Web Books

To give a brief background about myself. I have been one of the primary contributor and committer of the Web Tools Platform (WTP) eclipse tools project since its inception through WTP 1.5 release. I contributed the Validation Framework component for this project. I read a large portion of this book and can say that this most comprehensive book that explains the complete WTP in a step by step fashion that can be help you easily understand the whole WTP project, its sub projects, its components and features through several real world examples. I strongly recommend this book to all users and contributors of WTP.

Vijay Bhadriraju, IBM

Eclipse Web Tools Platform: Developing Java(TM) Web Applications

This is an excellent book; I specially liked the iterative approach (for example, for presentation tier, iteration 1: HTML, iteration 2: add CSS, iteration 3: add Javascripts, iteration 4: XML and XSLT, iteration 5: DTD)authors have taken. I have used examples from this book, with Eclipse and NetBeans, of course for Eclipse user this book has added value, since it goes through configuration of Eclipse and recommended practices. Please ignore the gripe about errors in the code; there are two minor errors which are detailed in the errata on book's companion site, it doesn't take more than a minute to fix those two issues.

Authors discuss All three tiers in great detail. How about this, by page 85 you would be deploying a simple web service (and you would be amazed how simple it is).

Though I have had some experience in Java, Eclipse, and WTP, a recent project required me to get more into depth. This book got me through the whole development process. It explained to me clean coding techniques when writing web apps in Java, how to get my web server up and running for use with WTP, to get my apps to talk to the server, debugging using different tools, and unit testing in a web environment.

This book was an invaluable addition to my collection, and is also a great reference now that I have mastered these concepts.

Trying to explain magic in rational terms has rather fallen out of fashion, and sometimes you have to turn to the classics.

Half philosophy, half science, Troward's little volume builds a rational and plausible basis for controlling events in what most people would deem "supernatural" ways. His premise, condensed down to three words, is "faith changes reality" -- it's what comes up in exploring that hypothesis that makes the book interesting. The book is as well-organized and well-presented as you would expect any college textbook to be, although the flowery 100-year-old language might be a turn-off to some.

While "Edinburgh" is of use to people trying to understand (or accept) magic, its greatest value is by far for those who are already exploring the subject. I wish that this book came in clue bat form, so I could hit a number of would-be "mages" over the head with it, and have them absorb it instantly. While one may not necessarily agree with everything Troward says (I found the insistence on a Christian perspective rather extreneous, for example), his ability to build a rich and cohesive system is an inspiration -- and a solid foundation. Ultimately, those who wish to change the world must understand it, and this book can be a great first step on that path. It's one of the must-read books on my bookshelf.

I have been a student of quantum theory as it applies to our ability to create form from thougtht. "The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science" by Thomas Troward were published in 1909. They contain all of the same principles being set forth by today's gurus of quantam theory such as Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. Very interesting book. Also recommend, "Your Invisible Power" by Genevieve Behrend. Ms. Behrend was the only student of Thomas Troward. Her book is a more basic way to apply the same principles.

A classic by one of the pioneers of New Thought; these lectures deal with the questions of spirit and matter, the nature of intelligence, the unity of spirit, and the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. Troward had a knack for conveying profound philosophical matters in a most understandable way and for formulating ancient truths so that a child could understand. He explains the difference between form (matter) and being - that the one is the mode of the relative and the mark of subjection to conditions, while the other is the truth of the absolute and that which controls conditions. Because spirit is infinite, it is everywhere and must be present at every point in space at the same moment. This is a fundamental fact of all being. The relation between spirit and being as idea (from which the elements of time and space are absent) and form (the relative which is dependent on those elements) leads to the fact that pure spirit continually subsists in the absolute and from it all the phenomena of being flow. In proportion to our level of recognition of this fact, our power for producing visible outward results by the action of our thought will grow. The book concludes with the practical application of this knowledge in our lives and affairs. I highly recommend the Edinburgh lectures as well as the Dore Lectures and Troward's masterpiece "The Creative Process in the Individual."

This is a very useful tool for any therapist, whether a mainstream counselor or doctor, or practitioners of complementary modalities such as massage. It discusses in plain language the ethical dilemmas we are all confronted by in our daily practice. I particularly appreciated the explanation of a client's vulnerability while in an altered state such as hypnosis or the deep relaxation produced by massage. The author also addresses the vulnerability of the therapist when faced with a client's issues that hook into the therapist's issues, creating a very murky situation indeed. The author assists us to provide appropriate loving care to our clients without violating boundaries.

