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on May 16, 2016
I originally gave this book 1 star because of the outrageous number of errors. I spent an hour going through the website's Errata trying to make all the corrections. However, even many of the corrections are murky, directing you to download updated code examples that don't exist. The author seems to have left this book for dead, even providing a dead email address on the website. The last straw was when my copy started falling apart...
Update: I was so disappointed with the quality of this book that I called the publisher (Wiley) to complain. They confirmed my issues and said that they were issuing free replacements of the book. In my case, having purchased from Amazon, they said I would have to go through the Seller, which I did. The seller ended up issuing me a full refund.
I re-purchased the latest printing of the book at Barnes & Noble and can report that all the errors have been corrected and the binding issue seems to have been resolved. So...
My warning to you is to avoid purchasing this book from Amazon, because you will not be able know if you have an older version with the above issues or a newer version without the issues.
That being said, I now give this book 4 stars. It is very thorough in explaining JavaScript in detail. My only two complaints are:
(1) the lack of any exercises to re-enforce the material; you read something then move on to the next subject. A lot of the material didn't "stick" without a way to re-enforce the concepts.
(2) I felt the book lacked real-world insights about JavaScript. For example, the newer .querySelector() is far superior and more flexible than .getElementById() or .getElementsByClassName(), but all were described matter-of-factly, without any descrimination. It was left up to you to figure out when or why, all things being equal, to use one over the other.
Finally, if you already have a good grasp of JavaScript, this book is a very good reference.
Update: I was so disappointed with the quality of this book that I called the publisher (Wiley) to complain. They confirmed my issues and said that they were issuing free replacements of the book. In my case, having purchased from Amazon, they said I would have to go through the Seller, which I did. The seller ended up issuing me a full refund.
I re-purchased the latest printing of the book at Barnes & Noble and can report that all the errors have been corrected and the binding issue seems to have been resolved. So...
My warning to you is to avoid purchasing this book from Amazon, because you will not be able know if you have an older version with the above issues or a newer version without the issues.
That being said, I now give this book 4 stars. It is very thorough in explaining JavaScript in detail. My only two complaints are:
(1) the lack of any exercises to re-enforce the material; you read something then move on to the next subject. A lot of the material didn't "stick" without a way to re-enforce the concepts.
(2) I felt the book lacked real-world insights about JavaScript. For example, the newer .querySelector() is far superior and more flexible than .getElementById() or .getElementsByClassName(), but all were described matter-of-factly, without any descrimination. It was left up to you to figure out when or why, all things being equal, to use one over the other.
Finally, if you already have a good grasp of JavaScript, this book is a very good reference.
on July 14, 2014
I received the book last week and already found myself lost into it. I have the HTML & CSS book as well; these books are great references for any level of coding. I took a 10 week Front-End Web Development course from General Assembly and it was pretty rough, I had no coding experience at all and struggled through the JavaScript portion. This book is amazing, it offers great illustrations of all codes and the results. I've read a handful of coding books and by far this one of the best, if not the best. I would say this would be close to a magazine if anything, just the format itself is gorgeous, it's not heavy on the text like other books and everything is color-coordinated so you can easily follow along. If you hate reading lengthy, lackluster coding books, then is the book for you. Definitely worth the investment!
on July 4, 2014
I've studied Javascript in classes and on my own with other resources, and this book is definitely one of the best, clearest resources for understanding the language. It covers all the core elements clearly, and gradually adds more layers to what's being taught, which is especially important since so many people I know are overwhelmed with how complicated the language can be at times.
The only downside, as I thought, is that there's a LOT to cover. One already needs a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, and then these are two more closely-connected languages that need to be covered. So it takes commitment and persistence to really get the language down. If you have that, though, this is one of the best ways to learn the language outside of a classroom.
The only downside, as I thought, is that there's a LOT to cover. One already needs a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, and then these are two more closely-connected languages that need to be covered. So it takes commitment and persistence to really get the language down. If you have that, though, this is one of the best ways to learn the language outside of a classroom.
on April 11, 2016
First off the content of this book is GREAT! However, the binding is HORRIBLE!! I have had this book for 4 months and it has totally fallen apart. I didn't even use the book until 2 months ago. This is the worst binding I have ever seen. The pages just keep falling out. I have a final exam in a month and a book that is clipped together. Not cool. I would not buy a paperback version of this book again.
on December 6, 2014
We recently started using this book at Portland Code School after several of our students recommended it to us. Their copies are dog-eared and infused with post-it flags.
