Which IT/Design learning books are the best? - GoFuckYourself.com

Snake Doctor · 02-25-2009, 01:06 PM

Which ones were the easiest for you to use and which did you learn the most from?

The Sams Teach Yourself? For Dummies? O'reilly? Wiley publishing's "The Bible" books?

I'm learning some new skills in my free time and I'm wondering which books I should buy.
I've used the Sams books before....they're ok. Some people have said great things about O'reilly books, but I'm afraid they'll be over my head...more like reference books for people who already know what they're doing as opposed to books for beginners.

Please share your experience.

plskthx

Jayvis · 02-25-2009, 01:10 PM

I buy used books from Barnes and Noble online for less than $5.00 - I've picked up everything from PHP books to Cold Fusion... great resource if you're going to be purchasing soon... the books look like they've never been touched most of the time.

HorseShit · 02-25-2009, 01:12 PM

O'reilly for the win

also no starch press does good books

BigBen · 02-26-2009, 02:53 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Information-Da.../dp/0596100167

http://gettingreal.37signals.com/

GrouchyAdmin · 02-26-2009, 03:41 AM

ORA. Always.

StaceyJo · 02-26-2009, 03:45 AM

I use google.

Snake Doctor · 02-26-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrouchyAdmin

ORA. Always.

By ORA do you mean O'reilly?

Also, do you think those are good for beginners? Some of them seem a bit complicated to me.

Snake Doctor · 03-04-2009, 05:53 PM

I'm gonna bump this one last time. I'm sure there are a ton of self taught geeks who post and/or lurk here who could point me in the right direction.

NextBigTube · 03-04-2009, 06:10 PM

I use O'Reilly, but I tend to agree with you they are a bit advanced and tend to specialize.
Why don't you post the skills you are trying to pick up and maybe people can recommend books on that subject? Generally I create a shortlist, then go down to the book store and browse the books and see which one I feel more comfortable with rather than stick with just one publisher.

Snake Doctor · 03-04-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NextBigTube

I use O'Reilly, but I tend to agree with you they are a bit advanced and tend to specialize.
Why don't you post the skills you are trying to pick up and maybe people can recommend books on that subject? Generally I create a shortlist, then go down to the book store and browse the books and see which one I feel more comfortable with rather than stick with just one publisher.

The bookstores here really suck, so I'm gonna have to order online.

For a project that I may get an opportunity to work on later this year, I was told that I should learn all of CS3, and javascript and xml would be useful.
I have SAMS Teach Yourself CS3 all in one and I'm working my way through it, but it's not going to be enough....it's really more of an overview of each program without really getting to journeyman status on any single one. I'm gonna need a much bigger book OR I'll have to get separate books for each program.

There's also a custom program they use that there are no books for....but it works mostly by using logic statements, like else if, do while, etc....so some sort of beginning programming book is probably in my future as well.

PHP seems to be a really good skill to have these days...although I'm thinking, the more important thing may be to learn how to use logic statements and stuff like that...and after that you can use almost any programming language if you learn the specific syntax.
I may be wrong about that so don't flame me if I am...just point me in the right direction.

Anyways, what I'm getting at is that I've wasted a shitload of money on computer books in the past. I bought a "teach yourself red hat linux in 10 minutes" years ago and still don't know shit about red hat linux.
So many books are way over my head and they're probably written more for people who are just learning the new version of program X....not people who have never used program X.
On the other hand, I've had books on photoshop that were 300 pages long but the only thing they taught you to do was import pictures from a camera or scanner and use the crop tool.

I really need to find the middle ground.

tical · 03-04-2009, 07:28 PM

best way to find a good book is to hit up amazon and just look at the reviews

only way i pick up books now

candyflip · 03-04-2009, 07:30 PM

I like OReilly's and Wrox and Sitepoint.

NextBigTube · 03-04-2009, 07:38 PM

I agree with ticals suggestion to look up reviews, but I still like to visit the bookstoore if I get the chance.

