to be unreviewable from a Kindle -- all the wonderful features for Kindle books are unavailable for Kindles and Kindle accessories. Also, I cannot reach the Kindle forums. Many other sites work fine, but many Amazon features require the full site, and that has pages large enough to overwhelm the Kindle's memory. Thus, Amazon.com winds up being one of the rare sites that is not Kindle-friendly.

Publishing guidelines for making a website Kindle-friendly would be welcome.

The article here is well worth downloading, with a lot of good guidance for the basic HTML structure required. Also recommended is the free mobi reader. One more document of interest is the Kindle Fonts PDF, available somewhere on Amazon, but I'm having no luck finding it from the Kindle browser.

With the structure laid out so clearly, getting an article ready for publication is that much simpler.

Apologies for some fuzzy details. As mentioned, on a Kindle, and in the midst of a large, lengthy power outage. It's very dark outside. I might be eaten by a grue.

Links don't work, September 25, 2010
This book is OK for a brief overview of how to publish for Kindle but skimps on information about how to (legitimately) avoid the 30% withholding tax by non-US residents. Also, the links provided in the book do not work anymore. I had to do Google search to find the information I wanted to know.

Very Informative..., October 30, 2010
I have some customer who would love to publish their books, this is an great guide to give them ideas for the future in book marketing.

Could be more information on formatting, June 11, 2010
THis guide is very good at making the self publisher start his work. But pretty soon you find that you need more help.

Awesome book, March 26, 2010
I loved this book because it fill with information on how to publish your books and more with Amazon Kindle. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Apple's iPad is the perfect personal media center. It lets you search the Web with WiFi, helps you stay in touch with its built-in email application, and allows you to read books, magazines, and newspapers in full color. You can also play games, listen to music, watch videos, view photos, and create documents, layouts, and slideshows with iPad's iWork suite.

With iPad: The Missing Manual, learning how to use this new device is a snap. The clear step-by-step instructions, undocumented shortcuts, workarounds, and lots of practical timesaving advice help you learn each feature and application -- presented with the renowned Missing Manual wit and easy-to-read format.

• Learn how to shop in the iPad's integrated, custom-designed bookstore
• Use its full-color, large-screen eBook and ePeriodical reader
• Create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with the iWork "lite" productivity suite
• Use iTunes to organize and manage media files
• Get connected to the Web with built-in WiFi and the Safari browser
• Orient yourself with the iPad's GPS and map technologies
• Locate and download custom-built games
• Use the iPad's built in email, calendar, and contact applications
• Run any and all iPhone apps on the iPad

View Pictures on Your iPad
By J. D. Biersdorfer

To see the pictures you synced from your computer, tap the Photos icon on the iPad’s Home screen. Then tap the Photos button at the top of the screen to see your pictures in thumbnail view, filling the iPad screen in a grid. If you chose to copy over specific photo albums, tap the name of the album you want to look at. Mac syncers can also tap the Events, Faces, or Places button to see photos sorted in those categories, as page xx explains.

On the thumbnails screen, you can do several things:

• Tap a photo thumbnail to see it full-size on the iPad screen.


• Double-tap an open photo to magnify it.


• Spread and pinch your fingers on-screen (those fancy moves described in Chapter 2) to zoom in and out of a photo. Drag your finger around on-screen to pan through a zoomed-in photo.


• Flick your finger horizontally across the screen in either direction to scroll through your pictures at high speeds. You can show off your vacation photos really fast this way (your friends will thank you).


• Rotate the iPad to have horizontal photos fill the width of the screen or to have vertical photos fill its height.


• With a photo open, tap the iPad’s glass to display a strip of itsy-bitsy thumbnails of all the photos in the current album at the bottom of the screen. Tap or slide to a thumbnail to jump to a particular picture.

When you tap the ^ icon in the menu bar, you can set a photo as wallpaper, assign a picture to your iPad’s Contact’s program, send a pic to MobileMe, or start a photo slideshow. To get back to your library, tap the Photos or album-name button at the top of the screen.

Email Photos

If you want to share your photographic joy, you can email one or a bunch of pictures right from the Photos program:

• One photo. To email the photo currently on-screen, tap the iPad’s glass to make the photo controls appear, and then tap the ^ icon in the upper-right corner. Tap the Email Photo button. The mail program attaches the photo to a new message, ready for you to address.


• Multiple photos. To email a bunch of pictures at once, tap open the album containing the photos. Tap the ^ icon in the top-right corner and then tap the pictures you want to send (blue checkmarks appear in the corner of the thumbnails to show you’ve selected them). Tap the Email button to attach them to a new message. If you have a draft message in progress, tap the Copy button, then switch to the mail program, open your message, and hold down your finger until the Paste button appears. Tap it to paste in the pictures.

Delete Photos

You have two ways to delete photos from your iPad. If you synced photo albums from iTunes, connect the iPad to the computer, open iTunes, hit the Photos tab, and turn off the checkboxes by those albums. Click Apply and then Sync to “unsync,” or remove, those pix from the iPad’s gallery.

If you have pictures in your Saved Photos album you want to ditch, you can delete a currently open picture by tapping the T icon and then tapping the Delete Photo button. To delete multiple pictures from the Saved Photos thumbnail view, tap the ^ icon, then tap the unwanted pictures to assign the Blue Checkmarks of Selection. Tap the small red Delete button on the top-left side of the menu bar. There’s a blue Cancel button on the other side of the menu bar if you change your mind.

Reviews

Great for beginners!, July 7, 2010
The extensive features in Apple's newest creation, the "magical" iPad, deserve this new book in The Missing Manual series. In addition to its paperback version, iPad: The Missing Manual is available from the publisher, O'Reilly, in four different electronic media versions including ePub. This reviewer downloaded the ePub version to the iPad in order to read it there while exploring the very device it described.

A veteran author of books in The Missing Manual series, Biersdorfer, a New York Times tech columnist, provides clear, detailed explanations and helpful illustrations of the iPad's many features in a very readable, often entertaining way.

Experienced Apple users and iPhone users will find much of the text very elementary (e.g., "Turn the iPad On and Off" and "Find the Home Button," in Chapter One). The five chapters devoted to the multi-media iPod functions of the iPad, music, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, photos and the newest addition, books, will be very helpful to those who come to the iPad without any prior experience with Apple products. But for those who have used a Mac, an iPod or an iPhone even for a short time, they seem superfluous. Not only do all these Apple devices have an easy and intuitive user interface, but also they are similar.

Justifiably, an entire chapter is devoted to the newest feature on any Apple device, books. Helpful sections on how to find books in the new iBookstore and elsewhere, ways to make the reading experience pleasant (changing font size, searching within a book, using bookmarks, etc.) are included in Chapter 8.

Owners who rely on the iPad as a productivity tool will welcome the chapters on email, the internet, and the iWork apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote). There are many useful explanations and tips such as "all the programs in the iWork suite can export files as PDF documents [and] can export files in their native iWork formats...[but] although Pages can export to the native Microsoft Word .doc format, Numbers and Keynote can't export their contents as Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint files. Yet, anyway." Important information to know--and not obvious.

A very helpful feature of the ebook version of iPad: The Missing Manual is that tapping on any entry in the Table of Contents and/or the Index takes the reader immediately to that precise point in the book.

iPad: The Missing Manual will be most valuable to those with little or no previous Apple device experience. Nonetheless, even those who have used Apple products for years will find insights and tidbits that make using the iPad a more productive and pleasurable experience.

Kindle version needs work!, July 15, 2010
However great the iPad is, and however much you like the Missing Manuals series, don't buy this book in the kindle format until it is fixed. I downloaded the kindle sample, and was shocked by how badly formated this version is. The figures are all mixed up, the cover is missing, symbols seem to confused with figures, single paragraphs can take up entire pages, etc..

Before you buy this book for the kindle, try the free sample and see if you have the same problems I had.

I even tried reading it on the Kindle for iPad app. The colors looked nice, but the formatting was just as bad.

Not the value of previous books by Pogue and company., July 26, 2010
iPad, The Missing Manual (May 2010 First Edition) by J.D. Biersdorfer with David Pogue doesn't hold up to the usual standards of the Missing Manual series published by O'Reilly Media, Inc.

The book attempts to cover the latest and greatest from Apple, Inc, the iPad. While it follows the previous format set out by Mr. Pogue it lacks the value of previous titles. Ms. Biersdorfer seems to have taken much from the earlier work entitled: iPod, the Missing Manual. The reasoning is pretty clear. Once you've learned a skill on the older iPod it translates immediately to the iPad. With the possible exception of button placement everything is very similar. Her coverage of the iPod was considerable and here she struggles to define the uniqueness of the iPad over the iPod.

She does cover almost everything the beginning user will need to operate the iPod. If you are totally a novice in regard to Apple's iPods then this may help. I doubt, however, there are that many folks who have not experienced the iPod before purchasing an iPad. Therefore if you have purchased the Missing Manual for the iPod you will find it difficult to justifying purchasing the iPad book.

There were opportunities for improvement that could have made this book more productive. The mere mention of supportive programs like HandBrake do not suffice. A small tutorial on use of programs that are integral to fully benefiting from the iPad would have been nice. A section on best applications would have helped. Suggestions on alternatives to Apple accessories would be most useful and help defray the cost of the book too.

Unfortunately, opportunities did slip by and duplication of information from other books were the hallmark of this work. The new knowledge could have been better contained as a website update or pamphlet added to the back of the iPod book. Equally disconcerting the information may prove to be completely out of date by September when Version 4.0 of the software arrives from Apple.

Probably a waste of money, though there are some nuggets, September 3, 2010
I've not been a huge fan of the missing manuals series. I wouldn't say I dislike them or think they are useless, but I'm just not the target audience. Odds are you may not be said target audience either.

Before continuing check:[...] odds are whatever you were hoping for from this book has been addressed by Apple's Supplied Manual.

So who is the target audience? I'm an IT professional, I work primarily on Linux servers and know painfully little about Windows desktop computers. I use a Mac for most of my work/day for the last ~3 years, and have yet to hit a real wall on Windows (though mostly I'd install Linux if it came to that). I bought the OS X missing manual for 10.5 and found a few nuggets of useful information which I mostly don't use because that isn't what I use the computer for anyway.

If this sounds somewhat familiar in theme, this book may be for your relatives, whom you help because compliance is quicker than resistance followed by compliance anyway. So, they have little incentive to look in the book ... so ... not them.

I've had my iPad for 2 very busy weeks at work and here is what I got out of the book:
- Google Maps: I was missing how to switch map view. Once i found that I didn't know what "traffic" was. This is covered in two paragraphs (maybe 1?).
- 3G & WiFi - turn off what you don't need to save power.
- Bluetooth headphones - make sure they are stereo.

What I felt was missing:
- keyboard shortcuts: for the external bluetooth keyboard ... that info is quick to google anyway, but ... why isn't it here?
- deeper information.

The iPad is an appliance, you are locked in and really there is not much freedom in how you use it. Given the competing devices don't exist (Samsung's Galaxy tablet was announced the week I'm writing this) and IOS 4.2 is apparently going to be the first version for iPad is due in November, not much is going to change here. The user interface is easy to use and Apple has made sure of this. Criticisms here are not with the (apparent) lack of a manual, which this book addresses, but with Apple's practices and frankly if that is what upsets you, you don't need help to drive this product, and likely you don't buy an Apple product.

So who would benefit from this title. My parents probably wouldn't. They got their first own computer about 2 years ago. There are occasional questions but they seem to actually try to work out solutions, so odds are they'd not have any show stoppers of problems. So, again, who would benefit:

If the person in question has never used an Apple computer proficiently, and they are likely to look up their question, this book is for them. Alternatively, if they've never used a computer and don't know the associated lingo, then they need to read (or at least attentively browse) the book cover to cover and they will be learn. Odds are they will enjoy the read, if they want to learn that is.

This book is a reference and as the title implies, it should have been in the box. But really it was, go to [...] I would estimate at least 80% overlap. This book is not bad. It is well written and organized, and tries to anticipate real world needs. This is obviously great, but ... I doubt that's worth their asking price. Also, significant portions are dedicated to Pages, Keynotes and Numbers, which are not installed on the iPad by default anyway.

Add to that, that IOS 4.2 and above will likely change a few of these things, and more importantly ADD features that weren't there, which means this book will be out of date before 2010 is over.

Ultimate reference, December 4, 2010
If you are searching for a fairly complete and detailed iPad manual, this is it. If you want a quick reference with tips, don't choose this book. It is more detailed with lots of information and therefore is not a quick and easy reference guide. However, I love it and found it very useful.

Hit's the mark for a new user, November 12, 2010
The entire "Missing Manual" series is dedicated to providing a solid users manual for a given product. This one is dedicated for the iPad and it does a very good job at providing a broad overview of the device, it's software, and basic functionality.

If you are an experienced iPhone or iPod Touch user you will not find a lot of value with this book. If you are new to iOS devices or are buying one for some then this book is a great starting point.

The chapters are organized to progress you through the usage of the device. The earlier chapters walk you through the iPad itself while the later chapters cover how to work with it.

The only criticism that I have is that I wished the author would have include a chapter regarding things you can't do or can't do very easily with an iPad. Topics like printing, website downloads, and other are thing real people will run into and need to know where they can go or what are the limitations.

An Ongoing Resource For New iPad Owners, November 6, 2010
Apple electronics owners are keenly aware that Apple devices seldom come packed with a useful operating manual; instead, they usually have a short "how-to-turn-on" the device and instructions to refer to online operating information. The Missing Manual series is a very useful and meaningful addition for Apple newbies and the "iPad" addition to this series provides an excellent how-to reference work characterized by clear, concise, easy-to-understand instructions supported by hundreds of photos of screen shots useful in its explanations.

Apple devotees understand that ease of use and intuitive interfaces and software are a hallmark of Apple products. Certainly Apple regulars or Apple iPhone users will quickly adapt to the iPad interface. This manual serves to assist first timers or simply those who want to fully experience the Apple product without unwittingly "missing" a key activity or action that was not discovered by experimenting with it. I have the missing manual series for all my Apple products and find them useful not only in learning about my new device, but also as a bookshelf resouce for questions that may arise later.

Whether a newbie wanting information about how the iPad functions, accessing iTunes, exploring the iPad's music/photo/video capabilities, or most any other introductory aspect to owning and utilizing this creative Apple product, the reader will appreciate the ongoing utility of this manual. True, it does not offer much new material for long time Apple users and/or "techies" but there appear to be a number of useful "nuggets" for them also. Recommended for those who miss having an operational manual accompany their purchases.

Perfect Companion Gift For iPad Owners, August 3, 2010
I love the title of The Missing Manual for this line because it's so RIGHT. The whole line of books scales the spectrum from good to amazing. I have yet to read a single Missing Manual book that I didn't think was as advertised. This book is no exception as you will learn to get the most out of your iPad, from watching videos to buying stuff on the app and book store to everything in between!!

The iPad is a "game changer" piece of hardware and this book is the perfect companion for anyone that finds this under their Christmas tree from Santa Claus. You will be happy you did!!

***** RECOMMENDED

Better than a Manual, July 15, 2010
I have not read very much in iPad: The Missing Manual because my wife is reading it. My wife will not read, or even look for answers to questions in, computer books because they are written by computer people in a language that she cannot understand.

iPad: The Missing Manual is different. It is not like computer manuals. It is written by a real writer, J. D. Biersdorfer, in sentences real people can understand. It even has a touch of humor. For example after explaining how to edit a Safari history list so that you understand what it is and how to edit it, she adds, "Congratulations. You have just rewritten history!"

Contrary to the myths, not everything about iPad is intuitive and obvious. As an example, editing and reorganizing bookmarks is easy to do, but not obvious until you do it. With iPad: The Missing Manual learning to do it is easy, fast, and even enjoyable.

My wife likes her iPad. She is learning how to do more with it, and how to get the most out of it by reading iPad: The Missing Manual.

She sometimes asks me computer questions, but she does not ask me iPad questions. She knows I have not read yet iPad: The Missing Manual.

iPad Missing Manual, October 5, 2010
Great little book with lots of great info. Ordered the book before I purchased the iPad! Got the iPad on the run picked it up on Monday, leaving for Italy on Saturday and knew how to use it. Lots of little tips that would not known otherwise.

Well worth the money - easy to read and great layout. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Web Design Inspiration at a Glance

Volume 2 of The Web Designer's Idea Book includes more than 650 new websites arranged thematically, so you can easily find inspiration for your work. Author Patrick McNeil, creator of the popular web design blog designmeltdown.com and author of the original bestselling Web Designer's Idea Book, has cataloged thousands of sites, and showcases the latest and best examples in this book. The web is the most rapidly changing design medium, and this book offers an organized overview of what's happening right now. Sites are categorized by type, design element, styles and themes, structural styles, and structural elements. This new volume also includes a helpful chapter explaining basic design principles and how they can be applied online. Whether you're brainstorming with a coworker or explaining your ideas to a client, this book provides a powerful communication tool you can use to jump start your next project. ... Read more

Reviews

INSANELY good compilation of styles and inspiration, September 2, 2010
First, if you don't have the first one, you're missing out. They fit together perfectly... hopefully the start of a long series!

The Web Designer's Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends & Styles In Website Design

Like the first volume, this is full of carefully picked examples of the best in modern web design. It's organized into very clever topics making it the perfect reference book. It's loaded with screenshots, screenshots, and more screenshots... just as before, but all new, and more recent.

In this version, the screenshots are even larger and easier to pick up on detail and text. They've also included "Developer Notes" which I think are pretty insightful and in context.

If you are involved in web design in any way (even if you're hiring other people to do it), this book will be super handy. The two editions are the same size and style... they're intended to be on the bookshelf together. With the two combined, there must be a thousand organized designs to look through. The amount of work that went into collecting such quality work without "filler" junk is astounding.

I'm really impressed... if you can't tell!

On the negative side: I'd personally prefer these came in large hardback coffee-table books. While maybe not as handy, it certainly would be great to have around the agency. Maybe after the 3rd edition, they should release a combined volume!

Where design is going ..., September 2, 2010
This the second of two comprehensive, up to date books. Great for the talented wanna-be web designer or already-is web designer but needs inspiration to get to the next level and see patterns in beautiful web design. Organization of this book is beautifully laid out and easy to reference. The author really knows good web design. The pictures are rich with color. Absolutely love the spot varnish on the cover.
Anyone who wants to know where design is going should buy this book. I have ordered several for my friends who are thinking of getting into this field or already are...!

Talk about Inspiration, November 10, 2010
I love this book. From the second it arrived, I've been pouring through the pages again and again. I'm a web design student; thus, I'm always working on multiple sites at a time. Each time I hit a new design phase for a site, I pick up this book and thumb through it. I see new ideas every time I open the book. I tag pages with ideas I might like to implement. My book has little tags hanging out of it all over the place. It's nice that ideas are modern and visual. If you design sites, I can't see how this book wouldn't inspire you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Five years and more than 100,000 copies after it was first published,it's hard to imagine anyone working in Web design who hasn't read SteveKrug's "instant classic" on Web usability, but people are stilldiscovering it every day.� In this second edition, Steve addsthree new chapters in the same style as the original: wry andentertaining, yet loaded with insights and practical advice for noviceand veteran alike.� Don't be surprised if it completely changesthe way you think about Web design.

Three New Chapters!

• Usability as common courtesy -- Why people really leave Web sites
• Web Accessibility, CSS, and you -- Making sites usable and accessible
• Help! My boss wants me to ______. -- Surviving executive design whims
  

Reviews

This is how it should be done, January 10, 2001
The "show me" what you mean book of web usability review. I particularly like the common sense handling of the main web problems.

Some of the key things that are pointed out in this book are:

1. Don't make me think: Basically the web user does not want to venture into a site that requires them to figure it out. It should be self-evident. How do we use web pages:

a. We don't read pages, we scan them

b. We don't make optimal choices, we satisfice

c. We don't figure out, how things work, we muddle through

2. It doesn't matter how many times I click as long as each click is a mindless unambiguous choice

3. Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what's left.

The first 5 chapters clearly illustrate the three "Krug's Laws of Usability" listed above with lots of pictures and examples. Well done.

His chapters on navigation and finding your way around are a cookbook on how to do it right. He finishes the chapters with several examples, first asking the reader to look at the examples and then discusses how he feels it should be redone. Excellent teaching tool. Similarly, he broaches the topic of the Home page and how it should be structured and the various forces pulling in different directions. The examples he gives at the end here too are a good teaching tool.

The remainder of the book discusses the design processes and the usability tests. These are excellent chapters in the forces at work and it is evident, he has done this many times from the information he has gathered.

He provides specific suggestions for web usability testing for various stages of sites as well as for various problems. This is wonderful guidance if you are new at this. He also provides a guideline on scripting and report writing. Nice job.

He winds up the book with recommended reading and also providing a website for readers of this book: http://www.circle.com/krugbook/

Common Sense Usability, September 25, 2001
A practical Web design usability guide, "Don't Make Me Think!" is based on empirical observation not exhaustive statistics. Steve Krug's five years of usability consulting and testing are distilled down to this thin yet gem-filled how-to. Krug observed how people actually use the Web rather than how we *think* they use it, gleaning key usability guidelines. Most folks can't afford a full-blown usability consult, but they can afford to buy a $35 book. This book shows you how to conduct your own usability tests on the cheap. What follows is a summary of the book's major rules and observations:

1. Don't Make Me Think!

The number one usability rule, most often expresed by users. Web pages should be self-evident, obvious, and self-explanatory. Buttons should have short text and look clickable. The default search for your site should be simple.

2. Design for scanning not reading

By observing users Krug found that people glance, scan some text, and click on the first reasonable option (called "satisficing"). People scan Web pages, they don't read them. We don't make optimal choices, we satisfice.

Here are some things you can do to make sure users understand as much of your site as possible:

a. Create a clear visual hierarchy to show relative importance of content (H1/H2 etc.)
b. Take advantage of conventions
c. Break pages up into clearly defined areas
d. Make it obvious what's clickable
e. Minimize noise

3. Users like mindless choices

Make each click an unambiguous orthogonal alternative.

4. Omit needless words

Get rid of half of the words on each page, then get rid of half of what's left. This is especially important on home pages and
gateway pages.

