Recommended books about computer books

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
--Randy Pausch

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

Questions for Randy Pausch

We were shy about barging in on Randy Pausch's valuable time to ask him a few questions about his expansion of his famous Last Lecture into the book by the same name, but he was gracious enough to take a moment to answer. (See Randy to the right with his kids, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe.) As anyone who has watched the lecture or read the book will understand, the really crucial question is the last one, and we weren't surprised to learn that the "secret" to winning giant stuffed animals on the midway, like most anything else, is sheer persistence.

Amazon.com: I apologize for asking a question you must get far more often than you'd like, but how are you feeling?

Pausch: The tumors are not yet large enough to affect my health, so all the problems are related to the chemotherapy. I have neuropathy (numbness in fingers and toes), and varying degrees of GI discomfort, mild nausea, and fatigue. Occasionally I have an unusually bad reaction to a chemo infusion (last week, I spiked a 103 fever), but all of this is a small price to pay for walkin' around.

Amazon.com: Your lecture at Carnegie Mellon has reached millions of people, but even with the short time you apparently have, you wanted to write a book. What did you want to say in a book that you weren't able to say in the lecture?

Pausch: Well, the lecture was written quickly--in under a week. And it was time-limited. I had a great six-hour lecture I could give, but I suspect it would have been less popular at that length ;-).

A book allows me to cover many, many more stories from my life and the attendant lessons I hope my kids can take from them. Also, much of my lecture at Carnegie Mellon focused on the professional side of my life--my students, colleagues and career. The book is a far more personal look at my childhood dreams and all the lessons I've learned. Putting words on paper, I've found, was a better way for me to share all the yearnings I have regarding my wife, children and other loved ones. I knew I couldn't have gone into those subjects on stage without getting emotional.

Amazon.com: You talk about the importance--and the possibility!--of following your childhood dreams, and of keeping that childlike sense of wonder. But are there things you didn't learn until you were a grownup that helped you do that?

Pausch: That's a great question. I think the most important thing I learned as I grew older was that you can't get anywhere without help. That means people have to want to help you, and that begs the question: What kind of person do other people seem to want to help? That strikes me as a pretty good operational answer to the existential question: "What kind of person should you try to be?"

Amazon.com: One of the things that struck me most about your talk was how many other people you talked about. You made me want to meet them and work with them--and believe me, I wouldn't make much of a computer scientist. Do you think the people you've brought together will be your legacy as well?

Pausch: Like any teacher, my students are my biggest professional legacy. I'd like to think that the people I've crossed paths with have learned something from me, and I know I learned a great deal from them, for which I am very grateful. Certainly, I've dedicated a lot of my teaching to helping young folks realize how they need to be able to work with other people--especially other people who are very different from themselves.

Amazon.com: And last, the most important question: What's the secret for knocking down those milk bottles on the midway?

Pausch: Two-part answer:
1) long arms
2) discretionary income / persistence

Actually, I was never good at the milk bottles. I'm more of a ring toss and softball-in-milk-can guy, myself. More seriously, though, most people try these games once, don't win immediately, and then give up. I've won *lots* of midway stuffed animals, but I don't ever recall winning one on the very first try. Nor did I expect to. That's why I think midway games are a great metaphor for life.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
--Randy Pausch

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

very interesting and easy to read. really moving and emotional. a lot of practical advice and the overall story is very inspirational

The Amazon's service was perfectly good, on time. I was a bit dissapointed with the quality of the book. The sheets were cut in an untidy way. In Argentina there are Spanish editions with better quality and same price. The fact is that I wanted the original English version.

This book made me reflect on my own life - where I've been and what lies ahead. Professor Randy lived life as it is meant to be lived.

Ordinarily, this review would be about a book on computer science... instead, it is about the memoir of a computer scientist. Moreover, it deals with a philosophical observation made by Marshall McLuhan in "Understanding Media", in 1964. In his text, McLuhan coined the phrase "the medium is the message," contending that in addition to the content carried by the medium, the medium itself affects society. This volume and how it got to be published and became a national bestseller
exemplifies this McLuhan concept. However, before getting to the review, it is essential to connect a few dots.

