Rating: 
Summary: solid info on advanced scripting concepts
Review: These days there aren't many books out that deal exclusively with ActionScript. There's one from Colin Mook which I like, and the couple others that are out there aren't that impressive. This one isn't worth it's weight in gold but I still find it quite valuable because each chapter is written by a different author, and each of them really seems to know what they're talking about. Assuming that you know your way around Flash, this one won't waste your time going over the usual basics. At times it's a bit difficult to find your way around the sample files, but I'm learning so much just from dissecting them, and the chapters in the book explain reasonably well what's going on. Book looks a bit cheap, but then again, it's not like I'm gonna be using it much once the next version of Flash hits the shelves...
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat helpful, overall a waste of pulp...
Review: This book is hit and miss. Some chapters provide very useful information and reference, such as the physics modeling, while others seem to act as filler material. The subject XML and Flash, for example, can easily be found in greater depth on the net. Other chapters provide somewhat useful examples, but certainly not worth the paper they were printed on.Another problem with this book is that most of the ActionScript is useless if you're coding with Flash MX. The chapter on using widgets, for example, is pointless, as Flash MX is now a functional OOP environment. Although the examples in the book give a general idea of advanced ActionScript--it's really geared for Flash 5--and a great deal of Flash 5 ActionScript has been replaced (depreciated). Becuase the book is also from different authors, the writing is a bit hit and miss as well. One chapter, "Flash Interface Design", fills pages of code and screenshots, but fails to reveal the logic behind the code, or exactly how the code works at all. Instead, I'm left to hunt through the flash file on my own, and that's something I don't need a book for. I think this has been a very popular book in the past, but with the release of Flash MX as well as the overall lack of effort on the authors part to make this more digestable, I would not recommend purchasing this book--borrow it if you need to.
Rating: 
Summary: Met the Need
Review: Usually when I buy a book of this nature I like to sit down and read a couple of pages first. I went to Borders last week looking for a book on Flash and XML. There were numerous books with those words in their title and after reading a few and finding none that my mind could get a handle on I scanned the shelves. I eyes saw this flashy cover and name and decided to browse through it. To my surprise I found the portion on XML and flash very helpful. I ended up walking out the store with this book under my arm. I have not read the other chapters with the math sections in them and might never get round to doing it. I think the sound and 3D sections will be very useful.
Rating:
Summary: A designer turned scripter writes...
Review: When I bought this book about a month ago I wasn't so into actionscripting. Now that i've read all the juicy bits, i realize all the cool things i've been missing - i feel like i've wasted so much time! The chapter by Eric Dolecki on system architecture is stuff that i couldn't have imagined even needing to know just a few months ago. This book has taught me a lot! On a slightly negative side, if there has to be one, i'm not sure what level it's aimed at. It was good for me because i had the basics of AS down, but if you don't know any scripting i'd keep away for now and start with something more basic.
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