The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog

Rating:
Summary: For the Practical Blogging Set...
Review: An eminently readable introduction to the blogging experience. While geared toward the newcomer to blogging, many of Blood's ideas and approaches to blogging generate ideas in revamping or rethinking a blog already in place. The absence of mechanics is a sore subject, since many providers or services can be bewildering to the first-timer. However, in keeping with the spirit, applications, and the possibilities of blogging rather than the nuts-and-bolts, Blood has written a book that you can keep with you by the computer rather than a disposable easily-outdated resource manual (something of a pity though - Blood's writing style may also help to make short work of the sometimes arcane method of constructing a blog). In short, the text is a fine introduction not to how to blog, but why you should.

Rating:
Summary: Blood's Weblog Handbook
Review: Blood's book, The Weblog Handbook, does in fact offer practical advice on creating and maintaining your blog. It gives a nice overview of the history of blogging and is worth the money because of the appendixes in the back, which offer practical advise for blogging comfortably. At times this work is a tad too simple for me. But as a guidebook for those just beginning to blog, it provides good advice. Particularly interesting were the sections on ethics and etiquette for bloggin. If only everyone would give these areas some thought, when they blog. For the most part Blood's book is a useful addition to any library lacking in handbooks on web technologies available to the general public. Worth the buy.

Rating:
Summary: Blood's Weblog Handbook
Review: Blood's book, The Weblog Handbook, does in fact offer practical advice on creating and maintaining your blog. It gives a nice overview of the history of blogging and is worth the money because of the appendixes in the back, which offer practical advise for blogging comfortably. At times this work is a tad too simple for me. But as a guidebook for those just beginning to blog, it provides good advice. Particularly interesting were the sections on ethics and etiquette for bloggin. If only everyone would give these areas some thought, when they blog. For the most part Blood's book is a useful addition to any library lacking in handbooks on web technologies available to the general public. Worth the buy.

Rating:
Summary: A place to start¿
Review: Even if they're one of the most popular sites on the web today, there is, without a doubt, a lack of good books about the blog phenomenon. This book is an introduction to the weblogs dynamics and its social context, written by one of the precursors of this "new" medium and a respected voice in the discussion.
Blood explores how the weblogs work, describes a short history and look at the relation between blog and journalism. She also explains the dynamics of the weblog community and the etiquette required to live online.
I recommend this book most of all to the newcomers, people willing to take a first look on the subject but don't know where to start. You'll find here the answers to the frequent asked questions, and the social implications and discussions about this medium.
On the other hand, if you're already familiar with this phenomenon, or you're searching for some advanced technical/practical tips to develop your own blog, you should look somewhere else.
If you're waiting to find some "debate" or discussion on the subject you'll also be disappointed, because the book is entirely based only on the author's own experience and observations, and sometimes given as a "success-formula".
However, the book will provide you in one place all the information you needed, to understand more about this subject or even get started creating your own blog.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly informative and entertaining introduction
Review: First of all, the beauty of this book is that it is not technical in nature. I feel that the lure of the weblog as a communications medium is its short learning curve. Now, granted, you can get as technical as you want, but for the beginner, it's just not necessary.
That said, this book will make you wonder why you don't already have a weblog and provide you with some great pointers to get you up and running. Blood's writing style is very entertaining, and it is apparent that she knows her stuff when it comes to the topic at hand. Along with tips and advice, she discusses many hot topics regarding the weblog genre as a whole. Another key selling point for me was that she didn't endorse one weblog creation product over the others; rather, it is up to the individual to find one that fits their lifestyle.
Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to get started with blogging, or to someone who's been doing it for a while and wants a general overview of the format.

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing and informative survey
Review: For an easy introduction, choose Rebecca Blood's Weblog Handbook: it explores how such logs work, their impact on media, and how to participate in a weblog. An intriguing and informative survey of different kinds and styles of weblogs and how they foster new communities.

Rating:
Summary: For utter newbies only
Review: Having had a blog for a couple years, I thought this book might offer some insight into blogs and the rationale behind them. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish reading this book so filled it was with cheerleading and the sort of handholding that would tick off my independent diva of a 3-year-old. Still, if you've never had a blog, don't know what one is, and are remotely interested in them, then this book can probably give you some good information. Otherwise, spend your money on something else more fun.

Rating:
Summary: The Why of Weblog
Review: I also read "Blogging: Genius Strategies...". If I had to compare the two books I would state that the other was the how, and this book is the why.
Rebecca talks much of the edicate related to blogs and how they can help improve you as a person and as a writer.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful
Review: I didn't really learn anything new - but it's nice to have this history all in one place. I would totally recommend this book to anyone just starting out with a new blog. Gave it to my boss after I went through it and he started his own blog!

Rating:
Summary: Only for the Bored
Review: I had high hopes for this book. I've had a blog for a year now, and I was hoping for tips and inside info on the blog world. Instead I read a book that adds nothing to what's available on the web and is a help to no one who has been on the web for a week or two.

Save your money and explore the blog world on your own. It's much more interesting, and better yet, free.