Internet Books

First part of the book while describing Distributed Systems, Middleware and EAI lays strong foundation for Web Services. Second part of the book provides an extensive reporting about Web Services Architecture, related standards, service composition and BPEL. Though at the outset this book looks like serving academic purpose but it also provides the great insight of the subject to the programming community.

This book is must have which draws detailed conceptual and architectural views on Distributed Systems, EAI and Web Services.

This book is a little more expensive than most of the flashy Web Services books these days but it is well worth the money. Set in small font and not wasting pages on chapters like "History of XML and SOAP" this book is dense in content on the architecture of distributed systems, including Web Services. We get to learn about the issues of distributed transactions and the differences between conversations, coordination and orchestration. The text is precise but nevertheless easy to follow. One of the best books I have seen on Web Services architecture.

You can find a sample chapter on the author's site:
http://www.inf.ethz.ch/personal/alonso/Web-book/Chapter-5.pdf

I am using this book for a graduate level class about Web Services. I like the books approach on giving you enough background about middle-ware evolution that makes it easier to understand what Web Services are trying to accomplish. Given that the actual technology (implementation details) change so much in this area the books approach makes a lot of sense. I also found explanations to be concise and clear.

Advice: if you are looking for a hands-on how-to book about XML this is not the book to pick up. Otherwise, if you are looking for a good fundamentals book that will help you paint a big picture of Web Services this book is great!

A very nice introductory book on Web services, much different from all the others on this topic.
Excellent overview of the problematics of service oriented architectures on the Web and of their relationships with their EAI counterparts (corba,rpc,..).

If you want comprehensive high level overview of today's enterprise software landscape, this is a must-read.

One of the best books which answers the question , Why Web Services?? Unique perspective on middlewares in general.

Do not expect any code examples or details of any particular middleware.

This author's approach to the Web is one of encouraging a transfer of power; instead of following a traditional top-down business structure (i.e. in a business telling its customer base what it wants them to hear), it encourages listening to what customers want and providing that to them. On its most basic level, it is about the nuts and bolts of how to create web sites in bottom-up fashion.

Upon reading this book, I was struck by similarities between the author's propositions on web design and the economic history that is my field. Economic development has also been associated with a transfer of power away from kings, emperors, shoguns, and the church, and into the hands of merchants, farmers, and producers.

As the author proposes User's Spectacles in modules 2-3, or seeing matters from the other person's point of view, I thought of how this message is repeated in the historical movement from confrontation to negotiation and compromise. Where she calls on the designer to know the web better than the user, I recall the entrepreneurs of the Industrial Revolution in England, who had to know their customers. In module 7, where she writes of gaining the user's trust, I thought of how trade engendered trust during the period of the Enlightenment in Europe - and still does. In module 8, where she suggests organizing information from the user's point of view, I thought of how economic innovations depend on the needs of customers, not of despotic rulers. Where she speaks of the Internet as a web, I thought of the world economy as a web.

Having been surprised to find a book on web design that had so much interconnection with economic history, my mind wandered into other areas of interconnection among human beings in our vast worldwide web.

Finally, the author's conversational writing makes this book extremely easy to read.

John P. Powelson
Professor of Economics, Emeritus
University of Colorado

Many high profile commercial sites, let alone those not informed by "professional" designers, would benefit from the clarity of purpose and practical methods presented in this book. In fact, the fundamentals of user-centered design put forward so clearly here are pertinent in many other fields, too. To top it off I found the writing style clear, informative and enjoyable.
I recommend it for individual designers as well as for schools, libraries and design shops.

Finally! Someone has translated the tangled World Wide Web into something even I can understand!

Ms. Holmes has created a book that is useful, well organized, pertinent, well written, and even pleasurable to read! So many of the internet books on the market today -- even those allegedly designed for beginners -- are of little use to anyone
but the seasoned professional. The Internet is a tool everyone can use and Web Usability & Navigation gives its readers the background they need to make the most of the Web.

I loved all of the examples -- I'm the type of person who learns best by seeing others' experiences. A good story will go a lot further with me than a bunch of technical jargon and Ms. Holmes has mastered the art of telling a good story with a purpose.

When I started reading Web Usability & Navigation, I had several
preconceived ideas about what I wanted in a web page. Ms. Holmes gently guided me through a variety of other options. This book is really useful for beginners and more advanced Web site creators as well.

