Rating: 
Summary: Help for the newbie!
Review: If you have always wanted to get into computer programming, but were either intimidated or uncertain, then this book is a great help. It walks you through life as a programmer/consultant, shows how to approach studying programming, what to study, explains the benefits of being an expert and how to get that first job. It details a plan, whose goal is to make you an expert contract programmer. The course is rigorous, but anything worth while is going to be. You can even email the author for help. I asked him about some of the courses he recommends and he was very helpful. All in all it is a good primer on the contracting lifestyle and a guide on how to master programming.
Rating:
Summary: Opened up my eyes to a great career possibility.
Review: In short, this book showed me how being a contractor is a much better choice than being an everyday employee. The book showed me that the contractor's life is simpler and more rewarding. For example, the contractor:1) Is less involved with office politics,
2) Generally makes more money,
3) Has more control of his or her destiny,
4) Is often seen as an expert, I also learned that I can plan for a contracting career right from the start. In other words, the book teaches you exactly what to do to work as a contract programmer in a short time. I thought you had to have years of experience. The author details five steps for achieving success: Step 1) Learn how to study computer science
Step 2) Follow a nicely planned curriculum
Step 3) Strategic, full-time industry experience
Step 4) Get your first contract
Step 5) Longevity-maintaining your skills This book is important for those who haven't studied programming before or are just starting to, because it teaches you a mastery mind set and how to learn how to efficiently learn computer science to master it. After reading this book I had instant confidence and started planning my career as a contractor rather than a everyday employee. The other consulting books around are good, I've read some, but they all deal with the time after you have your programming degree or have had some experience already. This book is with you from the beginning! The author takes you by the hand and teaches you how to motivate yourself, how to study, how to schedule your time and more. It is very complete and it has a companion Web site, too! Don't buy it if you are looking for a casual overview of the entire consulting realm. Buy it if you want to make big money working as an expert programmer/consultant. So, I say: Don't be afraid to go all the way the first time. This is a "must-read" book!
Rating: 
Summary: dishonest
Review: In today's IT job market, you're not going to get a job as a programmer without a computer science (or comparable) degree. If you don't have a degree, you at least need a few years experience. Spend your money on tuition, not "get rich quick" schemes.
The author says he "became a programmer virtually over night", but this is a misleading assertion. The author was actually a MECHANICAL ENGINEER before pursuing a programming career. An engineering degree is very math intensive, and usually includes some programming classes (usually in FORTRAN).
Rating: 
Summary: Great book for self study lovers
Review: The author displays a drill instructor manner at times. I still was not insulted by this book. The guide shows how to maximize learning quickly while retaining knowledge. I have a Masters degree and still managed to gain valuable study tips. The book has accelerated my Java self-study significantly.
Rating:
Summary: Gave me a great place to start.
Review: This book gave me a good grasp of what it takes to become a good contract programmer, starting from scratch. The author gives you a nicely laid-out plan that is designed to quickly get you into contract programming, although you could do it in a timeframe you are comfortable with. Highlights:
1) It presents a 5-step plan with a timeline, that is easy to follow.
2) Shows you how to develop your study skills so you can easily master any subject.
3) The appendix has a nice section on suggested books for the course, which lists the titles for all phases of the program.
4) The author lists and describes the subjects (self-study or other) you MUST master to be successful and what topics in these courses are of prime importance.
5) It motivates you to work hard.
6) It tells you how to choose the appropriate advanced books based on the programming language or development platform you want to work with.
7) It has many great ideas and gives you many tools to work with, especially if you are new to programming.
8) You can use the book in its entirety with the prescribed timelines or just use portions as they apply to your scenario. Low lights:
Really none, unless you expect miracles and don't want to put the time in and "work the system," as the text on the back cover says. In conclusion:
It is a unique book as the author doesn't baby you-he comes right out and tells you that the program is rigorous, but will be enjoyable and highly rewarding for those who truly love working with computers and want to carve out a new career. It isn't just for contractors, really, it can help anyone getting into the programming field, especially computer students who want to start out on the right foot and add an extra dimension to their career arsenal. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone ready to make a move into contract programming or regular, salaried programming either.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for computer science college students.
Review: This book is really wonderful. There is more to this book than the title reveals. Currently, I am a junior-level comp. sci. major. In my first two years of study, I was struggling with my grades big time. No matter what I tried I kept getting average and below grades. After finishing this easy to read, motivational book, my grades jumped up tremendously. It actually teaches you how to study programming and how to study a computer science textbook. The author takes a highly motivational tone and expects a lot from the reader. He describes the attitudes you need and the steps to take to become an expert programmer and how important mastering the fundamentals is. That is what is so great about it. He even shows you how to prepare for exams. Drawing from his experience, he discusses some of the most important, foundational, computer subjects to master and how you really DO or SHOULD use, in the "real world", what you have learned in the classroom. The book also recommends other important technical books you should study to increase your level of expertise. It is definitely suited for those who really love working with computers and want to create a rewarding career in the computer-programming field. Even though the title states, "contract programming", it's great for any beginner interested in becoming an expert programmer. So, what I am really trying to say is that this book is great for computer science students who want to make the best of their schooling and those who want more than just a "job"!
Rating:
Summary: Great book for programming students and beginners.
Review: This book is really wonderful. There is more to this book than the title reveals. Currently, I am a junior-level comp. sci. major. In my first two years of study, I was struggling with my grades big time. No matter what I tried I kept getting average and below grades. After finishing this easy to read, motivational book, my grades jumped up tremendously. It actually teaches you how to study programming and how to study a computer science textbook. The author takes a highly motivational tone and expects a lot from the reader. He describes the attitudes you need and the steps to take to become an expert programmer and how important mastering the fundamentals is. That is what is so great about it. He even shows you how to prepare for exams. Drawing from his experience, he discusses some of the most important, foundational, computer subjects to master and how you really DO or SHOULD use, in the "real world", what you have learned in the classroom. The book also recommends other important technical books you should study to increase your level of expertise. It is definitely suited for those who really love working with computers and want to create a rewarding career in the computer-programming field. Even though the title states, "contract programming", it's great for any beginner interested in becoming an expert programmer. So, what I am really trying to say is that this book is great for computer science students who want to make the best of their schooling and those who want more than just a "job"!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely useful.
Review: This book really charged me up. It is so nice to read a book where the author's passion shows through so much. This is not a watered down, lowest-common-denominator book meant to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. It is a book written for those who want to take their passion for computers and make as much money as they can by programming them. The author stresses that you really have to love computers to be successful with his program. And I agree. The author continually stresses mastery and its benefits in the contracting world. To make a long story short: If you want to maximize your training, your pay and your motivation for achieving a greater than average career, if you love computers and you are willing to work hard, then you have to buy this book. In fact, the author tells you that if you aren't willing to put in the time, to just send the book back. How's that for honesty!
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