5 comments about HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition (Visual Quickstart Guide).

1. This is an excellent, step by step guide for anyone learning HTML! I use it all the time, great index and easy to follow language. Highly recommend.



2. You will use this book as a constant reference. The Appendices alone are worth the purchase price, making Elizabeth Castro's straight-forward, practical lessons complete bonus. A great book for coding upstarts as well as seasoned pros looking for a day-to-day reference.



3. I am relatively new to coding and this book was just what I needed to get going!! Several of the topics are somewhat beyond me at this time, so I think it would be helpful to non-beginners too! Well written, easy to understand with great examples!



4. Ok, I must admit I haven't even cracked this book. I am relying on everyone else's reviews that say that it is easy to follow this book. I am not a computer junkie, although I'm not terrible with basic commands on the computer, and I'm not a complete dummy. But boy do I feel like one sometimes, and I'm hoping that when I get a chance, I will learn to do HTML finally. I'd like to create a webpage in the future that will help in future career/hobby endeavours. I'm sure this book will help me out, if it's as good as everybody says it is.



5. I'm a reasonably computer savvy person. However, I've been wanting to develop more marketable skills in design... so, recently I've started taking classes in FLASH, ILLUSTRATOR, etc. Then I was told that it would be very beneficial for me to learn HTML and CSS, so, after reading many reviews on Amazon, I bought this book. In a matter of hours, I was designing an XHTML website for myself. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to entry-level web designers. It is extremely well written and clear. It gives some good foundational background for web design, the differences and purposes of HTML, XHTML, and CSS, and it's a great resource for all aspects of designing web pages! If you want to break into web design, BUY THIS BOOK!

5 comments about Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Voices).

1. I've been using this book for a while and have improved my photo editing skills. Kelby offers some useful recipes for fixing or enhancing photos and he offers methods for adjusting both RAW and jpeg images. After learning the basics of Photoshop it's always helpful to have a manual that will take you through an entire process, so a workflow not just a trick can be learned. Scott Kelby's clear and conversational style works well here as does the the wealth of intermediate step photos.
   
   Many of the end product photos look a bit too obviously Photoshopped. I suppose that's useful as a teaching method, overemphasizing the end result to illustrate how much an average image can be enhanced. I wouldn't want to display them with my name on them, but did learn a lot working through the examples. After understanding the workflow it's pretty easy to tone down the edits to achieve subtler results.
   
   As with more targeted and specialized Photoshop-for-photo-editing books this assumes that the reader has a reasonable familiarity with Photoshop. There is no general introduction to the program. That's fine buy me as it keeps the weight and presumably cost down, and I consider it a useful addition to my library.



2. I found the 7 Point System to be a great way of cutting throught the confusion of Photoshop and getting down to the basics of improving the photograph. I am relatively new to Photoshop and all the other books I've read on this topic lost me after the first few chapters. This book allows you to dive right into it by offering 7 common functions that seem provide the most significant improvment to a photograph. I find myself going back to previous sections in the book to improve upon what I have already learned. A great book that I would recommend to any newbie to photoshop.



3. This is the 4th book of Scott Kelby that I've purchased. I find his books informative, written well without being so over the top technically and always interjected with his quirky sense of humor. I think you need to have basic knowledge of Photoshop CS3 because I find myself referring back to his CS3 book if I get stuck on a step in the lesson. His methods can save a less than impressive photo.



4. Good product. I recommend everybody who uses Photoshop. Many possibilities
   what i do not know beforehand. It takes time to learn this book.



5. This book is different than any other "how-to" book I have ever seen. You download lesson pictures off Scott's website and you do what he does with each picture. It is like you are sitting in the same room. You follow his plain English directions-with pictures--and you do the exact things he is doing in the book and you end up with amazing pictures...I never knew learning Photoshop could be easy!!!

5 comments about Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML.

1. A lot of tech books ive read in the past i have had trouble following, but not this one. This was my first Head First book and it completely sold me on them. It was super easy to follow and actually enjoyable to read. The authors silly antics made it read more like a novel vs a tech book. I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn XHTML and CSS.