Caroline Thomas-Jenson, CFRE
President / CEO
United Charity Services

I think this book is "required reading" for anyone serious about designing usable websites.

I am the lead web developer for my department in an academic/scientific institution. Our scientists here have embraced the value of the Internet to market themselves and their research. Consequently, there is an effort to publish more and more of their scientific research material in an online environment as "web publications" instead of traditional hardcopy publications. But the scientists taking an active role in developing their own web pages realize that it is more to it than just knowing HTML. They have asked for books/resources to instruct them.

This book will be such a VALUABLE addition to our library!

Information is presented in a clear and straightforward manner with good writing style that does not overwhelm the beginner with technical jargon. This is a particularly poignant topic for me... I think any web developer can appreciate Holmes' observations on the "information anxiety" of website (and software) users.

I am impressed with Holmes' ability to present the "hot topics" (such as frames, plug-ins, etc.) and remain neutral. (It's so hard to find someone WITHOUT an opinion these days.) She offers a spectrum of examples with their pros and cons - allowing the reader to determine what would work best in his/her environment.

Some great features of the book:

Numerous examples!! A lot of people are visual learners (myself included) - it is easier for them to process new material if they can see the content "in action." The examples provided in the book are a refreshing break from the endless dry reading found in the typical web development book.

I really liked the Ask the Expert sidebars - I think the novice would find these sections extremely valuable. "Ask the Expert" exposes the reader to the ins and outs of professional website design: Practical solutions are offered for common and vexing usability issues by web professionals. (Why reinvent the wheel?)

I also recommend that readers spend the time doing the exercises provided in the book: the exercises will arm him/her with a good set of skills to develop usable websites.

More great features of the book:

Web Usability and Navigation: A Beginner's Guide is not just for beginners. Experienced website designers can benefit from the knowledge presented in this book as well.

Holmes has done her homework researching and collecting website usability facts and tips. Web professionals who lack the time or resources to research website usability in-depth (like me), will appreciate Web Usability and Navigation: A Beginner's Guide as a "usability cookbook."

For example: A usability checklist is provided to help novice and experienced web designers alike in making sure the most fundamental usability and navigation features are built in, or at least considered, during the design of a website.

The best thing I liked about this book: THOROUGHNESS!

Web Usability and Navigation: A Beginner's Guide is as comprehensive as it gets. Holmes takes the time to address important, yet often overlooked usability issues other web development books and guides fail to mention.

For instance, the affect different fonts (I.e., sans serif vs. serif) can make on the presentation/readability of a webpage. (Believe it or not, this has been a "hot topic" in my department for quite some time - right up there with frames and flash: that controversial!)

I think this book is "required reading" for anyone serious about designing usable websites. I am buying a copy of this book for my department.

I'll admit it, I didn't expect to learn too many new ideas from reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike other books I've read on web usability, Web Usability & Navigation: A Beginner's Guide actively encourages you to develop an eye for usability through the use of various projects designed to give you the opportunity to practice what you've just learnt.

As you might expect, the usual topic of web site navigation and usability are covered... but before reading, I never really considered the problems surrounding the actual use of the web. I knew about the problems of browser compatibility and I am always curious as to how my site looks on other operating systems. Until now however, the difficulties and information overload experienced by the novice Internet user were long forgotten, and I'd never even considered how I could build my site to accommodate for different learning styles.

Like other usability books, Web Usability & Navigation: A Beginner's Guide does not go into the detail of exactly how you should implement what you've just learnt, rather it gives ideas on what to look for. So if you are expecting examples of code, there aren't any. One nice addition to the book is the case studies. Sure, other books have case studies, but rather than tell you from the outset what problems there are, you are encouraged to list any usability problems for yourself.

I particularly enjoyed the module on getting traffic to a site, it provided me with some fresh insight into just how closely linked web site usability and promotion usually are. After all, part of the experience of using a site is getting to it as quickly as possible, whether you type a name in the browser or search for it in the search engines.

Overall, this is a good introduction to web usability that is very easy to read, but as with other usability books, the nature of the information makes it difficult to use as a quick reference. For those who aren't new to the topic, there are quite a few things you could learn from reading this book, although perhaps the only way you'll find gaps in your knowledge is to read the book from cover to cover.

I loved this book. It is rare to have a computer book that you can read cover to cover but this is one. It is meticulously researched and written, with good questions and exercises at the end to test what you learned. The only thing I didn't understand was why there were only answers to odd questions, but it didn't really matter. Finally there were excellent online references for future learning. This is a classic.

