Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS

For being a technical book, this was a very nice read. Similar to other Wrox books that I have read in that their basic format is a thorough explanation of a subject, then a "try it out" where you are able to implement the subject, and finally a "how it work" where the "try it out" is explained. In addition to teaching html this book goes into other parts of web programming including CSS, JavaScript, and XML. The two chapters on CSS are informative but I would suggest a book dedicated to the vast subject. Each chapter for JavaScript and XML are more of an appetizer to wet your appetite for a more thorough dedicated title. Could have used some color, especially the HTML color appendix. I would also suggest, if it becomes possible and soon I would think it should, getting an updated addition of this book. This information is certainly up to date but there is much "errata" or errors. One must visit the Wrox web site to gather these "updates" to ovoid confusion. Also, there are several errors not covered in the errata that even I was able to discover. This, however, is part of reading technical books. I don't think anyone purchasing this title is looking for a literary gem. If I had it to do over I would still get this book. If I lost it I would replace it. And you do stop getting creped out by the author's picture staring at you after a few days.

I used this book 15 years ago when designing a simple web site. Now I need to get a web site up and running and hunted until I found this old mainstay still available that is still my go-to reference for HTML and CSS coding. Jon is a genius!

I have gone from being frustrated with this title to disliking it intensely. I would suggest alternate materials such as the O'Reilly publication, "HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide." First, "BWP w/HTML, XHTML, and CSS" is dated. Its publication date is 2004. This text often complains that features "are not supported by browsers" that have since been updated. There are more current materials published within the last year. (And on the subject of browsers, I have not found a single mention of Mozilla, Safari, or Opera in this book). Second, the author's presentation is often difficult to follow. Concedely it is a difficult subject to organize when there are "live" tags, "deprecated" tags, the ongoing effort to separate stylistic elements into CSS, and different browswers' idiosyncracies with which to deal. Duckett, however, is next to hopeless in separating these subjects. Most critical is the fact that this book is a very unhappy blend between an introductory tutorial and a reference "bible." Duckett will introduce a basic concept -- say, "tables" and will then load up on all of the attributes that the element might take. Learning the key ideas gets lost in the process. The book often leads off into asides and references to more advanced topics that will easily lose the initiate. It is no coincidence that several of the reviews here use the word "intermediate" in connection with this text. The author does not seem to understand the principle that individuals learn by working from the "known" step-by-step to the "unknown." Instead, he seems to rely upon the idea that "if I throw everything at them in a random fashion, they'll figure out a good amount of it." As an example of its "random walk" approach, Chapter 4 first provides a sound introduction into the use of colors and making references to images. The closing section of the chapter, however, branches off into a discussion of the <object> element which introduces all kinds of ideas and side-references that will be premature for many. As usual with a Wrox publication (I am familiar with three), there is the usual complement of careless typographical errors. Many are immaterial, but there are even errors in the code that accompanies the text (to be downloaded from the publisher's website -- see e.g. the revised "registration form" at the end of Chapter 6. I don't recommend this "Beginning" book for anyone other than someone who already has a reasonable grounding in the subjects it covers. Go elsewhere.

I agree with most of the reviews written about this book, its good not great in my personal opinion. But my advice is regarding the kindle version. The formatting is Terrible!! Whoever did this obviously just copied and pasted it because its all over the place. No effort was put into it whatsoever. You still get the message from the book but reading it is far from pleasant, text size varies A Lot! Lines don't align. Download the sample for yourself before you buy. I wish I had. Its just really really poor. And shame on whoever did this so called conversion. I realise its an older book, but come on at least put in some effort. I just have to ask did anyone proof read this before they put it up there? If you do want this book get a hard copy and steer clear of the kindle version

I must have read a dozen books on HTML over the years and this is one of the best books I've read so far. It's great for begginers and advance users but if your looking for a more dictionary type of book which I do not suggest for begginers but it is great for experts try Sybex Publishing's Mastering HTML and XHTML. If you are only looking to learn some light XHTML and CSS try Visual Quick Start Guide's HTML for the world wide web.

This book is really good for us beginners. I recommend doing all the examples it tells you to do. I did even some of the examples shown, because the more I practice it, the easier it is to remember. A good book.

Good book