2. This book was excellent in providing the background, the "why, what and how" of HTML. Not just a boring book, but a step by step guide to making a nice website, with everything you want to know.
   I really liked the way it's written, because it's not just hard facts but written with a lot of humor.
   
   If you're searching for a book that is actually nice to read, it's great. If you just want to look things up about HTML, I'd buy a handbook.



3. This book stands above the other HTML books that I've read. It's explainations are easy to follow and complete. The examples are fun and you will learn XHTML and CSS so well that you'll be designing clean and effective websites in no time.
   
   Unlike other HTML books where authors have you copy their information and expect you to follow along, with Head First the skills you learn will be yours.
   
   Highly recommended!



4. When I became interested in starting my website, www.stevechambers.com, I wanted to learn the basics behind the code so I could get my web pages looking as close as possible to how I wanted them to look. I first tried some free HTML tutorials on the web, then purchased several different books before happening upon this one. Far and away, this is the book to use to learn the basics of HTML and CSS.
   
   While this is not a reference book I have it sitting on my desk every single time I code. It will teach you HTML & CSS in a fun manner, and will clarify the often dry reference material you will use after you complete this book.
   
   If you are on the web in any capacity you should know some code. This is the book to use to learn it.



5. This is the first "head first" book I've read, and unfortunately it will probably be my last.
   
   I actually don't have a problem with the material covered in the book. It seems pretty complete. But to me, having to wade through all the "cutsie-poo" little pictures and notes and jokes and all that just leads to a book that is difficult to pick up and find the info you need. I suppose if your goal is to be amused, then by all means pick up this book. But if what you are trying to do is learn so that you can accomplish something in an effecient way, then I'd definitely buy something different.
   
   I'll leave the "head first" book to the teens, I want my medicine "straight up" and strong, not watered down like this.

5 comments about Head First Design Patterns (Head First).

1. I buy quite a bit of stuff from Amazon. Don't we all. But all this while, I had never wrote a review. Just never felt compelled to do so until getting this book.
   
   Just awesome!
   
   I'm a hobbyist programmer and never learned about design patterns in school. Understanding they're importance I tried learning. I really did. But everything I read from articles to glances at different books just left me more clueless.
   
   Except for a very small minority, this book will blow your mind (in a good way). I now understand why there are patterns, what the most popular ones are, and how to apply them.
   
   Just get it.



2. It's really wonderfull. Not only funny to read, the most important thing: you learn a lot with it.
   If you know very much about patterns and object oriented design you may find it useless... but even then you'll admit it's a great book for beginners and for people (not only beginners) who's been working with Java (or other OOLanguage) but haven't learnt subtle details. It makes you realize how many things can be always done better. It takes enough time to explain everything well. And finally, it doesn't only teach patterns but a bit of OODesign in general.



3. The "Head First" book series is the best product that O'Reilly makes and Head First Design Patterns is a perfect example of the quality and innovation inherent in this great series.
   
   If you only need to learn the main design patterns or if you want to find out what the deal is with this whole 'design pattern' thing then this book is the easiest way to get started. For those who need to know all 23 design patterns then you might be stuck with the famous "Gang of Four" book which is not as easy or entertaining as this book but good none the less.



4. The promise they make on the preface of the book is true. The knowledge really sticks to your brain, part due to the examples and part due to the language the authors use along the text. Just one thing to record, the authors were too humble declaring it can't be considered a reference guide, yes it is, although fun, the book is an excelent reference guide.



5. Finally, a book that explains the basic design patterns, in Java, in a way that makes sense.

5 comments about Head First Java, 2nd Edition.

1. 
   