As a Flash beginner, I found this book to be the perfect starting point: concise, clearly written, and full of practical advice for creating basic Flash animations.

Kay writes in an accessible and engaging style, walking readers through basic Flash concepts like vector graphics, the stage and timeline metaphors, up through more advanced topics like coding interactive behaviors and working with sound. Finally, he introduces readers to the basics of Actionscript, the advanced Flash programming language used to create more complex applications.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for beginners like me who are interested in getting started with Flash.

The Web Wizard's Guide explains not only how to use Flash, but how to design with Flash. Tech-manual writers are notorious for leaving out context when describing a software interface, which makes learning most programs difficult. Kay's down-to-earth writing style simplifies the process. He uses practical, realistic examples to explain the concepts behind each menu command. He teaches you to know when to use Flash, and when not to use it. Read this book to learn good Flash design and keep the product manual around simply for reference.

I am a busy Art Director/Designer who, at last, is making the necessary transition from print to the web. The Web Wizard's Guide to Flash by Michael Kay has just become my most recent bible. I just love this book and can't put it down . . . it's like having your own web wizard always at your fingertips.

Michael Kay has done a great job in presenting a lot of intimidating technical information in an accessible way. The instructions are direct and clear and the language of the text is simple and friendly--not loaded with dull or confusing tech speak. The format of the book relies on well honed step-by-step technical objectives which, when applied, give fantastic results.

Best of all, I have been able to use these lessons directly in my day to day layout and design process. After working through this book, my web pages are now alive with animated motion and pizzazz, finally breaking me out of the amateur design crowd!

I highly recommend this text as a must read for any web designer or student or teacher who wants to learn and apply Flash - fast - in a painless, easy-to-read-and-use format. It should also be made more available on book store shelves in general.

as a web design instructor, i've read many books on flash and i am always looking for new reference/learning material to recommend to students. this one covers all the important topics very well. from the basic screen tour up through the nitty-gritty of actionscript, this book does a fantastic job of breaking down a difficult set of topics for a beginning flash animator. i would suggest this book to someone just starting out with the program, or for a person who's self-taught and is looking for the 'correct' way to do something. definitely a good investment.

Wow! This book equips Christians to build and enhance a web ministry. It is easy to ready and is filled with practical encouragement.

I'm involved with our church's website and I found this book a hugh blessing. I'm recommending it to leaders in our church.

If you are interested in using today's technology to minister to members and the wider community, this book has much to offer you in your efforts.

It is worth the time to read it.

I have read and truly appreciated this book. Showed it to some church leaders who are set to get themselves a copy! It is great the way you are walked through the process of setting up the web ministry and what worked and did not. In a nutshell, they say, we made these mistakes, don't make them! Must read for anyone considering a minitry website! Especially if you are in touch with the current century

This book provides a rare, behind-the-curtains look into a very successful church website ministry. It describes how they did it, what didn't work, what went well, what became too successful and died, and how you can learn from them to avoid mistakes.

Mark Stephenson has written a good book on internet ministry, as it relates to the average church website. Mark is on staff with Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, OH. They have an active, community oriented website built using Typo, an open source content management system that they have customized into the Web Empowered Church (WEC). The only fault I can find for this book is that it is very narrow in solutions, with the WEC pushed as the best solution to churches communicating their message on the internet. After reading the book, the slant makes sense but I hoped it would be a broader scope. Nevertheless, Mark does a good job of covering why a church should have an rocking website and has many suggestions for what should go on there. It's a very non-technical read and is approachable from any experience level. I will use it in acquainting members of our church and ministry teams to web ministry.

I've been doing church websites for over 10 years, and wish I had the benefit of the teachings and tools presented in this book when I started. Many of the things the book talks about are lessons I learned through trial and error over this period. Many other issues, such as use of a Content Management System, were technical challenges that I thought were unobtainable, but now seem very possible. I found this to be a easy read and a worthwhile use of my time. Outstanding!

Webs Of Innovation by Internet expert and global business consultant Alexander Loudon is a clearly forward-looking and progressive book about the future of business in the age of the Internet. A practical-minded approach to taking advantage of globalization and changing technology is the hallmark of this adventurous tour through the evolution of the Internet, the process of acquiring corporate venture capital, and generally gearing one's enterprise to make the most of today's changing and highly interdependent markets. Anecdotes and examples pepper this exciting and useful guide to taking charge of one's entrepreneurial destiny. Webs Of Innovation is highly recommended reading for entrepreneurs wanting to utilize the Internet and the World Wide Web in their mercantile and corporate ventures.

