Rating: 
Summary: Inadequate and badly designed
Review: The more critical reviews here are on target. This book is a great example of vile design -- neither visually nor functionally strong. It is easily 30% more bulky than it needs to be (and probably twice as costly). The reason? The authors and designers want you to think you're getting something you aren't. What everybody wants with Flash 5 is a thorough and methodical account of Actionscripting. This book does provide some great examples by outstanding Flash people. But ultimately, it's like the huge box that arrives. You pry it open and inside it's mostly straw. Yes, there are some gems in there, but given the number of web sites that explain many of the same things.
Rating: 
Summary: Near Perfect
Review: The philosophy in this book is meandering and tangential at best. I am not interested in hearing about designer's favorite colors, their blood type, their dreams - - - I am interested in seeing a dissection of their work from a functional and technological point of view. Rather than a bio on the author, I'd prefer a bio of the POINT of the work. Mastery of Flash, to me, is reinventing the rotating 3D junk and making it useful. That needs to be addressed foremost in any flash book. These people *DID* cut through the fat. . . but rather than hearing them wax philosophic, I'd prefer to hear the practicalities of the applications.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and Informative
Review: The tutorials and explanations are extremely helpful. But what I found the most informative and inspiring were the methodologies, insights and viewpoints these visionary designers use when conceptualizing flash projects. Rather than wanting to copy their work, you develop a synergy into your own projects and that is truly powerful. The book is beautifully done and worth every penny, I also recommend hilman curtis's book. My fav designer in the book is eric jordan.
Rating: 
Summary: D I S S A P O I N T M E N T
Review: These guys (and one girl) should stick to Flash design and keep as far from writing informative text as possible. All of the things the show are watered down versions of what is on their websites and their very cryptic when it comes to re-creating their work...so we don't learn anything that you can't find tutorials on the web for. Their writing is more about their personal visions than anything solid we can grasp and make use of. This book is nothing more than a "I'm better than you...ha ha ha...oh but here's some table scraps for you to chew on so you don't realize I just pick pocketed you." Designers tend to be overly insecure, protecting what they feel is their holy grail of knowledge like the guards at Fort Knox. This book is a great example of that insecurity on steroids. We will all be better off once world class designers realize that they have a vision that can't be consistently duplicated, therefore sharing their techniques elevate the craft...and everyone wins. These 19 designers are the definition of insecurity.
Rating: 
Summary: They might, but you won't.
Review: They could well be the masters but as far as you and me, we won't be from reading this book. To me, there is only about 30% of content really worth reading and learning. Everything else is just plain useless towards the above average designers. Beginners will find quite a few good, eye popping, "wow" sort instant effect. But with lack of a certain level of art direction in the book, you still can't design a good Flash, and I have seen the effect on some people's site already (like a poorly mixed Ministry of Sound CD). Joshua Davis is one talented Flash creator, but unfortunately he only contributed so little at the end of the book,... And the CD is just okay.
Rating:
Summary: The title says it all!
Review: This book gathers the best flash designers from around the world and throw their secrets into a 500 page book. I have been using flash for over a year now and have been looking for inspiration, I think I've found it. Did you ever wonder... "How did they do that?" Well here is your answer. I have every flash book you can imagine, and I am very impressed with 'New Masters of Flash'. This book is nothing like an intro to the basics, it expects you to have a strong hold of certain actionscripting. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational, but not Technical
Review: This book is a great Flash 5 coffee table book. I am glad that the artists featured within the book are able to obtain exposure for their creative work, however, that is the only plus of the book. The book reviews various flash artists, however, the book does not go into any detail in regards to technical instructions of creating progressive Flash media. I did enjoy reading the book, however, I am looking forward to the release of Flash 5 Studio, and Foundation Actionscript by the same publisher in Jan. and Feb. of 2001. I have a feeling that the release of those books will contain a vast amount of technical information that many experimental designers are craving for.
Rating:
Summary: Overall, wonderfull inspiration to advanced flashers
Review: This book is for those Flashers who know practically everything about Flash. I would say this book is the door to "Flash heaven". If you don't know Flash at an advanced level, you'll be more confused than a duck. The authors in this book talk about their companies, webpages,goals, and inspirations. The lessons featured in this book are VERY abridged which means you get only a drop of rainfall. But the point of this book is not for learning Flash. It's more like using Flash on an emotion level and the authors explain their concepts on how they want to affect other people with Flash. If you know Flash to the max, this book would be the last book you'd probably want to read. It really ties in Flash with the real world. Overall, an awesome book and very interesting to learn about what the famous web designers are thinking and some of the methods they use in their Flash projects.
Rating:
Summary: Not meant as a tutorial
Review: This book is the best book on flash art(ists), I've seen. It is definetly not a good tutorial book, but what counts are the ideas and the inspiration that come with it. Of course the files and tutrials in it are helpful, but what is more important, this book gives you an idea what it takes to convert your own ideas into a flash movie.
Rating:
Summary: Showcase, yes; Tutorial, No
Review: This book presents some beautiful applications of the Flash product. However, you will not be able to duplicate their results based on the brief explanations of how they were accomplished, unless you are quite advanced yourself. More than half of the fla source files are not included on the CD-ROM, only the final swf product.
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