   That's what the "Head First" philosophy seems to purport, and the foray into their lingua franca (Java) is a prime example. From the start Sierra and Bates break down the essence of "whole brain" learning a potentially dry subject like programming and design in the Java language. They then apply this methodology to each chapter by framing core instruction with cute sidebar humor and illustrations and then concluding with review exercises in the form of puzzles that openly appeal to the right-brained audience. Such a shift in the paradigm of computer science instruction has been scoffed at by many, but the truth of the matter is the new generation of developers are those who have an affinity to agile-dev, elegant-syntax type technologies such as Ruby or PHP, those who are learning from the avant-garde likes of the "Poignant Guide to Ruby". For Java evangelists extraordinaire like Bert and Kathy, making the sacred core language that much more accessible only made sense. That being said, I would caution the droves of aspiring young webmasters (not to mention migrants from older high-level languages) to understand that even with the "connect the dots" activities besprinkled throughout some assumptions about programming competency are made by the authors. In my opinion, this would not be an exclusive venture into the world of Java (and it's a BIG one) but a supplemental text that spawns the "aha" moments when more condensed and comprehensive texts like those by Cay Horstmann just don't drive a critical point across. I can say that I do appreciate the authors jumping immediately (erm, head first) into OOP concepts.
   
   In sum, I would say that this book is not for everybody, but for those that need a healthy diversion from the "standard" reference material (read: Java API).



2. Basically the book was ok. The difficulty I had was when I paid for Expediate service, I was expecting 2-3 days for delivery, not five days. and when I requested the tracking# and name of delivery company. All I got was the order# which did not help me at all. I will not order from this company again.



3. The style and manner of presentation of the new HEAD FIRST Book Series is a great way to learn these newer languages. Highly recommended for everyone.



4. I am an instructor who was tasked with teaching a basic Java class even though I didn't really know the language. I had to learn it FAST. I looked at a lot of different Java books and this is the one I settled on.
   
   The style of the "Head First" books is unconventional and may seem silly on the surface but it is based on serious metacognitive (thinking about thinking) principles and IT WORKS.
   
   The book is fun but it makes its point. It is also a comprehensive and well-chosen coverage of the subject. Java is a whole universe and they have made a good call on what to present and what to leave out.
   
   This is my first purchase from the "Head First" series and it won't be my last.



5. This book is for beginners but it assumes that you know the basics about computer programming, I mean, it won't teach you what is a program, what is code or those very basics things. If you have programmed in C, C++ or C# then this books could be slow for you but still useful but if you don't know about those languages or Object Oriented Programming then this book is great to learn OOP and JAVA, really good.

5 comments about Learning ActionScript 3.0: A Beginner's Guide.

1. I'm plugging away with Learning ActionScript because I can see how it's capable of amazing things, and I have been using Flash for a little while.
   However this book is written using the kind of language that seems simple to a programmer and obscure to the rest of us - a lot of what is written I simply can't fathom despite frequent re-reading (I'm afraid this probably says more about me than the writers of the book). It's probably best for those who are more familiar with the composition of scripts and want to upgrade to ActionScript 3. Not really a beginners guide.



2. Any computer library strong in web development titles in general and ActionScript in particular will want the beginner's guide to Flash, LEARNING ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0. It's an excellent introduction which also lends well to classroom use and assignment, covering all the basics of how ActionScript and Flash work and surveying logic, content, transferring projects to ActionScript, waveform visualization, loading HTML and more. Chapters offer hands-on exercises to reinforce skills building learning and also pair well with a companion web site offering material for all the exercises plus test quizzes. ActionScript learners will find it an essential - and surprisingly easy - reference.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. I'm surprised a book by O'Reilly was released with this many typos. I've been going through it and typing the tutorials that were new material for me. The amount of mistakes is just unacceptable, especially that many times it happens in code. The code is correct in the examples from their web site which begs the question, why didn't they just cut and paste it from the WORKING examples? The errata on their web site has a few of the mistakes but I've found many more.
   
   Anyway, apart from the ridiculous number of typos it is a pretty good book. I don't think its the be-all Flash book like some people on here that have been raving, but it is a good stepping stone book to learning some OOP. Its very practical and eases you from timeline code into classes. Most Flash books seem to go all timeline or all OOP, so good job to them for understanding their audience. Another knock I have is that in many examples they try to show you additional techniques apart from the main thing they are trying to illustrate. Normally I would applaud this because you just learn more, but too often here it just confuses. My last issue with the book is that it sometimes fails to explain an important element of code or give you a really vague explanation, even if that is the purpose of the exercise! Personally I want to know why I'm typing every line in so I can be more flexible when I write my own code, as opposed to blindly memorizing and hoping I remember it when I need it.
   
