Rating: 
Summary: Impressed
Review: You never know what your really going to get when you buy a book online but I am totally happy with this purchase. This book offers real world examples and full source code for many of the PHP/MySQL projects developers tackle on a day to day basis. Details can be found on: Image generation, cookies, user authentication, shopping carts, content management, mailing-lists, PDF document generation and a lot of detail on how to set up and install both PHP and MySQL on your server. The authors do not only show you the code but explain what's happening so that you can customize the scripts for your own use and they do this very well. This book is aimed at intermediate web developers who are familiar with HTML, some type of programming (ASP, Perl), but you certainly do not have to be an expert programmer to understand what's going on. All and all-the best web programming book I've bought, period.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book - poor publishing (1st & 2nd edition)
Review: * Note: I refer here to both the first and second edition *This is the book I purchased to get started on server-side scripting; it probably says "user-level intermediate-advanced" to avoid lawsuits; I had no prior knowledge of server-side programming, and no trouble understanding. It is divided in four logical parts:
(1) PHP tutorial
(2) MySQL tutorial
(3) General discussion on server-side scripting & e-commerce (very interesting)
(4) Projects This book does an excellent job at explaining PHP & MySQL to the beginner, and goes much beyond the frustrating "intermediate" level where similar books often stop. It assumes a working knowledge of HTML, which everyone interested in this book already has in all likelihood. It is cleverly written, clear and concise. The authors share their extensive experience with the reader, notably in the third part where common pitfalls are discussed. The index is well done, which makes this book an excellent desktop reference in addition to being a good tutorial. The CD contains all the code for the examples, the complete book in searchable PDF, and other goodies like the Apache Server and PHP. My recommendation: go to phpide.de and download PHPTriad to install & configure Apache/PHP/MySQL on your PC, or have someone knowledgeable do it manually for you to avoid headaches. The only reason I can't give five stars to the first or second edition is the number of mistakes/typos in the code examples. The upload code doesn't work, PDF generation uses obsolete functions even in the second edition, etc. Although most of the code supplied as example functions properly, it is annoying to know that a book written to teach you to program contains errors in the programming examples. The second edition adds a chapter about XML and removes outdated URLs. Otherwise, it is the same book (including code typos). Combined with the PHP & MySQL manuals available for download from their respective sites, allow a week or two of reading and you should have everything needed to start working. All things considered, I strongly recommend this book. PS: if your heart balances between ASP & PHP for server-side, consider that more servers are PHP-enabled, since it is cheaper (free).
If you want to stay in known terrain and use JScript, than go for ASP.
Rating:
Summary: 10 Thing I Hate About You
Review: 10 Things I hate About You is a modern time Shakespeare story by David Levithan.It's about a boy who goes about getting the girl he wants no matter what it takes. The main character is Cameron James, the new kid in school who likes the most popular girl in Padua High School,Bianca Stratford, except there's a couple of things that are in his way, for example, Kat Stratford, Biancas older sister. Bianca's father won't let Bianca date until Kat dates. Kat used to be a popular pretty girl but for some reason became a social outcast and refers to school as a prison. The other thing in Cameron's way is Joey Donner, Joey is a self centered, and not the brightest, teenaged model.Bianca likes Joey. Cameron's new best friend is Michael. Michael isn't a loser but isn't all that cool. He knows all the crowds in Padua High School. To get to know Bianca, Cameron finds out she needs a tutor for French. Cameron decides to become her tutor even though he doesn't know any French. Cameron wanted to take Bianca out really bad and that's when he gets his brilliant idea to get her on a date. Cameron pays an older teenager named Patrick Verona. Patrick is a social outcast too who doesn't care what people think. It took a while to get Patrick to agree but it he did. Just then Cameron realized he didn't have any money to pay Patrick. So Cameron comes up with a plan to trick someone dumb enough to give them there money. The first name that came to his mind was Joey Donner. Cameron got Joey make a deal with Patrick that if Patrick took out Kat that he would pay him as long as he got to go out with Bianca. But tables turn when Bianca starts to like Cameron. On the first date Cameron and Bianca went out to a party go which turned bad for Bianca, Cameron, Joey, Patrick and Kat. I would suggest reading this book to find out what happens at the prom, other dates, school, and if Kat finds out about the deal. I really liked this book because it is a modern day story. This could happen to many people. This book is a funny and serious story. I gave this book 4 stars because it never stopped being exciting. It was funny and fun to read. The chapters are named by whoever is telling the story. Some are long and some are only a sentence short. The book is only 170 pages long. When you read it, it goes by fast because the book keeps your attention. Its good with details and most of the comments in the book are humorous. It's a book that I couldn't put down. It kept you wondering what was going to happen next. You should read this book if you want a book that you just can't put down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent feature demonstration -- a buyer!
