My technical bookself is filled with all kinds of serious looking books that I am sure impress visitors. Tucked away in the back is this colorful gem with its fun cover and not-so-serious demeanor.

I have written my share of code, most of which was in JCL and REXX on mainframes, so how hard can a mark-up language be, right? Not hard when you have the right book, and this book is it. I was able to quickly pick up the basics in a few hours, and learned a lot of tricks and cool things along the way. I could have probably gained the same knowledge with a more technical book, but I do not think it would have been enjoyable. I am fairly positive that if I did not have an extensive background in computers I would not have bothered to learn HTML from another book.

Among the things I like about this book are: (1) It makes HTML accessible to anyone because it is presented in a highly visual manner. The design of this book is important because it makes learning easy, even for non-technical users who just want to get a web page up. (2) It goes well beyond the basics. You can have a simple, but attractive, page up very quickly, then refine it to include frames, multimedia pizzaz such as sound, animation and the such as you become more proficient. (3) It goes beyond the geek stuff to explain how to make a page eye-catching. This is really the hardest part of getting a web page up - anyone can create a web page, but it takes some real planning to create one that is not an eye sore. It stands to reason that authors who create visually appealing, well thoughtout books will pay attention to web page design, which is exactly what these authors did.

This book is so well written that I found the time in my busy schedule to read it and create some pages on my PC (hint: you can make pages with your favorite editor and preview them from your hard disk using your browser before you upload them to your web site). Now all I have to do is find the time to refine and test my pages and upload them to my own site, which is in dire need of a facelift.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is fun to read, contains a wealth of information and makes learning HTML both fun and easy. Don't let the pretty cover fool you - the book also has some advanced techniques that are presented in a clear, friendly manner. If you want to put up a web page and thought it was too hard or technical buy this book. You will impress yourself and your friends.

This was an incredibly easy book to understand. Minimal words, lots of colorful pictures and fun graphics which show you (instead of describing to you) how to perform a function. I had another HTML book that I just got bored with after about 50 pages. This book was so engaging that I pretty much finished the book in a day and am able to start coding in HTML. This is a very good "how-to" book in the technical aspect of HTML. The only down side is that it promotes poor web page design (but this book is not about learning design so I'm still giving it 5 stars). For the design aspect of web pages, I would recommend picking up a copy of Robin William's "Design for Non-Designers" or "Web Design for Non-Designers."

A must for the beginner!

This book not only tells you how to design web pages, it SHOWS you, and with excellent color pictures as well. The instructions accompanied by the illustrations are very easy to follow. An excellent book for those who are new to web page design.

I received a copy of this book back in the early 1990s and have gone back to read it on several occasions. The book is massive consisting of over 730 pages in a large 12 x 10 format. It contains hundreds of illustrations including several color plates and some really amazing paintings of various types of ants and hive culture.

The information is exhaustive ranging from the extremely technical to the conversational. Parts of the book will be mainly of interest to the hardcore entomologist but the majority of the book is easily understood by the layman, well maybe not always easily but it's not too difficult and it's worth the effort.

I can't imagine a better or more complete text on the subject of ants. Anyone with any real interest in the subject should not be without this book.

I was given this in 1992 for my birthday and spent a week reading it from cover to cover...and have returned to for pleasure ever since. Admittedly I was already fascinated by ants, but this is quite simply the best book I have ever seen about any group of animals. The authors write authoritatively and very readably about every aspect of ant evolution and behaviour, with humour and a clear passion for their subject; the illustrations are lavish and beautiful. Probably most readers will skip some of the more technical aspects, as this is also a work of reference with (beautifully illustrated) keys to all the major ant genera; but there are entire chapters on life-history, evolution, symbiosis and behaviour which are simply unrivalled in modern literature. From the awesome to the utterly bizarre, the ants are one of the pinnacles of animal evolution. This book is a labour of love, which does justice to the fantastic diversity of these insects, by authors who are the masters of their subject. A pleasure in every respect.

by Mark Fitzsimmons

This is a fascinating, indispensible book for anyone interested in ants. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I have owned this book for three years and still haven't stopped reading it, probably never will. It is jam-packed with interesting and little known aspects of eusocialism in the ants, easily as diverse as its subject.