5. Navigation: Use street signs and breadcrumbs

Factoid: The back button accounts for 30 to 40 percent of all Web clicks. Persistent navigation appears on every page of the site and should include the following five elements:

a. Site ID
b. A way home
c. Search
d. Sections
e. Utilities

Your navigation should answer these questions:

a. What site is this?
b. What page am I on?
c. What are the major sections of this site?
d. What are my options at this level?
e. Where am my in the scheme of things?
f. How can I search?

6. Your home page should convey the big picture

What is the site about? Use a good short tag line and welcome blurb. Rotate site promotions. Remove everything nonessential.

7. Most Web design usability arguments are waste of time

These "religious debates" consist of people expressing strongly held personal beliefs about things that can't be proven. All Web users are unique. There are no average users. There are no simple "right" answers for most Web design questions. What works is good integrated design that fills a need, that's carefully thought out, well executed, and tested.

The antidote for religious debate is to ask specific questions and test with real users. The last three chapters of the book show how to perform testing on the cheap with three or four users. I really enjoyed this book, especially Krug's easy humor. From WebReference.com.

The farmer and the cowman should be friends., April 13, 2002
This book walks it's talk. It is written and arranged exactly as a useable web site should be, clear and concise, with scannable (as well as enjoyable) text. The clean attractive design and graphics accurately and efficiently illustrate the text, which is easy to read and to understand. I love the use of cartoon people with thought balloons to suggest how people think while using a web site.

There is no clutter of technical gibberish or endless verbose rambling on statistics. The chapter on usability testing takes us step by step through the process and is descriptive and instructional instead of theoretical. Steve Krug doesn't feel he has to sacrifice creativity, visual interest, individuality, or effective advertising in order to develop a usable web site. "Good tag lines are personable, lively, and sometimes clever. Clever is good, but only if the cleverness helps convey - not obscure - the message."

I can't agree with those who dismiss this book as nothing but common sense. While I see nothing wrong with publishing a reference and instructional manual that is full of common sense, this book also presents the reasoning behind every method that is suggested. The clashes between designers, programmers, and advertisers are explored and addressed. While I agree that the simple and obvious conclusion is that the focus should be on the user, it is refreshing and helpful to find a book which distills information from all of the varied and opposing developer viewpoints, and applies to them to that end. The book is, after all, subtitled "A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability." Also, like most common sense, it isn't really so obvious until after someone has pointed it out to you.

Here are a few things you won't find in this book, which makes it all the more effective and convincing. You won't find anything that claims this is the "right" way to design web sites. There will be no discussion of business models or predictions for the future of the web. The best omission of all is that there is no bad mouthing of poorly designed sites. According to Steve Krug "Designing, building, and maintaining a great web site isn't easy. It's like golf: a handful of ways to get the ball in the hole, a million ways not to. Anyone who gets it half right has my admiration."

This book gets it more than half right.

This book earns its credible reviews, October 25, 2000
As a web designer that owns my own domain, I had purchased Jakob Nielsens Wed Design Usability book and loved it. I thought nothing could top it, but then I was in a book store and picked Don't Make Me Think up. It had some high-power reviews of the book on that back cover. When I opened this book up, I understood why. This book talks about Web Design as and ways to understand why a site needs to be design to the specific user the designer has in mind.

Highly respect design expert Roger Black writes the forward. I remember buying a book of his years ago called Websites That Work. While a beautiful book, it was before its time and lacking what Krug has written into this book. I'd recommend this to anyone who has purchased Nielsen's book. It refreshing that there is actually credible suggestion out there.

Web Designers, Read This, March 12, 2001
"Don't Make Me Think" is incredibly clear, concise, and helpful - as well as surprisingly enjoyable. Every web designer or developer should read it and take its message to heart. I develop web sites at an e-business solutions provider, and these are the kind of issues I tackle every day. I am reading three industry-related books and ten industry-related magazines on any given day, and I managed to make it through this book in lightning speed. Kudos to author and editors for creating such an easy-to-swallow dose of usability advice, and for adding excellent sprinkles on top in the form of good-natured humor throughout and a resource section at the end.

Web design is a young field, and because of that, many people who design web sites today have no formal training in web or interface design. A background in print design or technology is a great start, but not sufficient when it comes to creating a usable web site. It is crucial to take usability into account when creating a site that you want people to interact with - ESPECIALLY when you want people to buy something from your site.

This book provides a terrific outline of usability issues, as well as a look into usability testing, in a very accessible and encouraging manner. Anyone involved in designing or developing web sites can benefit from it. Especially if you have never conducted a usability test and don't realize how average people (ie, non-web-savvies) interact with a web site - this book will open your eyes to some vital information which will help you create better, more usable sites.

Engaging book about web design with excellent advice, March 6, 2001
"Don't Make Me Think" is an excellent book for those designing web sites. It's a great title, and a great motto for designing any type of technology, not just web sites. Krug calls it "thinking" when you have to stop focusing on your task to figure out the web site, even if only for a few milliseconds.

The book is very well written in an engaging, informal style that feels more like a conversation than a lecture (not easy for a book that is essentially preaching). The layout is wonderful and follows its own advice. Each page is designed to make one good point, and the gazillions of images are simple, clear, and effective in supporting the points. Although a lot shorter (by design) than Jakob Nielsen's "Designing Web Usability," I found it provided a lot more specific, on-target advice -- both per pound and overall. Whereas Nielsen focuses mainly on page design and site design, Krug handles these as well as interaction design, which is missing from Nielsen's book. It has some good examples that you are encouraged to work through before looking at "the answers." It's a good technique. He also has a terrific section that lays out exactly how you conduct a usability test, from greeting the person to interpreting their behavior.

Sure, there's a lot more to learn about good web design and about usability testing, and probably some people will object that he doesn't do justice to the complexity of these professions. But I think this book does a great job of pointing you in the right direction with a lot of good, solid advice and some encouragement. It's short enough that you're inclined to read the whole thing, and compelling enough that it might really affect your designs.

This One Will Keep You Up Late, April 23, 2001
The first thing I thought when considering whether to purchase this book was, "Wow. Could it really be worth ... in soft-cover?" Did I buy it? Well, sure--otherwise I wouldn't be writing this review. And the thing that made me finally decide to purchase the book was the title, "Don't Make Me Think." In a world that values simplicity and ease of use, those are words to live by.

Designers looking for some real nuts and bolts technical information probably won't get much from this book. Actually, tech talk is not what it's about. "Don't Make Me Think" is a friendly, accessible treatise on the principles of Web usability--how to keep users at your site longer by giving them the most uncomplicated experience possible. Will it tell you how to implement your latest Flash creation? Nah. But it will help you discover ways to make your site more "user friendly," and usability is an important issue in building a site that attracts--and most of all, KEEPS--visitors.

I got two chapters into this book and my head was already churning with ways to make my site easier to use and understand, and therefore more "sticky." By chapter three, I'd begun a total redesign of my website, and continued working until 3 a.m. (My advice? Don't read this book unless you're willing to stay up late.) A month later, when all was said and done, I had built a better site and my stats showed that instead of the average 6 pages viewed per visit I had been experiencing previously, the site was now averaging double that with 12. All in all, not bad results for a ... investment.

"Don't Make Me Think" does wander off on a few tangents that have more to do with design and less to do with usability or the psychology behind what makes visitors keep on clickin', and the fact that it wanders from its chosen topic makes it slightly less useful. Still, if finding ways to improve your website visitor's experience is one of your goals, you'll enjoy "Don't Make Me Think."

Krug v. Nielsen: A Highly Subjective Review, October 26, 2001
Jakob Nielsen: Impossible to remember how to spell his name. Steve Krug: Easy to remember.

Nielsen: Usability in a thousand words or more. Krug: Usability in catch phrases and cute graphics.

Nielsen: Great for quotes in bloated business presentations on why usability testing is important. Krug: Great for 'I get it, it all makes so much sense to me now' type reading.

Nielsen: Testing, testing, testing! Krug: "Don't make me think! If you have room in your head for only one usability rule, make this the one."

Nielsen: 432 pages, mostly text. Krug: 194 pages, lots of inline graphics.

Nielsen: Loves Sun (not the star). Krug: Loves Amazon (not the jungle).

Nielsen: Usability Guru writes books for future Gurus who have lots of time to read. Krug: "little known but highly respected usability consultant" writes books for people with little room in their brain and "short enough for you to read on a long plane ride."

Thank you for reading my highly subjective and probably wildly inaccurate comparison. I whole-heartedly reccomend this book to anyone concerned with usability

I tend to like books that present a single argument that's not necessarily revolutionary, but "sums it up" so well that you can easily apply the knowledge time and again. This book does that. I reccomend it to everyone at my job, especially new designers.

I think Nielsen's great too. I own Designing Web Usability and refer to it all the time, however this book presented things in a simple straightforward way that's easy to get, so for the layman this book is perfect. For the professional, get both. Nielsen's book will certainly give you a lot more ammo for writing a report on why usability is important to your company.

Also read: The Design of Everyday Things, Joel on Software, Information Architecture (the O'Reilly book).

Sequel (2nd ed) lives up to the original, November 19, 2005
When we design Web sites, we often overlook the simplest things because we're too wrapped up in the design. After working on Web sites for a while, some of us have slowly moved away from what we know is usable to adding or removing elements that may enhance the `look' - and also break a site's usability.

Steer back on track with the new edition of Krug's highly referenced book. Novice, intermediate, expert. No matter where you are on the scale, the book provides value to everyone - even managers, testers and project managers. Management likes to get their hands a little dirty when it comes to Web design projects and sharing this book may make the team's life easier.

Anyone involved with Web design or usability will recognize most, if not all, of the concepts covered in the book. What makes Don't Make Me Think usable is that it's a great checklist to ensure you've covered all the basics.

Krug provides many before and after examples to show how a few changes can enhance a Web site's usability. The illustrations reinforce the concepts covered as well as how visitors use and read a Web site.

As for the differences between the first and second editions, the second addition has three new chapters while usability testing shrinks from two chapters to one and with good reason.

The testing chapter breaks down the testing process into digestible steps; complete with a script between the tester (user) and the person watching the tester. Too often, we've seen testing get mangled or ignored. With this chapter, teams might find themselves empowered and eager to do testing.

The chapter on "Usability as common courtesy" explores how a site can make or break the "reservoir of goodwill" as Krug puts it. We arrive at a Web site with some goodwill and depending on how well the site meets or misses our needs; the goodwill level goes up or down. It may only take one mistake to propel visitors to flee.

Another new and short chapter is "Accessibility, Cascading Style Sheets and you." Krug captures what developers and designers hear when it comes to accessibility and addresses what they fear. He lists five things designers and developers can do make a site accessible without a lot of effort.

Finally, the book closes with "Help! My boss wants me to..." Krug has received plenty emails and questions on the topic to identify two questions that repeatedly come up. He provides email examples for free re-use, so no one has to explain it to the boss.

It only takes about two hours or a plane trip to read. The writing is conversational, clear and packs a punch with a dash of humor thrown in. Reading the book is not much different than reading fiction because it flows well and the information sinks in without much effort.

If you get this book and have the 1st edition, I recommend keeping both. You might find helpful stuff in the original material not found in the new edition.

Should be the driver's license for web development tools, September 4, 2002
Don't Make Me Think is like an operator's license for web site building software. An internet developer shouldn't be allowed to "turn the key" until they've digested this book.

Steve Krug's book is a quick read (190 pages) filled with insightful, entertaining and practical prose for those involved in internet development. He shows us what does and doesn't work, and then explains why. His extensive research into usability permeates every page.

The book itself is a stellar example of usability. Every graphic adds value and every paragraph amplifies the point. Color is effectively used, but not exclusively. Steve practices the techniques that he preaches. For example, the chapter called Omit needless words [The art of not writing for the web] is only 5 pages long.

Finally, he presents practical ways to perform usability testing (huh, what's that?) into the development process. Imagine knowing how user's will actually use your site.

I recommend this book to everyone involved in internet development. I've even assigned it to my children (ages 10 and 13) as they start their journey into internet development. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are several Kindle guides, This one is not like them - it's all new and written specifically for Kindle 3.If you're a busy person and just want to use your new Kindle, not wade through extra long manuals, FAQS or blogs about Kindles you don't own, this one book on your e-readerwill guide you through it all....Then it becomes your browsing homepage to access Facebook, Twitter, News, calendar notes, and all the things you use the internet for.

--indexed, plus one click hyperlinks that jump right to the explanation you need, then let you come right back to the index or overview.
-- It's super quick -- no fluff at all, just what you need toget you going and having fun.AND it's not just a book - and no, it's not skimpy or short, just because it's set up for very fastestuse. Look at what else you get:

BONUS-Built-INs !!!
-- You can refer to or use any of the items as you like. They're jumplink menued to let you get to them, but stay out of your way when you only need how-to info.

-- You don't even have to read this bookall the way through! If you NEVER had a Kindle before, or already owned one, there's a special section for your most likely questions.

In The VERY FAST GUIDEyou'll have always with you:
The easiest ways and places to get books free -with links to do it; charging Kindle; Shortcut keys; best ways to hold and use it in or out of covers; how to buy and get free books; make your own Kindle docs, read your Email, set up your photo shows and Kindle background music, use Audiobooks, make it read to you, organize and move content collections; ALL about the browser, what got fixed in the first update; what to do if it freezes up?

--EPUB books and ways you can find these, get them onto or read them directly from your Kindle 3.

-- Immediately look up any topic using a complete hyper-linked Table of Contents; photos where they help to show you how.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST A BOOK!
-- for extraconvenience, built right in are:

.. Direct links to Facebook and Twitter - not just to post a note, but the full sites; new Facebook and Twitter Breaking News, too.

.. A custom searchpage that lets yougoogle just news, or only recent postings, or find places and services near where you are.

..a usefulbuilt-in 12 month calendar (2010, 2011, and 2009) with notes capability,
.. home pages with quick links to YAHOO, GMAIL, and facebook email so you instantly launch and go there in Kindle browser with just one point and click - no menu-ing needed.
Right in the book, direct Google clickable links so you don't have to always go find the experimental browser and start it just to do a quick search.Many Kindle 2 urls/bookmarks won't work correctly on Kindle 3 browser; these do.

.. Social site resources - find bargains, restaurant reviews, discounts, and more. It's way more than posting notes to twitter or facebook.

.. Political News? Here are direct browser links to headlines and politics around the world. Links to let you follow the people you choose and support - all of the parties - right from your Kindle.

.. U.S. 2010 Senate and House Midterm elections - imminent, important,and interesting - here are links to the polls, analysts and results.

Check the free sample, then download and own it all instantly,for less than the price of just one Latte.

-------- Author's Note: ---------
Hi..Here you have all the useful items that I wanted on my own Kindle 3, and more.I owned the Kindles 1,2, and DX,- about 85 books read at last count. Search my name and see other earlier popular Kindle guides. The Kindle 3 is way different - keys, controller, features gone and added; vastly different browsing; and all the older guides are obsolete. Here's my first new one. Happy Kindling!
-Don ... Read more

Reviews

Absolutely, the first kindle book you should buy, October 29, 2010
... And I wish I had bought it before other, less complete, and less trustworthy user guides!

This could be the only Kindle user book you will ever need. As its name suggests, it has a "get in there, get it done, just the facts ma'am" style that is informative, non-patronizing, and often amusing. The author is either not a professional writer, or a very good professional writer in a heck of a hurry. The layout isn't fancy, but the content is readable, well indexed, very well hyperlinked, and very, very complete.

In addition to his encyclopedic knowledge of what you can, and cannot do with the Kindle 3, the author also has strong (and strongly expressed) opinions of what you should, and should not do with it. Fortunately, he clearly discriminates between "can and "should", leaving the reader in no doubt about what's necessary, what's possible, and what's a desirable.

Finally, unlike many, released-for-launch technical books, I have not found a single statement in the "Fast" guide that is false, incomplete, ambiguous, or misleading (definitely not a professional tech writer ;). The is the first kindle book you should buy, and probably the last you should remove.

A Good Quick Guide, October 31, 2010
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042P5E4Q/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

This book is exactly what it says it is: a VERY FAST guide. If you want something longwinded, read the manual that came in your Kindle, or look for others on the Kindle site. But if you want something breezy, fast, and informative, this is the place to start.

Don't waste your money, October 28, 2010
Having used other Kindle user's guide for my previous Kindle's, I was looking forward to a new guide for the Kindle 3. What a dissapointment! This is poorly written and organized.The text often changes font and type-size mid-page, for no apparent reason, and some sentences seemed more like text messages. There are sections that are redundant,and I did not get as much new info for my K3 as I did from the user's guide that came with it!

Best guide, October 27, 2010
Hi,

This is the best guide. I have got one with my kindle. Need to buy another one. Bud this one should be given by Amazon. Not because it is useless, but the tool must come with the appropriate guide.

It even covers ergonomics.

A must have

Great Resource!, December 4, 2010
This book has a wealth of information. I really appreciated all of effort Mr. Ursem put into this book so I don't have to read every blog,forum, or Google everything to find answers to questions or help with my Kindle. His writing style takes a little getting used too, but once you get his sense of humor he can be really funny AND informative. Also I love the book cover :-) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Overrated, extremely light on content, January 22, 2009
I rarely review books, but this one was such a waste that I'd feel guilty if I didn't at least TRY to persuade you not to buy. The main problem with the book, as other reviewers have alluded to, is that it sort of tries to BE a design masterpiece rather than teach you. The design is interesting, but it is to the point that the content is subordinated to the design. There are maybe 5 pages worth of useful content.

Another irritant to me is that this is by far the most commercial book I've ever seen (more ads than a magazine). It seemed that every few pages I was being told to buy this book, or buy all of some other guys books. There is a two page section that is taken from Guy Kawasaki's blog. The whole thing is incredibly derivative (but shallow).

Finally, and this I can take responsibility for, it didn't meet my needs because I am not Al Gore, nor am I the CEO of a company. If I gave a presentation in the style of this book I'd be laughed out of the office. I'm an analyst, and the warm and fuzzy slides would not be good. Duarte's advice on data intensive slides? "Both [of Stephen Few's] books should be on your shelf along with everything Edward Tufte has written."
I have two Tufte books and they are virtually identical, I don't see myself buying his others (and they suffer from the same lack of relevance to corporate analysts). Disappointing.

Yet another designer's book, September 12, 2008
I have to rain on the parade of this book and Garr Reynold's book (and other ones).

The message is "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world (which is true) and I'm going to show you WHY."

The message should be "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world and I'm going to show you HOW."

You'll see plenty to interest you, but unless you're a full-fledged graphic designer you'll never recreate these slides. Imagine putting this book (and the Reynold's book) into a room with some of your worst slide creators, or even yourself. Would you see an improvement in their skills? I doubt it.

You might as well become a painter by reading books that have the world's greatest pictures in them. Even though there is explanatory text here it isn't enough to bridge the gap.

To see a book written for its audience, try the "Before and After" books by Jon McWade which deal with desktop publishing. Unfortunately John has not yet tackled slides, but you can see an page layout idea and make it yourself in minutes.

So, sorry about this, because both this and Reynold's book are "nice" books. The energy has gone into the book's design and production rather than the content. But that makes them coffee-table books, and unless you have a coffee table in your office I'd advise that you give both of them a miss.

Emperor's New Old Clothes, November 25, 2008
I had high hopes for this book. It looks very nice. It has the right nods to Tufte early on. But...

But the true content is very thin, includes a load of chart junk (the anti-Tufte - I guess the true cue is in the title, this is a PowerPoint book) and page after page of abstract diagrams demonstrating "flow" - much like the woeful second half of "Say it with Charts" which is about 50 pages of arrows.

Very very disappointing indeed.

don't buy this book, October 27, 2008
Don't buy this book. The text is maddeningly small and poorly contrasted. With postage stamp size visuals it's like reading a telphone book.
Get The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams and check out the website of the author of The Craft of Scientific Presentations, Michael Alley for templates and research based design tips.
With these two resources you'll have everything you need without having to wade through the padding in Duarte's book.

AMAZING--not about slides, about mind to mind communication, August 26, 2008
I just destroyed this book with folded pages and ink annotations, so the perfectionists out there may want to order two copies, one for eating and one for sharing. The price is phenomenally reasonable, especially for something that is all color and totally elegant.

This is not about powerpoint slides. If anything, it is a very subtle but explicit critique of how retarded they still are (e.g. no separation between bullet groups). This is an utterly inspiring combination of wisdom, education, visual excitement, and plain fun that "lives" what it preaches.

When I get back to the office I am going to read this book again while I create a briefing on the Earth Intelligence Network and educating the poor one cell call at a time that respects the deep knowledge being imparted by this author and her team. Mills Davis, visualization and semantic genius (Project10X) called my presentation "dense" yesterday, and I needed this book to understand just how polite he was being.

Bottom line mechanically: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30 font size MINIMJM. For the advanced audiences, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, 6 minutes and 20 seconds total.

I read and reread sections, and the recurring thought in my head was that this book may well be all one needs to run a semester long course on the communication of important complex ideas. The author does not just show a correct slide, the author breaks down every aspect (e.g. fonts, color, grid layouts, use of images, creating your own art) into separate chapters with very ably-illustrated palettes covering all the options. I have a note on this, "nuances are unpackaged and illustrated."

I note the author's admonition that change across the presentation is a distraction, that animation should support the message and the continuity of understanding.

For large organizations, the author covers templates as a means of harnessing the diversity of knowledge of varied functions and employees, while maintaining a consistency of brand. BRAND is huge within this book, and in this book BRAND is not a legal term, it is a philosophical term. I am hugely impressed by a chart showing UK companies that treat BRAND as a design imperative being so much more competitive and profitable than those that do not. This book is not just asserttions and demonstrations, it is fact and case based and eminently authoritative.

I learn for the first time that powerpoint slides can be instantly made to be black and white to focus audience on the speaker, or made all white, by pressing B or W. Why didn't I learn that from Microsoft? Because their tool bar is not designed to teach....perhaps?