Review: I don't write alot of reviews, and hardly ever give 5 stars, but this one is worth it. This massive text (800+ pages) includes all of the basic elements that either a beginner or an advanced user may look to a text for assistance with (note: these subjects, PHP and web databases, are traditionally self-taught at this time, a good text is ESSENTIAL!). The CD includes open source licensed Apache, PHP and MySQL (Linux and WIN), and all code from the book. The book format is logical and good for self-pacing; early sections teach PHP language features (including arrays, regular expressions, objects/classes), then MySQL language and calling constructs (RDMS design theory, SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, and advanced SQL). Later chapters discuss implementing user authentication and security, session mgmt and other advanced concepts. Final chapters (over 250 pages) provide ample example web database applications that probably cover about any project you would use these languages for (including shopping cart, content mgmt, web-based e-mail, mailing list mgr and a web-based forum). The final chapter describes using PDF to format text documents (my ISP does not provide this module therefore I skipped that section). I recently began a private web database project and made the decision to proceed open source (PHP, MySQL) versus going the Microsoft way (ASP, SQL Server). This meant I had to learn PHP and MySQL. I purchased 4 books and the Welling & Thomson text was most utilized of all. My only gripe is they don't provide summary reference sections on PHP and MySQL functions / commands. You will probably just download the official user manuals for these anyway. This book is well worth the price, IMHO.
Rating:
Summary: In short: A Wonderful book.
Review: I purchased this book after having carefully studdied many books about the subject. I fell for this book, simply because it got the best rating and when I went to my local book store and scanned it, I had to own it. It starts out with a PHP crach course (syntax and semantics), moves over to cover string manipulation, expressions, function calls etc. All in all, very simple stuff that you should be able to grasp easily, are you known to other high level programming or scripting languages. Then you get introduced to basic database design, dynamic image generation etc. What makes the book special however, is that the whole second half of the book, shows you real world examples of things like session control, user authentication, shopping cart management, a mailing list manager, an email web-interface, web-forums and more. This second part is what you really will learn from! The book should be called "Real World PHP and MySQL development." The only little thing that I miss in the book, is a reference list of all common functions for PHP. I am not complaining though, the book does not state to be a reference book!
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Summary: Comparison between Mao's Last Dancer and Chinese Cinderella
Review: Mao's Last Dancer Li Cunxin (Penguin Books; $29.95) Mao's Last Dancer, by Li Cunxin, is a richly detailed autobiography highlighted by Chinese legends and childhood stories. It is an inspiring text for anyone interested in Chinese history, life throughout the Communist regime, dancing or just anyone wanting an insightful, gripping book.
In this memoir, a Chinese boy from a loving, hardworking but impoverished background whose destiny laid working as a peasant suddenly sees his life change when one of Madame Mao's officials recruit him to join the Peking Dance Academy. He was one of the very few children selected from all over China. Chosen only for his physique, age and resilience to pain he was forced to leave home which turned his life around as he began to ascend the steep learning curve ahead of him.
The lack of previous interaction with unknown people combined with the hardship he endured at the academy just worsened his social skills. Gradually, becoming an introvert and retreating from others he solely focused on his dancing.
Li's perseverance, determination and constant striving to attain the best result he can gives readers motivation to strive towards achieving their life long goals. Writing this book provided an outlet for Li to share his amazing story with the rest of the world. Memories, childhood games and Chinese legends interwoven into the intricate details described in the book enrich the story's plot as well as the small, personal details given in the descriptions, which bring life to Li's emotions. For example, one lonely day at the academy Li comforts himself in a willow tree while crying. The tree symbolises life and nature which he desperately misses in the cold environment of the academy in the midst of the built up city. The author's use of symbolism gives the text a multi layered effect.
It would be difficult to criticise this text as it is well balanced between descriptions of his childhood, life at the academy and his accomplishments as a professional dancer in the United States.