It began in September 2007 when the author, professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University, presented his lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", to a group of 400 attendees. There were no empty seats. Pausch presented an entertaining and detailed description of his life and personal aspirations and announced he was dying of cancer and this was to be his "last lecture." At one point, as he began the lecture, the author quickly dropped to the auditorium floor and did a few one-hand push-ups reminiscent of actor Jack Palance's performance to demonstrate his physical prowess at the 1992 Academy Awards show. Palance had just won an Oscar for his role in "City Slickers." The University videotaped the lecture and it quickly appeared on such international media outlets as YouTube, Google Video, the ABC network on April 2008, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) in July 2008, and on others. Thus, the Pausch lecture became available immediately throughout the civilized world and was viewed by millions of viewers!

McLuhan had, in fact, predicted 44 years before that the medium and the message would become intertwined. The lecture was quickly converted into print format, with the help of writer Jeffrey Zaslow, and was published in early 2008.

The book is recommended reading by a general audience and is quite inspirational but I prefer to focus on a deeper meaning to the sequence of events. Let's begin with Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the scientist who discovered the law of universal gravitation; developed Newtonian mechanics and laws of motion; invented calculus, the reflecting telescope, and a few other things. Newton lived a very self-confined, solitary existence, with few personal relationships, and died alone as a controversial futurist who also dabbled in alchemy. That was his message... there was no medium to proclaim these great contributions until long after his death. An international body later created the "newton" as a unit of force related to the joule.

Fast-forward 150 years to Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). He was identified as the developer of alternating current, the induction motor, the rotating magnetic field; as the "man who invented the 20th century," and by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1943 as the "inventor of radio," by upholding his 1900 patent #645,576 on the "System of Transmission of Electrical Energy." He lived a life filled with controversy and litigation and died alone and destitute in room 3327 of the New Yorker hotel in New York City in 1943. That was his message... there was no medium to proclaim these great contributions until long after his death. An international body later created the "tesla" as the unit of magnetic flux density.

Fast-forward about 75 years to 2008. Traditionally, in Hollywood, a book is published first and, if it is a success, it can be followed by a screen play and the film. But, as McLuhan inferred, since "the medium is the message," the video of professor Pausch's lecture came first, followed immediately by global exposure and a printed hard copy called a book. The message and the medium became so intertwined as to be inseparable!

Professor Pausch passed away in late July, 2008, and this review was written the following month.

There has been wide critical acclaim for his book, with which I concur. It is an ordinary memoir, produced in an extraordinary way, that deals essentially with the humanistic aspect of a computer scientist's short but productive life.

At the Museo Nacional de Antropolog��a in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park, there is a mural at the portal that reads, in translation:

Alone, therefore I go like the flowers which will perish;
Nothing remains of my name, nothing of my fame here on earth;
At least flowers; at least songs.

The dots have been connected.

Leonard C. Silvern
Systems Engineering Laboratories
Clarkdale, AZ

I bought this book for my two daughters, my grandson and myself. I had seen Mr. Pausch on TV and was so inspired by his positive message. I wanted to share it with my family so that they might take a more positive look at a rough situation. My two daughters absolutely loved the story and couldn't put it down. I myself have yet to read it.

This thorough, self-paced guide to Adobe Photoshop CS3--written by the experts at Adobe Systems' is ideal for beginning users who want to learn key Photoshop concepts and techniques, while readers who already have some experience with Photoshop can use this book to learn Photoshop CS3's more advanced features and newest tools. Using clear, step-by-step, project-based lessons, each chapter walks readers through the creation of a specific project, with each chapter building on the reader's growing knowledge of the program, while review questions at the end of each chapter reinforce the skills learned in each lesson. Photoshop CS3, long the industry standard for digital imaging software, offers plenty of new features and enhancements for creative professionals and digital photographers alike. Users can enjoy unrivaled editing with non-destructive Smart Filters, improved curves, and adjustable cloning and healing with Preview Overlay. Increase productivity with Photoshop CS3's streamlined interface and new Photoshop Lightroom " integration. Anyone who wants to create a composite will benefit from the revamped Photomerge���� tool, which lets you apply automatic layer alignment and blending to your images, while the new Quick Selection tool lets you select pixels not just by color, but by texture and shape as well. And digital photographers will be pleased to know that they can now process multiple Camera Raw images in a fraction of the time it used to take.


Educational instructor notes���|�|created to help teachers plan, organize, and time their lessons���|�|are available for this book (and for other Classroom in a Book titles) at www.peachpit.com/instructorresources.

