R. Tishkevich said
If you're starting out with JavaScript for the first time, as most dummies book readers probably are, do NOT buy this one. I don't understand how the editors of the company could allow such a complex, incoherent book to be described as one for dummies [beginners]. The only people whom I think would benefit are those who are already somewhat proficient in JavaScript. In sum, the author knows his subject matter but doesn't have a clue when it comes to communicating. This happens all too often in the world of software, where programmers who become authors, have no idea how to communicate with non-programmers [beginners].
The author committs a classic error when writing about topics he knows inside out. He assumes the reader understands and/or is familiar with a wide array of JavaScript related concepts that are of course 2nd nature to him. So instead of starting out with the absolute basics of JavaScript, explaining them, and progressing accordingly in an organized manner, he quickly jumps into somewhat complex programming concepts and procedures. I found his scattered approach confusing and hard to follow.
To compound the classic error described above, he states that each element of the scripts he uses as examples, will be explained in detail, but that didn't always happen.
I'm fairly experienced with programming, but after reading the first three chapters I gave up and moved onto a much better book for people new to JavaScript.
art girl said
I can't give a full review yet as I just bought this book, but other buyers should know that there's a printing error throughout the book. There's a double caret symbol in the code examples that should be double quotes instead. I was frustrated that my first attempts at writing javascript weren't working, and was relieved to find it wasn't me. A quick search online lead me to the author's page, where he mentions this error. My first Dummies book, and I was thinking I was an idiot. Onward!
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