Rating: 
Summary: excellent book... worth its weight in gold
Review: As a flash developer, I can't praise this book enough. Though I've used the Macromedia Actionscript Reference that came with Flash 5 since its release, when Flash MX didn't ship with a similar paper manual, I struggled with the Macromedia electronic actionscript reference for a while, and ended up purchasing this book. I was pleasently surprised at how much better Moock's reference is. All the notes, examples, and bugs for each entry that simply can't be found in Macromedia's version make this book indispensable. I estimate from the 'bugs' sections in the reference alone, I've saved myself a hundred hours of wasted time and frustration. Beyond the reference area, this book contains 17 chapters of content that even the most advanced actionscripters could learn a thing or two from. Seriously, this book is worth its selling price many times over.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Frustrated
Review: I am a programmer, but am very intimidated by Flash. I have a fairly strong background in JavaScript so ActionScripts don't worry me too much. I cannot get past the first chapter with this book. The steps for running through the tutorials are very unclear. Maybe it's because of different versions of Flash, but I'm totally lost. The book assumes that the reader know his/her way around Flash, which I don't.
Luckily this is a borrowed book so I'm not out the $$$. I'm looking for something ultra current and VERY basic.
Rating:
Summary: Genius++
Review: I bought Colin Moock's previous book (on flash 5) the day it was released because as an investor of many other sub-standard flash books, I knew the one from O'Reilly (the book's publisher) would be the most valuable. Without fail, "Actionscript: A Definitive Guide" blew me away. Not only was his book extremely informative, but his writing style was conversational, concise, and accessible. Though I had experience with actionscript, my background wasn't in programming, so it was nice to have an "in" to the advanced features of actionscript with Moock's example scripts and corresponding explanations. After a few months of employing the ideas and concepts found easily in Moock's first book...I felt like I finally had a firm grip on Flash 5...Then Flash MX was released. Immediately I bought it and quickly transitioned myself into the new work enviornment (love it). Then I read up on all the new features...and thought to myself...I wish Colin would write a book for Flash MX's actionscript...it is way more powerful...and more complicated... He did. It took longer than my patience would have liked...but the wait was well worth it...and the book explains its own delay...IT IS HUGE. Almost twice the size of the first edition...and that's because almost every chapter is edited, has new important explanations and the same easy-to-understand commentaries and examples. Indeed there are entirely NEW chapters...that specifically discuss new immensely more powerful Flash MX actionscript features. Also, all the appendices are new and updated (I frequently use them). If you own Flash MX and you want to be a serious flash developer with serious marketable skills, BUY THIS BOOK above all--it is a REAL REFERENCE tool--something you will keep on your desk next to your mouse. Nothing is left out except some add-in features (like comm server and UI components) which you can get plenty of info on at macromedia's website. You can also frequent colin's website (moock.org) where he posts hundreds of additional tips, book errata info, and flash downloads. I garentee "Actionscript for Flash MX" will become the best investment you made outside of the Flash MX application itself...at least until flash 7 is released! If you learn the concepts in this book, you will be able to create anything you or your client can imagine. In the end, that could mean lots of money or lots of fun...or both! Enjoy! And by the way...buy it at Amazon...it's almost 20 bucks cheaper than the bookstores.
Rating:
Summary: Great resource
Review: I do not want to explain in detail that this book is worth your money. It simply is, you can find examples all over the net. It is an offline help resource filled with examples so you can get a better understanding of the usage.
If you are familliar with AS you can skip the first chapter (almost half a book) and just use the reference.
A great book, this is the book you will keep just next to your keyboard and not on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: A "Must have" book
Review: I'm a beginner at Flash and ActionScript but this book has been really helpfull. It helps a lot if you have previous programming back up.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardly 'definitive'
Review: I've been using Flash now for about three years and have got more and more into the programming/development aspect. I'm an active part of the Flash communities and had heard a lot about Colin through the forums, which prompted me to buy his book. I consider it a must for anyone who is serious about developing applications within the Flash environment from the very beginner to expert. His style of writing makes it easy to quickly get to grips with even the most complicated areas of actionscript 1. I always keep the book within arms length of my computer as the thorough language reference section regularly provides me with not just ways of doing things, but explains best practices and why.
I have bought quite a few instructional books particularly relating to Flash and this is the best by a mile, it makes the price tag seem very good value indeed.
Rating:
Summary: definative is exactly what it is
Review: I've bought quite a lot of books, some better than others, this one has it's position right next to my work computer. I cannot remember everything, and this book provides an excellent source of reference, as even now although I've read it many times and understand the concepts, the finer points sometimes need completion. This reference section covers just about everything. - I'd give it a "must have".
Rating:
Summary: As advertised
Review: In response to the review by "casa", page xxv of the Preface clearly states under "What's Not in This Book" that the Flash authoring tool isn't covered. The book is intended to cover programming alone.
For an introduction to the Flash MX 2004 authoring tool, see "Flash Out of the Box", also by O'Reilly (ISBN: 0596006918)
Rating:
Summary: obviously the bomb.
Review: Lets just say this is THE most dog-eared book in my flash library. Most days it even gets prized desk space. Makes all the other books in the bookshelf jealous.
Rating:
Summary: Hardly 'definitive'
Review: This book claims to be "The Definitive Guide," but it contains not a single word about ActionScript to support Flash Remoting. For example, where's the discussion of NetServices.createGatewayConnection()? For help in writing ActionScript to interact with a database, you will have to consult another reference source. The author has an annoying writing style in which he repeatedly refers to "we," as in: "When we export...a .swf file from a .fla file, we can incorporate...." Sometimes, though, he switches to "you," as in: "To append or insert script text instead of replacing it, you must manually copy and paste...." What we/you need here is a good edit. Aside from the two criticisms addressed above, I'd rate this book as average in quality in completeness, clarity, and accuracy. Code samples work. The index is a bit thin. Some of the more complicated topics (e.g., "Move Clip Subclasses and Components") could have been enhanced through the use of additional examples. As an O'Reilly book, this book is below average in quality.
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