This is a semi-technical book, and entomological scientific jargon is used ubiquitously, so if you aren't interested in using the glossary frequently just to understand what you're reading, it may not be for you, but for the avid ant-watcher or scientist interested in social evolution, this is it. With the incredible drawings (including representative pictures from every known ant genera) and informative graphs and charts that shed light on even the most complex and difficult to understand socio-biological patterns, it is beautiful to behold and fun to browse and just pluck little tidbits at random. Even the expanded table of contents is thought-provoking and fun to read.

"The Ants" does more than simply summarize current knowledge about ants. It goes into details of the many different ways in which ants have evolved social structures and critically evaluates theories of ant colony dynamics and eusocial evolution.

This is with out a doubt the most important piece of literature ever written. It should be required reading for every Christian. Mde. Guyon deals with subjects such as abondonment, suffering, dry times. if you will consider her insights on these and other topics this book will bring you higher heights and deeper depths. You must read this book.

I first read Jeanne's autobiography about 2 years ago. I've never read any book other then the Bible itself that had such an effect on my understanding of each days circumstances and how God brings many pleasant as well as unpleasant people and events into our lives for the purpose of making us like His Son, Jesus. Jeanne, through God's Spirit, helped give me a new revelation on Romans 8:28, Proverbs 3:5,6 and Psalms 37:23, all speaking of Providence. God is at work in my life setting me apart for His purpose and making me Holy. I thank Him for this book. Madame Guyon could relate to the Apostle Paul when he says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distreses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." If you truly want to be God's and His only, you must read your Bible and this book will help bring you to agree, "Christ in us" can be a reality.

I read and reread this book. For those who follow Fr.Keating's books on seeking God within, this is an excellent companion. They seemed to be saying the same things! That God lives in your heart and through comtemplation He will draw you to himself. Guyon does not come out with a specific prayer methodology like Keating but she speaks the same things, prayer of silence, letting go of the false self, abandonment to God. Strange chpt 2 is kind of asterixed, I considered it extremely foundational.

This is a classic and I say get Keatings books as you get this and you have a solid intro to the Christian spiritual journey.

Ps: this is not journey of bliss and Guyon tells about the travail you will go through until you reach the inner abode where God resides and where your true self can be found...

This book answers, with outstanding instruction, pictures and humor, any and all of your questions on vegetable gardening. Had Ed Smith published it earlier we would have saved a ton of dirt along with a ton of money! We keep it in our little greenhouse alll during the growing season as we refer to it daily. And we are now buying it for gifts for both novice and experienced gardening friends.

I started my own garden using the wide, deep, rised
bed technique described in this book and the yields were
really quite stunning. I used planks to rise my beds by
a feet.

Explains every step from designing/planning via building
and planting and taking care of your garden to harvesting
and readying for the winter.

Fabulous gardening book for the beginner and advanced
gardener. Full of wonderful tips and info about everything
vegetable garden.

The title says it all. This is my vegetable bible. Being a novice, I was looking for something as simple and informative as a "Dummies" book but without insulting my intelligence. Not only is all the information you need to start or continue a garden, the pictures fill in details that as a first time grower I might not quite understand in words. His explanations are simple, concise and extremely informative. Most of all, it's filled with little hints throughout the book so that you may have a successful garden. It was the best purchase I had made on a gardening book so far. Thank you Ed! Happy growing!

This is the first book I've read in E.F. Benson's "Lucia" series, and it is fun-filled ride indeed. For Benson novices, Lucia Lucas is a middle aged, recently widowed (in this novel), perfectly nice upper middle class woman who just happens to have the mind of Machavelli. Missing her obvious calling for World Domination, she is instead content to rule the social life of her small English village with an iron fist. As "Mapp and Lucia" begins however, Lucia has long since deposed any serious threat to her social dominance in her immediate vicinity, and decides fresher pastures are in order. She packs up her things (including , of course, best friend and right-hand-man Georgie) and moves to Tilling, where she expects she will be made society Queen in no time flat. Unfortunately for Lucia, Tilling already has a Queen, one Elizabeth Mapp, and she has no intention of relinquishing her crown.