   All in all, you won't go wrong with this one, but it is by no means perfect. It could've been great. Its not. But its still good and worth a purchase.



4. After reading the other reviews I decided to give this book a try and I don't regret it.



5. The book is explicitly written for beginners, but the authors don't always have a good grasp on what readers know. On one page they start talking about "trapping" events. What does that mean? Who knows?
   
   Elsewhere, in a discussion of "properties" they throw in the term "elements." Are these terms synonymous or different?
   
   They write, "all three results could potentially execute" when they mean, "any one of the three results could potentially execute."
   
   They start throwing around the terms "parent" and "child" without defining them.
   
   It gets better as you go along, but it's pretty rough going, especially at the beginning. These expert authors should have had a complete novice review their book for language and clarity.

5 comments about CISSP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 4th Ed. (All-in-One).

1. I have exchanged email with the author and we have had a few phone calls, but I cannot say that I know Shon Harris well. However, after reading the 4th edition of her very successful book, I feel I know her better. I love the humor in the italics at the beginning of sections and - warning - sometimes in line with the technical material. I appreciate the plain, clear, as simple as possible, way the information is presented. It would be easy to make these concepts sound hard, Shon does not do that, not ever; thank you! The charts and graphics on the main do a fantastic job of making the information clear. She does an extraordinary job of moving between well written prose and bullet points in a style reminiscent of Dorothy Denning. At three inches thick and running over 1100 pages, one certainly cannot fault her for leaving critical information out. This is on par with the Matt Bishop book of being the Information Security Tome. I can't say that I learned that much reading the book since I do security all day, every day and have done so for years, but I never got bored and I went cover to cover ( not counting the detailed index in the back and the "so you want to be a CISSP in the front) and I was astounded by the author's craft, she tells the story of security as well as anyone ever has.
   
   You do not need me to vouchsafe the value of this book ( and the CD) to prepare for the CISSP exam. If Shon is not the best known author, she is certainly in the top two or three in this category. But, I believe this book has another equally important role. It is perfect for the CxO that wants to understand what security is, what they need to know about it. I understand the knee jerk response to that is, "you cannot ask a CEO to read 1100 pages". Actually, the successful senior executives in the world are generally quite good at reading a LOT of information in a SHORT period of time. Shon is accurate, the writing is excellent, the diagrams help with "knowledge compression", a CFO interested in security can zip through this like a zero turn mower on a two acre MacMansion.
   
   Nitpicks, sigh, I wish ISC2 had settled on the standard approach to incident handling instead of creating their own broken one. The Quantum Cryptography section is actually Quantum Key Exchange, but hey! That is a nitpick, no reader of this book actually needs to know the difference. And critics will be overjoyed because Shon seems to have threat, risk, and vulnerability in the right pidgeon holes. The most serious flaw in the book is in chapter 12, Hack and Attack Methods, some of that stuff I know cold and I got a bit confused reading that section, but it is the end of the book and my guess is that folks were getting tired. A few network traces would go a long way towards bringing that section to life. And you know what? The book remains 5 stars. Even if that section was spot on, even if the thirty weak pages out of the 1070 strong pages were perfect, the book is not designed to prepare the reader to be an IPS analyst. The overall message is clear and compelling, the bad guys do evil things with packets; I get the message so will the reader, let's move on.
   
   The bottom line, if you think you know security and want to test your knowledge, buy the book, fire up the CD, install the test software and give yourself a run. Shon is a great author, but she has also compiled an awesome set of questions. Yes, they will prepare you for the CISSP exam, but they will also help you test your knowledge of security and your ability to think critically. If you have further questions about the book, or you disagree with my review, drop me a line and let's talk about it, stephen@sans.edu.