Whereas most management books tend to focus on US cases this book is different. Loudon uses cases from both Europe and the US. In addition to that he writes in a European clear and down to earth style. Thay way a very readable and convincing book.

Many books have been written about the importance of innovation. Think of Clayton Christensen's 'The Innovators Dilemma' or Gary Hamel's 'Leading the Revolution'. Where most of these book end with an understanding of the problem of established companies and innovation Loudon's book starts. He walks you through this problem in just one chapter and spends the rest of the seven chapters on how established companies can organize and structure for innovation. Each chapter has several questions at the end allowing you to apply the things learned to your company. A must read !

There are dozens of excellent books on this subject and Loudon has written one of the best. At a time when global initiatives continue to increase and expand as well as accelerate, it is especially significant that Loudon does not limit himself to national perspectives (such as those from the USA) which tend to exclude or subordinate all others. He carefully organizes his material within seven chapters, following an Introduction in which he observes: "There seem to be three strategies currently pursued by large companies. First, some are trying to enter webs of innovation by starting a separate -- often competitive division [e.g. Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart]....The second strategy is mergers and acquisitions [e.g. Healtheon merged with WebMD and Ahold acquired Peapod]....The third way is venture capital." Loudon goes on to acknowledge that each of the three approaches can work "but it is critical to know which suits your company. This book will tell you." And it does.

These brief remarks correctly suggest that Loudon's book will be of greatest value to decision-makers in larger organizations; however, it can also be of substantial value to those who do business with those organizations (especially on an outsource basis) or who provide professional services to them such as financial and legal. Change remains the only constant in the contemporary marketplace. This is especially true of the technical environment within which webs of innovation are established and developed. Years ago, former president of Harvard University Derek Bok suggested that "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." This is especially true of organizations (including the larger non-profits) now struggling to leverage their assets in the online world.

At some point during his tenure as CEO of GE, Jack Welch explained why he admires small, entrepreneurial companies:

"For one, they communicate better. Without the din and prattle of bureaucracy, people listen as well as talk; and since there are fewer of them they generally know and understand each other. Second, small companies move faster. They know the penalties for hesitation in the marketplace. Third, in small companies, with fewer layers and less camouflage, the leaders show up very clearly on the screen. Their performance and its impact are clear to everyone. And, finally, smaller companies waste less. They spend less time in endless reviews and approvals and politics and paper drills. They have fewer people; therefore they can only do the important things. Their people are free to direct their energy and attention toward the marketplace rather than fighting bureaucracy."

I include Welch's remarks for two reasons. First, they articulate the spirit of entrepreneurial innovation which Loudon insists is now absolutely essential to business success in the networked economy. Moreover, because in such a economy there are constant demands for newer and better innovations, there are simultaneously constant demands for newer and better ways to produce them. If I understand Loudon's book, these are among his most important points. They offer great encouragement to precisely the same companies which Welch admires so much and which the most innovative of larger organizations now work so hard to emulate.

Those who share my high regard for this brilliant book are urged to read Borgmann's Holding On to Reality, Nielsen's Designing Web Usability, Cairncross' recently published The Company of the Future, and Markides' All the Right Moves.

The book discusses how businesses must find new ways to innovate while maintaining the core business that is already successful. For established companies to get involved in the new technologies, they must either acquire start ups, introduce cooperatives efforts either partnering or investing in internal new departments, or uses corporate venture capital to invest in start ups.

Established companies are striving to become dotcorps via networked innovation. Loudon explains how each method works, the advantages and drawbacks, and the many reasons for doing this.

The book is well organized, easy to read and follow. Key points are emphasized with questions at the end of each chapter, which provide a guide for companies dealing with innovation with its use of shades of gray and statements of key points. Case studies from Europe and the US provide examples of the different strategies and how they work. It focuses more on problem solving than on the problems offering detailed methods for companies to organize for innovation.

While VC (venture capital) was the catch phrase of the late `90s, the authors explores the different types and ways of using VC. What companies did right. What companies did wrong.