The scene is thus set for a true Battle Royal, only in Tilling the battelfields are luncheons and dinner parties, and the weapons fruit gardens and lobster recipes. The results are very very funny, as the genteel of Tilling spend a breathless year thoroughly enjoying each swipe, snub and put down. The hilarious climax has our heroines floating out to sea on an overturned kitchen table, with Lucia's last audible words promising delicious gossip just as soon as she gets out of her current mess.

Benson draws his characters exquisitely well, I found myself flat out liking her. She is an Englishwomen of the 1930's, past her prime but still youthful, who just happens to be blessed (cursed?) with the personality of an Alpha Male. The resulting battle of wits with the formidable Mapp is fascinating; Mapp is clearly not her intellectual equal but through a mixture of deviousness and and cunning manages to pull the carpet from underneath Lucia's carefully laid plans time and again. The supporting characters are equally well written, with best friend Georgie and Mapp's crony Diva especially amusing.

All in all, a funny, entertaining and biting satire that is well worth reading whether you are already a Lucia fan or are picking up a Benson novel for the first time. Highly recommended!

This popular tale is a delight even 70 years later. The reader gets to know very well the primary characters in this social comedy. Benson does a superb job of describing the genteel battles between the two ladies in Tilling,concerning Lucia's much coveted lobster recipe, and invitations to dine. The men are, of course, secondary to the plot.They hover around the ladies like courtiers. I think that Georgie, Lucia's devoted and platonic friend, is my favorite character-perhaps the most genuinely nice person in the book. I sometimes even feel sorry for Miss Mapp when Lucia takes over social affairs so thoroughly! I wonder what would happen if Lucia and Miss Mapp were both interested in Major Benjy!

This is the highlight of the series, pitting Lucia against her less able, but equally ruthless counterpart, Elizabeth Mapp - two ladies who both consider themselves social queens of the village of Tilling. The ensuing war includes Fete's garden parties dinner parties and climaxes with the crafty Miss Mapp attempting to steal the recipe for Lobster ala Reisholme and being caught by Lucia, they are then caught in a flood and whisked out to sea on a kitchen table. Oh my!

I not only purchased this book for myself, but a copy for my business partner; mine was too furry with Post-Its, notes, and dog ears to let it out of my sight! I have lived with this book close at hand for the last month, and feel it has brought tremendous focus to my business development activity. It is very readable, well organized, and packed with specific tasks to speed you on your way to success. Unlike marketing and business books that are long on theory, but fall short of actions and tasks, I translated this book, chapter by chapter into a project plan to carry my company, Big Head Interactive, through the first year. A Must Have, with spare copies for gift giving!

I originally bought the first edition of this book several months ago. I wasn't sure I wanted to replace it with this new edition, but am very glad I did. Paul, Sarah and Laura have helped me focus and pick one thing that my business will be known for. As a professional organizer, I was trying to be all things to too many people. Now, I have decided to focus on paper filing systems for entrepreneurs. Being a paper organizer is easier than being a closet, kitchen, basement and office organizer. Marketing becomes so much easier with a niche.

This book also explains that you don't have to use marketing techniques that are inconsistant with your personality. You don't have to make cold calls to get business, unless you like making cold calls.

There are several tips on doing a PR campaign, putting together brochures, selecting a logo. If you have a small business, you will love this book.

This is really a BIG book, packed with information from the first page. The book is easy to read and follow and it is written as if the authors had you and your business in mind. By sharing many examples of their marketing strategy, they show the extensive research that they put into this book. There is something in this book for every business owner, home-based or not, beginner or seasoned veteran.

I think everyone will find something to relate to in this book! For the generations of people who lived and fought during World War II, this book will bring back memories of that intense and brave time period. For younger generations, you will experience a sense of pride and patriotism as you read about those who fought for our country. Author Ivan Mehosky makes us feel as though we really know his father, Colonel Mehosky. I could not help but think of my own grandparents as I read this wonderful narrative.

The Story of a Soldier is a superb story of one soldiers heroism, patriotism and love for both family and country. It vividly depicts the rigorous training and life of an airborne soldier spanning 30 years and through 3 wars. Throughout his career, Col. Mehosky lead by example, through moral integrity and courage. I have personally taken several leadership techniques and successfully applied them in my daily routine as a manager for a major corporation. After reading this book, everyone will have a new found respect for the 101st and all those who risked their lives for our freedom. Powerful from start to finish, The Story of a Soldier is a must read. You will love this book!