Also have you looked up online resources/tutorials? W3Schools is great to begin with. I picked up whatever CSS/Javascript and XML knowledge that I have online.

asianseekerz · 03-04-2009, 10:27 PM

thats great!!!!!!!!!!

tony286 · 03-04-2009, 10:41 PM

www.vtc.com or www.lynda.com I find it better the monkey see monkey do method.

02-25-2009, 01:06 PM	#1
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	Which IT/Design learning books are the best? Which ones were the easiest for you to use and which did you learn the most from? The Sams Teach Yourself? For Dummies? O'reilly? Wiley publishing's "The Bible" books? I'm learning some new skills in my free time and I'm wondering which books I should buy. I've used the Sams books before....they're ok. Some people have said great things about O'reilly books, but I'm afraid they'll be over my head...more like reference books for people who already know what they're doing as opposed to books for beginners. Please share your experience. plskthx __________________ sig too big

02-26-2009, 03:41 AM	#5
GrouchyAdmin Now choke yourself! Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,085	ORA. Always. __________________ AIM: GrouchyGfy

02-26-2009, 03:45 AM	#6
StaceyJo Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 8,960	I use google. __________________ /_______ WebCashMaker ______\ \| _TeenageDecadence - Young Board Naked Teens. \| \| ____ NonNudeGirls - Female Puberty Photos. ____ \| \| _ HerSelfPics - The ORIGINAL exGF SelfPic site. __ \| \.______ xPosing - Wife Photosharing site. _______./

03-04-2009, 05:53 PM	#8
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	I'm gonna bump this one last time. I'm sure there are a ton of self taught geeks who post and/or lurk here who could point me in the right direction. __________________ sig too big

03-04-2009, 06:10 PM	#9
NextBigTube Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 352	I use O'Reilly, but I tend to agree with you they are a bit advanced and tend to specialize. Why don't you post the skills you are trying to pick up and maybe people can recommend books on that subject? Generally I create a shortlist, then go down to the book store and browse the books and see which one I feel more comfortable with rather than stick with just one publisher. __________________ Porn Tubes Hawt Tube,Next Big Tube, Gay Tube Tube 4 Gay Amazon.com Discount Finder

02-25-2009, 01:10 PM	#2
Jayvis Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 5,427	I buy used books from Barnes and Noble online for less than $5.00 - I've picked up everything from PHP books to Cold Fusion... great resource if you're going to be purchasing soon... the books look like they've never been touched most of the time.

02-25-2009, 01:12 PM	#3
HorseShit Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 17,513	O'reilly for the win also no starch press does good books

02-26-2009, 02:53 AM	#4
BigBen Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: scv Posts: 2,299	http://www.amazon.com/Information-Da.../dp/0596100167 http://gettingreal.37signals.com/

03-04-2009, 07:28 PM	#11
tical Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 6,504	best way to find a good book is to hit up amazon and just look at the reviews only way i pick up books now

03-04-2009, 07:30 PM	#12
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,052	I like OReilly's and Wrox and Sitepoint. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

03-04-2009, 07:38 PM	#13
NextBigTube Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 352	I agree with ticals suggestion to look up reviews, but I still like to visit the bookstoore if I get the chance. Also have you looked up online resources/tutorials? W3Schools is great to begin with. I picked up whatever CSS/Javascript and XML knowledge that I have online. __________________ Porn Tubes Hawt Tube,Next Big Tube, Gay Tube Tube 4 Gay Amazon.com Discount Finder

03-04-2009, 10:27 PM	#14
asianseekerz Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,609	thats great!!!!!!!!!! __________________ LUSTY LIFES : Dad & Daughter Wild Adventures : Naughty Wild Sister Contact : ICQ : 372109 Email add: [email protected]

03-04-2009, 10:41 PM	#15
tony286 lurker Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 57,021	www.vtc.com or www.lynda.com I find it better the monkey see monkey do method.