The index lists all of the companies covered in the book to help the reader immediately find those that interest her. Boo.com's failure is mentioned, of course, as a first mover that did not become a prover. There are examples of everything including partnerships, buy-outs, corporate venture capital, B2C, B2B, and more.

While this book is aimed at companies and purports to be a road map to follow in pursuit of innovation and in preparation for what's next on the Internet, it's good reading for individuals interested in business tactics, in plotting change that keeps coming, and in investing in the companies that show the most creativity and openness to deal with the future.

Loudon reminds the reader that everything doesn't happen overnight. While the Internet has become the wave of the future, its present is no yet what it was hoped for. Sound business practices, profitability, ability to attract and keep good employees still remain watchwords for success along with creativity and innovation.

Susan Shankle and Barbara Melton have written a book that all parents, teachers, and other persons working with children should read! What sets this book apart from the rest is its ability to inform parents as to the "evil" and the good of the internet. As therapists who have worked with children affected by the internet, the authors are able to give powerful insight into the negative and positive impacts of our new cyber world. The list of meanings of internet slang is quite useful! This is a must read...

As a social worker, this book has been an excellent resource to assist foster parents and parents with the many mysteries of the electronic world. We must keep our kids safe and healthy - great book to help in this journey.

This is a fantastic guide to help parents and educators alike. When it comes to technology, parents are often a giant step behind their kids, and this book helps bridge that gap. It's a must have to help keep kids safe, savvy and connected!

This book is easy to read and is a great guide for parents. I highly recommed it for parents and teachers who are interested in making sure their children know how to navigate technology in a healthy way.

This book is a real parenting guide which gives you lots of tips for parenting kids of different ages and abilities. Includes a section on special needs kids, cyberbullying, and more. What in the World Are Your Kids Doing Online?: How to Understand the Electronic World Your Children Live In

I found this book to be the most informative financial book that I have every read. If you are only going to read one book to help you manage your finances, this is the one. I consider myself well informed and this book gave me ideas and methods of handing my finances that I had never heard of. I regularly recommend this book, it is great!

I saw Jennifer Openshaw on Oprah just a few days ago and was so impressed that I picked this book the very next day. Great information about how women can take charge of their financial futures. On the TV show Jennifer seemed to really understand the kinds of obstacles that stand between women and their financial goals, and after reading the book I think she has given us all a clear path to achieving them! Once you finish reading What's Your Net Worth? pass it on to your sister, your daughter, your mom, or your best friend.

Openshaw writes this book for women, but the advice is right on the money and can be used by everyone. An excellent feature of the book is the list of internet links at the end of each chapter. These references easily allow the reader to find additional information of any specific topic. For example, her brief discussion of options opens the door to using those investment tools to produce additional income. This is a topic often overlooked in books of this type. To learn how to use options, I also recommend THE SHORT BOOK ON OPTIONS.

This book was fabulous! I loved the personal accounts of all the different women and their financial stories. It really spoke to me in particular because I was divorced several years ago, and all of our joint assets were in my husband's name. It was incredibly difficult to start all over again, trying to build credit, and get loans. I was forced to become financially independent, but learned everything the hard way. If only I had known earlier what I know now! I would recommend this book to any woman who is looking to build wealth or secure her financial future. A great resource no matter what your age, marital status, or career!

Fear of our own finances can literally leave us shaking when it comes to taking control of our financial lives. I travel on business, so I take Jennifer Openshaw's book with me on the road! I surf the Web sites she recommends when I have free time, and I read the antecdotes from women she's interviewed on the plane. I have bought numerous copies of the book for co-workers, and will be giving it to friends as well. It's a book that can be read quickly - but then re-read it, mark it up and make notes in the margin....above all, follow Jennifer's advice. She writes from the heart and experience.

William D. Rutherford's "Who Shot Goldilocks?: How Alan Greenspan Did in Our Jobs, Savings, and Retirement Plans" is an intelligent and well-researched analysis of the economy of the United States.

The United States economy in the nineteen nineties was efficient and productive, and economists said it was ideal. The public and governments from all over the world looked up to the U.S. economy with admiration mingled with envy. The U.S. economy did not encourage inflation, as the growth was steady. At the same time because of the stable state of affairs, it created a congenial atmosphere for production. In other words, the economy was "just right!" and hence was called the Goldilocks economy.