This book covers a myriad of therapies. The format and scope was very appealing to me. It was not dry like most books I have read on ethics. A must for Complementary and Alternative practitioners.

Too often, ethical questions are considered dreary subjects best left to a committee. This book helps us see ethics as integrally related to how we do our work, and to our own personal growth. It also embraces a wide spectrum of consciousness, in a systematic way. It is particularly remarkable for its emphasis on non-ordinary states of consciousness, and how to handle these intense experiences when they occur in our work with clients (whether deliberately induced or occurring spontaneously). The Ethics of Caring will be especially valuable for trainee caregivers, supervisors, clients looking for the appropriate therapist, and any professionals who finds themselves, as we all do from time to time, out of our depth.

The author has developed a comprehensive framework for describing the evolution of the World Wide Web and its implications for effective application development. Each of the four main chapters succinctly investigates a particular stage of Web technology and its key characteristics. By introducing an evolutionary perspective, the book offers readers the guidance they need to develop Web-based information systems that are feasible to manage, effective to navigate, and easy to expand as rapidly changing business environments require. The author presents automated methods to obtain and process feedback from users and competitors alike. The focus on evolutionary principles and the regular monitoring of Web content distinguishes this book from similar publications and makes it a highly valuable resource for researchers and students alike.

A great source if you are interested or engaged in the improvement of a Website's quality (as it is my job at the moment). This book provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of methods and criteria to evaluate the quality of a company's Web presence. The author refers to a tool that seems to be quite practical, because it enables to gain data about websites in an automated, scalable way, thus reducing subjectivity in the evaluation process. I can highly recommend this book to professionals and also newcomers, because both of them will find valuable information. Well, believe me, it took me a lot of time to find really good stuff on this topic ...

A great source if you are interested or engaged in the improvement of a Website's quality (as it is my job at the moment). This book provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of methods and criteria to evaluate the quality of a company's Web presence. The author refers to a tool that seems to be quite practical, because it enables to gain data about websites in an automated, scalable way, the tool seems to be well-elaborated and rather high-sophisticated. I can highly recommend this book to professionals and persons who want to become specialists in the field of Web assessment.

I was an IBM Fellow and Chief Architect for IBM Software Group. I helped lead the team that produced many of IBM's SOA products, as well as author many of the industry specifications. I am currently a Technical Fellow at Microsoft.

This book is excellent for teams starting SOA projects, or moving to the next level in SOA and Web services. IBM's products appear complex due to the depth and breadth of functions. This is not the case. The most common question in my customer briefings was "What do we do next, and how do we get started." IBMers presenting the big picture and next steps is not scalable; there are only so many briefers.

This book codifies the most important information that teams need. The authors have extensive experience working on projects with customers, and enabling successful projects. Writing this information in a book will allow other teams to succeed based on best practices and hard won experience for early adopters.

This book is a critical resource for any SOA/Web service team

This book is an excellent reference for IBM SOA products, the standards that SOA components are based on, along with helpful advice for design, planning, implementation and management of SOA solutions. I definately refined my understanding of IBM SOA products and the roles that they play, by reading this book.

If it's the low-down on IBM SOA products and technologies you're after, this is the book for you, I recommend it.

Usually when we think about IBM technology we are thinking about something complex, but this book makes very easy and concise to understand IBM Technology.

Very well done.

Grant gives a new perspective about the last century of the (western) Roman Empire. When the average layman thinks of the fall of the Roman Empire, he (or she) thinks of the Rome of the early Caesars: a libertarian, libertine kind of place, full of fun and debauchery. But Grant convincingly shows that late Rome suffered not from decadence but from puritanism, not from too much liberty but from crushing taxes. Late Rome was more like Soviet Russia than like America today: a place suffering from too much government in every sphere of life, from Christian intolerance ...to bureaucratic overregulation of the economy. The perfect gift for your libertarian friends!

The previous reviewer's analysis is correct. I would only add that eerily much of what caused Rome to dry rot and collapse is being mirrored in the USA- high taxation, large bureaucracies, the lack of desire to serve in the military, radical racial diversification, growing elements of societal drop-outs (ie. homeschoolers, Christians, environmentalists), complacency, the growing gulf between social classes. Will the USA fall like Rome? After all, there is no army of barbarians at our doorstep like Rome faced. We have no military coups unlike the dozens which took place in Rome. But there are several fits, enough to think that at the very least, America two centuries from now will be as recognizable to us as modern England would be recognizable to Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror or Richard the Lionhearted.