Anyone learning photoshop for the first time, or upgrading to CS3, should get this book and read it through. Even if you are proficient in previous versions, this book opens up new concepts and introduces the reader to new tools, not available in previous versions of Adobe Photoshop. This book will truly increase productivity and improve quality.

This book and CD works very well by having you actually do the lessons from the CD so you practice as you read. This is an excellent way to learn. It has been very helpful.

I previously took a Photoshop class and really did not feel I had a very good understanding of the program. This book takes you step by step through th program. I think I learned more from the book than I did the class!

This product was not quiet as good as promised, but very close. The shipping was fast and the price was great.

The book touches on some of the general broad tools of Photoshop CS3. The problem is that Photoshop CS3 is a very involved and somewhat complex software application. It takes more practice than this book can cover.

Stephen Windwalker's latest book is the premier guide for Kindle owners -- written for serious readers rather than gadget heads, 51,000 words in length and newly packed with great tips. 192 "print" pages, including a detailed, link-enabled FAQ section. (Originally published in beta editions as How to Use the Amazon Kindle for Email & Over 100 Pages of Other Cool Tips.)

If you’ve already purchased and downloaded it, you can get the latest iteration onto your Kindle at no additional charge with just a couple of clicks on your computer. Just go to "Your Media Library" under your personal Amazon account, pull down your “Kindle Books” list under the Downloads tab, find this book (clicking on the title will confirm your purchase and purchase date), and click on the right where there’s a “Send wirelessly to your Kindle” button. Also included, for Kindle owners who are considering giving another Kindle as a gift to a colleague, friend, or loved one: information on how to send this book **free** as the first book on the new gift Kindle, and a link to get the new Kindle for just $259!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I. How to Use this Book
II. What is a Kindle?
-What’s Inside the Kindle?
-Why Did Amazon Launch the Kindle, and Which is More Important, the Chicken or the Egg?
III. Kindle Basics
-Handling Your Kindle
-Choosing Among Six Font Sizes
-Kindle Keyboard and Menu Shortcuts
-The Care and Feeding of Your Kindle's Battery
-The Reset Button is Your First Tech Support Option
-Access Wikipedia Quickly and Smoothly
-Using "Locations" to Figure Out How Close You Are to the End of a Kindle Edition
-Buying and Sampling Content for Your Kindle From the Amazon Kindle Store
-Updating the Latest Version of Your Kindle’s Operating Software
-Adding an SD Card to Your Kindle
-Getting Help with Your Kindle
-Managing Your Kindle Content
IV. The Amazon Kindle Basic Web Wireless Service: Why It Is a Revolutionary Feature, and Why Amazon Should Keep It Free or Cheap
V. How to Use the Amazon Kindle for Email
VI. Using Google Reader to Read Your Favorite Blogs on the Amazon Kindle
VII. Traveling with Your Kindle
-Using the Kindle to Translate Foreign or Technical Words and Phrases
-Making the Most of Your Kindle Connections Overseas or in a Sprint Wireless Dead Zone
-Using the Kindle as a Travel Guide
-The Kindle and GPS - Intriguing but Frustrating
-Checking Sprint Wireless Coverage for the Kindle
-Downloading Kindle Editions Via USB Cable
VIII. The Kindle as a Writing, Editing, and Publishing Device
-Taking Notes on the Kindle - It's All in the Thumbs
-Annotation within a Kindle Document
-Google Notebook
-Annotating Your Working Documents
-Writing and Annotation to Email
-Saving, Printing, Editing and Working With Your Kindle Clippings, Annotations, and Highlighted Text
-20 Steps to Publishing a Kindle Edition of Your Book or Document: How to Use Kindle, Amazon and the Web to Market Your Book and Connect with Readers
-Other Links for Publishing Content for the Kindle
IX. Projecting a Kindle Future
-How Many Kindles? Estimating the Current and Future "Installed Base," and Why It Is Important
-The Golden Age of Kindle 2.0 and Beyond
-Kindle Reading Subscriptions
-Kindle Buffet
-Kindle Groups
-Kindle Owners as Kindle Sellers
-Kindle Content Affiliate Program
-Shop the Amazon Store Through a Kindle Gateway
A Big Tent for Kindle Content Availability On Other Devices
Shop and Play Amazon Music and Audio
Kindle Tribes
“Living Books” on the Kindle
Other Fixes for Kindle 2.0 and Beyond
Folders and/or Labels
Size, Location and Configuration of Bars, Buttons, and Switches
The Kindle Display Screen
Writeable Screen
Adjustable Fonts
Go Global
Open the Kindle Store to Accessories
Green Tax Credit
Screen and Keyboard Freezes
Gifts
Make the Kindle More Kid-Friendly
Real USB Port or Bluetooth for Hardware Connectivity with Memory Devices, Keyboards &c
X. 20 More Kindle Tips and Tricks
Link-Enabled Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Complete User's Guide to the Amazing Amazon Kindle ((Labor Day Weekend Special!))