However, by the end of the decade, the economy faltered and stopped growing. The stock market crashed. Some businesses were closed down. Many people lost their jobs and savings. There was no hint or warning that this type of crash could happen to the economy, and the economists and government were caught unawares. They did not even realize what had happened, and hence were not in a position to try and set it right.

Rutherford explores the downturn of the economy, searching for who is responsible for the current state of the economy. He then scathingly criticizes the responsible parties for their role in the economic downswing. He also demonstrates that the implosion of the economy could have been prevented.

Despite the focus of the book being what went wrong in the economy, he ends on a note of hope, saying that the American economy will still prosper due to the efforts of industrialists who are innovative risk takers. Rutherford concludes that the world economy could be better. However, he also feels that the economy of Europe will falter because of European industries' lack of insight into the intricacies of the economy. Rutherford presents the difficult topic, the U.S. economy, in a simple manner, explaining how economies function. His simple language allows him to present his ideas lucidly to laymen. An engrossing read, "Who Shot Goldilocks?: How Alan Greenspan Did in Our Jobs, Savings, and Retirement Plans" will surely be appreciated by economists and anyone who wants to know the reason why the U.S. economy faltered.

- BookWire Review, May 19, 2005

This book has answers for anyone who got crushed in the dot.com bust. An impassioned and efficient analysis of 20 years of American financial history. Of significant interest to anyone with money in the market or with concerns about the concentration of economic power in the Federal Reserve Bank.

This book is a great way to look at Alan Greenspan's effect on the federal reserve, stock markets, interest rates and inflation. It is well-written and easily accessible for someone wanting to learn about how these entities interact. The perspective on Alan Greenspan is interesting and left me wanting to learn more. It would also be helpful for anyone interested in learning about the stock market or bond market as Greenspan has had such a dramatic effect in both these areas.

This book is very well written and easily understood. For someone like me who is not a well versed on the matters of the various factors affecting the financial markets, it provided a number of new insights. I do not profess to offer an opinion on the matter of Greenspan's success or failure, but this book does offer a different perspective from what is generally portrayed in the media. Worth reading.

Shocking! Mr. Rutherford has done his homework. Who shot Goldilocks? will give you new insight into the internal workings of the Federal Reserve, Mr. Greenspan's seriously flawed decision making techniques and the unbelievable amount of power wielded by so few. In fact, this book will leave you with grave concern for the current economy and longing for answers to a much needed money-system overhaul. A great read!
S. Miller

I stumbled on this book and gave it a read. I was surprised that to find it a great intro to HTML. It's balanced between discussion and examples.

The book is a little dated. The HTML tag section references 3.2 Some of the software links no longer work, but that happens with time.

However, the examples are simple and easy to understand.

The chapters are: Introduction, tools of the trade, HTML Standard, the Next plane, Frames and forms, advanced webbing, upload, wrap-up.

The appendixes give you a Tag Compendium, Color names and Hex equivalents and the ever present Glossary.

Some of the stuff can be "glanced" as there is a small discussion about CGI, DHTML, XML, and java.

Probably the only concern is there are a few references to Matt's script archive and I have heard many people say "it's good to find out who not to do things."

Overall, this is a decent introduction for people how haven't done HTML before. The book doesn't patronize and it doesn't bury with detail as with the dummies HTML book.

Mr. Howard outdid himself with this one. I cant say that I've ever read a better text on the subject of HTML. THe approach is subtle yet engaging on the most intellectual levels.

This book is a conversation between two users (one novice, one expert) and this gives us a great perspective. Howard proves that programmers shouldn't be writing books anymore than mechanics should be selling cars. There's only room for one more HTML book and this is it.

Mr. Howard and his sidekick Kate provide an introduction to HTML unlike any I've seen. Through common sense examples and real world techniques that will have the reader coding pages in hours instead of days, they use the Teacher/Student metaphor to guide the reader through the lessons. Mr. Howard never talks down to the reader or assumes too much, and the casual, conversational banter between he and Kate fosters a comfortable environment for learning about HTML. Highly recommended!

