[thelist] RE: trusted computer book publishers

[Rosalie Sennett]

I think the Osborne/McGraw Hill books are targeted toward a kind of midline
user.  My books from that publisher are from when I've been in the position
where I'm managing people who are doing geekier stuff than I need to know
about. However, I still need to understand and speak much of their language.
I just don't have to do it. Hence, the "Complete Reference" series and the
"Demystified" (of which I own none) series.

The O'Reilly books are for people who are gonna use the thing. They also
assume you are qualified to use whatever it is the book is about.  In other
words, O/M books will try to teach a five year old to drive a stick shift...
O'Reilly books are written on the premise that you're old enough to drive.
;-)

Often too, with O'Reilly books the inventor or creator of the subject is the
author. Subsequent books are written by their disciples, (this can be a
double edged sword, certainly) like in the case of perl. Randal Schwartz and
Larry Wall wrote the first two Learning and Programming in perl
respectively. And Laura Lemay wrote the perl book for Sams (a 21 day thing)
she's a technical writer, with lots of experience explaining stuff, who's
HTML books I adored in the 1990's.  I've never made it through one of those
21 days books for anything... takes too long. Although I know many C and C++
programmers who have Java in 21 days on their shelves from way back in the
day... when their first Java program was due in 22 days. <g>

Best thing I think for you to do is to spend the day at the bookstore and
pick a subject. Then crack open and read every book from every publisher on
that one subject. You'll get a feel for who they print from that. You'll
also start to see who has templates and what their writing restrictions are.
Some, you'll notice are quite formulaic.

And... there is nothing wrong with those "Dummies" books. Some GENIUS
thought that up and I can't say anything bad about a ZILLION dollar idea...
that I really wish I'd thought of first!  

rose

 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------
"All my life I've wanted to be somebody; I see now I should have been more
specific."
 - Lily Tomlin
> -----Original Message-----
> From: thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org [mailto:thelist-
> bounces at lists.evolt.org] On Behalf Of Steven Streight
> Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 4:03 PM
> To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
> Subject: [thelist] RE: trusted computer book publishers
> 
> I have several computer book ideas that I want to
> write proposals for and shop around--without an agent.
> 
> Now maybe someone can assist me in one particular.
> 
> What computer book publishers do you trust, admire,
> and value the most. Their books are reliable,
> accurate, practical, extremely authoritative, and
> comprehensive in treatment of subjects.
> 
> And which ones do you feel less confident about?
> 
> No harsh put downs, unless overwhelmingly warranted,
> please.
> 
> I find I favor Osborne/McGraw Hill, largely due to
> Thomas Powell's WEB DESIGN book, which was the first
> web book I bought. (First read was Nielsen's DESIGNING
> WEB USABILITY).
> 
> I also like New Riders.
> 
> I'm wondering what opinions are out there on such
> publishers as O'Reilly, Manning, etc.
> 
> Of course, I avoid any book with "Idiot" or "For
> Dummies" or "___________ for Brain Dead Drug Addled
> Piece of Work Nincompoops Who Are Exceptionally
> Retarded and Can't Understand Anything At All"
> 
> Thanks a lot. I value any input I receive.
> 
> Not titles of books this time.
> 
> Just publishers please.
> 
> 
> =====
> Steven Streight
> Web Usability Analyst/Content Writer
> 
> http://www.vaspersthegrate.blogspot.com
> http://www.streightsite.blogspot.com
> http://www.arttestexplosion.blogspot.com
> EMAIL: vaspersthegrate at yahoo.com
> 
> 
> 
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