Special pages for me:

10-11 The Presentation Ecosystem (Message, Story, Delivery)
12-13 Time Estimate for world-class presentations (36-90 hours)
18-19 Rick Justice and 27 slides on eight topics (organization)
58-59 Making Diagtrams Work Together
64-65 Following the Five Data Slide Rules (Tell the Truth is Rule 1)
82-83 The (Financial) Value of Good Design
116-117 Lose the logo on every slide....
142-143 Dissecting a font (this section alone was HUGE eye-opener)
148-149 Typesetting a block of text (what powerpoint does not do)

The references are phenomenal, and comprise an instant library for any person, firm, or school of design. I only have ten links allowed, so below I list the reference categories, and link to a single book from the multiples identified--no disrespect intended for the others!

DESIGN
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

BRANDING
The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design

VISUAL THINKING
Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands

INFORMATION GRAPHICS
Nigel Holmes On Information Design (Working Biographies)

DATA DISPLAY
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data

CONTENT
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

BUSINESS BOOKS
The E-Myth Manager: Why Most Managers Don't Work and What to Do About It

The index is very good, another manifestation of the utter devotion to quality of the publisher, O'Reilly (I dislike most of their book sets, this one very properly rose to a proper high level).

Lots of white space. There isn't an ounce of fat or irrelevance in this book. It is world-class in every respect, and most publishers are so crummy about price and color that I want to end with a tip of the hat to o'Reilly for getting this one "just right."

Thoughtless design, November 17, 2009
This book is amazing in that it is a book on presentation and is simultaneously a fine example of how NOT to present something. The print is far too small and is a faded grey. How in all the world could someone who put this much effort and care into a book - I did manage to read some of it - fail to notice that it is nearly unreadable?

A must have for any presentation developer, September 15, 2010
I read some of the other reviews and I think some of the people who gave low ratings missed the point of this book. This is not a "How to" PowerPoint book. This is a "How to" effective presentation book. And if you read the introduction you should see the intent of Slide"ology.

Slide:ology provides theory behind visual communication using presentation media. The message is well, focus on the message of the presentation and provides basic design concepts that should help anyone in understanding what are the components of a well designed presentation. Key word here being design. I think some people struggle to understand that design means function and purpose instead of just making things pretty.

Some people mentioned small type and the book being hard to read. I thought the book was well designed and didn't have a problem with reading it. The pages provide ample room for taking notes.

It's a good reference, January 29, 2009
This was my first PowerPoint book so when I first read it, I thought it was fantastic.

What it is:
A reference that offers great design ideas, guidance on presenting information, layout, content, PowerPoint and storytelling. Sure, applying all of her principles will take a lot of time, focus, and clients/higher ups that are willing to try her method. But applying just one of her principles is easy to do. Either way, formatting your slides the slide:ology way will shift your presentation from good to better.

What is isn't:
This is not really a how-to book meaning it shows you the principles to follow but not necessarily how to achieve it. While I don't have a recommendation on which book to get, if you are a PowerPoint beginner, it would be wise to invest in a step-by-step guide as well.

A Must-Have for Seminar Presenters, August 20, 2008
I'm a trainer, offering live seminars which we convert to video presentations for our distance learners. I'm comfortable with creating good video, but not so with creating strong slide presentations. For years, we've felt the need for dynamic slide presentations that would heighten the excitement we work to build in our seminars. The slide presentations we created or had created for us, relayed information but they seemed flat to me, not what we were going for.

If you're hoping to create a great slide presentation or a great visual presentation of any sort, you will find that this book shows you how to do so. You will learn how to avoid kicking the audience into the yawn zone by creating presentations that have power and impact.

If you are even considering the possibility of creating a slide presentation, please consider picking up this book sooner than later. The author will help you to put together a strong presentation that will get your message across to your audience in a powerful and interesting way. This book is highly recommended.

Great ideas, great design! Just a very great book., August 12, 2008
Nancy Duarte has designed a winner with her first book - and it's an instant classic on presentation design. Not only will anyone be able to make MUCH better presentations, they will have fun learning how. Whether beginner or expert, Nancy helps anyone get to the top of their game in making a impact through presenting their ideas visually.

It's also interesting and inspiring reading as well, and goes far beyond presentations. The success of Duarte Design is well deserved, and you'll see why in reading this book.

Bert Decker ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Learn Android in a Weekend, October 23, 2009
I've read several books on Android from cover to cover, and skimmed several others, and "Hello, Android" is hands-down the best introduction to Android development.

Here's why I say that --

You really can get through the book in a day or two. The explanations are clear, the topics focus on what's relevant to getting started in Android development, and when you're done you have the skills to dive into the SDK to continue learning.

There is a consistent example project that is developed throughout the book. I found this very helpful, because it showed me how all the different parts fit together. For example, launching activities from an existing activity, using multiple classes in your project, adding preferences, etc.

There are very few (if any) "gotchas" in this book. I followed the examples step by step without any problem. I think some people have used the book's online forum to ask about which packages to import, but when I used Eclipse it was done automatically for me. (By the way, all the files are also online.)

Even after having many months of Android development under my belt, I find that I still refer back to this book from time to time. That's saying something for a book that sets out to be an introduction.

Remember, this book is a great introduction. If you already know Android and are looking for a deep-dive, look elsewhere. But if you are curious about all the excitement around Android and have a few hours to spare, spend them with this book and find out what developing in Android is all about.

Great resource for beginners, with a few caveats, December 8, 2009
I have virtually no programming experience. Other than a solid beginner's understanding of LAMP (unix, apache, mysql, PHP and scripting stuff in general), I've never done more than fiddle with code. I do have a cursory knowledge of programming concepts and XML, but that's about it. I'm pretty much a curly brace language virgin.

Hello, Android does a solid job of introducing you to the fundamentals of programming for the Android OS -- it gives you a succinct overview of why you need to do 'XYZ' and when to do it. If you're looking for pages and pages of fundamentals and core concepts, you may want to look elsewhere because Hello, Android makes you hit the ground running and helps you immediately apply the quick concepts you just learned. This is excellent for a beginner like me because the results are immediate and gives you a sense of "this isn't so intimidating... I can actually do it!"

The one aspect I enjoyed about the book was that it gently gets the absolute beginner up to speed but then does less and less hand-holding as the tutorials moved along; this lets intermediate and advanced programmers move along at a brisk pace, but also forces beginners to think about previous concepts that were taught earlier. Instead of simply copying-and-pasting "recipe" code, it really challenged me to think and absorb what the author was teaching. This was invaluable for me as a beginner that likes to be challenged with more than just a simple 'copy and paste this code from page XX, then hit build and run'.

One intangible you won't find in the book -- the author is very helpful/responsive in the Pragmatic Programmer's forums, as are the other members. Any question I've had were answered (usually) within a day, and many times within an hour. For instance, I was having an issue with running 64-bit version of Java JDK in my Android dev environment. The author (and other members) were very helpful in getting my dev environment up and running. Needless to say, the community that goes along with the book is invaluable.

I've owned dozens of wrox, apress etc books since the 90s, and this is one of the few that I would not hesitate to recommend to both beginners and advanced programmers with no Java or XML dev experience. Get this book! 4.5 stars.

PS -- if you buy the paper version of the book, I'd also highly recommend the e-version. Having a PDF up side-by-side with Eclipse (Android's default IDE) is extremely useful.

Hello Andorid!, March 3, 2009
This book definitely started me off in the right direction for making my own applications for Android.
Although this application misses an important section, "Publishing your application", the book is on the design process of the applications.

The book starts you off by familiarizing you with how the Android is run and the general idea of its interface. Then come the example applications which can also be found online.
Each example application is a different use of the Android...
Sudoku, GPS tracking, MySQL, OpenGL, Browsers, etc... This shows you a basic example to a solution.
This book does everything it intends to do for a user of the G1 starting to program. I have never programmed in Java and XML(C and HTML, though), and this book managed to get me understanding and writing basic applications within several hours.

I wouldn't recommend this book if you don't understand basic code because the book does jump into it rather quick and has many technical words. However, for a small book of 200 pages, each summary is very concise and exactly what was necessary to learn the understanding of the material- if you really want more, Im sure Wikipedia and Android-forum along your side will solve all your problems.

The only problem I have with programming now, is customizing my applications to my liking. But this is just learning programming better.

I plan on having many applications on the market place after learning a bit more java, XML, and practicing just a bit!

Thanks and good luck G1 programmers!

Great way to start, February 20, 2010
I have been programming computers for more than 30 years. My background includes DOS Basic, c, C#, C++ .NET, but not Java.

I bought this book because I want to get started in writing some apps for my phone. I have found it to be the best beginning book available. I have looked at 3 or 4 others. It is complete, accurate and has real applications to develop. IT shows you how to set up the IDE and tells you where to get the tools. The author explains what he is doing but does not get bogged down in the details.

You should have a background in Java but if you have experience in some of the other languages out there you should be able to get by. A knowledge of XML would help too.

My recommendation for anyone trying to develop for the Android OS would be:
1. Get familiar with Java
2. get familiar with XML (rudimentary understanding)
3. Buy this book
4. Go for it!

I will be placing this author on my 'watch list' because his writing level is very comfortable for me.

Best Android book out there, February 4, 2010
I've been developing software for quite a while but I am new to Android, and Java is not my main forte. The first book I purchased, Wrox's "Android Application Development", left me wondering if I'd lost all my reading comprehension skills. So I browsed a lot of other books until I discovered this one. The writing is very clear, the examples are complete, and by building a Sudoku application you learn all the key aspects of Android development in a very logical way. The author also walks you through setting up, developing and debugging Android in the Eclipse environment, and guides you through preparing an application for the Android market. This is a very complete introduction to Android that never once left me scratching my head or frantically Googling for omitted information. Highly recommended.

Decent and Aggravating, August 31, 2010
At first glance this is a really good book on Android programming. The first two chapters set you up with the most basic knowledge you will need to get ready to program. The following 4 or 5 chapters are wholly frustrating. These chapters deal with making a Sudoku game. The author leaves many things unsaid. He will purposefully have you build your program so that it will have errors. Once to show your your mistake, once he just leaves an error in there for like 9 pages. The author will just throw random components out there that have nothing to add to what you are currently doing. At one point you are creating an "About" activity and the author randomly starts talking about themes. Maybe we should finish the program before we make it look pretty? Maybe we should finish our current concept before starting another one?

Aside from the beginning project, the rest of this book is quite good. Many topics are covered, including making widgets, 2D programming, 3D programming, live wallpapers, using SQL, publishing your apps and games, and more.

If you are a beginner to Java, get an intro to Java book first/too, the author assumes fairly competent knowledge of Java syntax, keywords, and the like. All and all not the worst book, but not the greatest. I, personally, would not recommend this book.

Excellent Android Coverage for Newbies, January 10, 2009
This is exactly the book I wanted and what any developer who wants to learn Google Android Needs.

The author did an excellent job in just 200+ pages to give you core concepts and tips to start coding an Android.

Ofcourse in 200 pages he cannot explain all the details but google itself has good documentation also to learn those details.

My overall experience of Android SDK is that it is very powerful SDK which can do many things that other Phone SDKs were never able to do because of phone limitations. But also a bit disappointed in somewhat poor design of the API itself.

Quick and Brief, April 12, 2010
Regarding books, one of the things I appreciate the most is an honest relationship between title and contents. Unfortunately it's quite common to find books out there promising things they don't fullfill.

"Hello, Android" meets perfectly the commitment of its title. Don't buy it expecting a reference manual of Android because it' just an introduction to this platform, and I must admit that it does the work gracefully. It's quick and brief so it tells you the essential and gives you resources for further research such as the sample projects that can be free downloaded from the book website. A nice aspect to highlight is the hands-on approach, throughout the book concepts are illustrated with lots of code. Furthermore a Sudoku game is parcially developed during a couple of chapters.

So I basically recommend this book for beginners mainly for two reasons:

1. Starts from the Scratch: Nothing is assumed so it's a good point to start out as Android developer.
2. Brevity: I don't have time for an eight-hundred-pages book to start to develop. I'll deal with the ins and outs as I go, not before.

Of course, like any book about Android, Java (or C++, C#, etc) basic understanding is recommended.

Best First Book for Android, October 22, 2009
The title, "Hello, Android", is perfect, because this is an introduction to Android. This is not designed as an exhaustive reference, nor should it be. Instead, it is the perfect length for quickly coming up to speed on the basics.

I am an experienced Java developer, and this book helped me learn Android quickly. It does not waste time explaining how to use Java, so if you are an absolute newbie, this might not be for you.

Android is rapidly evolving, and Ed is doing a great job keeping up with changes to Android. You can also get the PDF version, and Pragmatic Bookshelf lets you download beta chapters as they are updated.

Well worth getting all digital formats., August 3, 2010
I will preface my review by saying I am a C# developer used to Visual Studio (up to version 2010). I love the Visual Studio environment. Eclipse was a little bit of a learning curve for me. But, I got by just fine.

Here is a book that took me about 3 days to read cover to cover. I've been programming for many years and this book was perfect for me. High level overviews are the best way to figure out how things work. He even provides links for you to find more information for things that truly interest you.

I don't agree with some of other reviews. I really didn't have any issues implementing the code in the examples.

My only complaint would be in the OpenGL section. I wish there was more comments in the code as to what each line was doing. I looked each up myself easily though.

Get the PDF, Mobi, and epub. Amazon doesn't appear to offer it on their site. So, I had to go to the publishers site (The offer all three for a lower price than buying the hard copy). That could change. I didn't really see a reason for the actual print version since I have a Kindle DX.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Just when you thought you knew everything about your iPhone 4!, September 1, 2010
I have been an iPhone owner from the first generation of them. Admittingly, I was not completely pleased with the first gen of iPhone's because it felt lacking with so few applications available (unless it was jailbroken). It was a cool device at the time, but I found the Blackberry Curve a little more beholden to my likes and needs ... that was until the 3G, 3Gs and now the iPhone 4 with iOS4 came along. A completely different brand of machinery and intelligence.

I love David Pogue's Missing Manuals. My tech bookshelf is lined with his familiar green covers that range from Apple applications and OS's to Windows Operating Systems. He just writes a good book that is accessible to both the beginner and the expert. There is always more to learn.

I have been waiting patiently for the release of this book and was thrilled to get it. The iPhone iOS4 can get as complex as you want it to. Even if you are an advanced techie or iPhone user, this book will STILL have something in it so that you will feel you've gotten your dollar's worth. There are several iPhone books out there now but I am going with the tried and true Pogue book because I know and appreciate his writing and presentation style. The content is not so dry and boring that it loses you -- he writes in a very engaging manner and he can reach the novice and expert alike.

The book is printed on nice coated paper with beautiful, clear screen shots. I bought the book so that I could delve into iMovie for iPhone. At first I was a bit disappointed that it was not addressed more in depth until I read into the section more and discovered that he is offering a download that explains the use of iMovie. This book is filled with resources like that.

Besides learning a lot from the book and taking your iPhone to it's max usage and getting the most out of it ... you are also provided with further jumping off points that allow you to delve into areas that interest you more. For me that's iMovie. Just an example.

For the money you've put into buying your iPhone and potentially extra apps, a resource like this will stretch your dollar even more by helping you to get the most use out of it.

I am an iPhone 4 first adopter who dealt with the "death grip" (he even addresses that in the book). I feel like I have a pretty darn good grasp on this piece of hardware but also know that there is much more to be learned.

I love David Pogue's books and this one really does not disappoint.

5 stars!

Who knew my phone could do all of these things! Great book., September 1, 2010
Love this book, I did not know my new phone could do all of these things! While I was able to figure out many of the great features of my new iPhone4 without any manual, I was honestly shocked to read about all the cool features I had yet to discover. This manual has an easy to read layout, including lots of helpful pictures and helpful user tips. My iPhone4 is my first smart phone ever, but I am not a technical novice. However, savvy users with iPhone experience may not learn quite as much as I did - but I can't imagine that anyone could discover all the cool features on their own. I started reading the manual thinking I would just scan the first chapter or two, but I ended up reading it cover to cover. I am using my iPhone more than ever, and smarter than ever.

If you are interested in this book to disover what an iPhone/smart phone is all about, I would recommend it. I can't believe I waited so long to even get a `smart phone', but now I know it is something that will change the way I manage my life as it sooooo much more than just a phone. I'm even reading books on the thing, plus booking/tracking airline flights, ordering lunch, organizing my health records with doctor information, searching for local business using its automated gps positioning (not to mention mapping directions), listening to music, watching TV shows, reading the daily news on dozens of news sources, playing games and so much more.

The Ultimate iPhone 4 Book, September 21, 2010
David Pogue is so good at what he does he could get hired by Apple or Google immediately and instantly improve their technical documentation department ten-fold. The Missing Manual line of books is so good that it's like candy for the tech reader that wants to learn more about nearly any technology on the market.

With 'iPhone: The Missing Manual: Covers iPhone 4 & All Other Models with iOS 4 Software' Pogue has done it once again, improving on the previous edition of iPhone TMM by covering the new, gooooorgeous 4 line of phones. People like Pogue blow me away, they are people that seem to be able to get 25+ hours out of every day that most people only use/get 1440 minutes. I don't know how he is able to turn around such quality books in such a rapid amount of time, it's sick.

From the writing to content to design to the total package, if you want a book that will cover the iPhone top to bottom in a fun, educational way look no further.

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

another Pogue hit, November 7, 2010
As ususal, David Pogue has gotten it right. As with all his books, the information is clear and concise. I would encourage anyone who has an iPhone 4 to buy the book and use it. Also, as usual, Amazon.com has the best price.

Iphone Manual, November 2, 2010
Excellent documentation that Apple left out of their instructions. User friendly and written in easy format for all aspects of the iPhone.

It's very helpful for a new iPhone 4 user, December 22, 2010
First off, let me say, I'm a VERY experienced computer and camera user, but still, I'm the kind of guy who reads owner manuals (or books that are better than owner manuals) right away. With new tools, computers, apps, cameras or smart phones, I want to know as much as I can as quickly as possible. In that regard, this book is great. Pogue's writing style is easy to read (but not as witty, irreverent, nor fun as Blatner), and he covers a lot of ground.

I will say, as I read it, I did find myself sometimes asking, "How do I do blah-blah?" or "Is it possible to blah-blah?" They seemed like logical questions at that point in my learning that weren't addressed. I could find the answers, but had to look for them, or they came along later. It's really a minor issue, but it made me feel that Pogue was not a perfect teacher for MY way of thinking/learning. (This is my first Pogue-written book)

On the other hand, lots of the kinds of helpful details I want to know were revealed. Did you know that the camera takes the photo when you take your finger OFF the button? Touch it, hold it, get steady...then release. Same with the keyboard. There are times that touch and slide will save a few taps. Did you know that "predictive text" actually enlarges the target area for the keys of the anticipated next letter? The book is chocked full of details and tips and good context about why to do something a certain way rather than a different way.

The phone aspect is not the reason I got an iPhone. Rather, what's important is much of the other features so that I can have stuff (say, images and music) with me or access to data where ever I am. This book has been excellent getting me up to speed with this very cool new tool.

Ahead of the curve -- as of yesterday, the "Missing CD" that's touted on the inside back cover as part of the deal with buying the book is still missing... it's not yet available at the missingmanuals.com website.

PS -- As a personal bonus, I was blown away seeing on pg 406 a photo of the foxL compact speaker I'd shot for a client. Who knew?

iPhone - The missing manual, November 23, 2010
I ordered this book on the recommendation of a friend on Facebook. It was a Godsend. Love this book. It's very helpful in setting up the iPhone and gives detailed instructions on features you never knew existed.

Nicely done number 1, October 6, 2010
It doesn't hurt that the subject matter describes a product that is already well received to begin with. I have been a fan of Apple products since I bought an Apple IIGS in 1987. I am also a fan of David Pogue's books. He and the editors that work with him have consistently produced quality tomes.
I purchased the iPhone4 in June to replace a less capable phone I had bought through AT&T last year.
This book is very nicely laid out. It allows you to address your questions about this phone very quickly. It also provides you with the chance to explore areas of interest at your leisure. The illustrations and graphics are superb.
IMOP:this group of editors and publishing company know their market very well and the delivery is top notch. You won't be disappointed

It really is the missing manual, November 7, 2010
Very well written book with some cute humor to liven it up. It really should be included with the IPhone as without additional assistance the average user cannot appreciate all of the features available in the phone. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Tired of reading HTML books that only make sense after you're an expert? Then it's about time you picked up Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML and really learned HTML. You want to learn HTML so you can finally create those web pages you've always wanted, so you can communicate more effectively with friends, family, fans, and fanatic customers. You also want to do it right so you can actually maintain and expand your Web pages over time, and so your web pages work in all the browsers and mobile devices out there. Oh, and if you've never heard of CSS, that's okay--we won't tell anyone you're still partying like it's 1999--but if you're going to create Web pages in the 21st century then you'll want to know and understand CSS.

Learn the real secrets of creating Web pages, and why everything your boss told you about HTML tables is probably wrong (and what to do instead). Most importantly, hold your own with your co-worker (and impress cocktail party guests) when he casually mentions how his HTML is now strict, and his CSS is in an external style sheet.

With Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML, you'll avoid the embarrassment of thinking web-safe colors still matter, and the foolishness of slipping a font tag into your pages. Best of all, you'll learn HTML and CSS in a way that won't put you to sleep. If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect: a visually-rich format designed for the way your brain works. Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory, this book will load HTML, CSS, and XHTMLinto your brain in a way that sticks.

So what are you waiting for? Leave those other dusty books behind and come join us in Webville. Your tour is about to begin.

Praise
"Elegant design is at the core of every chapter here, each concept conveyed with equal doses of pragmatism and wit."
--Ken Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Disney Online

"This book is a thoroughly modern introduction to forward-looking practices in web page markup and presentation."
--Danny Goodman, author of Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Guide

"What used to be a long trial and error learning process has now been reduced neatly into an engaging paperback."
--Mike Davidson, CEO, Newsvine, Inc.