There are many books disecting and explaining the Roman Empire's rise and fall, and many of them may indeed be more detailed than "The Fall of the Roman Empire" by Michael Grant, but none capture the actions of that age and explain it in such a manner that it is comprehensible to someone without a Harvard degree. Mr. Grant writes in a methodical and clear way that keeps the reader interested and excited. He divides his book in to thirteen chapters, each one describing thirteen points that led to the empire's downfall. He addresses issues not only of military importance, but that of the internal and social struggles, such as the slaves, peasants, generals and nobles. He also includes a series of maps one what the empire looked like at various times throughout its decline. The contents of the book are reason enough to buy it, but the introduction is a general overview of the entire empire, and is very well done. That's the positive side. However, I don't think he was quite detailed enough! I realize that the entire book was intended to be a general run over, but some areas he glazed over, and others he ignored completly. For example, he explained the Weastern Empire in depth, but almost completly ignored the Eastern. He only refered to it when it affected the other. The only other nuance I disliked was that every so often he would contradict himself, like in referece to the social impact of the poor against the state being the most important of the internal struggles that brought down the fall, while he later says the credibility gap was the cause of the decline. After weighing the pros against the cons, I believe this is a very worthwhile book to read if you are just begining a study of that era.

The simple story of the love of a man for a woman, set amidst (an intense study of) tribal life and wolf packs 100,000 years ago. Eve leads her tribes out of Africa intent on finding the Tribe of Lost Brothers and Sisters. She meets up with Brother Wolf and his packs, and Neanderthals. In the 21st century, Dr. Arny Singer, Nobel Laureate discovers the link among Eve, the Neanderthals, and wolves (just as the Earth Mother had planned). Arny is treated to a trip back in time to witness his discoveries. He falls hopelessly in love with the most beautiful and fiesty woman Earth Mother had ever created. Discover who the Earth Mother favored: wolf or man, and why.

This novel was the most romantic epic I have ever read. I loved it. The protagonist, Eve, is in her forties. Eve leads her people to an Eden that is pure and free, not only for mankind but animals as well-nirvana. The love is appreciated not only between Eve and Arny, other tribe and Clan members, but between mankind and wolves as well. The author speared my heart through the deep connections expressed between people, the love of animals, and the respect of nature. I hope he writes his next book with the same sensitivities. The author mixes hunting, mysticism, customs, song, wrestling, tie-matings (weddings), art, and story-telling to create a dynamic portrait of the times, people and wolves. There are cameos by ravens, cave bears, cave lions and an arctic fox that spice the stew and steal your heart.

I was so happy to see a story about BLACK EVE and even happier after reading it. Eve is a role model for all of us. I can recommend this beautiful story. With wolve, cave bears, cave lions, ravens and neanderthals it has something for everyone. My son says, "It's the wolves, mom". Ok, my grandson won't give the book back. Read and enjoy it.

I've reviewed various books for learning Macromedia Flash MX 2004. This is the best. Along with this is "Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX 2004". They are both wonderful and each have their own purpose. I started with Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX 2004 in 24 Hours and use "...At Your Fingertips..." for an excellent reference guide. I recommend both books.

Review: FLASH MX 2004: At Your Fingertips; Get in, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need

The title of this book: FLASH MX 2004 At Your Fingertips; Get in, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need, really says it all! The book is so well organized and tabbed that the information is truly "at your finger tips". The reader can get in, find exactly what is needed and get out quickly and easily. The problem is that you can never do that with this book! You get in, and in, and in... it's a veritable black hole that sucks you into its instructional depths and keeps you there forever. When your fingers go numb and the book accidentally closes, you realize it's the next day and your brain is about to explode with new and exciting things to try with the program. Well, that may not happen to everyone, but for computer geeks like me, watch yourself! Beginners don't be afraid, you too can be victims! This book is written for every level of user and for both PCs and MACs. The graphics and text couldn't be a better combination unless some how Sham and Jen could transport themselves into your living room to accompany their words and pictures. As applications manuals go, this one's a "keeper"- it keeps you.

FLASH MX 2004: At Your Fingertips; Get in, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need is composed of five sections and a special inset section all about color (which is actually in color!); 1) Flash Workspace, 2) Authoring Tasks, 3) Scripting Tasks, 4) Testing and Publishing Tasks, and 5) What's New. The color section is all about panels, pickers, spaces and video color. Included with this section is a gallery that shows some really interesting examples that will challenge your understanding of design and development (deselopment - a new word for me).

A nice thing about the interface overview section is the contents outline that delineates Windows versus MAC. Right up front you have the information you need as a specific platform user. Being a MAC user, I knew right off which sections I could skip and didn't have to "double read" any of the sections pertaining to Windows users.

