January 03, 2006
A coworker picked up a copy of Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML. I've written before about how much I like the Head First series, and have raved to this coworker about all the Java books ever since I saw the first one. Solidly based in brain research and smart pedagogy, and just a damn fun good time, I can't think of a better way to learn. He agreed but wasn't interested in the Java. At last the HTML book was released, he bought it, and I stole a few minutes with it when he wasn't looking.
I am impressed. First, it's heavier than the others. Downright hefty. Why? Color. Full-color photos and illustrations, something that's been missing from previous books in the series but that makes so much sense for a book whose aim is to grab your brain's attention and make it think something like markup languages are important enough to remember.
It starts out with the basics, suitable for an absolute novice, As you might expect from the title, it does delve into XHTML & CSS, and in the way that a standards-oriented guy like me would hope for. I was very pleased to see that. Much as the depth of Head First Java might surprise you for an intro Java book, having you build threaded network applications before it's through with you, Head First HTML is teaching CSS positioning by the end of the book. It really looks like if you want to know how to put together web pages, this is the book to start with. You'll have to go elsewhere to learn much about JavaScript, Flash, etc.. This is a Good Thing: pleased as I am by what is covered, I'd hate to see the book try to do too much. Still, to use those well you need a solid foundation in (X)HTML and CSS; from what I've seen in a stolen two minutes, this book provides that.