This introductory information is available literally everywhere on the web and the question you have to ask is, "Why bother with a physical book?" The answer to that question is simply to experience the hardcover version of this book.
It's beautiful. Inviting. Its page layout and graphic design tell you that you are embarked upon something professional and yet easy to learn. The text is written with a simplicity that doesn't talk down to the reader. This book is clear in its explanations and yet comprehensive in its coverage of the subject. As much as I love the "Head First" series of books, some times they are too precious. This book is just as inviting, but it condenses the information and covers a lot of ground.
At first I was concerned that, like some coffee table books, the coating on the pages showed finger prints. I didn't want to mar the excellent presentation. But, as I continue to use it, revisiting pages and reviewing elements of the language, I started to view them as footprints in the snow -- reassurance that I had been here before and already knew something about the subject. They were one of the many ways I can track my progress.
There will come a time that I don't visit these pages as often, as always happens with introductory books to technical subjects. And, I will also buy an ebook version of this when it's available so I can track along with my students without having to carry paper around as they experience and enjoy the textbook for the first time.
But I will continue to recommend this, as a physical book, to students of JavaScript.
This introductory information is available literally everywhere on the web and the question you have to ask is, "Why bother with a physical book?" The answer to that question is simply to experience the hardcover version of this book.
It's beautiful. Inviting. Its page layout and graphic design tell you that you are embarked upon something professional and yet easy to learn. The text is written with a simplicity that doesn't talk down to the reader. This book is clear in its explanations and yet comprehensive in its coverage of the subject. As much as I love the "Head First" series of books, some times they are too precious. This book is just as inviting, but it condenses the information and covers a lot of ground.
At first I was concerned that, like some coffee table books, the coating on the pages showed finger prints. I didn't want to mar the excellent presentation. But, as I continue to use it, revisiting pages and reviewing elements of the language, I started to view them as footprints in the snow -- reassurance that I had been here before and already knew something about the subject. They were one of the many ways I can track my progress.
There will come a time that I don't visit these pages as often, as always happens with introductory books to technical subjects. And, I will also buy an ebook version of this when it's available so I can track along with my students without having to carry paper around as they experience and enjoy the textbook for the first time.
But I will continue to recommend this, as a physical book, to students of JavaScript.
on September 7, 2014
Summary first: This book presumes some knowledge of HTML & CSS (look up Duckett' preceding book if necessary), and introduces main elements of Javascript adequate for basic web-design projects, with no claims to comprehensiveness, and it's certainly a success in that respect.
PRESENTATION: Impressive. Looks more like a Wired issue than your typical introductory programming/scripting book, as the latter usually try to fit as much information as possible into limited space, which makes pragmatic sense, but makes you not want to pick up the book and proceed. This book uses space liberally, sacrificing limited space (~600 pages + index) for readability ( devoting an entire page to the diagram of a for loop for instance), using very large fonts for summaries, etc.
The design is elegant, and also well-thought: Different text colors, italics etc, are fully employed to make newly introduced syntax easier to comprehend. All code sinppets are included in blue boxes clearly separated from the text, where necessary, javascript and html codes are presented side-by-side. For every method / syntax introduced, browser compatibility is given in a table, and more compatible alternatives offered when necessry.
SCOPE: As a corollary of the presentation approach, the scope is limited, albeit sensibly. The book aims to present JavaScript to the extent that it can be employed in basic web design, without trying to present the language in its entire functionality, as such important concepts/aspects are left out (Regular expressions, for instance). Also, HTML and CSS are NOT covered in the book(they're covered in Duckett's preceding book "HTML and CSS", prequel to this one), JQuery, Ajax & JSON are covered in a total of 150 pages, providing a decent, sensible introduction only.
COMPARISON/SUGGESTIONS: If you want a more comprehensive guide at hand, consider getting Flanagan's "Javascript: The Definitive Guide", or an equivalent. If you want a more compelling and detailed approach to the language, supplement this book with "Eloquent Javascript", a book available, free of charge, online.