Quick tips and cross-references are listed in the outside page margins that give you chapter and section references for more information, alternatives and related activities. Both Windows and MAC keyboard short cuts are listed in the margins as well, saving an incredible amount of time in finding the short cut keystroke as well as referencing the short cuts at a later time.

FLASH MX 2004: At Your Fingertips; Get in, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need is crammed full of screen shots and examples that help the reader understand what is being explained. An unusual, but extremely helpful addition to this book is the little black labels that match the text. These quickly draw the reader's eye to the area of the screen shot or graphic being discussed. There is no confusion and no guessing about what is being demonstrated or shown, or where to find the corresponding item.

I found the scripting section to be extremely helpful. While I am still not crazy about writing script, I did like the authors' explanation of scripted animation versus timeline animation and creating timeline flow with scripts. While all of the scripting components are discussed at length (button, checkbox, combobox, list, loader, numericstepper, progressbar, etc), the authors don't forget to add explanations of basic things like spell checking and creating a custom mouse pointer for the beginning user.

For those who are veteran Flash users, the new v2 components (some of which are listed above) make life in the fast developer lane just a little more efficient. FLASH MX 2004: At Your Fingertips; Get in, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need now has enhanced import options for Adobe PDF and Illustrator files as well as enhanced supports for MP3 meta tags and runtime loading. The de-bugging panel works like a charm and can be manually changed during an SWF run session. The "What's New" Appendix provides a great chart of enhancements and where to find the corresponding information. No long dialogs about new improvements to wade through - just a simple, easy to read chart and a reference to find out more... if you want.

All in all this is a great reference book for FLASH MX 2004. Although the title says "Get In, Get Out, Get Exactly What You Need" - be forewarned. You may get in but getting out is a bit harder! And you will get much more than you need.

I absolutely LOVE the new layout in this book. Instead of having to go through pages and pages of explanation to find one specific topic, this Fingertips book is divided into specific topics, with very specific information related to what you are looking for. Using the table of contents, you can easily find what page the tip is on, go to that page, and get the specific you need for that topic. Most tips are on one or two pages. I hope this 'fingertip' idea is used in other application books! Thanks for providing this great reference book!

This is an extremely comprehensive volume that covers all the ground that designers, budding designers and photoshop enthusiasts need to know...The case study even tells you how to create a postcard ready for the printers and how to create your own site using ImageReady. There's stuff on printing, workflow, image correction, filters, as well as the obvious like layers and selection... This book is another winner from friendsofED!

I've had Photoshop for over a year. I've spent most of that time being frustrated with the program. I bought Foundation Photoshop 6 a little over a month ago and am now learning in leaps and bounds. Foundation Photoshop 6 is truly excellent for beginners, providing easily understood instructions, explanations and exercises. With this book, anyone can learn to create amazing graphics. I highly recommend it.

For me as a beginner it was really helpful and covered a big range of topics

I didn't think there would be anything easier than the "... for Dummies" instructional books. However, this FrontPage 2000 for Visual Learners by Chris Charuhas and all of his Visual Learners series, by far, are he easiest to follow. Every step, even graphically showing you to click the right mouse button, enables even the most challenged computer user to program web pages and designs. The pages have simple one to two lines of written instructional text and mainly graphics to allow users to visually see each step. Definitely a must for anybody learning to develop web pages.

I've been a Information System Director over 35 years with my Masters in Computer Science. Staff size 30 to 140. During this time I've seen and used about every type of manual dealing with computers as one can imaging. Thus far these are the best. Not only are the manuals easy to understand, the people behind this concept are never too busy to take my seemly-mudded questions and reply with a simple to the point answer. Their writing plus the pictures make each manual a winner. I for one thank you for your straight forward approach

This book provides both a great way to learn FrontPage 2000 and a super resource for quick reference. I am a technology educator in a K-8 school with a masters in educational technology. I strongly believe we should not do for children what they can do for themselves so my review has to include a child-centered test. I like to teach them to use reference materials, because what they do from year to year both in school and after will always be slightly different. I want them to grow up knowing how to follow written directions when working with technology. Part of my criteria for purchasing is that books can be used by students. To test the value of this book, I placed it in my classroom library and allowed students in grades 5-8 use it as we worked on web building. I actually used the book to teach a related unit to younger children (3rd grade) about web page construction.
They did a marvelous job! I got exclamations from many children! Although I have several other resources this book quickly became a favorite. This book is definitely a valuable asset in my library. I recommend it to anyone learning or teaching FrontPage to anyone; at home, at school or in the workplace.