This is the best buy I have ever made. Not only is the book straight-forward, but it is easy to understand. I have now downloaded it as a Word document so I have it by my side until my poor memory of how to use the Kindle gets better. A+ for The Complete User's Guide to the Amazing Amazon Kindle

This is an essay about amazon and the Kindle. The type of con that may kill Kindle. Zero stars.

This Kindle download was a fun read. Not only did I learn a bit of how Kindle was created but I learned that it is much more than just a Reader.

I did a lot of "WOW" while reading this. Sure, I could have found most, if not all, of this information by doing some of my own research on the web or tinkering with my new toy, but why bother. At this price, all the searching was done for me. I enjoyed the non-techy language and simple to use instructions. It was fun learning about my new little gadget (which I love). Well worth the download!!

Worth the price; can't wait for the expanded full version. Thanks for the great info.

I found the book worth the money I paid for it. I thought it had a lot of tips that the Users Guide which came with the Kindle did not include. I admit I am not that technical -- someone who already knows a lot might not need this, but I found it helps me get the most out of my purchase. The Kindle is expensive. The small amount of money this book costs relative to the cost of the Kindle, so that you can maximize your use of the device, made it worth it to me.

FOREWORD BY GUY KAWASAKI

Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net -- presentationzen.com -- shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today's world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

I remember getting my hands on Harvard Graphics way back when and being so excited about how it would revolutionize presentations. But basically, though the software has improved since then, we use it the same way. Reynolds shows it doesn't have to be that way; you don't have to shoot your audience full of bullet points. I think you could probably get the gist of his message by reading his excellent blog - the book could have gone further beyond that, I think. In any case, if you suffer from presentation fatigue in your workplace, show this to your boss and your team members. For sure buy the book if your boss won't be impressed that you found a cool business tip on a blog.

99 percent of PowerPoint presentation sucks. So begins Presentation Zen with an introduction from Guy Kawasaki. Or I should say, the book opens with a presentation from Kawasaki. Before getting to business, author Garr Reynolds explains that Presentation Zen is an approach not a method.

This book doesn't give you step one, two, three. If it did, the book would turn into a method. An approach provides guidelines and direction. Reynolds looks back at the history of PowerPoint along with experts' slamming the software. People forget that PowerPoint is a tool not a method. The templates, however, may be partially at fault for the bad PowerPoint-based presentations we see today.

So Reynolds says we can keep PowerPoint, but we need to dump the templates and their bulleted lists. Instead, presenters need to go for the right brain and left brain instead of leaning on one or the other.

The book contains three parts: preparation, design, and delivery. Preparation explores creativity, limitations, and starting work on the presentation AWAY from the computer ("planning analogy" as Reynolds calls it) using pen and paper, sticky notes or whiteboards. Reynolds shows how stories and examples can help make your ideas sticky with your audience.

He also encourages practicing restraint. It's too easy for us to fall into the trap of using clich��s -- not just in words, but in visuals like two hands shaking in front of the globe. Don't do it. Just don't. It's been done and no longer sticks with people. Here the book discusses the use of storyboards.

In design, Reynolds takes the reader on a trip in achieving simplicity, which we know doesn't come easy. The Zen principles come in as Reynolds covers simplicity (kanso), naturalness (shizen) and elegance (shibumi). Rather than adding to the clutter, try removing things from a slide to simplify the message.

I love chapter six because it contains many example slides -- before and after so you can see the power of changing slides from noisy to simple. I learn well from examples and this chapter covers every aspect including balance, empty space, repetition, contrast and more. I value this chapter because it provides a variety of examples covering different topics while chapter seven examples come from other people's presentations -- some you might recognize such as Shift Happens.

