Gregg's Book Recommendations

HTML5 and JavaScript

This list is primarily for my students and for the Aging Hacker Blog. There is a predominant O'Reilly bias in these texts. I really think they have done a marvelous job of providing high quality texts. My occassional complaint is that they still permit the authors to get pedantic at times. We still provide our computer science students with too many theory courses! My recommendation for buying O'Reilly books is to first become a member and then buy the electronic editions. As a member, if you buy 2 or more books in electronic format, you get them for half price, most are under $20 and some are under $10. The list:

• Head First HTML5 Programming Building Web Apps with JavaScript by Freeman and Robson, O'Reilly Media, 2011. If you haven't experienced a "Head First" book this may be a bit annoying, but if you go with it, this book gets you up to speed very fast on both HTML5 and JavaScript. Of all the books I have read on HTML5 and JavaScript, I think this is the best firt book on both. A must have.
• JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, 6th Edition by David Flanagan, O'Reilly Media, 2011. The book on all things JavaScript. Stunningly comprehensive. A must have if you do substantial JavaScript.
• JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford, O'Reilly Media, 2008. This book shows you how to code clean and maintainable JavaScript. I would recommend it after a few months of JavaScript hacking, so that you understand the pitfalls that he discusses. Another definite library addition for the JavaScript developer. In general the "Good Parts" books from O'Reilly are mindblowing, except, unfortunately, for the Java book.
• Creating a Website: The Missing Manual, 3rd Edition by Matthew MacDonald, O'Reilly Media, 2011. A great intro book on html, web site design, CSS, ... . Highly recommended.