Reader reviews

Outstanding. I kept finding reasons to come back to it.

I had been on the fence about this one for a while, and I should have bought it sooner. Some of the material is available elsewhere, but rarely presented this clearly. The progression from chapter to chapter is well thought out; nothing feels out of order. The balance between theory and practice is well judged; neither side dominates. This is the book I wish had existed when I started working with javascript.

A worthwhile addition to my shelf, with realistic expectations.

There is a particular kind of technical book that is dense without being difficult, and this is one of them. The book rewards careful reading. Skimming it would be a mistake. The examples are small enough to type out and experiment with, which is exactly what I want from a book like this. The progression from chapter to chapter is well thought out; nothing feels out of order. Recommended, with the caveat that it is not a gentle introduction.

Some sections were excellent and others felt like filler.

I came to this book already familiar with the basics, and it still had plenty to offer. The explanations are careful without being condescending, which is a difficult balance to strike. There is a section near the end that ties several earlier ideas together in a way I had not seen before. Three stars feels about right. It will stay on my shelf, but it will not be the first one I reach for.

A useful guide. The examples assume a particular environment, but that is fixable.

I bought this on a whim after seeing it mentioned in a forum thread, and I am glad I did. The author is unusually honest about where the simplifications break down, which I appreciated. The balance between theory and practice is well judged; neither side dominates. Solid, and I would buy another book from this author without hesitation.

Three stars feels about right. Useful, but not essential.

I came to this book already familiar with the basics, and it still had plenty to offer. The index and cross-references are surprisingly good, which matters for a book I will come back to. The author is unusually honest about where the simplifications break down, which I appreciated. Useful as a reference, less so as a straight read from cover to cover.

Well worth picking up if you already have the basics.

I have been working with graphics & design for a few years now and I still found plenty here that was new to me. The author avoids over-explaining, which keeps the pace up but means you need to pay attention. The book rewards careful reading. Skimming it would be a mistake. Worth picking up if you already have the basics. Set realistic expectations and you will get a lot out of it.