Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

The Zen of CSS Design : Visual Enlightenment for the Web (Voices That Matter)

Html General

Eric Meyer on CSS: Mastering the Language of Web Design

Format: Paperback
Author: Eric A. Meyer
ReleaseDate: 28 June, 2002
Publisher: New Riders Press
Rating:

Second to none!


Attention to details, comprehensive and professional writing style, and superior clarity are just some of the strengths of this book. I wanted a quick crash course in CSS; instead this book gave me a comprehensive start that led me on a path to a solid foundation in designing with Cascading Style Sheets. I only wish that more IT books were as easy to read as this one.
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Good reference about CSS

The book starts boarding how to initiate layout HTML transition for layout hybrid (still with the tables use but of optimized way), and with that goes gradually preparing the reader to think and to create the such wished Layout CSS (Tableless). The first seen this book seems one more technical guide about CSS, but to the first contact realizes that it is a great reference based on needs to everyday of the web designer.
Besides talking about CSS he shows how to conceive a semantically correct code HTML and thus obtain a more organized and accessible structure.
This book boards the structure and presentation separation concept, positioning CSS, columns in CSS, leaves creation of alternative style, forms and effects presentation in links, lists and images.
The book Eric Mayer on CSS is one of the best references about CSS who already I saw, and can tell that he is indispensable in the web designer library.

Learn how to give your HTML a make over
The back cover lists standard concepts that are covered in the book in addition to an accurate depiction of Eric Meyer's professional experience level and expert ability with CSS [. Before skimming through "Eric Meyer on CSS" I expected an introductory level CSS tutorial book that would provide readers with step-by-step instructions on how to create efficient CSS layouts.. . ]. Yet, after reading the introduction and beginning the first few chapters, I quickly learned this book is ideal for persons with a solid foundation in HTML and at least a basic understanding of CSS. For example, project 1 (i. e. chapter 1) illustrates how to remove HTML markup and replace it with CSS layout, but does not go into detail about the HTML markup and mentions CSS properties/terminology as a side note rather than main point.

I think a major selling point of "Eric Meyer on CSS" is its excellent project based approach to CSS; each project can be completed in a single session and built my proficiency and confidence upon chapter completion. Additionally, the chapter layout is quite organized and easy to follow with full support and completed files available from the book's website. For example, the necessary steps for each project are incorporated into the main body of the text with illustrations and easily identifiable code. Go to the website to double check for accuracy or help troublshoot your work. Definitions, clarifications, warnings, and sample code links are neatly laid out in the columns to the side of the text's main body. Depending upon your comfort level of CSS, it is easy to skip around chapters and projects or work straight through.

An inconveniencing aspect of this book is that the CSS is difficult to reference. While the index lists the page numbers to CSS functions, the CSS is incorporated into any number of projects/tutorials, which may or may not be useful for the task you are performing. This book transforms HTML pages into CSS efficient pages; this is a positive consistent quality throughout "Eric Meyer on CSS", but it may have less relevance for people wishing to create HTML + CSS pages from scratch. In future versions of this book, I think it would be interesting to note layout differences between HTML versions and include CSS for XHTML.

Overall, I found "Eric Meyer on CSS" a transformational book for HTML and CSS and I give it the highest possible rating. I recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in CSS or who may use CSS on a quasi regular basis. It is a fine addition to any level (i. e. introductory, intermediate, advanced) CSS library or small collection. Essentially this book taught me how to do professional quality HTML "make overs" with CSS in a manner of speaking; it taught me how to convert HTML pages into more efficient and attractive pages using CSS.
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