David
10th Sep 2004, 08:51 am
Just thought I'd give you my opinion on a few web-related books I've read over the summer. Perhaps others might like to do the same:
Weaving the Web (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587990180/026-4741318-4014825) - Tim Berners Lee
The first thing to say about this book is that it is essential reading for everyone on the Website Architecture programme. The second thing to say is that it is not the best written of books. The content, however, more than justifies the effort.
Essentially, the book gives a first-hand account of the development of the web. The first half (or so) focusses on the work done while T B-L was at CERN and developments shortly after that, including the setting up of the W3C. This is essentially an interesting history lesson and it constantly amazed me how recent were the events he described. The latter part of the book covers T B-L's thoughts on the current state of the web (this book was published in 2000 and is already showing its age) and his hopes for the future. A lot of this latter part is very interesting and looks at the impact of the web on society and politics. If he is right, the future of the web could be amazing.
What I found most interesting is that it is easy to post-rationalise the development of the web. T B-L asserts that the "grand vision" was there almost from the start. Frankly I find that hard to believe and am more of the opinion that he was the right person in the right place at the right time. This is not to do him a disservice, on the contrary, I have great respect for the way he dedicated himself to its development with no intent for the massive financial gain he might have expected.
Tim Berners-Lee is a true idealist. Thank goodness that the job of inventing the web fell to him and not to someone with less integrity. Respect.
Building Your Business with Google (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764571435/026-4741318-4014825) for Dummies - Brad Hill
Despite my reservations about the "Dummies" series of books, this is excellent. I would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone who is planning to enter the Google AdWords or AdSense programmes. Although a lot of the book is just good old common sense, it is all logical, well explained and easily understood.
This book was published in July 2004 and at the time of writing (2 months after publication), some of the details in the book are already out of date because Google are still changing the rules. For example, the book states that only one ad block per page is allowed. While that was true up until a few weeks ago, Google recently changed that to allow up to 3 ad blocks per page. Nevertheless, this is an excellent book and providing it is read in conjunction with Googles changing terms and conditions, it will serve you well.
Device (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3931126862/026-4741318-4014825) - Rian Hughes
Rian Hughes is a graphic designer. You have probably seen his work many times although you may not know the name. His work includes advertising for Swatch, magazine covers for Love & Rockets and cartoon strips in the Guardian amongst many other things. His work is often referred to as "vector art" and just about everything he does is created using Adobe Illustrator. This is not a reading book, it's a looking book. It is also a beautiful book to hold. It is a great visual reference for contemporary graphic design.
Lingua Universalis: Global Wordless Understanding (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3899550331/026-4741318-4014825) - Mutabor
Stuck for an idea for a new icon on your website? Consult this book. Lingua Universalis is a collection of recent work by the German graphic design house Mutabor. Their work is exemplary and German to the core. The book contains hundreds of pictograms, all of which are instantly understandable. It is breathtaking how much complex information they are able to convey by the simplest of graphics. Their illustrative artwork isn't bad either. This is a beautiful book and an essential reference for all designers.
Weaving the Web (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587990180/026-4741318-4014825) - Tim Berners Lee
The first thing to say about this book is that it is essential reading for everyone on the Website Architecture programme. The second thing to say is that it is not the best written of books. The content, however, more than justifies the effort.
Essentially, the book gives a first-hand account of the development of the web. The first half (or so) focusses on the work done while T B-L was at CERN and developments shortly after that, including the setting up of the W3C. This is essentially an interesting history lesson and it constantly amazed me how recent were the events he described. The latter part of the book covers T B-L's thoughts on the current state of the web (this book was published in 2000 and is already showing its age) and his hopes for the future. A lot of this latter part is very interesting and looks at the impact of the web on society and politics. If he is right, the future of the web could be amazing.
What I found most interesting is that it is easy to post-rationalise the development of the web. T B-L asserts that the "grand vision" was there almost from the start. Frankly I find that hard to believe and am more of the opinion that he was the right person in the right place at the right time. This is not to do him a disservice, on the contrary, I have great respect for the way he dedicated himself to its development with no intent for the massive financial gain he might have expected.
Tim Berners-Lee is a true idealist. Thank goodness that the job of inventing the web fell to him and not to someone with less integrity. Respect.
Building Your Business with Google (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764571435/026-4741318-4014825) for Dummies - Brad Hill
Despite my reservations about the "Dummies" series of books, this is excellent. I would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone who is planning to enter the Google AdWords or AdSense programmes. Although a lot of the book is just good old common sense, it is all logical, well explained and easily understood.
This book was published in July 2004 and at the time of writing (2 months after publication), some of the details in the book are already out of date because Google are still changing the rules. For example, the book states that only one ad block per page is allowed. While that was true up until a few weeks ago, Google recently changed that to allow up to 3 ad blocks per page. Nevertheless, this is an excellent book and providing it is read in conjunction with Googles changing terms and conditions, it will serve you well.
Device (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3931126862/026-4741318-4014825) - Rian Hughes
Rian Hughes is a graphic designer. You have probably seen his work many times although you may not know the name. His work includes advertising for Swatch, magazine covers for Love & Rockets and cartoon strips in the Guardian amongst many other things. His work is often referred to as "vector art" and just about everything he does is created using Adobe Illustrator. This is not a reading book, it's a looking book. It is also a beautiful book to hold. It is a great visual reference for contemporary graphic design.
Lingua Universalis: Global Wordless Understanding (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3899550331/026-4741318-4014825) - Mutabor
Stuck for an idea for a new icon on your website? Consult this book. Lingua Universalis is a collection of recent work by the German graphic design house Mutabor. Their work is exemplary and German to the core. The book contains hundreds of pictograms, all of which are instantly understandable. It is breathtaking how much complex information they are able to convey by the simplest of graphics. Their illustrative artwork isn't bad either. This is a beautiful book and an essential reference for all designers.