Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious waste of time
Review: ... This book is aimed at graphic designers, marketing agencies and the like who put together nice marketing oriented sites, whose sole job is marketing the company. For people such as myself who implement lage scale ebusiness websites, intranets, corporate portals etc there is nothing. The concept of dynakic database driven sites isn't even mentioned. These projects are a cross between an IT project (with all the traditional skills and techniques that implies) and a maketing project (such as a TV campaign). There are multiple wildly different and largely incompatibel skillsets at work and these have to be welded together to promoite efficiency, while not destroying the motivation and qualities of the diverse people involved. Traditional IT managemnt skills have to blend with the world of the graphic designer and the business analyst. This book doesn't even start to cover that. An utter waste of time. Added to this I personally find david siegel's designs immensely overrated.
Rating:
Summary: Pretentious waste of time
Review: ... This book is aimed at graphic designers, marketing agencies and the like who put together nice marketing oriented sites, whose sole job is marketing the company. For people such as myself who implement lage scale ebusiness websites, intranets, corporate portals etc there is nothing. The concept of dynakic database driven sites isn't even mentioned. These projects are a cross between an IT project (with all the traditional skills and techniques that implies) and a maketing project (such as a TV campaign). There are multiple wildly different and largely incompatibel skillsets at work and these have to be welded together to promoite efficiency, while not destroying the motivation and qualities of the diverse people involved. Traditional IT managemnt skills have to blend with the world of the graphic designer and the business analyst. This book doesn't even start to cover that. An utter waste of time. Added to this I personally find david siegel's designs immensely overrated.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for Beginners
Review: David Siegel is always right on target with his books. He writes on the agency side, yet provides the client side with valuable information on how to work with a web team. This book is about the basics though, so if you are a well worn web developer or an interactive project manager guru, you might not be too enlightened, but you will come away seeing the big picture and understanding the interaction of the creative and technology sides. There are good examples, and interviews with some of the biggies in the biz. Good to keep around for reference. -WebProjkt
Rating: 
Summary: Walking Your Web Talk
Review: David Siegel's Secrets... is probably the only book you'll need for creating effective web projects. Good for beginners and pros! The best place I've seen for working with the entire project, small or large, not just the web site! The format of the book is exciting and sensible. The pages of the book are colorful and enticing! The language is fun and professional! I especially appreciate that there is a web site to accompany the book. The Sidebars are helpful hints and summaries, reinforcing the text and bulleting quick info.
I have highlighted, earmarked, bookmarked, circled and scribbled in this book. It's a book lover's dream and a web designer's partner! Great price here, too! Thanks for the fun learning experience in a ponderous realm, David!
Rating:
Summary: Great for examples
Review: I love this book. It teaches you a lot about web project management and construction websites to a deadline. But I think it is not well organized. I am looking more for a book that will take you from conception to delivary, while telling you the documents you should produce along the way to document you process. It should also break down the process into content, technology and infrastructure, marketing and post deadline maintenance. This book has a lot of nuggets and was one of a kind, but I expect more today.
Rating:
Summary: For Those Interested in Web Site Design Only
Review: If you are looking for a Methodology for managing the successful development of an ecommerce project in the 21st century then keep looking. This 1997 edition addresses only the front end graphic aspects of web site development.
Rating:
Summary: A refreshing look at web design from a designers perspective
Review: It was nice to read a book that came from a designers point of view instead of a techinical one. The information helped me with a new client, providing me with valuable tools to guide my client and give them what they wanted. Being a designer myself having moved over to web design I am relieved to see books being written by designers about the world wide web, and it is especially nice to see well designed sites. I particulary liked the first part of the book that talks about how they worked with the client on developing their websites. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh intelligent way to understand web design and how to give the most to a client.
Rating: 
Summary: Some useful information. Some filler.
Review: SSWS is an excellent start for people who are thinking about getting into Web development as a career. It covers topics that may not be considered by someone new to the business. However, much of the information is geared toward high end development companies working for hundreds of thousands per site. The fact is that companies at that end of the market probably don't need the advice. Siegel could have really expanded his audience with this book by giving useful information for companies with 5 to 20 employees. The case study portion of the book is informative, but often redundant. The customer would have been better served by reducing this section by half and adjusting the price down. After reading Siegel's more popular book, "Creating Killer Web Sites," I thought the Amazon reviews regarding his ego were harsh and a bit undeserving. After SSWS, I have changed my tune. It is apparent that Mr. Siegel believes he alone is setting the standards by which Web pages are designed and Web companies are run. A good bit of the book is self-serving, promoting his other books and endevours. While this may be a smart business move, it reads poorly. All in all, Web designers should read it.. if for nothing else than for perspective from other people in the business. Again, it does contain some good information and useful ideas for those who have the resources to impliment them.
Rating:
Summary: Great Sites, But a lot of Second Half is for Lawyers
Review: The first half of this book is wonderful. The reviews of various "Successful Web Sites," are written in a fast-paced, quick reading style. There are a bunch of occasional good points in web design and project management made, but mostly I found it for entertainment. The first half is where the book gets the 6. Now, as soon as you start to read the second half of the book- you will probably say "This is not for me." It seems like Mr. Siegel wrote this second half for web design companies the size of his "Studio Verso." Today's typical web design business has about 2-5 workers, max, and then hires in copyrighters, and advertisers, and salesman, etc. His idea of the project site is a great one, however, how much use does it have for design companies with 2-5 workers? There is way too much legal issues in this book. In one chapter he writes, "I do not, under any circumstances, recommend signing a client's contract without a lawyer." So, why all this information about how contracts should be, if you are going to end up with a lawyer in the end anyway? Why not just go to a lawyer in the the first place, and have the lawyer do all the contract work. However, this is a small recommedation, due to the fact the first half is excellent, and there are some good points made in the second half- (such as the story in the book, called the "Client Dilemma.") But remember- this is not a web design book. This is a web project management book.
Rating:
Summary: Oldie but a Goodie
Review: This book along with "Creating Killer Websites" should be a must have for any web designer. Yes, the books are getting a little old now and date them selves in regards to discussions about technology. But the books hold up over time with their common sense approach to project managment and design theory. These books are well worth the read.
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