The rest of the book offers suggestions on the giving of the presentation. After all, the slides act as an accessory to the presentation. If they're the presentation and contain the whole thing, then cancel it and send the slides to the attendees. Save them a trip and a boring presentation.

Presentation Zen as a whole combines many of the expertise we've seen or heard over the years from other experts. So it's nice to get it in one little book. I've heard some of the ideas and comments, but I also pick up new ones.

The little book contains a neat little package that will help readers throughout the presentation process from beginning with an idea to ending with applause. It'll serve well as a reference or a read from front to back and later referencing. It won't work as the only tool as it only focuses on approach. Some folks need more than that to create a successful presentation.

Garr Ryenolds has hit the target, right smack in the center, on identifying the misuse of software such as PowerPoint in presentations. Reynolds takes us on an enjoyable, enlightening journey of identifying and avoiding "really bad PowerPoint" presentations, replacing them with really good ones! The author knows how to motivate the reader to strive for excellence in presentations, and provides effective methods for doing just that. As a bonus, the book is a delight to read.
Anton J. Lachner, Ph.D., J.D.
Fu Jen Catholic University
Taipei, Repulbic of China in Taiwan

I LOVE this book! It is not only a wonderful and simply laid out way of challenging old assumptions about Power Point presentations and the way we construct them, but it also contains some great philosophy to inspire originality. The book is cleanly laid out, and has application to areas other than just presentations; it makes you think more about the way you present generally and sell your ideas.

Reynolds is generous in his acknowledgement of other writers and people who have inspired him - I have bought most of the other books he refers to and found them extremely useful.

The chapters are presented in way that makes your recollection of them easier, and putting them in the Zen context certainly aids with awareness.

I really do recommend this book to others, and it's worth also taking a look at the related blog for ongoing examples of effective presentations.

My manager and a few on the team have been fans for a long time, including participating on his blog. We bought the book and then had him come to campus to teach in person. Best 8 hours I've spent! Love him, love the book.

Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory���|�|it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.

I have been unable to put the book down. I read a bit, go shoot some pictures and beging the process over. I had worked in the business in a prior life and have had a lot of experience with film DSLR and large format equipment. This is a great transition for someone who is now back into photography and making the big switch to Digital.

Take this little book on every photo trip you go on because you won't know what to do without it. Each page has one "how to" technique on it. Look up what you want to do, say "I want the background sharp" & he tells you what to do, if you need the technical reason you can look it up later in another book. This is a have to have.

Scott Kelby books are my favorites!
Scott answers all of my questions at the exact moment I have them.
It is like talking to a friend.
Yes, his humour at times drags you down BUT you can always just skip the first chapter of each section and ta da, you have everything you need without the distractions. (or read the whole thing and chuckle away).
Amazing color photos. Tricks and hints abound in this book and volume 2.
I highly recommend any beginner and advance photo bugs out there to buy these two volumes.
I read them both very quickly and use them for constant reference.

The information in the book was very helpful, easy to read and had great tips.

I bought this book (Digital Photography) along with
The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography.

The Betterphoto Guide was a lot better. Unless you plan on attending a wedding, I would go with the BetterPhoto guide, especially if you want to learn how to control lighting, and exposure.

No matter where you are on the organizational ladder, the odds are high that you've delivered a high-stakes presentation to your peers, your boss, your customers, or the general public. Presentation software is one of the few tools that requires professionals to think visually on an almost daily basis. But unlike verbal skills, effective visual expression is not easy, natural, or actively taught in schools or business training programs. slide:ology fills that void.

Written by Nancy Duarte, President and CEO of Duarte Design, the firm that created the presentation for Al Gore's Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, this book is full of practical approaches to visual story development that can be applied by anyone. The book combines conceptual thinking and inspirational design, with insightful case studies from the world's leading brands. With slide:ology you'll learn to:

• Connect with specific audiences
• Turn ideas into informative graphics
• Use sketching and diagramming techniques effectively
• Create graphics that enable audiences to process information easily
• Develop truly influential presentations
• Utilize presentation technology to your advantage

Millions of presentations and billions of slides have been produced -- and most of them miss the mark. slide:ology will challenge your traditional approach to creating slides by teaching you how to be a visual thinker. And it will help your career by creating momentum for your cause.