2. I am still in the midst of reading the CISSP All-in-one guide, and so far, I am very impressed with the content, and my ease of understanding subject matter presented. This is a much easier read than the "Official ISC2 Guide to the CISSP Exam". I also purchased "CISSP for Dummies". Of the three...CISSP all-in-one has the best of both worlds...in-depth content, similar to "Official ISC2 Guide", but also, ease of read, similar to the "For dummies" book. If I had to do it all over again...and just by one text, the CISSP All in one guide would be the one I'd choose, hands down.



3. Although a green horn in the information security field, I was amazed at the ease of comprehension portrayed by this book. At first, I imagined it'll be a remix of the previous edition with a little bit extra info here and there; I found out that the information content was as fresh as ever; Currently using it for an introductory course at Walsh College and I must say, in comparism to the 3rd ed. this is a lot better.



4. Reading this book cover to cover was a daunting task.
   
   I've read many technical books throughout the years and I can honestly say this had to be in the top three most painful. 1100+ pages of inane comments, repetitive text, and poor topic transitions. That doesn't even cover the technical, typographic and other errors that should have been caught during the editing and technical review phases.
   
   The authors attempt at injecting humor into the text falls flat. Starting most topics with an annoying quip just makes reading the book that much more difficult. For example, from Chapter 7: Telecommunications and Network Security, page 542, 'Layer 3 and 4 Switches' begins with, 'I want my switch to do everything, even make muffins.'
   
   By the fourth chapter I had gotten used to skipping over any italicized text after a section break. This flaw carries over into the main text as well but it is near impossible to tune that out as you might miss something actually relevant to the topic.
   
   Many of the examples used throughout the book are childish and overly simplistic. As a book touting "professionalism" it should be updated appropriately.
   
   This being the fourth edition you would expect many of these issues would have already been addressed.
   
   All that being said there is a lot of useful information in the book if you can overlook the issues. I have yet to try out the included testing materials so I can't comment on them at this point.



5. This is the most complete book for CISSP study. It is deep in each of the 10 CBK domains. Also, it serves as an useful reference for security-related work.

5 comments about Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 (Windows.Net).

1. This is a great book for learning LINQ. Lots of code examples, fairly exhaustive and does well at explaining concepts. However, the first chapter must have been given special attention knowing it would be the sales pitch for the book. The rest of the book falls into a more rushed fashion, evidenced by typos (mostly in code), and sometimes condescending tone. Also, if there are two extension methods with the same signature, and one has the word Descending tacked on the end, please don't take another four pages to describe its usage. LINQ to Entities is not covered at all, and they don't claim it is, just a heads up to the potential buyer. All that said, this is overall a great book on the subject, but it could use a little polishing.



2. I agree with all of the above positive reviews. Excellent book. I just wanted to comment on the publisher. This is my 3rd book(my other two were a book on WPF and C++/.Net) published by Apress and they have all been very good. I don't know if that is just dumb luck but they do an excellent job.



3. Microsoft must be under new management, we are getting a slew of new, truly useful tools that are making pretty big strides forward for faster more enjoyable C# development and ease of maintenance. The latest technologies seem well worth taking the time to master. I find the combination of LINQ and the Sync framework couldn't have come at a better time. While the book mentions that LINQ to SQL only supports SQL Server, that is no longer true as you can also use (at least) MS SQL Server Compact Edition 3.5 (which is required for the Sync Framework). You can't use the visual object relational designer with SSCE but the book documents SQLMetal, and you can use that to create your context.
   
   Overall I found this to be a very good book but it has a few flaws. If like me you are interested in LINQ for a current or upcoming database project here is what I would suggest. First don't start with this book, finish with it. Start with the ten excellent screencasts by Mike Taulty. Then read this book. Your reading will go much faster and you'll get a satisfyingly sated feeling. The author will probably hate me for saying this, but if you already know SQL or ADO.NET 2.0, I would suggest reading Chapters 1-3, then skim 4 and 5 just to get an overview of the operators available. Then read part 5 (Chapters 12-18) on LINQ to SQL. After you digest that I would suggest whichever topics interest you the most, then I would finish with a more thorough read of Chapters 4 and 5 on Deferred and Nondeffered operators, which in my mind are really a thoroughly documented reference section.
   
