Reviews for CSS: The Definitive Guide

1. A good book by a master in his field

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, June 12th, 2008

   Eric Meyer is chief aiuthority in this field and this book was perfect for what I needed to know on CSS for part of my degree project on accessibility and tableless design.

2. Good, but not that good a read.

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, April 12nd, 2008

   I can't fault this book for its content. It does indeed cover the A to Z of CSS. However, I personally found it very dry. I went through it from cover to cover, and the examples etc all worked as stated (in comparison to far too many books out there which are full of errors), however, I have had no real urge to return to it for reference since.
   
   I've given it 4 stars because anything less than that would be criminal. However, it didn't engage me like some of the better CSS books out there.

3. Excellent general text

   Rated 5 out of 5 stars, January 12st, 2008

   Computer text books are rarely as clear, comprehensive and easy to use as this one. Well written, good indexing and well thought out examples.
   
   I went from zero knowledge to being totally at home with CSS using just this book and the odd web search.
   
   

4. Very good Reference for any Web Developer

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, November 12th, 2007

   The book is big and I think not meant to be read but taken as a reference instead. Basically it is very helpful when you need to fix a display issue or find the exact meaning of any CSS attribute. What I like is the accuracy and the amount of information you can find in this book. I would recommend it for any web developer working on very recent web designs.

5. An excellent reference, but don't mistake it for an introduction.

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, August 12nd, 2006

   In this fantastically detailed book, Eric Meyer explains the basics of css and systematically elaborates on each css property, their scope, and values. Whilst the book is not designed to be read as a guide or an introduction, it does make an excellent reference for those times when you need definitive information on a particular css property.
   
   If you're looking to learn about css, I wouldn't recommend relying on this book alone; buy yourself a real beginner's guide, and maybe get this as a reference tool for when you need to clarify something. As I learnt more about css, I found often found myself flicking through the book and having moments of realisation when paragraph or two would clarify something I'd read elsewhere. That's the sign of a good reference book.
   
   Some people may find the book a little heavy going to begin with. I don't think the book has been designed with the intention that the reader go through it cover to cover in one go. I found that reading a lot of the book at once left me with a lot of questions: these were answered through practical experience with css, and through other, less detailed, introductions. However, I do feel as though the difficulties I had were a result of my lack of understanding rather than any real problem with the book itself; it's still the one book I'll turn to when the others don't answer my questions.
   
   All in all, this is a great book: it won't walk you through your first steps in css, but it does provide exactly what you need when you're lost and need some real answers. If you're new to css, pair this book up with a well-rated introductory text, and you'll be all set to go. For those who have some practical css experience, I'd recommend this as a great reference tool, without hesitation.