Nancy Duarte is managing Duarte Design, a company that has created some high-profile presentations (Al Gore is one of the clients). They (her husband is the company's CFO) started out in the 80s when the Apple Macintosh brought desk top publishing and graphics design to the masses, and have now become one of the big brands in professional presentation design.

This is the perfect book for those who have mastered the PowerPoint (or Apple Keynote) technical skills and need to make the final jump to master concepts usually taught in art schools (rather than software manuals):
- Picking pleasing color schemes
- Slide composition
- Typography
- Etc.

The trained eye can extract almost everything there is to know about presentation design. However, this is not the book that will teach you magic that will turn your beginner-level PowerPoint edits into a professional presentation.

Many subjects discussed in this books are covered in other material as well (minimal bullet points, cut words, use professional images, etc. etc.) However, there are some very specific things that I picked up in this book that were new to me:

- Thinking about cinematic movement for animations or slide composition
- Creating one big map and using the PowerPoint push transition to navigate it: one presentation - one big slide
- A large library of chart concept sketches, there were many new ones I did not use before
- Stressing to adopt a "designer" mentality to presentations

Things that I found less useful/interesting (personal preference):
- (Many) direct references to the services Duarte Design can offer
- Case examples (many of which are the same as on Duarte's site) are not always useful
- The section on data charts was relatively weak

But overall, a warm recommendation to purchase this book. It is well written, nicely illustrated and brings all the presentation design essentials together in one place, including many references to further reading and almost all the big presentation "brands" in the industry.

I found the book interesting but with the small print, very hard to read. More theory than practical help in putting together a presentation, especially in the instructional area.

...this slick, lively and valuable.

When it comes to bullets, some of my co-workers buy their ammunition by the case. 17 bullet points in one slide?! Yes, we can do that. 50 slides?! "Well, I wanted to make everything clear..."

I intend to slip this book onto the department library and hope its sanity spreads.

��

I highly recommend this book! Great tips and insights and extremely helpful. One of the best of it's kind. Wwll worth the price.

I just destroyed this book with folded pages and ink annotations, so the perfectionists out there may want to order two copies, one for eating and one for sharing. The price is phenomenally reasonable, especially for something that is all color and totally elegant.

This is not about powerpoint slides. If anything, it is a very subtle but explicit critique of how retarded they still are (e.g. no separation between bullet groups). This is an utterly inspiring combination of wisdom, education, visual excitement, and plain fun that "lives" what it preaches.

When I get back to the office I am going to read this book again while I create a briefing on the Earth Intelligence Network and educating the poor one cell call at a time that respects the deep knowledge being imparted by this author and her team. Mills Davis, visualization and semantic genius (Project10X) called my presentation "dense" yesterday, and I needed this book to understand just how polite he was being.

Bottom line mechanically: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30 font size MINIMJM. For the advanced audiences, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, 6 minutes and 20 seconds total.

I read and reread sections, and the recurring thought in my head was that this book may well be all one needs to run a semester long course on the communication of important complex ideas. The author does not just show a correct slide, the author breaks down every aspect (e.g. fonts, color, grid layouts, use of images, creating your own art) into separate chapters with very ably-illustrated palettes covering all the options. I have a note on this, "nuances are unpackaged and illustrated."

I note the author's admonition that change across the presentation is a distraction, that animation should support the message and the continuity of understanding.

For large organizations, the author covers templates as a means of harnessing the diversity of knowledge of varied functions and employees, while maintaining a consistency of brand. BRAND is huge within this book, and in this book BRAND is not a legal term, it is a philosophical term. I am hugely impressed by a chart showing UK companies that treat BRAND as a design imperative being so much more competitive and profitable than those that do not. This book is not just asserttions and demonstrations, it is fact and case based and eminently authoritative.

I learn for the first time that powerpoint slides can be instantly made to be black and white to focus audience on the speaker, or made all white, by pressing B or W. Why didn't I learn that from Microsoft? Because their tool bar is not designed to teach....perhaps?

