Rating: 
Summary: Best all-around web book on my shelf
Review: There's something for everyone in Philip Greenspun's (and Alex's) book about web publishing. The book has a fantastic balance of great stories from the software community and firm absolutes about what works and what doesn't, all stemming from Mr. Greenspun's many years of real world experiences building database backed Web sitesProgrammers can find advice about products and vendors. The focus is on what works, not what's cool. There is also a wealth of code ranging from clean HTML to powerful scripts and programs for manipulting Oracle DB's. Marketing types can learn about the many new ways of generating interest and exposure afforded by the Web. (Many things impossible with traditional media, like this book review I'm writing right now, for example.) Information Architects and Graphic Designers can find barrels of info about how to avoid confusing users and how to let the users bring something of themselves to a site. They can also be exposed to Programmers' bias for information over visuals, valuable to any Graphic Designer working with programmers on any regular basis. (Note for Graphic Designer's: don't be discouraged by the dorky cover. Inside, it's well laid out.) Is Mr. Greenspun opinionated? Ohhh, yeah. He blasts almost everything and everyone somewhere in the book. This had two effects for me: (1) I got a much more intense and memorable reading experience with a lot of great stories from the software industry, and (2) it reminds me to take everything I read with a grain of salt. All books have a point of view, but most writers hide it to appear "definitive" and "authoratative". This book wears Mr. Greenspun's point of view like a red flag, which makes it a lot like walking into his office and getting 600 pages of advice. I got a lot out of this book because I'm an Art Director (RISD grad, 8 years Design experience, 4 years Web) and a "Programmer" (I wrote my own video games in BASIC back in the 80's, and have 3 years experience building my own web designs with HTML, JavaScript, and Perl). This duality means that any web book usually only appeals to either my Programmer side, or my Art Director side. This book, with it's wealth of cross-discipline information, informed me both as an Art Director and a "Programmer". Even if you only read 2 or 3 chapters, this book is worth the cover price. Just take what you want, and leave the rest, like a salad bar.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best computer books I've ever read
Review: One of the most entertaining and energizing books about computers that I've ever read!!! You don't have to agree with everything that Mr. Greenspun says, but the book will definitely make you think (and make you talk to your friends) about the various topics that are covered. You can read it online on Greenspun's website but I can only recommend to buy the book. It'll be good for your eyes, it'll be good for your coffee table, and you'll like the photos.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Informative, keeps you on track
Review: Excellent book, wonderful photography, just when you think you mind is boggled with too much information, there is a thoughtful, funny or beautiful photo to remind you as much as you know about computer and technology, and brillant as this man is he has not lost touch with the real world and that to me makes him even more real and I keep reading.
Rating:
Summary: I use this book like a bible.
Review: As a web professional who comes from the content world, instead of the programming world, I find this book to be incredibly useful. Greenspun's prose is easy-to-understand, yet opinionated enough to keep it interesting. These days, we non-programmers need all the help we can get in the complicated world of dealing with databases, programmers and expensive tools. This book takes us non-programmers through everything we need to run a professional-class web site. He is honest and doesn't appear to be in anyone's pocket -- no matter how much he pushes Oracle databases, I get the feeling he's doing it because he truly believes it's the right database to use, not because they give him free applications. I trust his opinions on the Web as much as anyone I've ever read and will continue to use this book like a bible. The lessons I've learned already -- writing out specs for programmers, learning to speak about database tables as mini-Excel spreadsheets, dealing with programming first and graphics later -- have made my work mcuh more effective than ever before. I can't wait for the next book. Until then, I'll keep reading this one.
Rating:
Summary: I own two paid-for papercopies, thus can give it ten stars.
Review: Two copies?!? Yes, $36 for the first and, quite willingly, $175 for the second. Generosity, humor, common sense, idealism and excellence are hallmarks not only of this book, of all Philip Greenspun's work. Uncommon pleasure in a strident age. Blessedly un-Wired, and kindly inspired. My only request: an on-line version that I can highlight and margin note. Are you there, Philip?
Rating: 
Summary: nobody reads these anyway, right Dr. JackNZak?
Review: In the first chapter of the book, the author writes "Ithink the greatest artistic achievements hold the mirror up to amultiple-truth life." He then sets down one version of the truth and you shell out several dollars to read it. By contrast the online version contains multiple versions of the truth from netizens worldwide and is "free". Well, ok, the multiple versions of the truth have been filtered by the author and two other moderators. So this truth is only as good as its filter. Well the filter is coarse but the online version is still better than the printed book. If you are reading this review through internet access, READ THE ONLINE VERSION. A blind person might want to purchase this book if it was available in braille, but there is nothing here on Amazon that says it is. If you are a compulsive spender who works for the government, spend some of my tax money to attend the seminars offered on his site instead, because I know you don't remember a d@mn thing you read, like the Constitution. In addition this will encourage the author to lecture more often, garnering him slavish worship from undergraduates and what passes for grudging respect among his academic peers. Maybe. Somewhere at the end of that equation I'm hoping to find fresh relevant content on a trusted brand site. Anyway, don't buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific -- a book loaded with great advice
Review: It's an opinionated book... I like that. If you build websites for a living, it's the kind of book that will make you re-evaluate everything you've done. Offers a clear vision of the strengths of this new medium, and a wealth of practical advice about how to make it happen.
Rating:
Summary: If you can have just one book on web publishing, this is it.
Review: I just attended Phil's FREE one-day Web Design seminar at CalTech. It's worth every mile of driving, and more. Even if you have to pay to attend one, it's worth it. "Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing" is a great book, easy to read and very informative. A great resource. An investment worth making. Thanks Phil.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and to my surprise....entertaining!
Review: It is not often that I have come across a technology related piece of non-fiction that I found as interesting and entertaining as, "Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing". The colloquial and personal style of the author allows you to effortlessly glide through page after page of interesting anecdotes, useful advice and his unique approach to web publishing. Like a good relational database the author manages to put web publishing into multiple contexts of real world scenarios, not only demystifying the process of building database driven web sites but highlighting their power to help us harness information in our every day lives. The author's approach also captures and propagates the essence of the Web which is all about sharing ideas and code in the spirit of developing and pushing this medium as far as it can go. Reading this book is like sitting down with a friend over many cups of coffee and listening to him impart targeted advice based on years of experience. Technical diagrams scribbled on napkins are included.
Rating:
Summary: The most enjoyable, thought-provoking, useful book on the subject I've read.
Review: A copy of this book should be in the hands of everyone who designs web services or makes web publishing decisions.
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