Rating: 
Summary: All-encompassing, practical, down to earth.
Review: The author's credo is thoroughly refreshing: "Content over style". Why can't more books of this ilk speak to the issue of content? Perhaps we'd have fewer bandwidth hogging, eye popping, and distracting pages on the internet. Certainly, the authors (and myself) have a reverent respect for all the new whiz-bang technology. But their admonishment is to apply such heavy artillery judiciously, when it adds value to the content of a web site.
For the neophyte or veteran, this is a solid reference: it's thesis sorely needed, it's presentation exemplary, it's lucidity par excellence.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for those who want to learn and perfect HTML!
Review: With no knowledge of HTML prior to reading this book; I found it extremely easy to understand. Almost immediately the book showed how to design a beginning page that included easy to understand source code. This book covers all of the basics of HTML including proper syntax and layout. Musciano and Kennedy deserve high marks for their clear descriptions and witty comments. There is no better book for beginners; and for experts, it will serve as a constant reference when you are working on your pages.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good reference book
Review: I came here to find the second edition, since the original edition I have is obviously a bit out of date. I don't spend all of my time doing web pages, but I have a site that I have set up for our business, and I tend to hand-code most of it. When I want to figure out how to do something, I usually reach for this book.
I usually don't read computer books from cover to cover, apparently some people do. If I want entertainment I read novels. I have shelves full of dummy and learn to program in 21 days books that sit on my shelves. I don't have 21 days to learn something new, I need the bottom line of how to do a certain task. Maybe there are better reference books, but this has been more than adequate for my purposes. The title has the word "guide" in it, which does not say "learn how to make megawebsites in 10 minutes." I think that people learn in different ways. If you need to look up the format or attributes of html tags, this is a great "guide." (Most of the dictionaries I have are pretty "dry" reading, too, but they are still useful sometimes! I also wouldn't pick up a dictionary to try to learn a new language, either, but I would want one while learning it.)
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, focused and very informative.
Review: This book is the best I've found for those who are looking to really learn HTML. Coming from a fine arts background, with no previous programming experience, I found the book very educational and accessible. In fact, it's accessibility and helpfulness in my development encouraged me to go on to learning PERL and Javascript! Those who find it dry must be looking for entertainment rather than information (though I found the tone of the book very engaging). Like any other craft, learning HTML requires study, and rather than looking for one book to tell you everything there is to know, you should work from a variety of sources. This book gives you the tools and structural concepts you need to function and grow as an HTML author. No book can keep up with the changing nature of the web, but this one gives you the foundation you need to go out and dissect the Web and learn from it. Wanting more than that is like expecting a French textbook to teach you to write like Ronsard--you must first learn the language, then the rest is up to you. This book teaches you the language--style and professional trends exist only in real-time on the Web, not in any book. Combine this book with more current Web-based resources for CSS and DHTML, and you've got a dynamite package that I highly recommend. In part because of this book, I can now do most coding by memory, but it's still my most valuable reference.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: This book, like most others from O'Riley & Associates gives you a reference to every aspect of HTML. It is very well written. It does not insult your intelligence like the majority of dummy and 21-day books do.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest books about HTML
Review: Unlike other "fancy" books about HTML, this book is full of facts, clear and specific examples. The book is in the classic tradition of the Nutshell books, and is a must-have for both the novice HTML user and the seasoned HTML programmer.
Rating:
Summary: All facts and no fluff ...
Review: Tired of reading books that cater to "idiots"? Do you crave to know every detail about HTML 3.2? If you answered yes, then this book is for you. This book gives lots of examples and covers all elements of HTML in detail. And it teaches proper HTML style. An O'Reilly manual is worth its weight in gold. Buy an O'Reilly manual and read the difference.
Rating: 
Summary: Quick and Easy Reference
Review: This book does not read like a novel, it's not meant to. If you do serious HTML programming,
this book will never leave your desk. If I need to look up a tag, this book provides me with the information I need - not sixteen pages of unwanted explanation.
If you're just starting out, perhaps you should choose another book. This book is definitely a great reference, but it's not meant to be read with a cup of coffee after work.
Rating: 
Summary: Looking for a good reference book?
Review: Well if you are looking for a reference book this is not it. HTML: The Definitive Guide simply does not have what it takes. As a reference for professionals it comes up short. Dry. Poor examples. Boring. Not extensive. I firmly believe that anyone who needs a reference book should look to Web Publishing Unleashed Professional Reference. As the title implies Web Publishing Unleashed Professional Reference is a reference book for working professionals. Check it out I think you will agree
Rating: 
Summary: Reference, yes... Tutorial, no...
Review: I'm glad that I was able to check this book out of my local library before buying it based on the glowing reports I'd seen of it. I'm not an HTML expert, but not a complete beginner either, and I found the general tone of the book to be too pedantic. Methinks the author protests too much (and again, and again..) about not trying to exactly control the layout of pages with HTML.
To the author's credit, the book *is* a very complete reference and I did learn some things that I hadn't known about before. However, it's not the first book that I would buy on the subject, mainly due to the lack of examples and the fact that there are better books out there.
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