Special pages for me:

10-11 The Presentation Ecosystem (Message, Story, Delivery)
12-13 Time Estimate for world-class presentations (36-90 hours)
18-19 Rick Justice and 27 slides on eight topics (organization)
58-59 Making Diagtrams Work Together
64-65 Following the Five Data Slide Rules (Tell the Truth is Rule 1)
82-83 The (Financial) Value of Good Design
116-117 Lose the logo on every slide....
142-143 Dissecting a font (this section alone was HUGE eye-opener)
148-149 Typesetting a block of text (what powerpoint does not do)

The references are phenomenal, and comprise an instant library for any person, firm, or school of design. I only have ten links allowed, so below I list the reference categories, and link to a single book from the multiples identified--no disrespect intended for the others!

DESIGN
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

BRANDING
The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design

VISUAL THINKING
Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands

INFORMATION GRAPHICS
Nigel Holmes On Information Design (Working Biographies)

DATA DISPLAY
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data

CONTENT
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

BUSINESS BOOKS
The E-Myth Manager: Why Most Managers Don't Work and What to Do About It

The index is very good, another manifestation of the utter devotion to quality of the publisher, O'Reilly (I dislike most of their book sets, this one very properly rose to a proper high level).

Lots of white space. There isn't an ounce of fat or irrelevance in this book. It is world-class in every respect, and most publishers are so crummy about price and color that I want to end with a tip of the hat to o'Reilly for getting this one "just right."

For the past three decades, the Shelly Cashman Series has effectively introduced computer skills to millions of individuals. With Microsoft Office 2007, we are continuing our history of innovation by enhancing our proven pedagogy to reflect the learning styles of todays users. You will find features that are specifically designed to engage learners, improve retention and prepare the user for success. Our trademark step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach now encourages the reader to expand their understanding of the Microsoft Office 2007 software through experimentation, exploration and planning ahead.

I purchased this book for my CIS 120 class (that is intro to micro-computers). This book is an excellent teaching guide to learn everything there is to know about Microsoft Office software. It is very detailed and it gives you examples and you will learn hands on. This is an excellent book for anyone that need to learn or even need a refresher course. This book have step-by-step instructions. I highly recommend this book.

I was on crunch time at Northeastern Illinois University and was really in a bind with books, expecially the prices. So of course, Amazon had a great price for this book and I was saved by it. The book is EXCELLENT and I think even after the class I will keep it because it has a plethera of information. Thank you.

I had to purchase this book for an introductory/orientation computer application class for an online program for Nichols College. I have concidered myself very computer literate, and was affraid this class would be boring and a waste. However, I am finding with this book working through the walk-through exercises and labs that I didn't know everything. I have discovered many short cuts and easier ways to perform tasks I have previously labored to do like letter formatting. I have also learned many new keyboard shortcuts that help alot. Not having to switch back and forth to the mouse and back to the keyboard as much is a bonus.

Don't get me wrong though, it is still broken down painstakenly into every individual step and keystroke, so for me, that is overkill. However, someone who has never laid eyes on any of these programs before, this book can take them a long ways in learning how to navigate the office suite, make striking letters, charts, and leaflets.

I had wanted to get this book because of my having taken the college course for Office 2003 and wanted to update my skills. Very important and informative reference book. Practical, too.

With Leopard, Apple has unleashed the greatest version of Mac OS X yet, and David Pogue is back with another meticulous Missing Manual to cover the operating system with a wealth of detail. The new Mac OS X 10.5, better known as Leopard, is faster than its predecessors, but nothing's too fast for Pogue and this Missing Manual. It's just one of reasons this is the most popular computer book of all time. Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. If you're new to the Mac, this book gives you a crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, and the Mail application. There are also mini-manuals on iLife applications such as iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto, and a tutorial for Safari, Mac's web browser. This Missing Manual book is amusing and fun to read, but Pogue doesn't take his subject lightly. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers an objective and straightforward instruction for using: Leopard's totally revamped Finder Spaces to group your windows and organize your Mac tasks Quick Look to view files before you open them The Time Machine, Leopard's new backup feature Spotlight to search for and find anything in your Mac Front Row, a new way to enjoy music, photos, and videos Enhanced Parental Controls that come with Leopard Quick tips for setting up and configuring your Mac to make it your own There's something new on practically every page of this new edition, and David Pogue brings his celebrated wit and expertise to every one of them. Mac's brought a new catto town and Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is a great new way to tame it.

I own many books from "The Missing Manual" series. I couldn't work without them. Easy to understand instructions for all areas of using the newest incarnation of OS X.