ONLINE SUPPLEMENTATION: True to its claim, all code presented in the book are available online for bulk-download.
Table of Content (CHAPTERS): 1 The ABC of Programming / 2 Basic JS Instructions / 3 Functions, Methods, Objects / 4 Decisions & Loops / 5 DOM / 6 Events / 7 JQuery / 8 Ajax & JSON / 9 APIs / 10 Error Handling & Debugging / 11 Content Panels / 12 Filtering, Searching & Sorting / 13 Form Enhancement & Validation / Index
DURABILITY (WHENCE THE MISSING STAR DERIVES): I've read the entire book on the same bookholder & desk very gently, and still ended up with every page detached from the spine. (For comparison, other books I've read with the same method look almost unused). It's sad to see such a horrible spine/binding chosen for a book when so much care has obviously gone into its composition and design. Hope they revise the spine in future editions.
PRESENTATION: Impressive. Looks more like a Wired issue than your typical introductory programming/scripting book, as the latter usually try to fit as much information as possible into limited space, which makes pragmatic sense, but makes you not want to pick up the book and proceed. This book uses space liberally, sacrificing limited space (~600 pages + index) for readability ( devoting an entire page to the diagram of a for loop for instance), using very large fonts for summaries, etc.
The design is elegant, and also well-thought: Different text colors, italics etc, are fully employed to make newly introduced syntax easier to comprehend. All code sinppets are included in blue boxes clearly separated from the text, where necessary, javascript and html codes are presented side-by-side. For every method / syntax introduced, browser compatibility is given in a table, and more compatible alternatives offered when necessry.
SCOPE: As a corollary of the presentation approach, the scope is limited, albeit sensibly. The book aims to present JavaScript to the extent that it can be employed in basic web design, without trying to present the language in its entire functionality, as such important concepts/aspects are left out (Regular expressions, for instance). Also, HTML and CSS are NOT covered in the book(they're covered in Duckett's preceding book "HTML and CSS", prequel to this one), JQuery, Ajax & JSON are covered in a total of 150 pages, providing a decent, sensible introduction only.
COMPARISON/SUGGESTIONS: If you want a more comprehensive guide at hand, consider getting Flanagan's "Javascript: The Definitive Guide", or an equivalent. If you want a more compelling and detailed approach to the language, supplement this book with "Eloquent Javascript", a book available, free of charge, online.
ONLINE SUPPLEMENTATION: True to its claim, all code presented in the book are available online for bulk-download.
Table of Content (CHAPTERS): 1 The ABC of Programming / 2 Basic JS Instructions / 3 Functions, Methods, Objects / 4 Decisions & Loops / 5 DOM / 6 Events / 7 JQuery / 8 Ajax & JSON / 9 APIs / 10 Error Handling & Debugging / 11 Content Panels / 12 Filtering, Searching & Sorting / 13 Form Enhancement & Validation / Index
DURABILITY (WHENCE THE MISSING STAR DERIVES): I've read the entire book on the same bookholder & desk very gently, and still ended up with every page detached from the spine. (For comparison, other books I've read with the same method look almost unused). It's sad to see such a horrible spine/binding chosen for a book when so much care has obviously gone into its composition and design. Hope they revise the spine in future editions.
on October 21, 2014
UPDATE: I had a spiral binding put on my book for less than $4 at Office Depot and the book is better than how it first arrived. It looks better, the functionality of page turning is better, and most importantly...no more loose chunks of pages threatening to break free. Honestly, I think Wiley should recall all of the paperback books and offer this type of fix or send them out like this for free as this binding issue is the only problem this book has and is no fault of the authors! Excellent book made better by having to spend more money to fix the publishers lack of quality! Buy this book and just immediately take it to have a binding put on it and you will not have any problems, trust me!
The binding is complete JUNK, but the content is excellent! As most others have stated, the binding just comes apart as you flip pages. It's so bad that you can just spot parts of the book that look like they are getting ready to come loose at any moment. My book has a section about 50 or so pages that just separated towards the front of the book. It literally is a section that detached from the binding but both sections are still within the same binding, with the smaller one kind of flapping around. I had to purchase some binding adhesive to get it to stay down so it didn't worsen. This is from my first time to really sit down and work through the book! Aside from that, the content is spectacular and I have learned a ton in the first 250 pages so far. Definitely recommend this book but the quality coming from the publisher is disappointing and embarrassing.
