Rating: 
Summary: This is the book to learn HTML!
Review: I purchased this book after speding several hours at a local book store reviewing similar books. Why did I pick this book? Because of it's quick and simple approach in explaining HTML. This book could either be used as an instructional and\or referrence guide.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty close to great
Review: No doubt, the Quickstart series is on the right track, and this latest HTML manual is a very good beginner's reference. Since I have a distaste for big, hefty manuals to begin with, the relative brevity here is refreshing, and most of what you get is relevant and to the point. The illustrations help a lot to make sense of what can be a fairly complex topic. All in all, if you have to have a manual, this is as good as it gets.
Rating: 
Summary: What's going on?
Review: I knew nothing about html when I bought this book and knew precious little afterward. She ( the author) started right off saying this was all going to be deprecated or something and replaced with style sheets. Huh?! I just wanted to know some basic things to build a web page. My biggest gripe is that the author would constantly refer to things in her explanations that weren't even mentioned until much later in the book. How am I supposed to understand an explanation that uses terms she hasn't even covered yet. I eventually read some great internet tutorials on html and have since built some nice websites (so say my friends). I have looked at this book since then, after I have learned a lot of html and this book still confuses me. Very complicated explanations. Every topic is covered in minutiae. My advice to the author would be twofold: 1) Add a chapter right at the beginning on quick and dirty webpage construction. Nothing complicated. Nothing long winded. 2) Edit her book to remove all explanations using terms not yet covered. How can a person understand what she's talking about otherwise? If you are totally ignorant of HTML, I would advise you NOT to purchase this book.
Rating:
Summary: HTML Basics in English
Review: I found this book to be a good desk resource when I was creating my own site. Elizabeth Castro has been able to demonstrate good examples of web development, or should I say HTML development with visual code examples as well results of the code. Another trick I licked was how she explained how the different browsers' handled the HTML code. One thing I did not find very useful was in chapter 4, Creating Images, which the Elizabeth Castro focused too much on a single product and how that can help your web site. In that case then we can list various application/products that can do the same, enhance your web site. Overall the book is a good reference; it is for beginners and more for the designer then the coder. Have fun coding.
Rating:
Summary: Become an HTML expert in a hurry
Review: The HTML Visual Quickstart Guide is, without question, the most efficient means of becoming an HTML expert. Explanations are clear, concise, and, most importantly, practical. Though it is certainly not as lengthy as other books on the market, The Visual Quickstart Quide very effectively covers all aspects of HTML 4. With the vast array of HTML books out there, there are many other good choices. However, this book is a clear standout, as it is not only very complete, but also manages to explain concepts without being overly wordy.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent beginners book
Review: This book is well organized and thought out. After the simplified explanation of what HTML actually is, the book progresses through HTML in an order that truly mirrors the path a new user would take. Chapter 3 starts with simple "Text Formatting", then chapters 3 and 4 deal with images - exactly order in which a first time page author would need to work. Page layout of the book makes it very easy to follow and understand the current topic. Every page has a brief explanation of the tag or attribute being discussed and pictures of both the HTML code as it would appear in a text editor and how the code would appear when displayed in a web page. This book does really keep to the basics, after writing a couple of pages you'll be ready for a more advanced reference, but HTML for the World Wide Web will make those first few pages painless and easy.
Rating:
Summary: Not reading this book costs hours in tinker time.
Review: I like to tinker around with new codes to see if I can learn their pattern or logic before reading. This time it backfired on me. Several places I could have saved time from rewriting and designing the site were pointed out in this book. The most glaring (and I hate to admit it) boo boo was pointed out on page 41 where it says that word processors have a "save as html" option and do not use it. The code kept disappearing on me and I thought it was either bad syntax or a bad word processor. It never dawned on me that this option was for converting word documents to html. I like Her attitude about using the individual html descriptors in place of CSS. It makes more sense to have the control need the object. CSS has a COBOL attitude in having everything laid out in a section separate form the code. Bottom line html is the lowest common denominator and can be used in any situation. And this book is the clearest on how and why to use it.
Rating:
Summary: Not sorry I bought it
Review: First I would like to say that the 384 pages could have been reduced to maybe 200. Cold not figure out why they would only fill half the page with tiny little print. Alot of the pages had exampiles next to the tpye which may have something to do with it. I would like to say that this is a beginner book but I can't 100%. I was realy vage and to the point but left out alot. It asumes you know what they are talking about so some parts you would have to have a HTML background. It does ot go it great detail. I have been righting HTML for over 4 years now and I was confused on some of the stuff they talked about. A good book and I would buy it again if I had to, but don't make this your only HTML book in your library or you will be left with less than the best web pages.
Rating:
Summary: Great for beginners!
Review: I am currently taking an introductory HTML class as a part of the "language skills" requirement of my Master's degree in archives and records management. My classes deal mainly with history and business and I have almost no programming experience whatsoever. Castro's book was recommended by the instructor as a supplement to our main readings, though not required. I decided to give it a look and am extremely glad I did. It is clear, concise, and packed with examples and illustrations. I found it to be a better guide/resource than our assigned reading, "HTML: the Definitive Guide". I recommend it without reservation - provided it is linked to some sort of formal instruction (such as a class). HTML is tough stuff for a novice - no book will give you all the answers. However, "HTML for the WWW" is a great resource to refer to while writing code and composing Web pages.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to HTML
Review: As an HTML instructor I used this book as a supplement to our corporate training materials. I found the explanations clear and straightforward, the examples useful, and the reference material helpful. It is a practical, useful guide that can help you quickly and efficiently design a website.
| 