I just purchased an IMac from my friend who decided to get the laptop and having used a Mac from way back when thought - what's there to learn? But the new operating system and applications/tools take a bit of getting used to..so easy. But there is always something you can't remember how to configure and this book makes it very easy to find 'how to' and move on. More time to enjoy your new IMac! Highly recommend for anyone just moving back to the 'white side', or an experienced user to quickly go to the answer.

A great book -- I can't imagine anything better -- and yes, it is missing from the OS X Leopard, but hey -- Apple only charged $129 for this product, while the book would add significantly (at least percentage wise) to this price, and many wouldn't need this book even if included. But it is necessary for a newbie like me.

And note that there are other "Missing Manuals" in this series supporting Mac products. For example I already have their iMovie '08 & iDVD manual, and also their iPhoto '08 - a separate manual all by itself. These are all by David Pogue, and are products of O'Reilly Media of Canada. Maybe there are more, and I'll look for them when I get a min. David Pogue BYW is the technology columnist for the New York Times, and an Emmy-winning CBS correspondent besides being the creator of the Missing Manual series.

This is the manual that should've been included with the MAC. It has all the IN's & OUT's of the various applications as well as a guide to the hardware. As a new user to the MAC platform I found it very useful and will keep it handy as a reference tool.

I was looking for more of a "quick guide". This is great if you are looking for a desk reference book.

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Started using Illustrator about two months ago and got lost from time to time and had to spend hours trying to unravel my mistakes. This book is wonderful, it is easy to use and is a big help to the novice. I would recomend it to anyone that wants to get to know the product.
Very happy with this purchase!

The book made light work of the subject. As a novice i was able start producing work in a short time.

I have completed many of the Adobe Classroom in a Book series.
I have come to the conclusion that Adobe can do better.
Many times the structure and sentences are confusing.
Adobe could do a better job if they did an advanced version of the Learning Visually series. That is really what these books are all about, yet many times the reader must reread a simple sentence many times to decipher the true meaning of simple tasks.
I hope with with all their billions they could afford to overhaul the training material for their avid fans (no pun intended).

For anyone attempting to learn the Adobe software, pick up this series. I have used it in Illustrator and Photoshop and they were highly informative and helpful. :)

This is certainly the first book you need to get started with Adobe Illustrator.
Illustrator Classroom in a Book provides practice lessons using most of the features of Adobe Illustrator but does little to explain the hows and whys of the tools. Follow the instructions precisely, and you'll be ready to tackle your own artwork. But skip a step or misunderstand an instruction and you can get lost. This is not a book for the impatient student.

Written in concert with Adobe's development of the Photoshop Lightroom 2 Beta, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers - by #1 bestselling computer and technology author, Scott Kelby - is the most complete and concise Lightroom "how-to" book for digital photographers of all skill levels.

In The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers, Scott walks readers through the basics of Lightroom use, leading them to a brilliantly devised and super efficient digital photography workflow that dramatically improves productivity and allows photographers to spend less time processing photos and more time shooting them.

Throughout the book Scott shares his personal camera and Lightroom settings, as well as the studio-tested techniques he's developed for his own photography workflow. The book is written in his trademark step-by-step, plain English style, and because he knows what really works and what doesn't, he isn't shy to tell you flat out which tools to use, which to avoid, and why. This allows digital photographers of any skill level to jump right in using Lightroom like a pro from the very start, sidestepping a lot of the frustrations that typically haunt those unfamiliar with new applications���|��especially those as powerful as Lightroom.

What really sets The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers apart from other Lightroom books on the market are the last two bonus chapters where Scott answers the questions, "In exactly what order am I supposed to do things in Lightoom," and "Where does Photoshop fit in to the mix?" Both chapters start with an on-location photo shoot, including full details on the equipment, camera settings, and lighting techniques. Readers then witness as he takes the photos from each shoot through the entire workflow process, to the final output of the 16"x20" prints. And, because he incorporates Photoshop seamlessly right into this workflow, you'll learn some of the latest Photoshop techniques for portrait and landscape photography as well.

If you're one of those people who learns best by actually doing the projects yourself; who learns best without all the complicated technical explanations and confusing jargon, and if you really want to start using Lightroom today to unlock the productivity secrets of "The new digital photography workflow,"---there is no faster, more "straight-to-the-point" or more fun way to learn than this groundbreaking new book, and you are absolutely going to love it!