The binding is complete JUNK, but the content is excellent! As most others have stated, the binding just comes apart as you flip pages. It's so bad that you can just spot parts of the book that look like they are getting ready to come loose at any moment. My book has a section about 50 or so pages that just separated towards the front of the book. It literally is a section that detached from the binding but both sections are still within the same binding, with the smaller one kind of flapping around. I had to purchase some binding adhesive to get it to stay down so it didn't worsen. This is from my first time to really sit down and work through the book! Aside from that, the content is spectacular and I have learned a ton in the first 250 pages so far. Definitely recommend this book but the quality coming from the publisher is disappointing and embarrassing.
on October 27, 2014
If you've seen or used this author's previous book, "HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites", you know exactly what to expect from this one. The formatting is beautiful, as is the design of the information being conveyed to you. The first book was a required textbook for a Web Design course I took last year, and I found it so helpful and easy to learn from that I couldn't help but buy this one as soon as it came out.
As far as the actual information and quality of information, both books provide insight into both the languages themselves and how to code with them, but also what the uses and applications are for what you're learning. There are several chapters dedicated to higher level development practices that go beyond simply writing code and focus on better design and efficiency on projects as a whole.
Big thumbs up from me, a very good choice for anyone looking to self-study these two languages.
As far as the actual information and quality of information, both books provide insight into both the languages themselves and how to code with them, but also what the uses and applications are for what you're learning. There are several chapters dedicated to higher level development practices that go beyond simply writing code and focus on better design and efficiency on projects as a whole.
Big thumbs up from me, a very good choice for anyone looking to self-study these two languages.
TOP 500 REVIEWERon December 17, 2015
I really like how this book presents the material. I find it much more "fun" to read and learn this way. It's a good beginners book for someone who already knows some HTML and CSS.
Rather than rehash many of the items in other comments, I'm just going to give the thoughts that I feel are most important for my personal review:
* The physical book and page quality is quite good but I find that some of the pages, especially the darker ones are fingerprint and oil magnets. Some reviewers complains of poor quality in that the book is falling apart, but my paperback book is fine. I suspect those people got a defective book and hopefully have received a free replacement.
* There are some technical issues in the book, but not a great number... though it would have been better if they author had checked all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a program like CSE HTML Validator to find some of these issues. One issue that comes to mind is where after() should have been used instead of append().
* Instead of http links the book and examples should use https where supported because I ran into issues with browsers not loading http content when I put it on my webserver which forces https... or at least it should use protocol relative links. I had to manually edit several files to change the links. Example: change "<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" to "<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" Notice the protocol relative link that stars with "//" instead of "http://".
* There are some minor grammar issues, but not a lot.
* This is not an exhaustive reference on JavaScript, so don't expect that. Also, as other reviews have mentioned, there's nothing on prototypes.
Because of the above I'm deducting 1/2 a star... so 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5.
It's a very good book overall.... and I recommend it even though it's not perfect (what is?).
Rather than rehash many of the items in other comments, I'm just going to give the thoughts that I feel are most important for my personal review:
* The physical book and page quality is quite good but I find that some of the pages, especially the darker ones are fingerprint and oil magnets. Some reviewers complains of poor quality in that the book is falling apart, but my paperback book is fine. I suspect those people got a defective book and hopefully have received a free replacement.
* There are some technical issues in the book, but not a great number... though it would have been better if they author had checked all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a program like CSE HTML Validator to find some of these issues. One issue that comes to mind is where after() should have been used instead of append().
* Instead of http links the book and examples should use https where supported because I ran into issues with browsers not loading http content when I put it on my webserver which forces https... or at least it should use protocol relative links. I had to manually edit several files to change the links. Example: change "<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" to "<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" Notice the protocol relative link that stars with "//" instead of "http://".
* There are some minor grammar issues, but not a lot.
* This is not an exhaustive reference on JavaScript, so don't expect that. Also, as other reviews have mentioned, there's nothing on prototypes.
Because of the above I'm deducting 1/2 a star... so 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5.
It's a very good book overall.... and I recommend it even though it's not perfect (what is?).
