Great for Newbies
I thought this was a great easy to learn guide for people like me new to programming.
Style good for beginners, but too many errors will confuse
The style, presentation, good for beginners features are potentially great, but there are too many errors that will confuse and mislead beginners and frustrate experienced programmers (I've been programming for 44 years). I now have very little confidence in what I read in the book because of the errors and misleading discussions. His explanation of capitalization, spacing, and line breaking on page 8 shows he doesn't know JavaScript syntax. He makes it sound like black magic. There are proper ways to do those things. His discussion on random numbers and modulus arithmetic in Chapter 6 is fatally flawed. His explanations of some other computer science terms and concepts is confused, incomplete, and erroneous.
Good introduction for the complete novice
This is the JavaScript book for the non-programmer who knows some HTML and wants to learn how to enhance their web site with some JavaScript. The book assumes no knowledge of programming at all so even the complete novice can learn some programming skills. I used this book in my JavaScript class and by the time we got through the book, my students were even able to write some simple games like Blackjack and Craps. The book opens with a look at the main objects of a web page that are used in JavaScript and gives some example scripts that are explained in detail. In fact, the book is full of scripts that are used to explain each technique as you learn. The key concept of what an object is and what properties, methods, and events are is explained in some detail. Validating a form is explained. Image flipping and animation are covered. Example scripts will explain how to create scrolling text and a digital clock on your web pages. Basic programming techniques such as if statements, loops, and arrays are covered.
Examples are really the one thing that make this book worth the investment. Each new subject being discussed is introduced with a script followed by explanations and further examples. Then an assignment is given to help you verify that you have learned the information covered. The solutions to all the assignments are on the author's website.
The book covers the basics of JavaScript and will provide a good foundation for the novice. After reading this book you won't be an expert JavaScript programmer but you will be ready to move on to more complex programming tasks and more difficult books.
Another Great Book by Joe
Joe Burn's has a unique talent to write technical stuff in a simple and easy to read style. He is an author that writes as if he is talking to you. Although this book is more technical than his first one, I strongly recommend this book as a great way to break into programming JavaScript. Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
Great Book
I think this is a great book. The examples are right there, and Joe Burns explains the code LINE by LINE, in pretty much non-technical jargon. Great for a beginner, definitely, and certainly intermediate and advanced JavaScripters !
I enjoy the book, and Burns' humor. No question about it, this isn't your typical blah JavaScript book ! Would be good for instructors teaching JavaScript !
(53 reviews)