This book follows the military career of a man who deserves a sincere thank you, not only for his heroic actions in WWII, Korea and Vietnam but more importantly for his steadfast committment to providing leadership and superb training for the men under his command. He taught his men to think and react and without a doubt his leadership saved countless lives. At whatever rank, Col. Ed Mehoskey, an original member of H Co. 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne (HBO's and Stephen Ambrose's epic Band of Brothers focused on E Co.)led by example and raised the "Bar" to heights that were attainable and necessary to prepare men for battle. War is hell but when the going got tough, the tough men under Mehosky's command got going! This true account of a soldier's military career spanning nearly 4 decades is testimony to the American Spirit. Mehosky is a great example of the "Greatest Generation" and he personally instilled in his men the desire to "Be the Best". Learn what it meant to go three up and three down and to be trained and ready for combat under any circumstance. This excellent book left me with a greater knowledge and understanding of the sacrifices and triumphs an officer in the US Army had on the men under his command while geting ready and fighting to defend the freedoms we Americans hold so dear. For any reader who wants to know more about the spirit and courage that has propelled America to become the leader of the Free World you must read this book. God Bless Col. Ed Mehosky and the men of his generation and above all else God Bless the USA.

Ingrid Sischy, the editor of Interview Magazine, once taught her creative director the art of shutting up and just looking at a photo. It's a simple technique - yet it works. If you take 15 minutes to just look at a photo, eventually the photo will begin to speak to you. This lesson is even more profound when you allow the photos of "The Family of Man" to speak to you. Each photo encapsulates a tiny portion of the human experience and serves as a vivid mirror of our own spirit. As we journey from birth to death we see all the flaws and fascinating qualities that make the human being a beautiful work in progress. And while the book is only 5% words I've yet to complete it. Why? Because I've found myself watching closely each photo for the amount of time it takes to finish the chapter of a book. And each "chapter" that I've seen tells me several things: That we are all bonded by love, struggle, survival, passion, pain, fears, dreams, belief and hope.

In the same way an infant is captivated by a human face, so is the receptive reader drawn to the pages of this book, over and over again. In photographs taken around the world, the images remind us of the overwhelming preciousness of our all-too-short lives, the mystery of the universe, and the inherent potential of humankind to choose its own way.

Making us aware of our responsibility to cherish life, to handle it tenderly and respectfully, for our own sake and for the benefit of our children, is its clear intent.

I discovered this book on my parents' bookshelf at the age of six. It was my introduction to the world, as expressed through the images of others. Thanks to The Family of Man, I began to understand the vastness of the world, in contrast to my own small one.

I saw more in those images with every passing year. The aphorisms from the world's great literature, printed alongside the photographs, became comprehensible to me as I learned to read words as I had been taught by this book to read human faces. I was impressed by our vast differences, and touched and comforted by the common humanity that we share with one another.

The messages contained within this work are timeless and relevent. If I had the power to do so,I would place a copy of this book in every classroom of every grade of all the schools in the world. In my opinion, there is no one of any age for whom this book is not appropriate.

I believe from the beginning we all want to be the best we can be; somehow along the way too many of us lose hope. This book reminds us of the worthiness of the pursuit of the meaning of life. Though as individual members of the global community we may be quite different, we nonetheless see in these pictures the implications of choices made for, and against life--and we are inspired to consider thoughtfully the implications of our everyday thoughts and acts.

This may well be the first and greatest lesson in life.

I recently purchased this book, after having grown up with it in the 50s and 60s. The photographs are as stunning, vibrant and moving as I recall, and I realized that I had clearer memories of this collection of pictures than those in our family photo album - which probably says a lot about my family and cameras?!

Anyway - there's something VERY 50s about these photos - the Germans look "German" - the Irish look "Irish", and so forth. This collection of photos presents a very UN-MELTED "melting pot" at the same time it reveals a universal humanity and compassion. There's palpable joy, sorrow, pain, love, beauty, ulginess and every other human emotion depicted here. It's a beautiful book you won't be sorry you got!