"I love Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML--it teaches you everything you need to learn in a 'fun coated' format!" -
-Sally Applin, UI Designer and Artist

"I haven't had as much fun reading a book (other than Harry Potter) in years. And your book finally helped me break out of my hapless so-last-century way of creating web pages."
--Professor David M. Arnow, Department of Computer and Information Science, Brooklyn College

"If you've ever had a family member who wanted you to design a website for them, buy them Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. If you've ever asked a family member to design you a web site, buy this book. If you've ever bought an HTML book and ended up using it to level your desk, or for kindling on a cold winter day, buy this book. This is the book you've been waiting for. This is the learning system you've been waiting for."
--Warren Kelly, Blogcritics.org

Reviews

Best book for learning HTML and CSS, February 5, 2006
The "Head First" series by O'Reilly does it again. This book manages to take the conceptually easy yet complicated task of learning HTML, XHTML, and CSS and breaks it down so that anyone can figure out what is going on and what needs to be done in web page design using these technologies. Plus, if you learned HTML several years ago and you would like to update your skills to current technology, this is a great choice for a textbook.
The book starts out with the basics of HTML -text, webpage form via HTML, putting your webpage on the Internet and linking to other web resources, and adding images and thumbnails. Next the author tackles XHTML, starting by answering the questions What is XHTML? and Why would I want to use XHTML? The author composes three simple steps to take you from strict HTML to XHTML:
1. Change your DOCTYPE to XHTML 1.0 Strict.
2. Add the xmins, lang, and xml:lang attributes to your element.
3. All empty tags should end in "/>" not ">".
Next, CSS is introduced, along with the properties that can be controlled via CSS. When you read the CSS chapters you'll find yourself asking "Why don't other books just SAY this plainly like THIS book does?". Eventually, the author has you doing advanced layout and control using all the tools available to you without you ever noticing that you've been "studying". The book concludes with lessons on interactivity and tables. I think it is most interesting that the author saves the subject of tables for the end of the book versus other texts that usually introduce them early on. This is because the author is using the more advanced lessons on CSS to help make the subject of tabular data less confusing. The book's final chapter is entitled "The Top Ten Topics We Didn't Cover", thus acknowledging that this is not an advanced book on webpage design. Each chapter has a "There Are No Dumb Questions" section that answers common questions that may be a source of confusion to the reader.
Since this book is designed to be a textbook and not a reference, you might find it handy to have a copy of O'Reilly's "HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide" as a reference since it lists virtually all of the HTML tags and their properties.

The 1st HTML/CSS you should get, December 6, 2005
I've been involved with the Head First series as a reviewer from the beginning and, as such, my review might be biased, but I will regret not telling you how good this book is.

The Internet is fast becoming a means of sharing one's life with friends, colleagues and anybody out there who is prepared to listen. Some start by telling their story using a blog; the more adventurous create their own web sites, and it is that category of person that this book is aimed at. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this book, and the whole series, seems too upbeat and too young for you. This book is for all ages, The Head First series is designed to make learning fun, and though it was originally aimed at the younger generation, I personally think that old age pensioners will be able to learn HMTL the correct way just as easily as their grand children if they use this book - and you will be sooo cool if you have this book on your shelf when they, the grand kids, visit again next time.

The emphasis in this book is on creating web pages the correct way, to make pages that will work correctly in any browser. If you work through Elisabeth and Eric's book, you will end up with a web site that can withstand anything the W3C's Markup Validation Service can throw at it. And when your web pages pass the validation, you can put the W3C's cool "passed validation" logo on your site. A sign of recognition that you know what you are doing.

This book does not require you to have prior HTML knowledge; it takes you by the hand and teaches you everything you need from scratch. But don't be fooled, I was the review manager for this book and even some of the reviewers with years of HTML knowledge under their belt learnt new things from it. Sure, it isn't a complete HTML reference book, and it does not intend being one, but it lays the foundations for a solid start to becoming a true HTML/CSS expert.

I think this book should become the standard text book in HTML/CSS courses in schools, colleges and even professional training centers.

I highly recommend it to all. It will make the perfect Christmas gift for your family, all ages !!!, friends and even colleagues who are thinking about or are doing something with a web site of their own.
Have fun.

Like I said, I might be biased, but I am sure an independent reviewer will confirm what I said.

Fantastic book, Lousy index, full of blather, November 16, 2007
We're using this book in a college course I'm taking. This book contains a massive amount of REALLY good information, which has been buried in a landslide of unnecessary blather. Add to this the complete lack of a sensible, extensive index, and this book leaves me so frustrated, I am nearly ready to drop the class. (see below..)

The vast amount of useful information in the book makes it difficult to remember it all at one time. But it's impossible to refer back and find something a week after I've read it without leafing through an entire chapter or more, page by page, because the index is so brief and incomplete.

With a good, complete index, I'd give this book 4.5 stars for it's excellent content (withholding 1/2 star for all the blather). Without a usable index, the book is nearly worthless to me.

GOOD NEWS UPDATE!! The O'Reilly people have replied to my complaint about the index. They're compiling, and will be uploading a complete, extensive index online in January 2008! Too late for my class, but hey! Someone really does listen. Thanks, O'Reilly!

Great tutorial - will give you the basics, January 6, 2006
To learn HTML / CSS, you will probably need three books 1) a book to help you learn the topic; 2) a reference; 3) a book that describes the hacks and tricks for getting your own designs to work in various browers. This book does an excellent job of covering the first topic. It does not bill itself as a book for experts, or a reference.

It's well written in an engaging way that turns a potentially dry topic into a more conversational read. It has useful examples that are well-presented and that continue and build throughout the book. Examples are accomanied by sidebars and out-takes that break up the format in an engaging way that helps understand the material, why things work the way they do, alternative designs and their trade-offs.

My only gripe about the book and the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is that it seems to side-step the browser compatibility issue.

Best HTML/XHTML/CSS Book Ever, December 29, 2005
******
This book SHOULD receive 6+ stars.

Are you tired of reading reference manuals? Get ready for some fun with "Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML". This is not your ordinary technical manual. It is funny, interesting, VERY helpful---even for seasoned professionals, great for beginners, and unlike anything you've ever seen before, unless you're familiar with other "Head First" books.

I wish, I wish, I pray, that instructors will read this book and see that learning can be fun, interesting, and enjoyable. If you purchase this book, no matter what your level of HTML familiarity, I guarantee that you will be entertained and informed. Even if you have spent years designing web sites, you won't mind spending $23 to read a prototype of what technical manuals SHOULD be but never are...until now!!

Buy this book....you won't be sorry.

I stayed up until midnight last night reading answers to questions I'd always wanted to ask but never knew who to ask them of...and being fascinated. A true beginner will need to study this book. A professional will laugh and be refreshed and have a lot of fun with it. All should purchase it and support a new way of learning!
******

Wish I could give this 6 stars..., January 19, 2006
Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML is totally unlike any other HTML book I've ever read -- or owned. Most are basic references -- "if you want this, do this" type books. Very dry and dull, not something you're going to sit and read in one setting. Not helpful to someone who is not technologically inclined who wants to learn how to "do a website."

This book is written to teach. It's written so that you remember what you read, using techniques that teachers are being taught to use in the classroom. And it's one that I would actually use in the classroom if I were still teaching Computer Applications.

The first thing you notice about the book is that it's colorful. Normally, the only color in an HTML book is the chart of colors and their hex codes (which, ironically, this book doesn't have). Even the acknowledgements include color pictures of the people they are thanking. And everything in the book is worth reading through -- including the acknowledgements and the table of contents. There's a healthy use of humor throughout that makes it worth actually reading through, rather than just using as a reference.

And that's the point. The authors are quick to say that if you're looking for another HTML reference book, to keep looking. This is a book for people who want to learn.

I wasn't sure how much I'd really learn from this book -- after all, I'd just read and reviewed Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual. But while that book gave me a good basis for understanding CSS, this book has expanded my understanding considerably. I've got a CSS reference book that has been seldom used; I think I'll be dusting it off soon, because I know enough to be able to use it now.

If you've ever had a family member who wanted you to design a website for them, buy them Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. If you've ever asked a family member to design you a web site, buy this book. If you've ever bought an HTML book and ended up using it to level your desk, or for kindling on a cold winter day, buy this book. This is the book you've been waiting for. This is the learning system you've been waiting for.

Good for nearly all experience levels, March 30, 2006
I know HTML and XML (I've designed a number of domain-specific XML vocabularies). The problem is my HTML knowledge was acquired in the dawn of the WWW when Mosaic was new technology and one could actually have a site announcing the dozen or so new sites appearing on the web each week. This was pre-CSS too. My skills needed some serious updating.

The first few chapters of the book are certainly elementary and I just skimmed them. But starting with chapter five I started getting new and useful information. Those first four chapters would be great for someone starting ab-initio. (I'll test them on my wife and kids.)

The rest of the book is good for fixing my bad-old HTML 1.0 habits and transitioning to strict XHTML. And by the end of the book I actually understood CSS, which had always been a black art to me.

I'm using my new-found knowledge to build some web sites using an XHTML template for Joomla and CSS for all the styling.

The treatment is light and fun, but not nearly as smarmy and condescending as, say, the XXX For Dummies series. It is kind of neat how they match the visual personalities of the make-believe actors with the questions and topics.

This is NOT a reference manual: you'll be very disappointed if you buy it for that purpose. Instead, read this book and keep it nearby when coding up your web sites; use an on-line XHTML or CSS reference when you need it.

Great starter book for beginners and moderately experienced, January 16, 2006
Our department has been making good use of the Head First series of books while we move out of our legacy applications and replace them with Java and Java related technologies. Many of the legacy app's are being replaced with JSP based web applications where CSS is used to present the common corporate look. We again turned to Head First to brush up on our HTML skills and learn what CSS is all about.

What an awesome book! It is both engaging and educating at the same time. The authors cover tons of information in a way that makes this dry subject something to look forward to and not to dread. Any college or tech school that offers an introductory course into this subject should consider using this book as a primary source for teaching.

I had previously though I was fairly fluent in HTML but I found a few things in the first 7 chapters I did not fully know. Even though this section was mostly review, I did not mind going through the exercise. Then once I got into the application of CSS concepts, Wow! Why had I shied away from CSS for so long?

I agree with the previous reviews...A book for the experts? No. A great reference book? Not great but OK. A book to get you going and get you 80% into the world of web page creation? Absolutely. Head First folks, keep up the great work!

Nice Intro to XHTML and CSS, February 8, 2006

What distinguishes "Head First: HTML With CSS and XHTML" from the plenitude of books about learning about creating web pages is its novel teaching approach. It takes knowledge from modern developments in the science of cognition to develop a teaching approach designed to increase learning and retention using a checklist of techniques. It emphasizes use of visual and graphic elements to facilitate learning, the placing of words near graphics, use of a conversational and personalized writing style, engaging the reader's emotions, and grabbing attention by eye and brain-catching presentations. All of this is plausible pedagogically and I believe it works. After reading 655 pages of technical material, rarely did it feel tedious, difficult, or confusing.

The subject matter is basic coding with XHTML and CSS and is designed for beginner code writers and web page creators. It explains basic material for understanding and writing standards-compliant code. It is not a reference book and it does not dig deeply into its topics. Many readers may find the instructional approach highly appealing as it does make reading fun. Learning is likely to be enhanced by the brain stimulation provided by the many dozens of activities, like crossword puzzles, tests, exercises, and question and answer sections.

This is a handsomely produced volume with heavyweight glossy paper, clear, detailed photographs, and many illustrations and graphics. It is easy on the eye and stimulating to the brain. The discussion is suitable for virtually any beginners in XHTML and CSS. The presentation will appeal to the MTV generation especially, with its high density of graphics, bold illustrations, and low-density text.

Authors Elisabeth Freeman and Eric Freeman are software developers and computer scientists. The book emphasizes standards-compliant coding for all the right reasons - newer browsers may not correctly display older noncompliant code, accessibility for handicapped web users is heightened, efficiencies in code writing is enhanced, and more options are available for web page authors to display and style their content. It covers HTML 4.01 and XHTML, and covers both Mac and PC aspects of the topics.

After a couple of very basic chapters dealing with rudimentary HTML and hypertext, the authors turn to the building blocks of satisfactory, compliant coding - sketching structures, adding elements, learning inline vs. block element positioning, and similar items.

There are small sections throughout which inform on various related matters, like dealing with different browsers, using a hosting company and organizing one's site, but the bulk and better of the material deals with systematic construction of web pages using essential building blocks.

Headings, paragraphs, images, element identification, and the various components of CSS styling are carefully described and explained via examples using sample sites. The writing throughout is very clear and straightforward (as enhanced by the teaching elements noted earlier). The best chapter in my view is Chapter 10 explaining the "box model" of XHTML elements. The components of padding, margins, content, and body are very well illustrated within the context of the examples.

The chapter on layout is also very well done, showing how to create two and three column layouts and addressing how to handle common layout problems in positioning. Other matters covered include floating elements, liquid and frozen designs, and relative and absolute positioning.

Later chapters cover using XHTML to create lists, tables and forms, and then styling with CSS. The sections or CSS are very clear, but limited. This is an introduction, after all, and most of the most important and useful style components are described and illustrated. More advanced components like DIV and SPAN are covered nicely. The sections on classes and pseudo-classes are well done.

This is a fine introduction to the topics for the nontechnical reader. Higher-level computer types will not be satisfied; those people not attracted to the unconventional presentation may not be pleased. But, for the most part, this is a worthwhile introduction to the topics.

Better than it looks, August 25, 2006
I passed over this book initially because it looked too goofy, and the first half of the book seemed to take a lot of pages to cover HTML, which I basically already knew. I picked up Richard York's Beginning CSS instead, because it seemed more serious, and it looked a lot more dense with technical detail.

What a mistake. Beginning CSS was incredibly obtuse and difficult to get through, and the examples were just ugly (not to mention they don't work properly in any browser). A couple hundred pages in, I got lost in all the "direct adjacent sibling combinators" and "@import notations" and I gave up.

Then I decided to give Head First HTML a shot. It's about the same thickness as Beginning CSS, but it's much much much easier to read. The type is bigger, and there are lots of illustrations and puzzles and what-not. Most importantly, it's written much more clearly. The examples are easy to code, they look great, and they actually work in real web browsers.

I got through the book in about a week and a half, and boom, I know how to write standards-compliant XHTML & CSS. Obviously, I still have plenty of room for advancement, but I know enough to put together some pretty decent web pages. The book is up-to-date (it even mentions iWeb, which was just released earlier this year), and it really does make the learning process easy and, dare I say, fun. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A must have guide for creating engaging and usable SharePoint 2010 branding

With SharePoint 2010, Microsoft has provided a more robust environment for creating collaboration and content management sites that rival any of the popular websites on the internet. Creating a branded SharePoint site involves understanding both traditional web design techniques as well as topics that are typically reserved for developers. This book bridges that gap by not only providing expert guidance for creating beautiful public facing and internal intranet sites but it also addresses the needs of those readers that only want to understand the basics enough to apply some style to their sites.

Things like creative design, the experience visitors have navigating your user interface, ease of use?these are all important branding considerations and not always intuitive. This unique book from a team of SharePoint branding experts lays it all out. The book is divided into four sections:

• Introduction to SharePoint Branding: In this part you will learn about what SharePoint branding is and how the topic has changed since SharePoint 2007.
• Branding Basics: This section is geared towards both getting started as well as being a guide for people that don?t want to dive super deep into the advanced topics of SharePoint branding. You will learn about how to plan for branding projects, including creating wireframes and creative mockups as well as gathering requirements and estimation. You will learn how to work with SharePoint Designer 2010, SharePoint 2010 themes, and SharePoint navigation as well as gain an understanding of the low and medium effort approaches to branding can be used to make SharePoint look more like your own visual style.
• Advanced Branding: This is where you will learn about the more intricate techniques for making large changes to the SharePoint UI, such as cascading style sheets (CSS), master pages, page layouts, web parts and XSLT. You will also get an introduction to deploying SharePoint branding to production servers using solution packages (WSP).
• Other Topics: Everything else that is related to SharePoint branding is discussed here, including working with the SharePoint 2010 ribbon and client side technologies such as the client object model, jQuery, and Silverlight.

Whether you want to make SharePoint look completely different or just make minor design changes, this expert guide will provide tips, techniques, and insights to get the job done. ... Read more

Reviews

*THE* SharePoint 2010 branding & UI customization resource, December 12, 2010
Finding information and guidance around branding and creating custom user experiences (UX) with SharePoint 2010 is quite a challenging task. Not only does this book do a fantastic job of walking you through creating and implementing a custom design in SharePoint 2010, but its by IMHO the best designer out there in the SharePoint space: Randy Drisgill. This is a MUST HAVE resource for those customizing the look & feel of SharePoint sites, especially those creating internet facing sites.

Not easy to write a good SP2010 branding book, November 29, 2010
It is easy to leave reviews, or even read books, but writing books is a whole another deal.

Writing good books is not easy. It is very difficult to present cohesive and accurate thoughts that are the work of many minds over many months over hundreds of meticulously carved pages.
In reading this book, I was happy to see that no stone was left unturned when talking specifically about SharePoint 2010 branding - no this is not a IT pro book, this is not a developer's book.
There cannot be a single book that covers EVERYTHING about SP2010. But when it comes to branding, this book is top notch.

I was especially pleased to see attention to detail such as not ignoring core CSS principles, HTML standards, browser sense, trends etc.. Branding SharePoint is not exactly the same your typical ASP.NET or PHP site. Branding SharePoint 2010 is it's own unique skill that requires significant SharePoint knowledge. It isn't just CSS and HTML and JavaScript, it is also navigation, security, master pages, standard CSS specific to SharePoint, SharePoint and ASPNET controls applicable to SharePoint, the theming engine, etc. etc. etc.

I was hoping that this book didn't sacrifice the classic branding knowledge, which is pure CSS,HTML and Javascript, in favor of being a pure one sided SharePoint book. And I am happy to see that this is a book well grounded in the current technology set, SharePoint or otherwise.

Finally, I like the author's writing style (disclaimer, I'm around page #200 right now). I hate to read books that have the personality of a whitepaper. This book is very conversational and fun to read.

Good work!

All around terrific Branding and UX resource!, November 24, 2010
What's in this book my manager, users, and I have been waiting for. This is a great start in branding and User design work for SharePoint 2010. I've been really busy setting up our corporate farm and working with some of our developers on cool new solutions. Now I can deliver them with a solid brand and a fresh look and feel that is unique and professional. This book will set you on a course with fresh ideas and confidence.

I've spent the last few days with this book and being new to SharePoint and specifically new to SharePoint 2010 I really appreciate the depth the authors have used in their topics. Everyone will get something from this book. From the new SharePointer to the old salt, there is something here for everyone.

I truly appreciated the sections on customizing the ribbon, wireframes, and the entire section on SharePoint Designer 2010. I also now have a new perspective on waffles!! If nothing else this book will keep you wanting a delicious breakfast treat!!

Black Friday is upon us, what a perfect gift for that SharePoint geek in your life!

Kindle Version = Bad Formatting and Hard to Read, December 13, 2010
This is my first Kindle version that I am reading on the Kindle for PC application. While the images are better than in the Kindle, the formatting is still awful making the book painful to read. You can change the size of the font, but not the font itself (in this case it is Times New Roman which I personally do not like). I am an IT professional, and I am trying to reduce my dependence on paper books. I was hoping that the Kindle version would be a good substitute for paper editions, but it is not when compared to PDF.

And you get to pay more for this hard to read mess than an easy to read, well formatted print book. Kindle might be good for novels, but forget about it for technical books. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are a lot of books out there that show collections of logos. But David Airey’s “Logo Design Love” is something different: it’s a guide for designers (and clients) who want to understand what this mysterious business is all about. Written in reader-friendly, concise language, with a minimum of designer jargon, Airey gives a surprisingly clear explanation of the process, using a wide assortment of real-life examples to support his points. Anyone involved in creating visual identities, or wanting to learn how to go about it, will find this book invaluable. - Tom Geismar, Chermayeff & Geismar

In Logo Design Love, Irish graphic designer David Airey brings the best parts of his wildly popular blog of the same name to the printed page. Just as in the blog, David fills each page of this simple, modern-looking book with gorgeous logos and real world anecdotes that illustrate best practices for designing brand identity systems that last.
 
David not only shares his experiences working with clients, including sketches and final results of his successful designs, but uses the work of many well-known designers to explain why well-crafted brand identity systems are important, how to create iconic logos, and how to best work with clients to achieve success as a designer. Contributors include Gerard Huerta, who designed the logos for Time magazine and Waldenbooks; Lindon Leader, who created the current FedEx brand identity system as well as the CIGNA logo; and many more.
 
Readers will learn:
 

• Why one logo is more effective than another
• How to create their own iconic designs
• What sets some designers above the rest
• Best practices for working with clients
• 25 practical design tips for creating logos that last

Reviews

The Book We Have Needed!, January 7, 2010
David Airey has nailed the topic of logo / identity design right on the head!

I have been fortunate enough to have a handful of my logos featured in a few best selling books. By no means do I consider myself an expert, but instead (just as every designer should be): a constant learner. Success is fleeting and then it's back to the drawing board to try and repeat the process. Just as every designer with a beating heart, I have questioned my design process, my pricing, my abilities, and my skill at negotiating with the client. Logo Design Love gave me the confidence to say: "You know what? I'm doing ok, but here's what I'm going to work on..." David Airey has come as close to mastering the topic as one can and he translates his methods flawlessly into an easy to understand series of steps that are sure to get your designs on the right track every-time. I am pleased to say that though I have been using much the same approach as David when constructing logos, I took some very valuable tips and strategies away from this that I can not wait to apply to my next identity design!

Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it can serve as the perfect way to educate your client on the concept and process of logo design! 2009 found many of my clients consistently trying to pit my prices against crowd-sourcing sites even though there was absolutely no comparison in the quality and level of service between us...AND IT'S FRUSTRATING! VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING! You must remember that to the average client: a logo is just a logo and therefore shouldn't cost that much to create...to make matters worse, we designers have collectively pandered to this mentality instead of correcting it. This book, when given to your client, will correct it! I am going to buy a handful of copies and every-time I start a new identity design I will supply the client with this book as a cornerstone of education and communication on the topic to ensure that we are on the same page. If you like the idea of having a smoother client-designer relationship, you'd be smart to do the same. I managed to read the book in two sittings, so don't worry, it will not delay the process, but will undoubtedly save much time and frustration. Thank you David Airey for such a valuable contribution!

Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities, January 15, 2010
David's book is more than a guide to creating iconic brand identities, is a guide to be a more successful graphic designer in anyway. The book was easy to follow and there is nothing bad I can say about it. I am a graphic design student and this book is very inspiring, I can only say that is an excellent read. I have learn more from this book than any graphic design professor I have had.

Lots of AWESOME logo design info packed into a small book!, June 8, 2010
This is a great book for anyone in the graphic design business. I have read many books on many design topics in the past year. This one, by far, is the best! It packs the essential information you need to know about logo design and design business practices all in an easy to read, quick format. I have recommended this book to many designer friends and my graduate school professors. It would be great to use as a college resource book for design courses.

Everything you need to know that you won't learn in school., September 14, 2010
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's fairly short and to the point and will hold your attention unlike a lot of books I have purchased in this category. I wasn't sure I needed it at first. I have quite a few books on my bookshelf on this subject, some that I have never been able to stomach for more than a few pages. This book is not one that will sit on your shelf unread. It's chock full of useful, real life business advice for the freelance designer. David also walks you through his identity design process using real examples. This is everything I wanted to learn in school, but never did. If you are a graphic designer and you haven't read this, you are doing yourself a huge disservice.

David vs Goliath, June 9, 2010
The favorite books on my shelf, in all subjects, are always small. Small does not mean scant. My favorite small books are always incredibly dense, and have dispensed with extraneous chapters, trivial pursuits, and needless diversions. David Airey's "Logo Design Love" is such a book. It is a comprehensive survey of the logo design process. It's easy to read quickly. It's lovely to hold. It has that "now this is a book I want to keep" feel to it, and is reserved on my shelf in my favorites section. Or "favourites" as David might put it.

I know David from his blog. His personal, conversational tone on his blog bleeds right over to the book. Warm yet consummately professional. He tells you what you need to know about logo design, and refrains from abstruse pontificating that some other "Goliath" design books get mired in. That is very refreshing!

If you are looking to break into the designing of logos and brands, there is no better book I'm aware of to do that succinctly, on budget, and on time, than Logo Design Love. Big things do come in little packages sometimes!

Highly Recommended!

Douglas Bonneville
[...].

Stellar read for both designers and clients, January 3, 2010
This book is a must read for both designers who work in the field of brand identity design and clients (those who hire designers) looking to have a firm understanding of the process and importance of what a logo should (and shouldn't be) -- timeless, memorable, relevant and simple.

The author, David Airey, has a very friendly approach to his writing style, which makes for an easy and enjoyable read from start to finish. He walks us through well researched background information and takes us step by step through a successful and intelligent creative process. Following his advice and process is certain to lead to a successful logo.

The author even answers many great questions towards the end of the book that pertain to pricing, dealing with clients, and how to "seal the deal" -- and a bunch more. Perfect for students and designers that are new to the field and have many "unsolved" questions.

Even the authors blog [...] is a great compliment of resource to this valuable book.

Overall, an enjoyable, helpful and insightful read.

One of the best logo books I've read, January 20, 2010
I found Logo Design Love easy to read and very insightful. It seemed I was always either agreeing or learning as I read. It really renewed my love for what I do for a living and made me want to strive harder to do my best. Overall, it is definitely in my top 3 design books on my shelf - and I have a lot of books. :)

A must read for graphic designers and for those looking to hire one!, January 11, 2010
As a professional graphic designer for the last 10 years, I have run across too many clients who have asked me to design them a logo and believe that the process consists of me doodling on the computer for a few minutes and then hitting the print button. The process is much more in-depth than that and this book by David Airey lays out the process in an easy to understand way. I love this book and devoured it in one day. David's writing style is not only down to earth and gets straight to the point, but he also shows you exactly what he means with excellent logo examples. David unleashes a lot of misconceptions about logo design and covers everything from brand identity, to the design process, to working with clients. Just as logos should be simple and timeless, this book is beautifully simplistic and will definitely prove to be timeless. This is a must read for any graphic designer or for those looking to hire one.

Not a picture book!, October 1, 2010
"Logo Design Love" is not a picture book. It has nothing to do with show and tell- it's rather an in-depth travelogue into the painstaking process of creating those little geometric dots and abstract stains better known as logos and marks. This book should be on the required reading list for business administration students, CEOs, marketing managers, brand managers and decision makers who think we designers have all the fun. Thank you David, it's nice to know I'm not alone...

The Best Logo Design Book Available, June 20, 2010
Logo Design Love is an insightful book written by talented designer, author and blogger David Airey.

The book guides the reader through what is required to create an iconic brand identity - i.e. it should be memorable, timeless, simple and relevant. It also contains many vital tips on how to become a more successful designer.

David's passion for his work really comes though in his writing. The book is easy to read, straight to the point, and covers almost everything you need to become an accomplished brand identity designer.

The book is an extremely valuable resource for any designer wishing to further their knowledge in this field. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS5 choose Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS5.

Readers learn how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, they'll learn how to integrate their artwork with Adobe Flash movies, Adobe InDesign layouts, and Adobe Flash Catalyst software to add interaction to their designs.

This completely revised CS5 edition covers new perspective drawing tools, variable-width watercolor strokes, multiple artboards with video-specific presets, the new realistic Bristle brush and Shape Builder tool, and the ability to maintain consistent raster effects across media.

“The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training

Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.

... Read more

Reviews

A straightforward and solid introduction to the basics of Adobe Illustrator CS5, August 30, 2010
While I've worked a bit with other components of the Adobe Creative Suite, I was an absolute beginner when it comes to Illustrator, and really needed a simple guide to become familiar with the interface, tools and basic strategies. While I'm primarily interested in After Effects and Premiere Pro and Photoshop, I wanted to learn Illustrator because it's one of the best ways to create some of the elements I'd want to animate in After Effects or include in my composite images in Photoshop, or use as Buttons in Encore CS5 - and if you go through any of the major training textbooks for those programs they will invariably include several elements originally created within Illustrator CS5. Still, Illustrator's not a program you can just jump into, since it's designed for precision - this is not really a free hand or free style drawing or painting program, where you just pick up a pencil and scribble or a brush and express - it's much more like a precision tool-driven drafting, design, and illustration program. Moreover, it's vector based, which means that the shapes and designs you create with it are size independent - and will have the same quality whether they're output in a small format (like on a postcard) or a huge format (like on a poster).

So I needed an introduction, and this is the one I picked. Apart from a few minor gripes, I'm quite happy with it. Unlike other software guides I've tried there's no humor here, and it's strictly business, but is straightforward and practical and clear. Some might call it dry, but what they're aiming for here and manage nicely is clarity and directness and practical impact, a thorough hands-on introduction to the basic tools and possibilities of Illustrator CS5. I've got a lot more to learn, but mostly that'll come from more doing. After working through this book, I have a pretty good idea how Illustrator CS5 works and am no longer an absolute beginner.

The basic pedagogical approach of the Classroom in a Book series is simple: tell 'em what they're going to do, tell them how to do it, then remind them what they've done (and suggest they try it again in different ways, without guidance this time). The emphasis here is on hands-on exposure, rather than explanation. That's good, in many ways, but sometimes I wish they'd tell me why a bit more often, sometimes I wish I had a bit more in the way of explanation. There's usually a bit of explanation at the beginning of each chapter, and then an exercise, and a few little explanatory tips throughout. Still, the emphasis here is on hands-on introductions to the range of tools and features of Illustrator, so that the reader can quickly get a sense of what can be done. It seems to me the basic assumption is that the whys will come later.

Each chapter leads you through the creation of one or more projects that introduce a new set of tools and strategies, from the basics of knowing how the program is set up and how to tailor it for specific needs, through using the selection and arrangement tools, creating and editing shapes, transforming objects and using the tools for drawing and painting and text, and then using layers and perspective and blending tools, and working with brushes and effects and styles and symbols. I really liked their approach in the drawing chapter, that led me through a series of exercises where I was learning to precision trace an established set of curves and lines and shapes - especially since the pen is so useful in Photoshop and After Effects and I've used it quite a bit, but I think I finally understand how to work it and get exactly the curves and lines I want. I will say in general that while occasionally I felt a bit confused when they asked me to do something I didn't understand yet, by the end of the book it was all making sense - the "whys" really did come later.

The opening chapter throws you into a fairly advanced project, and that was where I got stuck the most. Some of the options available in the Illustrator workspace are contextual, so that when I accidentally didn't follow one instruction I could be quickly lost and not know how to do what they asked me to do next. Eventually I figured things out, but it was a bit disorienting, and took a lot longer than the "one hour" they estimated, and it might have helped to have a few more helping hints explaining what to do when I didn't see the options they were asking me to use. But that's a minor gripe, because as the chapters advanced I ran into that less and less, since I was becoming familiar with the interface, and then the instructions had the advantage of leading me as quickly as possible through some very cool examples that I could easily see as applicable to real world uses of this program. The main point of the opening chapter, after all, was to get the reader into doing things quickly so I'd be excited about the possibilities before going back and mastering the basic skills. In that it succeeded quite well, and the rest of the book is more straightforward and step-by-step. The emphasis still stays with exposure over explanation, but for the most part the explanations are superfluous once you've seen how each tool works. Plus, there are several points where the book indicates resources for better understanding the tools introduced. The book comes with a CD that contains all the files needed for following along and completing each of the hands-on examples in the book. Highly recommended for beginners, and for those who are upgrading to Illustrator from an older package and want a refresher.

Good for beginners who are willing to spend some time, August 1, 2010
The Illustrator is a complicated program but this book does a good job of explaining various features through lessons. While following the instructions in the book, I realized how difficult it is for them to describe every step precisely and clearly, in part because the book has to address both PC and Mac users and the program menus and tool settings change depending on the screen resolution of the user computer. For example, the book asks the reader to click the word Transform but some readers may not see the Transform in the described panel because of their limited screen resolution. So the book describes another way of selecting the Transform. In addition, the Illustrator is highly customizable, so the book reminds the reader to start with the default settings, not just once but over and over again. So the book tries hard not to lose the reader in the lessons by anticipating possible situations the reader may face.

Due to the complexity of the program, every step has to be described very clearly in order for the reader to successfully complete each lesson. Sometimes I was stuck because my result from the previous step was different from what the book expected. I thought the book missed some step or the previous step was incomplete. After spending some time trying to figure out what went wrong, I just corrected the result in my way to match the book's result.

Considering the complexity of the program and the variety of the user hardware environment, I thought the book does a good job of getting the user started with the Illustrator. I know there is still a long way for me to go but I feel that I have a good foundation to grow from thanks to the book.

Extremely Well-Crafted Illustrator CS5 Learning Experience, August 20, 2010
Illustrator is Adobe's oldest app, going back to 1987. What's called "Illustrator CS5" is actually Illustrator 15. In September of 2003, when Adobe released its original Creative Suite collection, Illustrator shared a common user interface (UI) with Photoshop and InDesign. Though many of the tools and panels in many of the CS5 apps look and operate similarly, each app has it's own hidden power. It seems to us that there's more power hiding in Adobe Illustrator (Ai) than any other app in the Master Collection. We go back to Illustrator 3 but need to brush up with the new features with each version which is released. We have many resources for getting up to speed but none is better than Classroom in a Book (CIB). As Janet & I go through the lessons in Ai CS5 CIB we find ourselves saying to each other, "Did you know that..." For Illustrator professionals, the first chapter is an excellent overview of the CS5 new features. In the past, this chapter has seemed a little too packed and we've had concerns that it could overwhelm the reader. Well, the chapter is still packed but it's well-crafted so that the learning curve does not seem too steep. This is not to say that Ai CS5 CIB is for Illustrator professionals. You can be completely new to Illustrator and the second and third chapters, "Tour" and "Work Area" will leave you feeling that Ai CS5 is doable. The lessons in these starter chapters are attractive leaving the reader feeling accomplished. By the time you make it to just page 175 (plus the later chapter on layers) of this 440 pages of learning, you should have an excellent mastery of what Ai CS5's core features are all about leaving you with a sense of comfort with the app. After that, Lesson 6, on Color and Painting, starts moving you toward one of Ai CS5's most awesome feature sets, the bristle brush tool which comes together later in Lesson 11 on brushes. It brings a flavor of painting to vector art which parallels what Photoshop CS5 brought to pixel art. The two apps' bristle brush feature sets are similar but with completely different results. Equally, though there are type features all over CS5 apps, what you can do with type in Ai is very unique. CIB has an excellent chapter on that with very rich lessons. We have watched and re-watched videos on Ai CS5's other fabulous new feature set on perspective drawing. The videos seem a little daunting for some. CIB Lesson 9 makes perspective seem as simple as it is. When some start in Ai their results resemble some of the static vector art which goes back the original Illustrator 88. Lesson 10 helps the reader to see how easy it is to blend colors and shapes for professional results, as Lesson 12 offers for the effects feature set and Lesson 13 does for appearances and styles. The chapter entitled "Working with Symbols" plays down all that's contained within it. This powerful set of tools for developing websites, Flash, and other interactive projects, which you can now create in InDesign CS5 is at the heart of this chapter. Even many seasoned Ai users will look at this lesson and think, "I can do that in Illustrator?" This appropriately leads to the fifteenth lesson which excellent demonstrates how to combine Illustrator with Bridge, Photoshop, and other CS5 apps and what each app uniquely brings to the table but can be swapped back and forth. This is the best-crafted Ai CIB yet.

Improper Instructions, October 18, 2010
The Instructions for some of the lessons in the book are wrong & there are places where they clearly skip steps or the short cut does NOT do what it should. In lesson 3 on page 103-104 it has you create a star then tells you to hold down the Alt key to resize the star. This will not resize it Holding down alt creates another duplicate star. You would think they would check to make sure the instructions are correct before printing a book. The same thing happens in lesson 4 where it gives instructions that do not match what it should. I wonder how many other instances there will be in the book...

Classroom in a book, October 16, 2010
I like the software, and I'm starting to get used to it. However, learning to use the software was frustrating. This book is probably great if your in a class with a teacher leading it, but if your just an individual that needs a learning and reference guide, this book is not for you.

Kindle Edition CD ROM files, December 20, 2010
Just a little hint if you can't find the link to the "lesson files" anywhere in the Kindle edition (and like me it's driving you crazy). Search for "Where are the lesson files?" (3rd to last page) for the download url.

I've just only started on the lessons, so I can't comment too much about the content of the book beyond saying that the Kindle edition is very usable on an iPad (for color) and okay on the e-Ink Kindle. The lessons are well structured, the example files inspiring and quite fun to work with. I can't comment on how far the book goes yet since I'm only at the very beginning.

This book is great!, November 25, 2010
I have no formal education in graphics, but I needed a program to help me create patterns for my business. I selected Illustrator. My only experience with Adobe other than PDF was Elements 6 through 8 versions. I knew I would need help learning to use Illustrator. I selected this Classromm in a Book for Illustrator based on the reviews. I have not been disapointed.

While I am not completely finished with the lessons, I continue to work my way through them. With the lessons completed to date, I will say that this is a great way to learn how to use this extensive program and its features.

I have no regrets about this purchase and highly recommend this book. The lessons can be completed at your own pace and repeated if you so choose. I was not confident that I could learn to use this program, but now I am. Thanks!

The REAL Classroom, July 14, 2010
I never expected a book like this !!!! it is really wounderful. really it is worth. anybody can learn from this book and the cd which included. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

The Excellent Teach Your Kids (Or Teach Yourself) Programming In The Python Language Book., May 11, 2009
This attractive and moderately-sized volume gets elementary through high school education in programming computers right, and makes the best use of the universally available (and free) "batteries-included" language--Python. In the early days of personal computers (about 1978), everyone and his brother had a Teach Yourself Basic on the TRS-80 or Apple-II programming book that got you and your kids up to speed in the Dartmouth-developed (Digital Equipment Corporation-improved) BASIC computer programming language. At that time, you were lucky if at the conclusion of the book you could produce a simple-minded character-based Tic-Tac-Toe game (or self-prompted lessons in the multiplication tables). With excellent pedagogy and the libraries (like PYGAME) now available for the modern Python programming language this book enables the home-schooled student (or timid grandparent) to build sophisticated simulations and graphical entertainment (like a virtual pet) at least equivalent to the commercial games available in that era.

Due to the excellent tools and step-by-step examples given by Warren and Carter Sande the young reader, or his/her parent, is well prepared for a modern college level course in Data Structures or Algorithms with well illustrated examples of Lists, Modules, Event-driven and Object-Oriented Programming. The use of GUI-builders and programming libraries enable the novice to achieve impressive results within the course of a few short months of self-instruction.

The book is well illustrated, and the examples and tools downloadable from the book's web site run correctly without the need to fix typo's.

All in all, the book is an excellent read for a 12-year old, or an adult novice, and will provide superb instruction and entertainment for its readers.

--Ira Laefsky

Excellent but designed for PC not Mac, July 24, 2009
I have been programming and teaching programming at the university level for 25 years and I have been looking for years to find a book for children, like my 10 year old son, who wanted to learn about programming but were not up to the high school reading level. This book perfectly fills the niche. With clear writing, well thought through examples and gentle humor, it is superb for the young learner. My son has taken over my PC since I gave him the book. So, it is safe to say it can hold a child's attention.

The fact that it is good for a young audience does not mean that it is dumbed down too far to be useful for any age. The depth and pace of the material is appropriate for anyone, starting from scratch, who wants to learn to program from lots of examples. Actually, it sets the stage nicely for someone who is anxious about needing to learn programming at the university level.

The only real down side is the support for Mac. The book uses Python which works on Mac, Windows and Linux but a couple of the components used in the book do not have good instructions for the Mac on the books website. For example, they are written for older Mac OS or require you to dig deep in the system files to find the directories where things belong. The forums on the website will help but expect to need to dig around a bit, especially if you use Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard), until the author(s) fix the main Mac instructions.

Even though I had to poke around a bit to make sure the Mac would behave, I still love this book. Setting aside the fact that this fills a badly need gap in programming instruction for kids, this book is just great with a wonderful ratio of code snippets to explanations and clear concise discussions of both basic and fairly advanced concepts (like object oriented programming).

What a great book for kids!, June 1, 2009
My husband's a computer programmer, and my nine year old son told us he wants to learn how to write computer programs too. I did a lot of looking around for something that would be suitable for my son to use, and finally discovered this book.

We had to wait a while for this book, as the release date was changed and there were other problems, but this was definitely worth the wait. My son read through the book in no time flat, and definitely understands what's in it.

The next step is for the two of them to sit down and go through the code examples together.

Mr. Sande (young and old), thank you so much for writing this book!

Great educational fun, July 14, 2009
My daughter and I have been enjoying working through this book together. The choice of an open, multi-platform language is nice, as almost anyone with a computer can take advantage of what it has to offer.

Python has many great libraries and the use of Pygame makes possible some projects that would be much too difficult for this level of work. That really hooked my daughter, the ability to make her own games. We've been having a blast working through the book together.

There are tons of learning opportunities that take things well outside the realm of just 'programming'. I recommend this book to anyone with kids that are inclined towards doing more with a computer than just running applications.

Great Book for Kids!, May 8, 2009
The authors have done a wonderful job introducing the basics of computer programming through Python. I gave this book to my 9-year-old, and he's hooked! The exercises are fun and engaging, and the text and graphics are easy for him to follow.

This book comes highly recommended!

Anyone Can Do It, January 9, 2010
This book is one of the best programming books I've ever read. OReilly books are very informative but extremely boring. I'm 24 and know nothing about programming and those other books did nothing to excite me in my endeavor. However after getting half way through this book I am amazed at how easy the concepts are taught. Elementary kids should be taught this, and they can without being bored. I'm very happy I bought this book even though at the time I considered myself too mature for it.

Great start!, August 25, 2009
I gave this book five stars because it is incredibly beginner friendly which is very rare for a programming book. There are many lessons that cover the basics of the Python language and even full games. There is no disc with the book but you can download the extra content and lessons from the books website.

For those who are comfortable with the basics of Python there might not be much need to read this book. Hello world is an excellent start but you will definitely need something more solid after reading it.

Excellet Book For Kids and Adults, August 13, 2009
Programming is not for everyone, but for those who are passionate about creating new programs and using their creativity to solve problems, there is nothing like it. A lot of people have this notion that you have got to be young or under a certain age to be able to pick up programming. That couldn't be further from the truth. As long as you are passionate about writing programs and solving problems, the sky's the limit. That's why I love Hello World! As an experienced computer scientist, I loved the fact that it focuses on the fundamentals of programming that everyone needs to know in order to become a decent programmer. A lot of people in the IT complain about a lot of programmers not knowing their basics, but with this book, you are going to learn how to get started with programming without cutting corners.

Here is what's covered in this book:

1. Programming Fundamentals
2. Memory and Variables
3. Data Types
4. Loops (all kinds)
5. Lists and Collections
6. Objects
7. Graphics
8. Events
9. Multimedia & Graphics
10. Handing Strings
11. File I/O Management
12. GUIs and More

Please note that this book is written for absolute beginners. So do not expect heavy duty graphics programming to be discussed in this book. At the same time, if you have no idea how to get started with programming, you are going to enjoy reading this book. Python is a nice language to get started with. The book has a very fun tone to it, and it doesn't go over your head. You can easily follow the instructions in this book and even test yourself in each chapter.

It's never too late to get started with programming. You can always jump in and pick up a more advanced book, but if you want do things the right way and start with the fundamentals first, Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners is a very good book.

