Rating: 
Summary: A true gem...
Review: Diamonds are carbon that has been compressed in the high temperatures and pressures found far below the earth's crust in a region called the upper mantle. Because of their beauty and rarity diamonds are highly valued. Now imagine that a stack of specifications related to XML, the eXtensible Markup Language, is our carbon and that two gentlemen, Aaron Skonnard and Martin Gudgin, play the role of the upper mantle. The result would be Essential XML Quick Reference. This gem of a XML reference (sorry, couldn't help myself) is definitely worth having if you are working with XML.The book presents reference material from the following specifications: XML 1.0 and Namespaces
DTDs
XPath 1.0
XPointer, XInclude, and XML Base
XSLT 1.0
SAX 2.0
DOM Level 2
XML Schema
SOAP 1.1 Each chapter has a brief introduction and then it dives right into the reference material. The reference text is accompanied by concrete examples that illustrate how the item is used. The SAX 2.0 and DOM Level 2 chapters provide code examples in Java and Visual Basic. All the topics are solidly covered but I thought that the sections on XSLT, Schemas, and XPath to be a cut above. The XPath chapter I found to be especially good. It contains diagrams that provide examples of the XPath tree structure, document order, node string-values, and how axes work, along with first-rate examples of how the elements of XPath work. While the book is aimed at being a reference it can be used, to some extent, as a tutorial on the various topics. I certainly found this to be true of the XPath chapter. I am also aware of people stating that they have used this book in a tutorial fashion to prep for the IBM XML certification test. So, what's not to like? Very little. Since SOAP was covered I think it would have been nice to have had a section on WSDL (Web Service Description Language). There are also a few typos here and there but they don't detract from the information that is being conveyed. This book is a sparkling reference for XML and related technologies.
Rating: 
Summary: It is really just a quick reference!!
Review: Don't expect anything else or you will be dissapointed. I got some
quick reference cards that are free for download that contain basicly
the same information!
There are some code snippets and some explanitory
lines of text, but nothing that helps you understand how the different
XML constructs really work - unless you already know it and just can't
remember the name, but this is what I have code-completion in my editor for. I would have hoped for some recipies that solve
typical problems that augment the pure reference style listing, but there's nothing like that. For me as an XML beginner this book is not very usefull and I doubt it is for a experienced developer.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful reference, useable and complete
Review: Good computer reference books are really very rare. When I do find one, I gratefully use it all the time. This is one of those rare gems! It consists of a comprehensive but very concise summary, in reference form, of the various W3C standards documents for XML - more readable than the latter, but still pretty dense. What makes this book awesome, though, are the code samples. Each entry is illustrated with one or two bits of simple XML. It doesn't take long to 'get' one of these examples, and as soon as you do, the light bulb goes on and you understand what the textual definition, in its precise but dry fashion, is trying to convey. Addision-Wesley has put out some clunkers recently, but they have my applause for this one. It has been well edited and the layout is superb: the right things stand out in the right places. It's surprisingly compact for the quantity of information contained, has an excellent binding, and even feels good to hold in your hand (no kidding!).
Rating: 
Summary: A good book for those wanting a reference or to learn XML
Review: I got this because I didn't know XML. After reading only a few chapters, I'm now whipping out powerful and flexible XML like it's nothing! My only complaint about this book is that a lot of the code examples are in Java and VB (two languages I detest). Some examples in Python, Perl, C, or C++ would have been awesome. After reading the reviews for the other XML books, my personal experience, and from what people have told me, this is the book to get.
Rating:
Summary: Good even as no-nonsense overview
Review: I was looking for a concise, no-nonsense book about the various XML technologies, including XPath, XSLT, and schemas. Although this book is billed as a reference, it was also a quick way to get up to speed on these ideas, without having to skim hundreds of pages of hype. The schema reference does not have as complete an overview as the other chapters, or I would have given 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Essential and Quick XML
Review: I've passed IBM's exam 141 "XML and related technologies" using this one. It covers about 90% of the material you need for the exam. Having in mind comparatevely low passing score, this book may be your only source for the preparation. Well written with well designed examples.
Rating:
Summary: Essential quick reference for any serious XML developer
Review: If you are an XML developer and need a quick reference manual to the myriad of XML technologies, look no further. All of the bases are covered: XML, DTD, XPath, XSLT, Schemas, SOAP, SAX, DOM. This book is now #1 on my list when I go looking for XML information. The authors truly know their stuff. Aaron and Martin are both instructors for DevelopMentor's SUPERB Guerrilla XML class (BTW...if you are looking to learn XML, I highly recommend this DevelopMentor class without reservation).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent when you just need a reminder
Review: In my home office, there is a special shelf within reach of my desk where I place those select books that are in highest demand. After I completed reading this one, it went right to that shelf. While the explanations are short, they are detailed enough to be useful and the coverage is complete. Code examples are used to illustrate most of the commands and they are well-constructed, succinct without being simple. You will not learn the components of XML by reading this book. However, if your need is for a reference that is a reminder, then this is the book for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: Is this a teaching book or a reference book? It is too advanced for teaching beginner XML. The examples are OK, but badly presented for teaching advanced XML. On the other hand it is incomplete as a reference book, for example the treatment of both schema and parsers are too sketchy. I feel the book lacks a target group and thus falls between too many stools.
Rating:
Summary: easy to use and very useful
Review: Keeping in mind that this is a "quick" reference, this book is organised well and very easy to use. When learning XML I had it by my side many times and almost always found what I was looking for. My only comment for improvement would be a more comprehensive index and maybe some a more suitable cover design (I am constantly pointing people to the text on the cover in order to convice them this is a book about XML).
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