   The reason the author will hate that, is he doesn't want readers to use LINQ for just database purposes, and he states that many times in the book. In fact, I think that is why he put the LINQ to SQL section at the end. However, he seems to have made a significant effort to make any part readable on its own, so I see no problem with skipping to the end so early.
   
   The book doesn't really cover data binding, but there is a lot of good information on that available on the internet (the above mentioned screencasts show some of them, and an overly long video on Channel 9 with Young Joo from August 2007 shows even more).
   
   I also have a few nit-picky things that drove me crazy. The most significant one being the amount of repetition and unedited console output. I was also none too happy that the author didn't mention that the Visual Studio Command prompt was under the START menu not an IDE menu. But then again without the author I wouldn't even have known there was a Visual Studio 2008 command prompt.
   
   The weakest part of the book is the index, it is downright anemic. In the several weeks since I've finised the book the index has NEVER helped me find things I remember reading. If you find items of interest you better pencil them into the back cover if you want to find them again later. If one book ever needed a free PDF, this one is it, but they charge $10 for it. Maybe that is why they made the index so bad, to encourage you to fork over another $10.
   
   That said, I also found a good half-dozen or so gems in the book that saved me significant time. Now I could tell you what those are but I think you should buy the book to find out.



4. This book is very well thought out. The author helps you understand some subtleties of relational algebra (without really saying it) and helps you think like a LINQ head. It's a different way of doing things, but he shows that if you get a basic understanding of a handful of concepts you can grow it from there.
   
   awesome book!



5. No doubt about it. If you are learning/using LINQ, this is THE book to have. Author did an excellent job explaining the material and giving numerous examples, that work, about the material. Had to mention the "that work" part as I get so frustrated when I buy a book and the examples do not work. I could tell this book was a "labor of love" and he didn't just crank out a book to make $.

5 comments about iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual.

1. iPhoto 08 was exactly what I needed to get the most from my home photography. It is well written and easy to follow. The price was excellent and the quick service was greatly appreciated.



2. Apple really needs to collaborate with Mr. Pogue and put this book in every software application! I was at a loss converting from one system to a Mac but this book has truly made it so much easier for me. I have finally been able to stay off the phone with Apple and work on my photos! Thanks Mr. Pogue! Once again you have come through for me!



3. I have showered so much praise on these 'Missing Manual' books it may seem like I am getting paid by David Pogue himself to write these reviews, but I guarantee you that is not the case!!
   
   Full of crisp, clear, color photos that jump off the page, a writing style that is fun and easy to follow, and a layout that is second to none, there simply is no line of books for learning applications on the market that is better than the 'Missing Manual' series.
   
   If you use an application (whatever it is) and you want to learn to use the tool in question, forget going online or taking a class. Either it will be a waste of time, money or both!!! Just look at the name of the app you are interested in, see if there is a Missing Manual book for it and BUY IT.
   
   These books are that good, that impressive, that well written, and that well published. I put the highest stamp of approval on this line by O'Reilly.
   
   ***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION



4. iPhoto '08 is very useful for newcomers to iPhoto. One surprising, to me, plus is that the book actually begins with a couple of chapters that are photography tutorials that are helpful without being too technical. I think this 'missing manual' can help many get the most from their use of iPhoto '08.



5. Packed with great information, well organized and presented in a humorous fashion. I keep it right alongside my computer for reference.

5 comments about Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions.

1. This is a very important book. It helps you understand why the landing page is so impacting on the final actions of your visitors and what a landing page is for that matter. The book provides you with excellent guidance for analyzing your current website and determining how to make it easier for the visitor to use and, more importantly, easier for the user to do what you need them to do.
   
   I loved the section titled, "Why your site is not perfect". It provides excellent information on how to uncover hidden problems in your site that your users are experiencing even though you may not have noticed them. Let's just say that it goes way beyond dead links.
   