Good Principals - Bad Timing - Poor Focus, July 17, 2010
The programming principals in the book are sound and valid. However, the book was written based on Python 2.5 instead of Python 3.0 which is a sticking point; I say this because the original release date in late 2008 would have allowed for for at least Python 2.6, but I digress. Each project in the book builds upon the previous module that was covered which is good, however the opportunity to teach core programming principals at one time in the beginning is missed. The text is easy to read and the syntax is explained well with relevant explanations. By the end of the book, the reader should be able to make a text-based programs, a windowed program, and different forms of arcade games. I was very pleased to see the layout for a card game which no one else has done to date. However, the author presents a lot of various graphic user interface mechanisms and doesn't really focus enough on them before moving on. Several editors for python are covered as well; some are challenging to install and configure which could be discouraging. I would like to point out that the author's use of EasyGUI is great because it is easier to use than Tkinter that comes standard with Python and allows the user to make text based programs more user friendly. However, he moves from EasyGUI to Pygame (which could be a book unto itself) and then to Python Card (which needs another module wxpython). My point is that it would have been better if he had stuck with EasyGUI and focused more on one of the graphic modules instead of dabbling with all of them. I was fortunate that the book was offered at my local library. If you dont get this book, then I would recommend "Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 2nd Edition" by Al Sweigart which is written in Python 3 (and available as a free PDF) or "Game Programming: The L Line, The Express Line to Learning" (The L Line: The Express Line To Learning) by Andy Harris even though it's written with Python 2.

Very Good Intro to Programming Book, May 10, 2010
My 9yr old son who has had his own computer for several years recently showed an interest in programming and understanding how computers work. I found this book and purchased it for him. He couldn't wait for it to arrive and kept asking every day until it showed up. Once he started he was halfway through the book in no time and was writing his own programs. Being a software developer myself I had to coach him through a few things but for the most part he was able to learn from the book.

I also liked how the book chose Python and stick to the basics rather than get lost into creating fancy graphical interfaces right away. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Web designers, web producers, and webmasters rely on one program above all others to design, build, and manage professional websites: Adobe Dreamweaver. It provides the tools you need to create everything from simple HTML pages to database-driven PHP pages. But what makes Dreamweaver so versatile is also what makes it difficult to learn. This bestselling guide offers you with clear, jargon-free explanations to help you master this sophisticated program -- and bring stunning, contemporary websites to life.

Written by veteran Dreamweaver teacher and author David McFarland, Dreamweaver CS5: The Missing Manual takes you through site creation step-by-step, from building your very first page to launching a template-driven, fully interactive site. You'll hone your skills with the help of hands-on, guided tutorials throughout the book.

• Learn how to control the appearance of your web pages with CSS, from basic to advanced techniques
• Design dynamic, database-driven websites, from blogs to product catalogs, and from shopping carts to newsletter signup forms
• Add interactivity to your website with ready-to-use JavaScript programs from Adobe's Spry Framework
• Effortlessly control the many helper files that power your website and manage thousands of pages
• Examine web page components and Dreamweaver's capabilities with the book's "live examples"

Add Spry Tabbed Panels to Web Pages

Some website visitors are loath to scroll; if they don’t see what they want when a page first loads, they move on. Because of this, some web designers divide long passages of information into multiple pages so that each page presents small, easy-to-digest chunks. Of course, that means building several pages instead of just one, and forces visitors to click through (and wait for) a series of pages. Spry Tabbed Panels provides an alternative (see Figure 13-1). Instead of creating one long page, or several smaller pages, you can organize information into separate tabbed panels. That way, your content is always front and center, and your visitors can easily access different sections by clicking a tab above each panel.

Adding a Tabbed Panel

You can place Spry tabbed panels anywhere on a web page. But since the tabs form a single row at the top of the group of panels, you need enough horizontal space to accommodate all the tabs. Unless you have only a couple of tabs with one-word text labels, you should place the tabbed panels in a fairly wide space, such as the main column of a web page, or across the entire width of the page. Just follow these steps:

Figure 13-1. Organize your page’s content into easily accessible panels with the Spry Tabbed Panels widget. Clicking a tab opens a new panel’s worth of information without the browser having to load a new web page.

1. In the document window, click where you wish to insert the panels.For example, inside a div tag.

2. Choose Insert > Spry > Spry Tabbed Panels, or, on the Insert panel’s Spry category, click one of the Spry Tabbed Panel’s buttons (see Figure 13-2).

You can find all the Spry goodies on the Insert panel’s Spry category (Figure 13-2, left); you’ll also find several Spry widgets (including tabbed panels) listed under the Layout category (Figure 13-2, right), and other Spry buttons grouped under other tabs (form validation Spry widgets appear under the Forms tab, for example).

Figure 13-2. In the Insert panel, you can identify a Spry icon by the starburst in the button’s lower-right corner. It’s even easier to distinguish them from other buttons if, from the Insert Panel’s category menu, you choose Color Icons--this changes the drab gray starburst to a bright orange.

After you insert a tabbed panel, you see two tabs and two panels on the page (Figure 13-3); in addition, a blue tab appears above the panels indicating the Spry widget. The blue tab appears only in Dreamweaver’s Design view, not in a guest’s web browser. It gives you an easy way to select the Spry widget and access its properties in the Property inspector.

Note: When you save a page after inserting a Spry Tabbed Panel, Dreamweaver notifies you that it has added two files to the site: a CSS file (SpryTabbedPanels.css) for formatting the panel group, and a JavaScript file (SpryTabbedPanels.js) to make the panels appear and disappear when visitors click the tabs. Dreamweaver saves both files in the SpryAssets folder in your site’s root folder. Make sure you upload this folder when you move your site onto your web server.
3. In the Property inspector, name the panel group (Figure 13-3).

This step is optional. Dreamweaver provides a generic name (TabbedPanels1, for example) for the group of panels. You don’t really have to change this name; it never appears in a browser window. But if you ever take the plunge into manually modifying your Spry widgets in Code view, you may want to change the Spry panel group’s name to something more descriptive. If you create a group of tabbed panels to house information about a product, for example, you might name the panel group productPanels. A descriptive name helps you identify code related to the panel group if you work in Code view to enhance or change the functionality of the panels.



Figure 13-3. Normally, when a browser downloads a page containing Spry panels, it highlights the first tab and panel. However, if you’d rather open another panel when the page loads, select the relevant tab’s name in the Property inspector’s “Default panel” menu.



4. Add additional panels.

If two panels aren’t enough for your needs, use the Property inspector to add more. Above the list of tab names, click the + button (see Figure 13-3) to add a new panel. To remove a panel, in the same list, click the name of a tab, and then click the minus (-) button. You can also reorder the panels by selecting a tab from the list, and then clicking the up or down arrow button. The up arrow moves a panel to the left, while the down arrow moves a panel to the right.
Note: A Spry widget’s properties appear in the Property inspector only when you select the widget. To do so, click the blue tab above the elements inside the widget.

Reviews

A Diamond Of A Dreamweaver Reference/Learning Tool, July 7, 2010
At over 1000 pages and 27 chapters, 'Dreamweaver CS5: The Missing Manual' by David McFarland is one of the rare books that I can EASILY give a Highest Possible Recommendation for. It has been known for quite some time that Dreamweaver is THE #1 resource for creating a professional web site in the most efficient way possible and with the fewest steps so that you can get your site created with netters surfing to it in the shortest amount of time. Now learn how to use Dreamweaver as efficiently as possible and get a peek at all the newest features in CS5!!

The material contained within is simply staggering: Basics, CSS, Forms, Flash, Automation, Database connectivity, and server-side XML and XSLT, it's all here!!

The Missing Manual is my favorite line of books because of the logical separation of content, the writing, and the design. My only gripe with this book would be the lack of color which could have easily been put in for only a small amount more added to the retail price, but this is not enough to knock my recommendation down. If you use Dreamweaver or want to learn more about what CS5 has to offer, pick this book up TO-DAY!!

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

Would pick this over Dummies any day!!, August 26, 2010
I did not buy this book through amazon, although i wish I would have with the markdown in price. It is a great deal compared to the $49 I paid (8-26-10) at B&N. Early on, I was in need of a great, solid, easy to read book that would introduce me into the Dreamweaver world. Being an amateur and having little to no knowledge at all of CSS, HTML, XML, etc., I found this book a great, GREAT tool to help me get on my way to website building and managing. Though in reality, it teaches you a lot more than just those simple desires. The Missing Manual comes in with the expectation that you are an advanced beginner or intermediate at operating a computer and you DO NOT need to have any prior knowledge of computer coding or tech terms to understand the material. It teaches you as you go along without veering from the objective of that chapter.

It is really fascinating how the material covered in the book is so clearly explained with examples and links that supplement the content in the chapter. In fact the book includes many external website links and books to view so that the reader can learn about that feature or code structure in more detail that the chapter will allow. That is not to say the chapters are limited- by all means no! There are books dedicated just to CSS and HTML5 coding- more info than the typical reader would like to know. And so this whole book goes about teaching you the essentials (and there are a lot of them) rather than include every little nuance to code language and bore you to death (if you haven't already died before reaching the end of the book). That's right, this book has 10,031 pages of information and lessons (not including creds & appendix). I absolutely LOVED the fact that the book was formatted so that each page had 3cm margins along the edges!!!!! I write notes in the sides, star important paragraphs and recap half-chapters in these margins. Much less of an eyesore than some other books where you have to cram in between lines to write snippets about things.

I previously bought (and returned) the Dummies version *Dreamweaver CS5 All-in-One For Dummies of dreamweaver CS5 on account that I.COULD.NOT.READ.IT. IT is simply not a very well written book for beginners and intermediates of Dreamweaver/site building. It was difficult to read, and in their intro they said 'this is not a step by step book, so feel free to jump from one chapter to another in any order.' Well how exactly does that help? If you don't know what you're using, how could you expect the reader to chose one chapter from another at random? Didn't quite like that. Anyways, I really like the organization and teach-as-we-go approach that The Missing Manual offers. This is literaly, "The missing manual that should have been in the box." Thanks for reading!

Not Updated much from CS4, September 28, 2010
If you have read the author's previous book, Dreamweaver CS4, The missing Manual, which is excellent; save your money. In the author's haste to get a book out, he neglets to cover integrating Dreamweaver with CMS: Word Press, Joomla, or Drupal. If anyone has a list of improvements, I am all ears. I hope this saves you time and money.

Either book, will do an excellent job teaching Dreamweaver. I guess I had high expectations CS5 would be educate me as much as the former; no such luck.

Easy to understand explanations!, August 10, 2010
This is an excellent book IMHO. He explains things and just when I'm going to say, "But what happens if you do this," the next paragraph goes right to it. He covers everything I need to know about DW. I'm not an expert, but he has gotten me to feel comfortable in using DW and I know that when I get stuck I can find a reference to the problem.
Not only that, but their customer support is fabulous. I found an error on their web site and a picture out of place in the book and they responded and fixed it immediately via email. Great buy!

Great Book, But Typo/Errata Ridden, December 4, 2010
1st off I have to say that I am surprised @ the overwhelming praise that people have given this book, being that you are sure to find loads of typos, mismatched diagrams, and (at times) disjointed procedures in some of the tutorials. Did these people even read the majority of this book as I have been doing for the past month? Or are they just professionals that need a snippet of information? I'll be honest here. I have about 40 pages to go until I finish it, but have become so completely frustrated with a particular example, and the fact that I've been submitting Errata on this book to the point where I feel the author should pay me for being a freelance editor (check out the errata and "unconfirmed errata". My name's there.) that I had to come out and say something. Don't get me wrong. Overall this is a good book for newbies like myself. I am a self teaching aspiring web designer (totally new to DW let alone DW 5) that has read about 7 books on html, css, php5 & Mysql, and Photoshop 5 (just for the record). I am of average intelligence. That being said, this book is not hard to follow, nor are the tutorials particularly hard to implement or understand - except when the end result does not mirror what is displayed in the book after you follow the instructions down to a T.
I give this Book just 2 stars not because the book is a bad one so to speak, but more-so that you get the feeling it was published in a hurry. A typo or other error after every 10 pages for a book that has over 1000 is a little much. It starts off well written until you get to the 5 or 600's, then its typo galore to the point where you ask yourself if this guy actually hired an editor at all. Every now and then you get a sentence where allthelettersareputogetherlikethis. Most of the examples work, but when you get into the dynamic website tutorials towards the end....lets just say that there is a few CHAPTERS (24 and 25 for sure) of mismatched diagrams to say the least. So I am not sure if the examples are malfunctioning because of erroneous steps or if it's just me. The author still hasn't responded to my question. The feedback isn't really all that hot either.

On a positive note I will say the author doesanexcellentjobexplaining (yes I did that on purpose as a joke) what everything is and how it works (the basics that is). He makes it fun to read, and everything user friendly for the most part. He also provides a plethora of resources to use on various topics that you might need in the web development world. In this area I feel he went out of his way to help, which is good. I am not sure if I would buy another book by this guy. I like his style and attention to detail....but the typos and errata are driving me crazy. Overall. I still feel torn over whether this book is worth what I paid for it.

superb Dreamweaver CS5 book for beginners, October 13, 2010
Superb! This book is a refreshing delight.
I'm a professional software developer and have been reading technical programming books for 30 years ranging from C, C++, Java, Python, etc. etc. and "Dreamweaver CS5 - the Missing Manual" is among the best books I've ever bought. The author blends and balances conceptual overview, description, detail and tutorials superbly. Enough overview to get the most important concepts established; enough detailed description to reveal how things really work while also pointing out some of the important "gotchas" that newbies will run into; and then enough tutorials (but not too much, and not too trivial) to help beginners get both a comprehensive feel for dreamweaver and put them well on their way to building professional websites. For example, the tutorials are well thought out and then distilled to focus on the things that are important for beginners to understand. Also the instructions for the tutorials are so explicit and accurate, it is almost impossible for readers to get confused.

Excellent Learning Tool, September 23, 2010
This book saved my bacon. I decided to learn Dreamweaver on my own with no experience in HTML or any programming. I'm a graphic designer, so I'm familiar with a lot of Adobe software, but Dreamweaver was so different, I just couldn't figure it out. I looked at a lot of books, but they were either too limited in the functions they taught, or relied on too much prior knowledge of HTML and programming conventions (I still can't make heads nor tails out of a lot of the "hints" I read online). As a designer, I wanted to be able to control everything visual about my site. With this book, I was able to recreate exactly what I had planned my web site to look like, and it works in all browsers! I felt like I was banging my head against a wall trying to learn to build a web site. Without this book, I don't think I could have done it. Now I am ready to start working on some other sites. The only problem is, my Missing Manual is getting a little threadbare already from how much I've riffled its pages! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

The Final Word (incl review of critics), September 23, 2000
As you may know, this book is considered THE Javascript book. What's makes the book worthwhile is it's fine discussion of Javascript's innerworkings. If you really want learn how Javascript's objects, functions, and data type handling work, then this is the book for you. The criticisms of this book fall into three catagories: 1) "Not for beginners". Yes, this book is not intended for people who have never studied object oriented programming. But that doesn't make it a 2 star book! Even beginners, if they are serious enough, will eventually need some clues about how Javascript really works. 2) "It's outdated". Again, yes; the reference section, and some of the browser dependant discussion is clearly outdated; BUT that still does not make this an outdated book! The author's in-depth explanation of Javascript innerworkings may never become outdated, and that alone is what makes this book worthwhile. 3) "Not enough examples". This is the only criticism that I

actually agree with, and therefore the 4, instead of 5 stars. Not only can this book benefit from additional small examples, but the author's explanations are sometimes lacking, or even worse, missing. On a few examples, he basically says, "This is worthy of study. Go ahead and study it." Sorry, I expect more from my books, than a grumpy professor in a university lecture hall, nearing the end of class.

Hard core Javascript theory.....at last., August 24, 2000
After trying to learn javascript from the visual series "javascript for the world wide web, 3rd ed" (and being thoroughly disappointed), I finally have found a book that describes the fundamentals of the javascript language in detail. This book explains from an academic perspective the rules, usage, and syntax of javascript. It leads the reader into the depths of how javascript implements an object-oriented paradigm without getting too esoteric. It can be difficult reading at times, but the true nature of javascript programming is not that of a simple little scripting language as some would have you believe. The coding examples could have been better, with more full-sized scripts showing the language in action instead of the numerous 1-4 line code snipets. The one big distraction I noticed was the seemingly constant references to netscape navigator, and all the bugs present in older versions of that browser. Unfortunately, this dated the book and tended to highlight a bias when the author would have been better off staying with the academic focus. Even still, the majority of the theory is unaffected by nav or ie, and the reference section is essential for any serious javascript developer. It is noted that this book was copyright 1998, so "cutting edge" javascript extensions will not be included, but the fundamental theory behind the language remains intact. With the combination of this book (theory and reference) and the visual series book (cutesy web page tricks), I can finally get on with the task of finishing my web site.

The best Javascript reference, April 27, 2000
This is the best Javascript reference available.

The book is divided into three sections. The first covers "Core Javascript", defining the language itself with only occasional references to how you might use it in a browser. This initially seemed to me to be a roundabout way to approach the language--why wouldn't you want to explain it by examples in a web page? However, after becoming more familiar with the language I think it was absolutely the right decision, since it avoids confusing the document object model (see below for more about that) with the language itself, a confusion common among beginners.

At the end of the first section (which developers experienced in other languages can skim, but shouldn't skip) you know what Javascript code looks like and how to do assignments, define functions, and so on. The second section, "Client-side Javascript", is where examples start to show up that you can really run in a test page of your own. The examples are good and there are plenty of them.

The heart of the second section is the discussion of the document object model. After some introductory discussion, covering windows and frames and some of the more common Javascript tasks, there's an overview of the DOM. Subsequent chapters cover it in more detail. This organization makes it pretty easy to find what you need without even resorting to the index. For example, I find the forms chapter, and the chapter on how to use cookies to save state, to be very useful, and easy to find information in.

Finally, there's a reference section at the back. This is the most valuable section once you're well on your way with the language, and is what I now use most of all. It's comprehensive and clearly written.

The book does have one weakness, which has been noted by other reviewers here: it doesn't have a "cookbook" section, showing you how to do common tasks with Javascript. This is a serious omission because of the nature of Javascript usage. Very often a webmaster for a small non-profit or a small business will decide they want to do a rollover, or add an alert for form validation failures, or something similar. Users like this need something equivalent to the "Perl Cookbook"; a "How to . . ." section that gives you an example close to what you need.

Despite this caveat, however, this is still the best book around: an excellent reference, and a great way to learn the language.

Wow - THE best Javascript book available!, August 23, 1998
I purchased the Netscape One Developer's Guide thinking it would provide answers to my Javascript questions - it answered very few, unfortunately. The 'Guide' doesn't begin to approach the ease of use, thoroughness or amount of information contained in "Javascript: The Definitive Guide". Javascript is as completely covered as it can be (with the free-flowing nature of WWW specifications, its hard to keep track of all the changes). I found the descriptions and examples informative, clear and concise and kinda fun sometimes. The layed back nature of the writing won't scare off novice coders/web developers and yet doesn't turn off more advanced developers. The book is cut in half - the first provides an introduction into Javascript and discusses its more important subjects while the second is a complete reference section for Javascript 1.2. It specifically treats the differences between Netscape and Internet Explorer whereas the Netscape One guide left that up to the reader to figure out - an oversight which relegates the Netscape One Developer's Handbook to the dusty bookshelf (way in the back). If you're doing web development and need to use Javascript - this is probably the only book you'll need. If you're doing web development and you're not using Javascript - you NEED this book - it will show you what you can do with simple client-side scripts.

An excellent JavaScript reference!, September 28, 2000
This is the book to get if you want a reference guide to JavaScript! The book starts by going through language syntax (complete beginners - take note!), then covers working with objects in detail. The book then puts it all into context by covering all aspects of working with browsers - specifically how to manage and manipulate page content and the browser window itself to enhance display (eg. rollovers) and add client-side functionality (eg. form validation).

The next section covers the document object model (browser DOM), and for me this was the only disappointment in the book. While I found every other part of the book thorough and informative, I found the DOM chapter a bit light-on.

However, this is easily compensated for with the excellent reference section at the back of the book which details each object, explains its purpose, and describes all of its properties and methods. The book is almost worth its price just for this reference, and I almost always turn to the back first!

As a web developer / back-end programmer, this is one of four books I always keep with me! The other three are "HTML: The Difinitive Guide", "ASP in a nutshell" and an SQL reference.

The Title Says it all, January 23, 2000
This book was perfect as a "learning" book and a refernce manual. I read the book, learning by examples and excellent descriptions. Now I use the book almost everyday as a reference when I develope web applications. Roughly half of the book is a complete reference manual focusing on the syntax, methods, and properties of ALL of the Javascript components. The reference is organized by Object making it easy to find what you want. There are also plenty of cross references for easy indexing. O'Reilly has done it again.

The K&R of Javascript, December 23, 1999
The book has a very good introduction to the core of client side javascript. It is a great reference for coming back to those things that you get kind of rusty on like "regular expressions" and "creating your own objects". The rest of the book is an incredibly comprehensive reference which goes into considerable detail. It's the kind of detail that a compiler manual goes into. I would prefer a version with indexes like a study bible. If you read most of this book you wont have to go around copying other peoples code snippets because you'll be to busy making up your own scripting libraries. I wish that this author would add about 300 pages on Server Side JScripting and Active Server Pages. I'm sure he could take the magic out of it in a way that most programmers could pickup in a matter of hours.

The 5th Edition was well worth the wait, August 18, 2006
First off, this is a review of the 5th edition, released August 1, 2006. All other reviews prior to that date are talking about previous editions of this book, which are considerably different than the current one.

The reason the various editions of this book have been so good over the last ten years is probably because they have all been written by the same author, David Flanagan, who seems to really know his audience. Part one of the book is pretty much the same as in the previous edition. It acts as a complete tutorial on the language, taking you all the way from basic language constructs into object-oriented programming and finally basic scripting.

Where things get really interesting and cutting edge is in part two of the book, "Client-Side Javascript". Most of the examples we've seen so far, while legal JavaScript code, had no particular context - they were JavaScript fragments that ran in no specified environment. Chapters 13 and 14, "Javascript in Web Browsers", and "Scripting Browser Windows" provide that context. This begins with a conceptual introduction to the web browser programming environment and basic client-side JavaScript concepts. Next, it discusses how to embed JavaScript code within HTML documents so it can run in a web browser. Finally, the chapter goes into detail about how JavaScript programs are executed in a web browser.

Next, the book turns its attention to the Document Object Model (DOM). Client-side JavaScript exists to turn static HTML documents into interactive programs. It is the Document object that gives JavaScript interactive access to the content of otherwise static documents. In addition to the properties that provide information about a document as a whole, the Document object has a number of very important properties that provide information about document content. Chapter 15 explains all of these issues.

