Showing posts with label book recommendations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book recommendations. Show all posts

Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank Review

Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank ReviewThis is a well written book and it is one that I recommend to folks who want the basics of writing for the web. Writing Web site copy is hard work and anything that gives you any help at all is welcome.
But I noticed that some of the people mentioned in the book as being helped by the authors or being in some way associated with the authors had sites that didn't apply the rules and tips and teachings that are offered in this book. Yet they have reviews here and in the book. Or some do.
I also ran the "we we test" on their sites that is on the author's site and all scored very low. So it appears that the authors were able to get some good recommendations and reviews but not necessarily by people who adhere to their philosophy.
Having said that, I think this is well worth the read. Don't expect the conversions that the authors seem to think their suggestions will provide. Unfortunately, conversions are much more difficult to get than by applying the advice in this book.
I also found it amusing that the author adheres to the concept of using lots of hyperlinks in the main part of your site (the center) and in his book, Net Words by Nick Usborne, Nice says that's not a good idea at all; that it causes you to lose people. Why is this amusing? Nick works with Future Now as a strategic partner. (Future Now is the site associated with the author of this book.) Future Now does, at least, follow it's own rules. It has lots of hyperlinks on it's page. It has useful tools and a high ranking in the search engines.
So I'm not sure how much stock you can put in either theory or in either book.
The information in the book will, however, be very helpful to those who are writing copy for their own sites or that of others. I just don't think you should believe everything you will read in the book as it all simply doesn't work. Some of it does and for that information, the book is useful.
When copywriters, or for that matter anyone in business, writes a book, it is with the intention of building their credibility and getting more business. And that's fine. But the advice they give sometimes has to be taken with a grain of salt. And the people who recommend the book on the back cover are often folks who write books for the same reason. So you might say they're doing each other a favor.
The proof is in whether or not what you read in a book works. I tested the advice in this book and find it lacking. But I'm in need of more in-depth and realistic offerings. To someone who simply wants help writing their Web site, this is an excellent book. Just don't expect the results that the book, reviewers and those who recommend it seem to think you'll get.Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank OverviewWriting for the web.Web word wizardry.Web writing that works.What does that mean?Your online copy must persuade - it's integral to getting your visitors or readers to register, subscribe, qualify as leads, and yes, even buy from you.It's writing that must earn its keep.And to effectively manage the quality of your online writing, you need to understand what works, why it works and how to make it work better for you. Whether you are the marketer responsible for the bottom line or the writer creating the copy,Persuasive Online Copywriting provides the tools you need to get results.

Want to learn more information about Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition) Review

PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition) ReviewAlthough i love the book itself and would give it a 5 star rating, i have to say that the Kindle edition is a blatant rip off. First, its the same price as the paperback with a CD-Rom included, second, they did not bother to make the sources of the CD-Rom available (via a Website) to those who bought it electronically ... . Searched in vain for a link to an online resource for the examples until i got confirmation that this is not included in the electronic delivery (even though its full price) ...PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition) OverviewPHP and MySQL are popular open-source technologies that are ideal for quickly developing database-driven Web applications. PHP is a powerful scripting language designed to enable developers to create highly featured Web applications quickly, and MySQL is a fast, reliable database that integrates well with PHP and is suited for dynamic Internet-based applications.
PHP and MySQL Web Development shows how to use these tools together to produce effective, interactive Web applications. It clearly describes the basics of the PHP language, explains how to set up and work with a MySQL database, and then shows how to use PHP to interact with the database and the server.

This practical, hands-on book includes numerous examples that demonstrate common tasks such as authenticating users, constructing a shopping cart, generating PDF documents and images dynamically, sending and managing email, facilitating user discussions, connecting to Web services using XML, and developing Web 2.0 applications with Ajax-based interactivity.

The fourth edition of PHP and MySQL Web Development has been thoroughly updated, revised, and expanded to cover developments in PHP 5 through version 5.3, such as namespaces and closures, as well as features introduced in MySQL 5.1.