   Finally, "the math of tuning" shows you how to make logical decisions for next steps and make sure you're not wasting time fixing things that aren't broken or don't matter. Overall... a great book.



2. Could a book that would obviously be about grabbing a web surfer's attention for commercial purposes be helpful to someone who wasn't particularly concerned about `conversions'? In this case, absolutely yes. If you can allow your mind to think outside the box just a bit, this book can really provide some helpful advice which can be easily translated to your particular goal.
   
   Mr. Ash assumes you know what you want to do but nevertheless gently nudges you with reminders of the many things which you should be considering. Complex - but necessary - concepts are explained in context and without boring definitions so that you can smile smugly with the sure and steadfast knowledge that you've always understood things like Full Factorial Non-Parametric Testing. After a few pages, you'll be eager to make meaningful changes to your own website!



3. Certain types of advice go without saying; eat your vegetables, listen to your mother, look both ways before crossing the street. In his new book Landing Page Optimization, Tim Ash reminds us of fundamental landing page design concepts that seem simple. But we all (at least occasionally) fall into the trap of forgetting them when designing a page.
   
   Landing Page Optimization starts and ends with a very simple premise: you are not the expert in designing an effective landing page -- your customers are. You may feel that you have pegged the perfect message, the right layout and the simplest form. You reason you derived all of these elements from an exact understanding of who is visiting the website and why. Truth is, you haven't. Your design most likely rests on how you see your product or service, how you structure your company, what your CEO likes, or any number of other things that have little or nothing to do with the customer's needs. Swallow your pride, trust your customers to tell you what they want through their actions, and give it to them.
   
   Tim asserts the basic principle that your page must appeal to the emotional responses of the visitor. Make them feel welcome, safe and connected to your site. Unfortunately, you don't have the time to explain to them why they should trust and commit. Visitors devote only a few seconds to your landing page, and you must make the most of these seconds. Assume no one wants to read your lengthy descriptions. Communicate quickly with images and bulleted lists, with your overall goal of maximizing conversions constantly in mind.
   
   Tim has delivered a must-read book for every level of an organization that wants to make its website and online marketing efforts successful. Far from being a book for any one job title, Landing Page Optimization gives everyone in an organization a solid foundation for how to think about customers, how that relates to design, and how to test sites with maximizing conversions in mind. Each person involved in landing page design must think about how each element on the landing page helps or hinders a visitor's ability to understand immediately who the site owner is, conclude there's a solid benefit for them, and trust the site owner with their information.
   
   In all, Landing Page Optimization provides a valuable look at the factors we should consider when evaluating the effectiveness of any landing page. This excellent read will leave you saying, "I knew that! Why haven't I been doing this all along?!?"



4. Though I had given this book 5 stars, I really mean it - this book is everything you need about the topic.
   But.
   A warning here. Author goes on for a lot of math, theory and things, what can scare you away, in case your mind is prepared to see a lot of pictures & comics style reading like you probably saw in this book:
   
   Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition
   
   I would say - if you want easy book to read on a topic - take a Steve's book, but of you are ready to serious brain wash with a topics starting from Myer/Briggs personas (same topic is covered by another great book - Waiting for your cat to bark, from Eisenberg brothers), probability theory, quantitative approaches, and other similar issues - then this book is for you.
   
   Just do not expect the easy go read. This is what I wanted to say



5. This book may be the best thing since sliced bread for you, or can be practically useless. It has an extensive focus on Joe web surfer's persona, on why and how he behaves on the web. It also explains basic concepts such as A-B split testing, ROI, and gives a few examples from author's consulting background. There's a few mathematical formulas, which I am sure are excellent for marketing folks.
   
   But what completely lacks from this book is THE WHAT and THE HOW. The "Uncovering Problems" section is surprisingly small and has no real value. It is explainable - the later part of the book is nothing but a marketing promo of author's consulting business. This costs author 1 star in my review.
   
   The second star I remove because this book is completely useless for small to medium business. If you are a company with under $20 million in revenue - which is where 99% of websites belong - this book is not going to help you much.