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a technology intended for use by graphic designers or anyone concerned with the precise visual display of HTML documents. It is of interest to client-side JavaScript programmers because the document object model allows the styles that are applied to the individual elements of a document to be scripted. Used together, CSS and JavaScript enable a variety of visual effects loosely referred to as Dynamic HTML (DHTML). This is the subject of chapter 16, "Cascading Style Sheets and Dynamic HTML".

Interactive JavaScript programs use an event-driven programming model. In this style of programming, the web browser generates an event whenever something interesting happens to the document or to some element of it. For example, the web browser generates an event when it finishes loading a document, when the user moves the mouse over a hyperlink, or when the user clicks on the Submit button of a form. If a JavaScript application cares about a particular type of event for a particular document element, it can register an event handler - a JavaScript function or snippet of code - for that type of event on the element of interest. Then, when that particular event occurs, the browser invokes the handler code. All applications with graphical user interfaces are designed this way: they sit around waiting for the user to do something interesting (i.e., they wait for events to occur) and then they respond. Chapter 17, "Events and Event Handling", discusses these issues.

The use of HTML forms is basic to almost all JavaScript programs. Chapter 18, "Forms and Form Elements", explains the details of programming with forms in JavaScript. It is assumed that you are already somewhat familiar with the creation of HTML forms and with the input elements that they contain. If not, you may want to refer to a good book on HTML.

The Document object contains a property named "cookie" that, on the surface, appears to be a simple string value. A cookie is a small amount of named data stored by the web browser and associated with a particular web page or web site. Cookies serve to give the web browser a memory, so that scripts and server-side programs can use data that was input on one page in another page, or so the browser can recall user preferences or other state variables when the user leaves a page and then returns. Thus, the cookie property controls a very important feature of the web browser and is important enough to warrant a complete chapter of its own, "Cookies and Client-Side Persistence".

Internet Explorer on Windows, Safari on Mac OS-X, Mozilla on all platforms, Konqueror in KDE, IceBrowser on Java, and Opera on all platforms provide a method for client side Javascript to make HTTP requests. From humble beginnings as an oddly named object with few admirers, it's blossomed to be the core technology in something called AJAX. The object in question is called the XMLHTTPRequest object, and it is not limited to being used with XML. It can request or send any type of document, although dealing with binary streams can be problematical in Javascript. This chapter, "Scripting HTTP", covers these issues. Since AJAX actually stands for "Asynchronous Javascript and XML", the next chapter discusses Javascript and XML working together.

The final two chapters of part two of the book are very cool and interesting to me, but might not be of interest to the standard professional Javascript programmer, since it deals with client-side graphics and movies using Javascript. This includes working with VML, SVG, graphics and Java, and finally using Javascript with Flash 8. Parts three and four form a reference section for Javascript, including the various methods and their usages.

The source code is well commented and explained, as in all previous editions, and is available for download from the book's website. This book is a great instructive textbook and reference on Javascript. I highly recommend it.

Pretty Good, Probably Great for C/C++/Java Programmer, August 10, 2000
An overall good book. The reference section is the strongest point, however the though of simply reading a reference section is terrifying.

If you already know one of the languages, or are familiar with Object oriented Programming, this is very probably the book for you.

If you have not programmed before, do a little online reading, then try this book. if your willing to put the time in, you will learn a lot.

Before reading this I knew HTML, and had read some online tutorials of JavaScript, which classifies me somewhere outside the realm of programmer. The first 11 chapters were rather abstract and somewhat confusing, and would have been moreso if i had not already read up a little.

But then it started making sense. you don't really learn how to write any script for real until about chapter 12, but then it really starts making sense. I had to read the beginning again after finishing the book, but now I feel like I have a firm handle on the topic.

Throughout the book many (many) referneces are made to the similarities and ifferences between JScript and C/C++/Java. There is an entire chapter devouted to java and Jscript working together.

Another great one from Flanagan, September 10, 2004
If you're already an experienced programmer, it can be frustrating trying to find a good book on JavaScript (aka JScript, aka ECMAScript, aka ECMA-262). A lot of books out there are aimed at HTML developers, maybe even graphic designers. Many such users have little or no real programming experience, and maybe no real interest. Books for that audience are user-friendly, filled with useful examples, and low on scary-sounding technical terms. In other words, almost useless.

Flanagan has good credentials as a technical writer, and as a highly technical writer. He really knows what software engineers look for - trust me, it's not what a graphic designer looks for.

This starts with a clear, methodical description of the language. Flanagan goes through all the language basics, pointing out where JavaScript differs form languages like Java, C#, or C++. The differences are numerous. For example, JavaScript has typed data, but not typed variables. It's object oriented, but doesn't have classes. It's an interpreted language, not compiled, and that opens up generative programming possibilities that reflection APIs can't approach.

After the language itself, Flanagan presents it in the client-side HTML context, where it appears most often. That's about 20% of the book. It goes over all the common HTML features, and shows how JavaScript can add dynamics or configurability to most HTML features. The last part of this section discusses XML and the DOM model. It does not yet discuss the E4X standard, ECMAScript for XML, the new ECMA-357 standard. As of this writing, the standard has only been out for three months, though. I'm sure Flanagan will catch up to it soon.

The book's remaining three sections cover the language's basic APIs, the APIs needed in the client-side HTML context, and the DOM model. The first two are fundamental to any non-trivial use of the language, the last is the programming model that gives access to XML or XHTML in a rational, predictable way.

JavaScript has a number of very different user communities, with different needs when it comes to language documentation. This isn't a cut&paster's book, and is nothing at all like a training guide. It's a reference manual. If you're a serious techie, then this is the book for you.

//wiredweird ... Read more

Editorial Review

Inspiring Web Design at a Glance

The Web Designer's Idea Book includes more than 700 websites arranged thematically, so you can find inspiration for layout, color, style and more. Author Patrick McNeil has cataloged more than 20,000 sites on his website, and showcased in this book are the very best examples.

Sites are organized by color, design style, type, theme, element and structure. It's easy to use and reference again and again, whether you're talking with a co-worker or discussing website design options with a client. As a handy desk reference for design layout, color and style, this book is a must-have for starting new projects. ... Read more

Reviews

Thoughtfully Organized Catalog of Web Design Inspiration, January 19, 2009
As a web design author, I often get asked what books I recommend. This of course depends on who is asking and what they want to learn, but one book I often pass along is Curt Cloninger's original* Fresh Styles for Web Designers: Eye Candy from the Underground from 2001. The specific design examples are quite outdated now, but to me, that book was a pivotal source of inspiration at a time when everything online seemed to be either boringly corporate or awkwardly amateur. Cloninger helped me to see the web differently; I learned to creatively tag design trends and techniques so that I could mentally catalog them for my own use.

This process of mentally classifying design inspiration has become a critical part of my growth as a designer as well as my ability to explain web design to the non-designer. In The Web Designer's Idea Book, Patrick McNeil takes the task of cataloging current trends and styles to a meticulous new level. Within the book's 256 pages, McNeil has sorted over 700 screenshots of stellar site design by color, design style, type, theme, element and structure. Within these 6 chapters, he has defined a total of 75 individual design categories. Some examples of these categories include: Blogs, E-Commerce, Minimalist, Wood, Pink & Blue, Muted, Rays, Gradients, Tabs and Massive Footers. Then, within each of these seemingly exclusive categories there are a few paragraphs explaining when, how, and why it should be used along with an average of 8 or 9 example screenshots.

Obviously, reading this book will not teach you to be a great website designer. What it will do is expand your design vocabulary and train you to break down your favorite sources of design inspiration into bite-sized chunks that you can use in your own work. I spent a good portion of the cold, rainy weekend reading through the text in each category and pouring over the pages of screenshots. I saw quite a few familiar examples of good design, but was amazed by quantity of inspirational sites that I had never heard of. If I had one complaint about the book it would be that I wish all of the screenshots were full-size, or perhaps if they couldn't be, that there was an archive of the full-size screenshots posted somewhere on the web. Regardless, I'm sure the book will be a huge source of inspiration for me for years to come. Then, when it is too old to serve as inspiration, it will most certainly be an excellent resource for web design history.

* As I was writing this review, I discovered that Curt Cloninger just released a sequel to this book: Fresher Styles for Web Designers: More Eye Candy from the Underground You can be sure that I'll be reviewing this book as well in the near future.

Exactly what it says on the tin!, October 27, 2008
This book does just one thing, it showcases beautifully made websites and the author does this extremely well. The Web Designer's Idea Book is a must have for any web designer/graphic designer out there to have real world examples of good design on hand.

Awesome Resource for Inspiration, November 6, 2008
This book has a huge selection of design style examples, all organized in a very intelligent way. The print quality is very good. As a reference book, this is a must have for any web designer looking for some inspiration.

A great resource for web designers., February 28, 2009
This book is pretty much what you think it is, about 200 pages of site thumbnails. Interspersed throughout are write-ups on the category that is being presented and a little intro by the author.

The actual sites themselves are pretty good. I wasn't blown away by them, but was impressed and inspired. I keep a folder of bookmarks of sites that I think look good, categorized by "theme". This is a nice little handheld thing to quickly scan through to get some quick ideas or some quick inspiration.

I do wish some of the thumbnails would have been bigger, the pages a little larger, or the book itself a little taller. Some of the pages are stuffed with thumbnails and it can be a little difficult to discern what that header really looks like, or what that button really says.

Also, some of the themes could have used a couple more sites. Some categories like blogs are literally 2 pages. If you're gonna have a whole category I'm sure you can find a few more pages of nice sites to fill.

With all that being said this is a good book for 15 bucks. Especially if you are a web designer of any sort, this is a great resource to just have and flip through right before a new project.

Lots of pictures but little rigorous analysis of principles, September 30, 2009
Organizing the book according to website color, theme and design style results in a book lacking in basic design principles ( for an idea of how the topic should be treated see "Web Style Guide, 3rd Edition" by Patrick J Lynch & Sarah Horton).

Concentration on arcane design elements (the graphic device of a folded over page - to simulate a page page) trivializes the process of design without conveying the "gestalt". Furthermore, relying on numerous examples of web sites (many now outdated, out of fashion or extinct) gives an instantly dated feel to the book.

The key ideas in web design should include: clarity, ease of use and navigation - essentially functionality. This book is a homage to self indulgent website eye-candy

The Web Designer's Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends, & Styles in Website Design, May 14, 2010
The main problem on the book is needing to print the website photos at 300 dpi. The website shots are maybe 2" inch wide.. not very helpful to see details.

Great "Idea Book"!, May 26, 2010
This is a great book for ideas and inspiration. For people looking for principles, and how to design web pages, this is not the book for you. I would recommend "Head First Web Design". It is a very good book, with easy to understand principles.

As the name states, this is an idea book. I think it's unfair that people give this book a 1 star because they didn't bother to read the title or description of the book. This book delivers as promised. It indexes different web page design examples into categories such as type, design style, theme, color, etc. I bought this book as a quick source for design inspiration and it plays that role perfectly. I highly recommend this book to all web designers looking to expand their creativity. There is also a 2nd edition to this book which will be coming out later this year. I already have it on my wish list.

Good book on color usage in design. Needs to be updated soon, February 10, 2010
This book is a good overview of site design elements.

In spite of it's title, I think it's more related to color usage in design, including many palettes, than web design elements as a whole.

This book is helpful to start the ideas rolling if you are needing inspiration or are designing for a color/style you haven't tried before. I always like to see a few examples when I'm thinking of a new design.

The issues I have are mainly that the book has become a little outdated in it's usage of color and design elements. Web design moves pretty fast and I think any dead tree book is going to be playing catch up no matter how fast they can get it out the door. Still it's a good reference for ideas, just don't copy them too closely or you'll be a bit out of touch with what's current.

Still, I knew all this and still purchased the book as a tool. Nothing more.

Pros:
Good overview of many designs
Great categorization of styles,colors themes, etc.
Useful reference with easy to find examples.
Nice images and paper quality.

Cons:
Published a couple years back and needs to be updated.
I would have liked to see palettes for each design just below the example photo rather than at the end of the section where they aren't particularly linked to any of the examples.

A great source of website ideas..., January 21, 2010
I am not a web designer; far from it. I wanted a website to promote my photography and I've been struggling to get the right look for months. My boyfriend gave me this book for Christmas and I love it. It's always within arms reach when I'm working on my website. The book is organized by style, by color, and it has the color codes at the end of most chapters, saving tons of time.

I was able to create a simple website that I love, the cost was minimal, and I get lots of compliments on my work.

The Idea Book if you own a magnifying glass, April 26, 2009
Overall, the content was good but the size of the book and images were way to small for visually inspired people such as myself. For people that like to read about visual concepts, this book is probably good for you. Others may want to just google. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Express yourself on a digital canvas

Imagine flying through an inky night sky tethered to a red, heart-shaped balloon. Now imagine expressing that dream artistically. With Digital Expressions you can take ordinary photos and, with the help of Adobe Photoshop Elements, voice your flights of fancy.

Digital Expressions guides you through 25 digital art projects created with Adobe Photoshop Elements. With this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll get inspired to tackle all kinds of digital mixed-media techniques using stock photography, custom brushes, textured backgrounds and your own digital photos.

Use your digital palette to:

· Manipulate single images by adding texture layers, color fills and text

· Re-create the look of traditional art like drawings and abstract paintings

· Build collages using transparent layers and photo filters

· Blend seamless montages with various effects

· Incorporate your own traditional art into digital works

**Bonus CD includes assorted brushes, photos and textures you can use to create on your own digital canvas.**

Mixed-media artists, art journalers and scrapbookers alike can turn the ordinary into extraordinary! Express yourself in digital form as you learn to master creative digital art techniques.

Reviews

Secrets Revealed, April 24, 2010
One hit wonder? Not a chance! Susan's second book on creating digital art and she's out done her first book in so many ways! Not only is her second book filled to the brim with detailed lesson after lesson, but the quality of the book itself is amazing. From the page design and layout to the quality of the paper. I can be a bit obsessive about how a book "feels" as well, and this is top notch.

Five chapters with 25 lessons in how to deconstruct the amazing pieces of art that I've admired in magazines and books for years. Being someone that has been intimidated with Photoshop & Photoshop Elements in the past, Susan has laid out step by step instructions that even the hesitant can appreciate. If it wasn't enough that the step by step instructions are simple to follow, she's included a CD full of photos and textures so you don't have to worry about having the "right" picture in your personal stash.

I know I'm gushing here, but I've always been in awe of these types of manipulated photographs and am now able to produce my own. Susan's teaching her secrets this Fall at Valley Ridge Art Studio ([...]) in Wisconsin and I cannot wait to meet her in person and dig deeper in to the art of digital art.

An Amazing Learning Tool, April 26, 2010
What makes this book so special? It actually teaches you how to create amazing digital art. Susan Tuttle is a great teacher. I am so impressed by her teaching methods, her willingness to answer questions, and her encouragement.

In this book, you will see amazing examples of extraordinary digital art and step-by-step instructions on how to create it. You will learn so much in 5 chapters. You will also gain confidence enough to try these techniques on your own photos. Honestly, of all the books I have about learning to create digital art THIS IS TRULY THE BEST.

If you are going to get one book about digital art, this should be the one.

UNBELIEVABLE - EXTRAORDINARY, May 2, 2010
I just recently received Susan's wonderful book. I've been like a kid on Christmas morning waiting to open my gifts. Wow, did I say wow, I mean WOW! I have been looking for a book like this for years! The way this book is put together - the instructions, along with the breathtaking digital imagery and illustrations - well, let's just say it's hard for me to put down. Unbelievable! It's very apparent that Susan put a lot of time and thought into this project. Let me share this with you... Again, I had been looking for a book like this for (literally) years. I periodically Google or search Amazon for "Creating art with digital imagery using Photoshop Elements." Needless to say the only thing that ever comes up are books - "a plethora of books on photo-editing," which I have more than my share. This book is exactly what I have been looking for and thank goodness, finally found. Truly, Susan,did an exceptional job and every chance I get to recommend it to others, I will. Susan Tuttle and this book both were such great finds:) Thank you, Susan, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with others in such an extraordinary, comprehensive and creative way. I haven't been this excited about anything for a long time.

Perfect for beginners and advanced!, May 24, 2010
Digital Expressions focuses on the ever expanding area of digital art. Susan takes what can be a very complicated and often daunting process and presents a series of projects using Adobe Photoshop Elements in a highly accessible manner. The books starts with a description of essential tools and techniques which, as a novice in this arena, I found to be extremely clear and helpful.

The majority of the book is dedicated to presenting 25 digital art projects, with step-by-step text and images used to explain the process. These projects are presented across 5 sections of the book: Manipulating Images, Painting & Drawing, Pasting Pieces, Seamlessly Blending, and Altering Art. In addition to her own projects, Susan also presents the digital work of many other artists, each of whom share a very helpful Technique to Try. The artwork that Susan has chosen to present is quite varied in style and approach and includes some of the absolute best digital creations I have ever seen.

The book ends with a very short section highlighting Susan's own work in which she has used a combination of the many techniques from the book. As a bonus, she has included a CD that holds photos, brushes, and textures, many of which were used in the projects from the book.

I think Digital Expressions manages to be one of those rare publications that will be useful for and inspiring to both beginning and more advanced artists in the area of digital art.

Not Just a Pretty Face, June 9, 2010
My name is Shelley Ellis, and ever since I got a digital camera, I knew there was more I could do with it than just shoot pictures of pretty flowers. Then, I discovered the world of digital art. I was in awe, like seeing the works of Picasso or Dali for the first time. However, like those great artists, they seemed magical and unattainable...that is until I found Susan Tuttle's book, Digital Expressions.

Seriously, I am not at all exaggerating when I say that she combines the best of both of these worlds. Her book could simply be thumbed through and enjoyed by viewing the stunning digital art inside, but the best part is her clear and concise, step-by-step instructions so YOU can create your own piece of art based on the sample. And I truly do mean clear and understandable instructions. As a retired teacher, I know how to give instructions in small steps - so a 2nd grader can follow them - and Susan (a former teacher herself!) does an excellent job of foreseeing and explaining any trouble spots or questions that may come up along the way.

The first 20 pages of Digital Expressions are devoted to a review of how to use Photoshop Elements. Susan says it's not to be used as a replacement for the instruction manual...but, if you're like me, you probably never really took the time to actually read through the entire manual. Or if you did, after a while it all ran together. The first 20 pages in Digital Expressions made it all clear to me. I especially loved her yellow "Digital Detail" boxes where she highlights information or tips that come in particularly handy.

Oh! Just in case all of this isn't enough... Susan is generous enough to include a CD with the book loaded with images to get you started and help you along the way. I am so happy I bought this book. It's just exactly what I needed with 25 different project ideas such as: altering vintage photos, giving photos a hand tinted look, creating sweet realistic looking drawings, adding words to images, layers of backgrounds, photo montages....and so much more!

Inspired Expressions!, May 2, 2010
So OK, I've only been working in the digital collage realm for a year now, so any help I can get that speaks to MY level of understanding is ALL RIGHT by me! I found over this time, that the other books available (not that many as yet, that aren't more "how to use this fancy new tool PS just created...") tended to start at a place that was just a tad bit over my head. Assumptions being made that I would KNOW where certain actions could be found, or the like. I found Susan's book, with it's step-by-step walk-through for a given piece, the "Digital Detail" bullets as well as other helps put me on the road to more creative digital collage than I'd been able to make thus far. Oh and hey! I don't know if others have noticed that many in the digital art creating realm can be pretty stingy with their source materials, leaving one to wonder "Where DOES she/he get all those fabulous images?! Maybe they're born with it." (Apologies to Maybelline...) Also, how cool is it to get a nice freebie DVD, with a generous number of photos, textures and a few brushes to boot? One more caveat for me was the introduction to artists whose work I was NOT familiar with (as in, "Geez, can we see some OTHER people's works now?!") Don't get me wrong, I love the artwork of many of the artists who are in constant rotation, I do, but I'd also like to see more from "unknowns" (at least to me they are.) So, at the risk of sounding maybe a little too snarky, let me just add-I DUG this book. Was up late last night, working through some exercises, expanding my understanding of where certain actions can be found, what they will do for me etc. You might remember, Susan also authored the pretty wonderful "Exhibition 36" which was for me, enough of a "heads up a good book is coming" that I'd have bought it, sight unseen. Really glad I did. Check it out.

An artfully helpful guidebook, August 18, 2010
I'd been wanting to get into digital collage for awhile, but I had no idea where to start - particularly with Photoshop (Elements.) I knew some basics like crop, resize, and contrast adjustment, but felt overwhelmed about learning the trickier things. Well, this book was exactly what I needed to get started!

Each section of the book has a beautiful artwork, and then the complete step-by-step instructions for recreating it, using Photoshop Elements. This method may not work for everyone, but I've found it to be a great starting point and a springboard for inspiration. I refer to it often. Susan Tuttle also includes a disc of resources, and links to online sources for free and premium stock photos, brushes, and other useful tools.

The book does assume that you have some basic knowledge of digital photo editing, so don't buy it if you are expecting to learn the program from scratch. But if you have played around with Photoshop and you're looking to build on your digital collage skills, this book is for you.

Also worth noting - though the book specifically refers to Adobe Photoshop Elements, I've also found that the instructions can easily be translated for use with Gimp, a free open source photo editor that's similarly powerful.

Inspiring AND helpful, August 6, 2010
This book illustrates a myriad of photoshop elements processes through 25 projects. Each project has screen captures of the most important steps and the settings that the author and artists used to get their particular effects. Most of them have manipulated images superimposed on at least one, but usually 2 or 3, textured layers. These could be used for any kind of art where you want to develop individual surfaces. It is definitely a book to work through over a period of weeks to get the most out of it. Though there are some basics at the beginning, it is not really for total novices.

The right book at the right time, July 13, 2010
I'm a traditional (glued) collage artist, but have been trying to teach myself PhotoshopElements6 for use in my family scrapbooking projects. This book has moved me light years ahead. It's detailed and uses precise technical language, but it is also warm and encouraging. I particularly like that the instruction is project-based, which is totally compatible with the "click around" nature of computer programs. This book is all about learning by doing and it's perfect for me, because I've read one too many books where techniques are presented in a vacuum and forgotten the minute you turn the page. Definitely not the case with this book. Obviously, once you get the hang of a technique on the practice project, you can take it wherever you want. I will be spending lots of time with this book close at hand! Thanks, Susan Tuttle!