Want to learn more information about PHP and MySQL Web Development (4th Edition)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly)) Review

The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly))
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly))? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly)). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly)) ReviewAfter many years as project manager in product development, I embarked on two software development projects, a new area for me, and found that some of my management skills were not relevant. After the first project stumbled, I purchased several software project management books and, after working through them in a disciplined way (taking notes on salient points and scaling them on their helpfulness for my work) found this to be the best. It is comprehensive - perhaps a little too wordy at times - and packed with practical advice. The lists of questions which come up regularly in this book can be turned into management check lists. Scott Berkun's points anticipated many of the problems I have since encountered; I am now reading this book for the second time and noticing things that were missed on the first read. As my experience has grown, I have come to recognize the voice of greater experience speaking through this book. Recommended for novices and experienced software project managers.The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly)) Overview
The Art of Project Management covers it all--from practical methods for making sure work gets done right and on time, to the mindset that can make you a great leader motivating your team to do their best. Reading this was like reading the blueprint for how the best projects are managed at Microsoft... I wish we always put these lessons into action!" --Joe Belfiore, General Manager, E-home Division, Microsoft Corporation "Berkun has written a fast paced, jargon-free and witty guide to what he wisely refers to as the 'art' of project management.It's a great introduction to the discipline.Seasoned and new managers will benefit from Berkun's perspectives." --Joe Mirza, Director, CNET Networks (Cnet.com) "Most books with the words 'project management' in the title are dry tomes. If that's what you are expecting to hear from Berkun's book, you will be pleasantly surprised. Sure, it's about project management.But it's also about creativity, situational problem-solving, and leadership.If you're a team member, project manager, or even a non-technical stakeholder, Scott offers dozens of practical tools and techniques you can use, and questions you can ask, to ensure your projects succeed." --Bill Bliss, Senior VP of product and customer experience, expedia.com In The Art of Project Management, you'll learn from a veteran manager of software and web development how to plan, manage, and lead projects. This personal account of hard lessons learned over a decade of work in the industry distills complex concepts and challenges into practical nuggets of useful advice. Inspiring, funny, honest, and compelling, this is the book you and your team need to have within arms reach. It will serve you well with your current work, and on future projects to come. Topics include:

How to make things happen
Making good decisions
Specifications and requirements
Ideas and what to do with them
How not to annoy people
Leadership and trust
The truth about making dates
What to do when things go wrong


Want to learn more information about The Art of Project Management (Theory in Practice (O'Reilly))?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner Review

PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner ReviewI've been reading this book to learn PHP and it is undoubtedly the best book for beginners you're going to find. I've been trying to learn PHP since version 3 (yea, finally there is a book that I can understand). If you're new to programming, and new to PHP, do not listen to people who say 'oh, just go to www.php.net'
The online help manual for PHP is not geared towards beginners. It's geared towards the type of people who simply have to read the rules of a programming language and then can go and program with it effectively. Basically, it's for people who know what they're doing. They have the programming mind already. I am not that type of person and many people who are new to programming are not like that.
Andy Harris' book teaches you PHP, but you will have to have a solid foundation in HTML/CSS (which I have) and it says that in the book. The only errors I've noticed in the book so far are HTML and they're nothing major. If you know HTML you'll be able to see them right off the bat and correct them for yourself (it's not like the book is $50 or something, it's just a minor inconvenience you'll only encounter maybe two or three times in the entire 12 chapter book). Also, the examples in the book are sometimes different from the ones on the CD (which implies that the CD is much more up to date than the book). Those are usually only minor changes to the code.
In any case, while reading this book everything is explained and introduced in a way that is easy for me to understand. I think the way he introduces concepts is great. He doesn't simply say 'these are the rules and let me explain them' like the other books. No, he gradually works you up to them, preparing your mind. I find that this is more effective and this is a beginning programmer talking, after years of trying to find a good book. The one thing that I think is great is that this book uses examples that are relevant to what you will be programming. Too many times (back when PHP 3 and 4 came out) have I read those books that use boring examples that I'll never use (like some math formula for example). Instead, the examples in this book are challenging, yet fun and practical, and he goes over every part of the code so that you understand what each part is doing. Sometimes the examples are really big, but this isn't a problem. Even if there is an area where his explaining doesn't do it for me, if I simply go over everything in my mind and break things down on a piece of paper I'm able to understand. The only reason I'm able to understand is because the concepts have been introduced in a way that I can know what's going on. The only issue is then figuring out what a large example is doing and that's something you have to figure out for yourself. I haven't run into a problem I haven't been able to figure out so far.
This book is shaping my mind into a programmer's mind. I can now see the planning involved in each program and I'm finally starting to see the method. It's a lot more effective than other books that simply give you the syntax, explain it, and then give you a problem to do without giving you relevant examples on how to use what you just learning and shaping your mind so that you'll know when each tool is effective, when you'll need to use it, and how they work in different situations. I now know the reason why I couldn't get through those books. I knew the rules, but my mind didn't know how to think like a programmer. All those so-called beginner books don't teach you that at all. Andy Haris' book does. I feel like I can go on to other programming languages now because I finally read a book that taught me the method.
PHP5/MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner is not the PHP5 bible but it explains PHP5 enough so that by the time you're done you'll be able to do what you want and get out there and learn more without being intimidated. If you're a beginner to PHP5, don't waste your time with other books that won't introduce you to the mechanics of programming. Get this book!PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner OverviewThis book is an introduction to programming with a specific focus on programming web servers with the PHP programming language. Much of the original content from the first edition (1931841322) will be retained, while also including updates relating to the upcoming PHP 5.0 release. Following the same format as the popular first edition, this book provides easy-to-follow instruction. Readers will use the concepts presented in the book to create games using PHP and MySQL. As each concept is put to the test, readers will acquire programming skills that will easily transition to real-world projects. A true beginner's guide, this book enables readers to acquire programming skills that they will be able to use in the next language that they tackle.

Want to learn more information about PHP 5 / MySQL Programming for the Absolute Beginner?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series) Review

Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series) ReviewThis book contains a generous cross-section of the knowledge that differentiates Java gurus from advanced Java programmers.
I've been working full-time in Java since 1995, prior to version 1.0. I've also written books and articles on Java and have been teaching Java at the University level as a sideline for four years. In that time I've accumulated a great deal of "expert" knowledge about the language, the JVM, and the APIs and developed opinions on the best approaches to use in Java. At this point, reading books such as this that contain a collection of tips and advice I am usually satisfied to gain one new piece of knowledge; I learned at least six new things from this book.
Of the 50+ books on Java I've read, this book contains by far the most comprehensive and useful collection of that hard-won knowledge of core Java. The bonus is the clear and concise manner in which it is presented.
Bloch is dead-on. There isn't a single factual error or piece of bad advice in the book. The most I came up with were a couple of omissions on some of the topics. However, omissions are inevitable given the technical depth of some of the topics Bloch covers, such as serialization, exceptions and threads.
I offer only two caveats about the book. The first is that the book is for advanced Java programmers. This is not to say that this information is not useful to every Java programmer, but you need to have a comprehensive knowledge of Java in order to appreciate many of the topics. This book does not provide comprehensive coverage, but rather fills in the detail and subtleties. I teach a Java IV class and recommend this to my students as additional reading after completing the class.
The other caveat is that this book is written from the perspective of writing public APIs. Bloch is the lead architect for the core JDK APIs where the classes and APIs have special security considerations. Several pieces of advice he gives apply absolutely to a public API where you want to defend the API from malicious code. However, if the code you are creating is intended for a less hostile and more trusting environment, fully following all of his advice will result in unnecessarily complex code. The one knock I give to the book is that Bloch does not delineate the circumstances that would dictate following his rather rigorous approach to bullet-proofing an API and can leave the reader with the mistaken perception that the advice applies equally to all categories of code.
Overall, this is absolutely a must-have book for the experienced Java programmer. Even if you are not yet an advanced Java programmer, buy this book and keep revisiting it as you advance until everything in the book makes sense to you.Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series) OverviewA new edition of this title is available, ISBN-10: 0321356683 ISBN-13: 9780321356680

Want to learn more information about Effective Java: Programming Language Guide (Java Series)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...