Li is a very likable character to whom the majority of people can relate. He considers his success as the duty he had to live up to and remains very close to his people in Qindao despite their hugely different lifestyles. Throughout his life, he is conscious of the fact that he was given an opportunity others were not given and remains very humble. Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah (Penguin Books Ltd; $24.95) Chinese Cinderella, and Falling Leaves, like Mao's Last Dancer is an autobiography graphically detailed with emotions throughout the individual's life, in this case a young Chinese girl. However, unlike Li, Adeline has been made to feel rejected and unwanted by her own family. Later on, ricocheting from one institution to another without ever hearing from her family she, like Li, engrosses herself in her studies. In the end, both achieve outstanding results in their domains: Adeline in writing and Li in dancing.
From her birth, Adeline was despised by her siblings and father and was made to believe that her bad luck had brought about her mother's death. Throughout her schooling years, Adeline dreamed of feeling accepted by her family and thought she could only achieve this by excelling at school.
Due to the fact that Yen Mah's judgement of situations was blurred by her jealousy towards her siblings, her perception of her life is possibly biased. However, readers do not realise this, as both in Li and Yen Mah's texts the author is the main character enabling readers to see life through their eyes.
Chinese Cinderella is written in an easy-to-understand, hard-to-put-down manner. The book is aimed at the 10 to 19 year age group. The author once said that she wanted other unwanted children in the world to feel as if they were not the only ones and they could make something of their lives. The text is written in a optimistic but realistic manner which encourages readers to aim high scholastically despite the surrounding pressures they might be confronted with. The readers are made to understand that through determination they can overcome obstacles what for many years seemed imposible. Yen Mah emphasises how important it is to have a passion to distract yourself from your worries and problems. In her case, literature was the answer as she clearly expresses in the following quote, "I was alone with my beloved books. What bliss! To be left in peace with Cordelia, Regan, Gonoril, and Lear himself--characters more real than my family... What happiness! What comfort!".
Rating:
Summary: Great learning tool
Review: This book ranks amongst the best on the subject. I spent nearly three months reading every page and duplicating examples on the CD. The book is remarkable in the way it manages to avoid coding errors which plague many computer books. Actually, there is only a very small number of typographical errors. The book is easy to understand, even though at times one gets the impression the description is concise. It is to be appreciated how the authors covered the subject in about 800 pages. The PHP and the MySQL manuals each exceed 1000 pages. At times I found it helpful to read an independent description on the the subject, even though the manuals often lack the clarity of the authors' book. The command mode approach is covered in the beginning of the book, while most of us have abandoned it, and it was a minor effort with some of the examples. However, the examples work, unlike some reviewers suggested. One has to be careful about case sensitivity of variables, which may be problematic with Linux servers. Chapter 24 was a challenge to follow, considering the large number of functions employed by the example. However, patience prevailed, and was able to get it working after appropriate changes in parameters, such as user, password, and database names. Having the right to use only one database does not help my case. What can be confusing to a student is having different entities with the same name, such as database name, table name, and column name all being called user. While this book avoided such an issue, my specific selection of variable names presented a problem. Overall, I find it difficult to generate comments detracting from the excellent rating of this book. It was a great benefit to have a pdf version of the book on my hard disk. I could locate specific subject matters a lot quicker than I could by turning pages.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to Follow and Comprehend
Review: With this book, I was able to start programming PHP almost immediately. I've had some previous computer programming experience, but this book covers the main PHP concepts in a way that's really easy to understand for anyone. The MySQL section is also well-written, and the appendixes are pretty thorough in the installation of Apache, PHP, and MySQL. If you want to set up an e-commerce site using PHP and MySQL, you can't go wrong buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: Well Written and Hard to Stop Reading
Review: Being a productive web developer, I am constantly buying new books and looking through information online to better myself and make my online applications better. This is the first book that I have run across which reads easily and doesn't bore you to death. It is VERY well written and covers information easily and with great examples to help you understand something when you need it. That was the greatest thing - EVERY time that you get to a point where you are about to scratch your head and think, "huh?!", you are given a more detailed explanation, graph, diagram, image, etc. The authors and the publisher did a great job with this book and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone thinking about using PHP 4 and MySQL for web development. I cannot say enough good things about it.
Rating:
Summary: The ONLY book I needed to master PHP/MySQL
Review: This is an excellent book! It took me from a complete novice (the last programming experience I had was with structured BASIC back in the 8th grade, over 15 years ago) to developing complex, secure, database-enabled sites. I couldn't have done it without this book. The sample projects are excellent. I owe all my PHP/MySQL success to the authors of this book.
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