...second only to Catcher In The Rye is Todd M. Howard's funny yet poignant book about life and love in the world of HTML. This book moved me in ways I can only attempt to describe, it's protagonist was familiar yet distant, a recluse iconoclast, a stranger in a strange land, always pursued by the wolves in his own mind, whilst wrangling with the predators in his own, very real existence. As the book progressed, and I learned better how to spell URL and FTP, I immersed myself deeper into the mind of this terrifyingly sublime character. Would he ever tear his gaze away from Windows 98 to the windows right behind him, would he ever be free of those shackles of conformity that held him captive? Would the tender succubus of his own youth and naivate consume him whole? Would I ever figure out how to plug in a table to my homepage? Link up to this classic, folks, our boy Howard has talent, charm, charisma... he is a credit to our race. He is a force to be reckoned with in a galaxy of wolves and sheep. He weaves the written word with the skill of a surgeon and implements lines of code like a crazed Kabuki chef on New Year's Eve at BeniHana's. I only pray that, unlike Salinger, Howard lives to put pen to paper once again. They say lightning only strikes once, but baby, I'm praying for rain. Until then, I remain his loyal subject, like a master to an apprentice.

Packed with personality... this is a FUN (and potentially profitable) read! Alan really nails the guts of niche marketing. Does it tell you everything? Of course not... but it gives you what you REALLY need to start making passive income online - DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE.

Alan really knows his stuff, and communicates it well.

If you're looking for a way to cash-in on the Internet Marketing boom... here's your answer.

"Million Dollar Mike" Morgan

In his book, Alan Bechtold reveals the little known secrets that can make a huge difference in the way you view work, play and life. Most people buy into the "climbing the ladder" to success which is a lot of work, and a lot less life and fun...but with the insights gained from "Will Work For Fun" you'll know how to shift from living for the weekends to living for your own enjoyable life. Highly recommended!

WILL WORK FOR FUN is a step-by-step training manual that will help you quit your boring gotta-have-a-paycheck job and making a living doing what you love to play at. Alan Bechtold presents a dynamic shift in how you should see yourself and your world but he does it in an easy style that's fun to read. No heavy lifting here. Yet, the book is packed with practical information that will benefit both the beginner and seasoned entrepreneur.
Highly recommended

I loved this book... and not just because I am mentioned in it!

I have read a lot of "work from home" books in my life, and they all seem to have the same problems: they either start at Step #3, and assume that the reader has some skills and knowledge already... or they have fluffy, nebulous information, which is enpowering, but will not help you get moving in the right direction in regards to taking action and defining the "first step."

Alan's book starts at Step #1 and actually takes you, step-by-step through the entire process of researching and building a real online business.

It's a teriffic book and I will absolutely be recommending my clients, students and customers to pick up a copy!

[...]

I enjoyed giving this book a quick read at B&N this morning. It didn't take too long to get through it. And I thought it was a good little book with the following chapters and "other material."

1. The sitcom as life
2. Which friend are you?
3. It all starts with a book
4. Scripting the pilot
5. The "pitch"
6. The payday that never ends

Also included:
Prologue: "Why don't they stop?"
Introduction: The true nature of work
Epilogue: Fun money profile - Lee & Robin Collins
Afterword: Mark Joyner

The book basically says there is a viable business out there for you if you want to use Yahoo! to identify hot topics that people search the Internet for. If you whittle those hot search terms down into a niche subject that you are comfortable writing about, then you can create an online business that caters to people who are hungry enough for information that they are willing to pay for.

You'll need an ebook, ezine service, coupled with a Web site for each hot topic you choose to write about. You give the ebook, and ezine away for free. You use your Web site and ebook as bait for getting subscribers to your free ezine that will include marketing and promotional copy for "products" you will sell for a profit. Such products may include ebooks, books, programs, seminars, workshops, retreats, coaching services, or counseling services. If your Web site is a blog, then your blog entries should be written much the same way as your ezine articles are written.

The book is great on concept. And it provides enough good information about being a successful infopreneur that it is well worth its sales price. I would have liked the book better if it had been written a little more concisely. And some information about how to design Web sites, ezine management software, and reducing a Word document to an Adobe Acrobat file (PDF) would have been helpful.

I suppose the book should have included some more information about being an Internet Marketing expert, too. But there are other fine books on that subject. A chapter on blogs and blogging would have been nice. Your Web site can be a traditional Web site. Or it can be a simple blog site. The cheapest route to go is probably to set up for free a new blog at Blogger or Wordpress and just start marketing though your blogs. 4 stars!

PS. If this book interests you, then I highly recommend you also take a look at "Coaching Millions" (ISBN: 0979293200), "Four Steps to Building a Profitable Coaching Business" (ISBN: 0595296602), "ProBlogger" (ISBN: 9780470246672), and "Riches in Niches" (ISBN: 1564149307).