HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition
by Elizabeth Castro
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Book Reviews of HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition
Book Review: Helpful, but not indispensable
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this book in a (Chapters) bookstore, having stood and browsed through it for 15 minutes. I already have Liz's "HTML 4 for the WWW" which I received as a gift in 1999 (so I need an update!) - and a fall-back book "Creating Web Pages Simplified" from MaranGraphics. Each book has some things which the other two do not. Going in reverse...: The last-named book shows a good graphic on how to reference links on other webpages (up or down the hierarchy). The 1999 book is best for explaining how to make graphics "transparent" so that the neat background I've chosen runs right up to my graphic (an arrow, say) instead of the graphic being surrounded by white space. The book explains how to create gif89a files using Photoshop but I'm still not completely successful at this - I get a thin black line on one edge of my rectangular graphic. OK - I'll keep trying.
By contrast in Liz's latest book, this detail on "transparency" is omitted (it receives only a passing reference - too bad!) However, this book is good at explaining STYLE SHEETS & CSS (which is what I bought it for) but it falls short. What I need is for the book to point me to a website where all the its examples are laid out for cut-&-paste experimentation. I'm not sure what-all I can include in a css/text file!? What can - and can not - be accomplished with external style sheets? Now I'm going to have to perform an internet search for some real, working examples. I agree with one reviewer who gives a thumbs-down to the first 50 or so pages - these sections on the W3C etc. should be moved to an Appendix at the end.
The book has a good index (NB one para on p.85 on transparency - ugh!)
Book Review: Okay, Good Tips, Organization Fair
Summary: 2 Stars
This book has some good tips and shows relevant, simple examples. I did learn some points from it, but didn't find it as good as some of the other reviewers did. I'm not an expert on the topic, but not a beginner either.
The author sometimes mixes styling in the html instead of consistantly placing the styling in the CSS which could be confusing for beginners or others who have a goal of XHTML-strict complaint code. The author does state that it is intentional in one of the beginning chapters, but continues to do it in later chapters.
The book constantly references other pages which makes you have to jump around. The author also intermingles deprecated properties in the book which can be confusing. Since this is not a book on the history of this topic, I'm not sure why deprecated properties would be even included.
The author obviously dislikes Microsoft's IE and instead of just indicating the differences between browsers, make comments like "IE 6 doesn't think you know what you're doing..." which seems unnecessary.
I learn by hands on excercises and this book really didn't have any exercises for you to do. The chapters didn't build on previous examples, so you could see a progression of before and after. I was also disappointed in the companion website. For example, the left frame was too narrow and the text for links wraps around over several lines. It just wasn't a very good example for a book on website structure and styling.
Book Review: I can see why it is popular
Summary: 5 Stars
My first impression was that the page layout was strange for a book, but then I realised that the layout and presentation of data was the point of the book, so I stopped worrying and went with the flow.
It treats HTML and XHTML as the same thing, only distinguishing one from the other when a specific point needs to be made. This was a nice way to start as it removes the mystery of XHTML and allows the reader to concentrate on getting things displayed. I was also interested in the way the book worked from basic structure to applying ids and classes without introducing styles. These aren't introduced until chapter eight where you (hopefully) already have a feel for basic structure, layout, and markup.
The book races through the easier parts of HTML and I guess it could be possible for a complete novice to get lost, so pay attention in the first chapter. The book is rated for 'intermediate users' though, so complete beginners may want to be wary. The good news is this leaves room at the end for bonus content like character encodings, problem solving, marketing and RSS.
It is easy to see why this is a popular web design book. Topics are laid out in a no-nonsense manner that makes everything look easy and achievable, there is plenty of content without being heavy, and the layout provides the flexibility for colored examples and additional points of interest. Also, don't overlook a web book that is printed in color!
Book Review: Great book for learning. Useful for the more experienced.
Summary: 4 Stars
If you want to learn to create web sites, I can't think of a better book. When you first see HTML and CSS they look pretty arcane and scary. Ms. Castro quickly makes you comfortable with the task you are about to undertake. (Well, OK, she does use a considerable amount of space in her Introduction concerning the "Browser Wars" and the various reactions to the new standards that are trying to be imposed on the browser makers. You'll probably do well to skip this initially, and get back to it when you're more knowledgeable about HTML and CSS.)
The format is very useful. The book is written in two column: her explanations are in the outside columns, and very clear examples are in the inside columns.
The first two chapters are necessary for the beginner, but might be the among the more difficult. You'll need to learn about how text editors work, what URLs mean, etc. Once your done with this, you get on with learning to create webpages, and things pick up very nicely.
The more experienced developer will likely refer back to this book to refresh himself on the myriad ways CSS can be used to display an layout webpages.
I'd give this book a fifth star if some of the last chapters on Podcasting, etc. were removed, and additional information on Javascript, and perhaps PHP were included.
Book Review: Should have been better
Summary: 3 Stars
This book almost got 5 stars from me. It's hard to believe that a VISUAL QuickStart Guide (placing emphasis on the Visual) AND an expert author on FORMATTING through CSS, the author failed to apply these principles to better aid the reader learn the material. This deficiency is found in many of the places in which she outlines the steps for doing something. She writes in bold what to type with the attribute and value all in the same font and weight. Visually it's not clear what is actually required code and what is a placeholder for something else. You need to continue reading the explanations to grasp what exactly to type. A common computer book convention is to format differently what one literally types, like the attribute name, from what is a placeholder, such as the value or what changes. What you exactly type as you see would be in bold for example and what you substitute for something else would be in normal weight and in italics. It was really done the same everywhere. One never knows for sure which way it will be since sometimes one really types everything as it is written and at other times one doesn't. It's a good thing that with newer editions coming out of the woodwork very often the author can QuickStart to remedy this problem for the next edition.