Either I am inept, or the book is
I'm taking a JavaScript class using this book, and it is probably the worst textbook in my 3+ years of college. I have learned almost nothing from it, and have had to search the Internet for better explanations of the concepts I am supposed to be studying just to complete my homework.
One problem (among many) is that it seems to have been poorly edited in going to the third edition. It seems they may have rearranged some of the content in the chapters, but left the assignments/projects in the same place so that when trying to do a project, don't assume everything you need in the book precedes the assignment.
If you are taking an online class and this is the textbook you are stuck with, you'll want to look for additional help online or with a better book. If you're interested in learning JavaScript on your own, start (and finish) somewhere else!
Not the best book for JavaScript
I agree with some of the other reviews in that this is not the best book to learn JavaScript without any prior knowledge of the language. I am using the book for a JavaScript class, but I am having to supplement it with other books on the subject. Gosselin's explanations are not that clear, and I am finding myself lost at times.
The Standard
I must say I was very excited to read this book and throughout the book I was explained in great detail all that JavaScript has to offer. I concur with everyone here this is a must have for anyone planning to learn JavaScript. This book will show you how to use all the math functions, string function, perform complex calculations, manipulate array's, security and even database connectivity!
3rd Edition is still full of errors & Gosselin is still confused.
It is amazing to me that a third edition could contain as many errors as this book has! There are even errors in the exercises, which could have been tested easily by cutting and pasting from the publisher's layout program (e.g. QuarkExpress) to an actual web page. My suspicion, given the discussion of objects in chapter 6 and cookies in chapter 9, is that the publisher never bothered to correct the errors because the book is so bad that HUGH sections would have to be totally re-written. I agree that the publisher, Course Technologies does a bad job of editing in the 2 books I have studied, but I also agree with another reviewer that this author doesn't have a clue. I emailed the publisher's tech support to ask for an errata list, and the tech emailed back "if there is an errata sheet, you instructor should have a copy in the instructor's package." The tech didn't even check if there WAS one. There wasn't. Great service, fine editing, genius author. Don't think so.
A good book
This is a well written book covering (almost) all areas of JavaScript. A lot of excercises and MCQ's are also available. But, beware of some printing errors.