As a beginner in the film industry, I found this book to be extremely valuable in gaining a solid foundation of knowledge in the various areas of film making. There is as much information as possible and the layout is full of refereces and cross references. It is well writen, and has plenty of ilustrations to acompany the comprehensive descriptions. I predict that this book will be a usefull tool long after I have reached a professional level in the industry.

As an aspiring young filmmaker, the first thing I was told to do was go out and get a copy of the Filmmaker's Handbook. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the book had been updated in March of 1999, and that now it included all kinds of information about the digital age. I have learned so much from this book. The book goes over the entire film process, and does it in a straight-forward manner. It is a great start for beginners, yet it includes a rich amount of information for the professional. Anyone who has ever thought about a career in film really needs to get a copy of this book. Written in a manner that neither patronizes nor confuses the reader, the Filmmaker's Handbook is the best book I have skimmed or read on film, and believe me, I've looked at a lot.

I'm getting into film production but don't have time to attend a real film school. And I'm basically interested in the mechanics of filmmaking - so this book The Filmmkaer's Handbook is perfect.

It gets down to all the basics of filmmaking. If you want to know what a line producer does, how light meters work and the ratio of film stock to projection, this is the book for you.

It's thick but easy to read with nice B&W illustrations. As a novice and somebody who wants to know how a movie is made this book is perfect. I was really impressed by how simple and to the point this book was on the mechanics and made it an easy read. I will keep in hand at all times for reference as well!

Very well done and exactly what I was looking for in a filmmaking book!

A series of classic, semi-connected books by Edward Eager, the perfect appetite-filler for those waiting for the new Harry Potter/Redwell/any type of fantasy book. Funny, cute, sweet, well-developed, well-written, with strong lead characters and delightful sidelines characters. The magic is unusual, in that it crops up in places (such as a thyme garden) that you wouldn't expect.

"Half Magic" is the first of this line of books, in which a Nesbitlike cluster (Jane, Mark, Katharine and baby Martha) discover a little charm. It grants wishes - but here's the catch, you only get half of what you wished for. For instance, if you wish for a house to burn down, all that will burn down is a treehouse or toyhouse. A series of zany adventures follow, including a trek to medieval times and to the Sahara. The final double-wish is touching, to say the least.

"Magic By The Lake" take a different journey, in which the kids travel to a lakeside house. Of course, the lake has magical properties that allow them to journey through time and space at their wishes. Of course, some of them work and some backfire in hilarious ways.

"Knight's Castle" skips twenty years into the future, when the four kids are grown, and two have kids of their own. When Roger and his family have to travel to their cousins' house while his dad has surgery, he encounters a magic soldier figure who will grant his wishes -- by zapping him into the Ivanhoe setting, with all the toy splendor around it!

"Time Garden" is the sequel to "Knight's Castle," in which Roger, Ann, Eliza, and Jack are shipped off to an old house for the time being. They encounter the froglike Natterjack, a creature who allows them to use the magic thyme in the thyme garden. If you word your wishes correctly, you will go where you wish to go...

With delightful illustrations by N.M. Bodecker, these books are a must for fantasy readers. Eager's tales are tightly bound together, but consist of vignette adventures, ranging from one a day to one a week. A timeless delight.

I read "Half Magic" and "Magic by the Lake" as a young girl and absolutely loved them then. Now, years later, I decided to order a set for my young nieces, knowing they will enjoy them as much as I did. Unable to resist, I opened a few of the books before sending them on to the girls. I was so happy to discover that my assessment all those years ago was right on: These books are extremely well-written, creative, fun and, of course, magical! I highly recommend this set.

Knight's Castle was the first Edward Eager book I read and after that I could not get enough of them. Thirty years later they still make me laugh out loud and marvel at how surprising they are.

The element of surprise is the key, and what I've always felt Harry Potter lacked. Eager's kids are regular kids--just like the reader and her or his friends--who stumble across some thing or other that turns out to be magic. The children can control the magic thing, but first have to figure out exactly what it is, how to make it work for them, and what the catch is because there is always a catch. In the meantime all sorts of goofy stuff is going on all around them and they've got to corral the magic if they want it to do something special, which they always do.

Most of the books feature an age-range of characters, and a good balance of girls and boys. Eager's kids are always readers(which is why such fabulous things happen to them!) and which is fun for children who are readers themselves.

Any kid with a sense of humor and a yen for surprises will love these books.