Absolute Beginner's Guide to Creating Web Pages

After skimming a sad stack of "learn how to create web pages" books I found this. It isn't so basic as to be close to useless, nor an impenetrable tome of code. It is an excellent introduction which provides the big picture--it is easier to learn how to do something when you understand how it works--and step by step details for those new to xhtml. Don't be fooled by the cheesy design of the cover. This is a well-written book for intelligent beginners and the best choice in this category.

I read this book three times then coded my first site. I knew nothing about html prior to reading the book. It was fantastic to read a book that not only explained in fairly plain English what each tag is and how it works, it showed easy examples and lessons to follow. Highly recommend this book to those who want to create their own website! Heather Owner, www.AssistantForYou.com

Sounds like a 'for dummies' book but is very far from it. Saying 'web pages' is simplified. This book covers site design from scratch minus the details and makes simple work of a convoluted subject. It doesn't show you simple web page stuff but is a complete outline of the entire web site design/development field. Incredible. From this, I can choose what complexities I wish to delve into further without chasing after marginally useful technologies. Being in the computer field since before PC's, I prefer simple straightforward explanations and find techspeak boring. For a book written in latter 2003, I find it far more current than some 2004 books I've seen. the future of the web is moving to simplified (thank you!) and being versed in structured computer development, this is the first time I've been able to garner any excitement for web design. I've read all the IBM manauals I care to. This book does not talk down to you but it does cover from the basics. Not for the AOL user but more for a Compuserve sort. I'm so glad I chose this as my intro. My only gripe is the additional 'online' chapters located on the publisher's website were to be download files so I expected a pdf or something but instead found viewable pages sans the 'figures' (pictures) accompanying the text. Also, the author refers FAQs and things to his personal website which no longer exists. not kool. But the book's merits (including the price) still warrant 5 stars in my book.