Absolutely exceeds expectations!, August 25, 2010
This book came up in one of my recommendations. WOW! Perfect fit. If you've wanted to know how to do things like textures and brushes and collages and montages in PhotoShop, this is the book for you. Simply and logically written, it provides great instructions while whetting your creativity with superb examples. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Completely revised and updated for Logic Pro 9 and Logic Express 9, this Apple-certified guide shows you how to record, produce, and polish music files with Apple’s professional audio software. Veteran music producer David Nahmani’s step-by-step, instructions teach you everything from basic music creation to advanced production techniques using Logic’s software synthesizers, samplers, and digital signal processors. Using the book’s DVD files and either Logic Pro 9 or Logic Express 9, you’ll begin making music in the first lesson. Whether you’re looking to use your computer as a digital recording studio, create musical compositions, or transfer that song in your head into music you can share, this comprehensive book/DVD combo will show you how.

•  DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files
  

•  Focused lessons take you step-by-step through professional, real-world projects
  

•  Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side

•  Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast
  

•  Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time

•  Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned and prepare you for the Apple Certifi ed Pro Exam
  

Reviews

perfect, really..., November 22, 2009
am a long-time logic user, but needed to go back to basics (plus hey, there's a lot i don't really know).
waited a while for this to come out, got it 2 days ago, and...perfect.
detailed, clear, concise; everything such a book should be.
and the audiofiles included make this a true hands-on experience (for me, better than just reading stuff).

recommended to anyone using logic 9.

Worth every penny, December 10, 2009
I highly recommend that anybody who buys logic pro 9 buys this book concurrently. I got the book months after getting logic, and figured out how to do the basics from the manual, youtube vids and forums. When i received the book, i was expecting to be able to flip through it and cherry pick little tidbits i wanted to bone up on. After a few minutes with the book, i decided to just go through the chapters as intended - what could it hurt?

Well, i am supremely glad i did. The accompanying media is great for getting your hands dirty, the methodology is perfect, and it is an entertaining process and very rewarding. Just by going through the exercises, commands have become second nature. A task that took me an hour now takes me 10 minutes. I was exposed to plenty of stuff i didnt know i wanted to know, and now i cant stop boldy experimenting with these new concepts, which is just plain fun.

I cant recommend this book highly enough. Upon completion of this book, you will absolutely be comfortable using Logic 9.

Excellent book!, December 9, 2009
Nahmani guides you step by step so you learn using Logic almost efortlessly.

The main reason why I think this book is great is a decent collection of examps provided by Nahmani.
Even if you consider yourself familiar with Logic this book is useful because you can always learn a nifty tip, shortcut or a feature you didn' know before.

Anyway, it was a no-brainer for me, since I haven't used Logic Pro before.
Nahmani helped me immensly.

Just another GREAT Apple training book..., December 19, 2009
I've been a Logic User since "the beginning" on my Atari ST, and I've reviewed the various iterations of this book over time since Apple bought the company from Emagic, Logic's initial German developer. As I've seen authorship of this book change with the version changes of the program, I've seen absolutely no drop off in the quality that initially led me to give Sitter's version of the training program (for version 6 or 7..can't remember which I reviewed off the top of my head) a glowing 5 star review. I make it a point to go through each page and every tutorial for each and every review I write, and while there are a few more typographical errors than I've seen before, and some differences in some keystrokes/menu choices later in the book that must've changed later in the "shipping version" of Logic 9, there is little to complain about here, except to wish for more! Each and every chapter gives one a VERY practical lesson in Logic's use that can benefit one's music production immediately. The book does a great job accenting the new features of Logic 9 while still covering all of the basic navigation (although I missed seeing chapters on setting up the workspace, environment, and setting up screensets---these were in the older books) and properties of the "core" program.

And, DON'T skip out on this even if you're an experienced Logic user. Logic 9 is different enough and comes with enough new features to warrant spending a few hours with this book. While online video lessons seem to be all the rage (and I do find them useful on occasion), I still learn much better and more actively with book in hand and using interactive files. This format simply is the best method there is, and this goes for all of Apple's "official" certification series books. There is simply no better method for self-teaching these programs.

OK, I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting the "Advanced" version now to see how good it can be! HURRY UP with that, please! Would like to see some coverage of Mainstage in one of the books, as that part of Logic is a VALUABLE resource, for sure.

Easy to Understand!, January 30, 2010
This book made using Logic Pro 9 a breeze. It was clear in its directions and provided pictured examples. I would recommend this book to anyone using Logic Pro 9!

new logic user, November 28, 2009
very informative book.a must have for any 1st time logic user. i gave this book only 4 stars because it does not cover,in depth,the software synths and other plug- ins. i'm hoping,"logic pro 9 advanced music production," by david dvorin (not yet released ) will cover these rather glaring (to me) omissions.

Book Of Magic, February 17, 2010
Well I just finished chapter 1 and i just moved from garage band to a world of professionalists (is that even a word? lol) but chapter one showed me the basic pictures, the main ideas, and a whole lot of shortcuts that will save you the composer time! Now everyones got to start somewhere Youtubing how to this and how to that isnt going to get you far well just frankly you cant ask them questions or just didnt meet the answer you were looking for... This book is my music bible right now and yess i hate reading but its exciting when you experience and thats exactly what this book does it makes it exciting and covers all fields, now if i could just figure out how to get my m-audio fast track pro on logic id be HELLA satisfied haha im a musician not a audio engineer but after this book i think ill be able to project my ideas further into the sea than i thought id be able to... This book is great 5 stars easy walk throughs, barney steps 1,2,3 and pictures lots and lots of pictures its great for hands on learners... 5 stars

I wish all textbooks were written like this one, February 10, 2010
I recently switched to Mac and started using Logic Pro 9 as my primary DAW. I had many frustrating moments trying to achieve the effective workflows I was used to from before. This book was my savior.

For a good overview of the contents, I recommend using the 'Look Inside' feature (click on the product image), the table of contents (beginning on page vi) is quite descriptive.

I would love it if every text book were as clearly structured as this one. Each lesson begins with an overview of which project files (included on a CD with the book) you will be using, how long the lesson will approximately take, and what skills you will learn. Then there's a short introduction giving you some background info and showing why the skills you are about to learn are important (this last point is crucial to preparing your brain to take in the information that follows). The chapters go on with step by step instructions. Here, as well, the author first explains what you will achieve, then takes you through it. This helps you put everything into context, or, if you're confident enough, you can skip the individual steps and see if you can achieve the goal by yourself. At the end of every chapter are test questions reviewing the most important aspects of each lesson.
There's an abundance of screenshots (in color!) that help you make sure you're doing the correct things. I just finished the book, and I was never ever lost in its course.
This guy knows his didactics!

What really made this book fun is this: Many lessons are based on project files of high quality songs (e.g. Mitral Valve Prolapse by Joe Hedges). And these lessons let you do something important within the arrangement of these songs. This means you're constantly listenting to something that's entertaining you, and you're making it even better! What could be cooler?
Throughout the lessons you get to know a wide variety of musical styles, electronic music, r&b, pop, rock... This way you also get an initial feel for what's important in different genres.

If you want to set a really firm grounding for your Logic Pro 9 or Logic Express 9 skills, I highly recommend this gem of a book!

Logic Pro a first look, January 30, 2010
For a first-time Logic Pro user this book is essential. No matter how much help text is embedded in software, the handiness of a thorough manual makes problem-solving easy. The online option from Peachpit is a bonus, and with upcoming technology (iPad) this could be a boon to the Training Series.

Highly recommend this book., December 20, 2009
This book is a gem. For anyone beginning their exploration of Logic Pro, and for those who want to expand on their existing knowledge of Logic, it is a must have. A great addition to the Logic manuals. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn InDesign CS5 choose Adobe InDesign CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 14 project-based lessons show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working with InDesign CS5. Readers learn what they need to know to create engaging page layouts using InDesign CS5.

This completely revised CS5 edition covers the new tools for interactive documents, simplified object selection, multiple page sizes, track text changes, new layers panel, production enhancements, and print to digital capability. The companion CD includes all the lesson files that readers need to work along with the book. This thorough, self-paced guide to Adobe InDesign CS5 is ideal for beginning users who want to master the key features of this program. Readers who already have some experience with InDesign can improve their skills and learn InDesign's newest features. ... Read more

Reviews

Classroom in a book does it again., June 28, 2010
As usual Adobe's Classroom in a book series is the best. If you are new to Adobe, this series of books will take you from being a beginner to havein experience using most of the software's functions. If you then follow this book's training and use the skills presented within the book you will most likely develope the skills of an intermediate user. There are 14 lessons included in the book and one bonus lesson on the disk for a total of 15 lessons. The book is virtually the same as the CS4 version except it was updated to include the new tools that come with CS5. Therefore, if you are familiar with Indesign CS4 you could simply go to the Adobe website and pick up the skills for CS5. We have both versions and did not mind getting the new book because we like the lessons having the CS5 features already built in for our new people that need to learn the software. The bottom line: the Adobe Classroom in a book series is the best training series of manuals we have ever seen and we have been in the business of computer aided development for over 30 years.

If you have time, this is a great tool, October 27, 2010
I purchased Adobe Indesign CIB with the hopes of teaching myself the software. I have never used any Adobe software, and I am also learning on a Mac, which is new to me as well. With the book as a guide, and a lot of dedication, I have taught myself how to design basic brochures, ads and posters. This is not an intuitive program (for me anyway), but if you take the time and go slow, the CIB can literally teach a novice how to use the program. I would recommend to someone who is serious about taking the time to learn the software.

A 'classroom at home' for program owners who would do it themselves or supplement a course, August 13, 2010
Owners of InDesign CS5 have a winner in ADOBE INDESIGN CS5 CLASSROOM IN A BOOK. It's also the official training workbook, so lends well to at-home study as it covers all the basics of InDesign with the intention of offering a 'classroom at home' for program owners who would do it themselves or supplement a course.

disappointed, October 9, 2010
I am in the first chapter of this book and have been lost multiple times. So far the pictures, which are not enough, are of apple shots not windows so they don't help as much for me as they should. I bought it because I started a new job which requires my use of InDesign and this had such high marks. I have spent more than 1/2 my time finding what they are talking about rather than learning anything, sometimes giving up and just going on to the next section. I have another Indesign book by Lynda the HOT series for CS2 that I have gone through the first 2 chapters while waiting for this book to arrive which was so easy to go through, so many pictures you can't get lost following it. I bought this one because the Lynda book was outdated but I will use that one and just refer to this one for updates to the program. I normally love classroom in a book but after this one I am going to think twice. Such a shame, try other series, this one is not great.

Beware -- no CD-ROM with Kindle edition, November 11, 2010
Someone goofed! This should never have been issued in Kindle because without the digital files that come with the paperback edition it's useless. Amazon was good about refunding my money and I immediately ordered the paperback with companion CD-ROM, which is what I should have done in the first place.

Kindle edition has a big problem - you cannot have a companion CD, October 26, 2010
I do not know how to get the companion CD for the Kindle edition of the book. What is the point of selling a book for Kindle, if the book always reffers to a companion CD and the CD is not available?
Very frustrating!

Very Pleased!, September 26, 2010
It is my pleasure to have received this book. It is teaching us a great deal about the program. I received the book on time and was very pleased! I will purchase other items from the seller!

CS5 Classroom in a Book, August 23, 2010
This is an excellent book, even for beginners. There's so much a person can learn from this book.

Worthy resource, August 25, 2010
Classroom in a book for InDesign is the best source I've found for learning the program. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A lot has happened in the world of digital design since the firstedition of this title was published, but one thing remains true: Thereis an ever-growing number of people attempting to design pages with noformal training. This book is the one place they can turn to findquick, non-intimidating, excellent design help from trusted designinstructor Robin Williams. This revised classic--now in fullcolor--includes a new section on the hot topic of Color itself. In The Non-Designer's Design Book, 3rd Edition,Robin turns her attention to the basic principles that govern gooddesign. Readers who follow her clearly explained concepts will producemore sophisticated and professional pages immediately. Humor-infused,jargon-free prose interspersed with design exercises, quizzes, andillustrations make learning a snap--which is just what audiences havecome to expect from this best-selling author. ... Read more

Reviews

A Good Reference to Have, November 24, 2001
As mentioned in the introduction to the text, this book is not for professional designers. This book is intended for those of us who need to put together a flyer, presentation, or newsletter, but we don't have the background in design. The design the author refers to is the design of the printed page.

The author explains simple principles that help us see what makes for a good design like proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast. There are plenty of before-and-after examples to show you exactly what she means. The explanations are also very understandable. Williams does not preach to you, but rather helps you see the different elements which can make the visual more effective.

There are also some quizzes with answers in the back. Included is a short bibliography so the reader can get more information if he or she chooses.

There are some problems with the book. One, it discusses the use of color, but there are no color pictures to illustrate the point. The author knew the illustrations would no be color so asks you to visualize this in your head. It wasn't the most helpful here.

Also, towards the end, she uses some editing/printing jargon that she never explains. If the reader does not have a design background, why mention leading if not explained?

Overall, I find this book to be very helpful. Knowing the elements I should be looking for ensures that my experimenting with flyers is more productive and effective. I would recommend this book to anyone needing to create newsletters, flyers, and the like.

Sensible and Practical Advice for Layout and Typography, October 28, 2001
Robin Williams provides a practical introduction to the classical principles of design in this pamphlet-sized book. Her discussion of layout is organized around four basic design principles: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity. Each is presented in its own chapter with plenty of you-can-do-it-at-home examples. The typography section explains the principles of Concord, Conflict and Contrast, based on Williams'classification of type faces by style (Oldstyle, Modern, Slab Serif, Sans Serif, Script and Decorative), weight (Light, Bold), Shape (Narrow, Wide), and spacing. A discussion of color is notably absent; the roots of this book in early grayscale Macintosh computing show through.

Williams's book should hit the mark for amateurs creating one-page designs such as simple web sites, brochures or business cards. Set aside an hour or two to read it and do the exercises, and your designs should improve immensely. Mine have.

Read this book before you publish anything!, March 10, 2000
If you pick up this book looking for that on-the-edge-physical comedy that made Robin Williams one of the worlds most famous comedians, boy have you got the wrong Robin Williams! This author is one of the leading authorities on visual design and presents her information in a clear, concise, no-nonsense (well almost)kind of way. Her book is a valuable resource even for people who think they are familiar with aspects of design or have been told that they, "have a good eye," so don't be dissuaded by the title. As an experienced journalist, the book brought back a lot of my earlier newspaper layout training. It put into plain language the principles for which I had no name other than, "that just doesn't look right." The principles of proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast are highlighted and expounded upon in each section. I found the section on typography to be extremely interesting and I find myself looking for examples of contrasting type all around me now.

Visual examples of weak design and what can be done to make the design better are on nearly every page, and make the subject matter very clear. The author maintains that most beginning mistakes in design are tied to mistakes in Contrast Repetition, Alignment, or Proximity (C.R.A.P). That sounds about right. If you are going to publish any document (print or electronic) this should be the first book you read before you do.

Serious design for anyone -- not just beginners!, December 16, 2000
Don't be fooled by the title -- �"The Non-Designer's Design Book" is a serious book that can be useful to anyone. In a slim volume, this book distills to the very essence principles that seasoned design professionals use. This is NOT Design for Dummies, it's Design-for-Wannabe-Designers, and it's not kidding.

Writer Robin Williams delivers a powerful design seminar in fun-book disguise. Her tone is light, encouraging, and creative, and her information is killer. I've read many books on this subject, and I learned many things in "The Non-Designer's Design Book" that have never even been approached in other books.

Williams begins with the basics, using examples and redesigns to illustrate design principles that will teach you how to make an effective newsletter, brochure, business card, or advertisement every time. She then moves into more complicated subjects such as typography (no kidding �-- I've never read anything about typography in any other book) that will serve to further refine your design projects.

This book is not for the casual reader -- it is guaranteed to revolutionize the way you see, think about, and design any print media. Williams has written a clever, incisive lesson on design, while managing to be entertaining and encouraging. This book should undoubtably be a part of your complete designing education!

Solid little introduction to design concepts, March 29, 2001
Being a web designer and not having any formal training as a graphic designer, I was looking for a quick guide on the basic "rules" of design and layout. This book fit the bill nicely.

Definitely a quick read, it covers the foundations of good layout and typography. Each "rule" gets its own chapter, with plenty of examples. It would have been nice, however, if the chapter on "Color" had actually used color images! The entire book is in black & white, so this was a bit of a drawback. Not a fatal flaw, but rather a conscious effort to save printing costs that wound up detracting from one of the chapters.

What I did learn were some obvious techniques and concepts that I needed to understand. The book helps you "notice" good design, and better yet, understand WHY it's good design. You'll also become more conscious of your designs, how to create them, and how to fix them when they're wrong, rather than just playing around with it until it "looks right".

If you're new to designing - no matter what the medium - you'll be well-served by this book. For the price, it's certainly tough to beat.

A Resource for the Non-Professional, December 2, 2001
Robin has written a simple book on design and typographic principles. Her intended audience is the secretary or admin, the church volunteer, the small business owner, the student, or anyone who is occasionally faced with the prospect of designing the written word. Her advice will not make you a professional, nor is it intended to replace a formal education, but will give the novice insight on what works and why. I don't often use phrases like "life-altering" or "eye opening", but this book deserves them. The concepts taught can be used for a newsletter, flyer, brochure, term paper, church bulletin, letterhead, or resume. She includes plenty of good examples as well as bad ones, and little quizzes throughout the book. It's a small book that can easily be read in a weekend, but what you learn will stay with you forever.

The first half of the book is dedicated to CRAP (contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity), four principles that, once
understood, will turn your so-so document into something that people will want to read. And once you learn CRAP, you'll see
it everywhere (she calls this the Joshua Tree Principle). You'll understand why this magazine article is so visually attractive,
while that newspaper ad has no appeal at all.

The second half of the book focuses on typefaces (fonts), which so many of us love to collect. She describes the six main
categories and, more importantly, teaches us how to successfully mix font styles within a document (yes, even you can successfully
mix three or more fonts on a page, once you know how).

I've been so impressed by Robin's style of writing and the information she reveals that I've purchased two more of her books
(The Non-Designer's Web Book and Robin William's Web Design Workshop), and plan to purchase more.

The first step in teaching yourself graphic design., November 7, 2001
This was my first purchase in Williams's "non-designer" series, and it absolutely transformed the way I understand visual communications. I've always had good verbal skills, but I needed help with the visual part, once I found myself in a job requiring lots of layout and web design.

Williams's approach to teaching is based in principles (like, "Pick an imaginary line running down the page and relate all your visual elements to it."), which she then supports with example after example. It matches my learning style precisely. Once I've grasped the principle, I can apply it again and again, as indeed I have in the past year and a half since I read this book. It serves as a solid foundation for the rest of the series, especially the "Non-Designer's Type Book," which should be the second of her books you read, in my opinion.

I couldn't have accomplished in my job what I have without this book's help. It's not a reference book, but an essential introduction to sound design principles, which, once grasped, stick with you forever.

Primer on typography & design, January 27, 2000
This is an excellent way to learn and understand basic design and typography principles. It is written for the newbie and all the concepts are presented in a clear, consise format. After reading the book, one should have a better understanding of design fundamentals and apply them to print and web projects. This book will also show you how to spot good design from bad -- all Robin Williams says are tried and true design concepts that have been around for ages -- in this day and age of ostentatious design, it's refreshing to go back to the old school.

Some clues for the clueless, January 7, 2002
This book has improved every document I've created for at least half a decade. Computing is my trade, but bookmaking and related paper craft are my hobbies, so I'm awash in text on paper and on the monitor screen. From flyers, signs and term papers to greeting cards, books, web pages and technical documents, I've been applying Williams' techniques to great effect.

Her ideas are so simple, you'll wonder why you didn't think of them instinctively. The first half of the book focuses on four design principles: Alignment, Contrast, Proximity and Repetition. You'll be amazed at how supersizing a heading font or choosing a right side aligment can change a document. The rest of the book focuses on how to select and use fonts/type, emphasizing their use with the design principles. If you've been centering every item on an invitation or webpage or you've thought Times New Roman is the only font you'd ever need, this book will open you eyes and improve your work.

There are great before and after pics and even quizzes on the reading and techniques. Don't worry, answers are included.
I've taken DTP courses and have purchased other graphic design books, but this book has pretty much become my design bible. Beginners and experienced designers alike will benefit from this book. Numerous examples of brochures, flyers, resumes, business cards and other items should spur your creativity for some time to come.

Not the only book you'll ever need, but you do need it!, December 19, 2000
Two gripes first.

1.) I have had difficulty with the book's title. As an editor of a number of different publications over the years, I've had occasion to work with "designers" who couldn't align type to save their lives. I used this book to train them, and the title has been an obstacle. Not quite the level of problem I'd have had with the "* For Dummies" series, but still...

2.) In Williams' intro, she talks about Joshua trees. She received a tree identification book one year, saw a picture of a Joshua tree, and then went outside her parents' house in the San Francisco Peninsula area to find four of the houses in her block had Joshua trees growing in their yards. Wherever she went in the Bay Area after that, she saw Joshua trees growing everywhere. The moral of the story: once you learn about something (eg. design "don'ts"), you see them everywhere. Nice metaphor. Only problem is, the things she saw growing outside in the Bay Area were NOT Joshua trees. They were Cordylines, which resemble Joshua trees only vaguely.

Williams' point is still important, but the truth adds two more lessons: Even an expert can still make mistakes through overconfidence, and it's really hard to find book editors who know anything anymore.

Gripes aside, if you do any kind of page layout -- even if it's only for signs for your lost cat -- find a copy of this book. It won't turn you into an expert typesetter. For that, I suggest a few other books, such as Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style, and years of setting type and seeing what works and what doesn't. But Williams will keep you from making the worst of all possible mistakes, and that will set you apart from the majority of design being done in the US. ... Read more