As someone who picked up what CSS he knows from 1) reading online, and 2) doing, I needed a good CSS book, not just to refresh my memory, but also to put things in perspective and generally round up all that CSS is.

I scouted the forums here, and decided on one of the recommendations I found. (And if I could find that thread again, I’d have posted this there.) I settled on “CSS Mastery” by Andy Budd. I’m a bit over halfway through it now and loving it. It’s a really good look at CSS. (My only quibble is that it has too many typos and errors. Small point, though.)

If someone were an absolute CSS novice, it’s probably not for them. But for anyone who has even played with CSS a bit, it would be enlightening.

One of the comments I read on this forum noted that the book is now kept handy for quick reference, and I understand why. It’ll be the same for me.

If anyone has a recommendation for a companion book, it would be appreciated.

CSS Mastery is a fine book. I also have this one, and I think it’s brilliant:

Transcending CSS

Yep you have a very very good book there in CSS Mastery. I read that quite some time back now when it first came out and it helped me tons in understanding what I was learning. A very very polished book indeed.

Best wishes,

Mark

My favorite CSS book hands down.  Transcending is also a great book but it’s a lot lighter on actual code.  However, it covers much more than just code so it is definitely worth taking a look at.

nek4life - 07 May 2008 10:43 AM

My favorite CSS book hands down. Transcending is also a great book but it’s a lot lighter on actual code.  However, it covers much more than just code so it is definitely worth taking a look at.

I had considered Transcending going in, but after reading reviews it seemed, as you say, lighter on actual code and examples. But it’s in the mix for next reading for sure.

I bought that book awhile ago on recommendations on this forum, have read it twice and found it to be very useful. Actually it is open in front of me right now as I am working on a new site layout. Excellent excellent choice.

I also found The Principles of Beautiful Web Design to be very helpful especially the chapters on typography and color theory - both of which I need to re-read.

I’m currently working my way through Beginning JavaScript with DOM Scripting and Ajax: From Novice to Professional and finding that it turns my mind to jello not unlike first year thermodynamics did.

The Linguist - 08 May 2008 06:50 AM

I’m currently working my way through Beginning JavaScript with DOM Scripting and Ajax: From Novice to Professional and finding that it turns my mind to jello not unlike first year thermodynamics did.

I unfortunately have the same problem, same book, but without the thermodynamics experience.

The book that first got me into hard-core CSS coding is CSS Zen Garden. It actually “inspires” you to make beautiful sites with CSS. After that I read CSS Master and it’s perfect. Both books are very different though