Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML

• #1 in Best Cascading Style Sheets Books

240 Reviews

Sort by: Most Helpful ▲ Date Rating

The "Head First" series by O'Reilly does it again. This book manages to take the conceptually easy yet complicated task of learning HTML, XHTML, and CSS and breaks it down so that anyone can figure out what is going on and what needs to be done in web page design using these technologies. Plus, if you learned HTML several years ago and you would like to update your skills to current technology, this is a great choice for a textbook.
The book starts out with the basics of HTML -text, webpage form via HTML, putting your webpage on the Internet and linking to other web resources, and adding images and thumbnails. Next the author tackles XHTML, starting by answering the questions What is XHTML? and Why would I want to use XHTML? The author composes three simple steps to take you from strict HTML to XHTML:
1. Change your DOCTYPE to XHTML 1.0 Strict.
2. Add the xmins, lang, and xml:lang attributes to your element.
3. All empty tags should end in "/>" not ">".
Next, CSS is introduced, along with the properties that can be controlled via CSS. When you read the CSS chapters you'll find yourself asking "Why don't other books just SAY this plainly like THIS book does?". Eventually, the author has you doing advanced layout and control using all the tools available to you without you ever noticing that you've been "studying". The book concludes with lessons on interactivity and tables. I think it is most interesting that the author saves the subject of tables for the end of the book versus other texts that usually introduce them early on. This is because the author is using the more advanced lessons on CSS to help make the subject of tabular data less confusing. The book's final chapter is entitled "The Top Ten Topics We Didn't Cover", thus acknowledging that this is not an advanced book on webpage design. Each chapter has a "There Are No Dumb Questions" section that answers common questions that may be a source of confusion to the reader.
Since this book is designed to be a textbook and not a reference, you might find it handy to have a copy of O'Reilly's "HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide" as a reference since it lists virtually all of the HTML tags and their properties.

******
This book SHOULD receive 6+ stars.

Are you tired of reading reference manuals? Get ready for some fun with "Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML". This is not your ordinary technical manual. It is funny, interesting, VERY helpful---even for seasoned professionals, great for beginners, and unlike anything you've ever seen before, unless you're familiar with other "Head First" books.

I wish, I wish, I pray, that instructors will read this book and see that learning can be fun, interesting, and enjoyable. If you purchase this book, no matter what your level of HTML familiarity, I guarantee that you will be entertained and informed. Even if you have spent years designing web sites, you won't mind spending $23 to read a prototype of what technical manuals SHOULD be but never are...until now!!

Buy this book....you won't be sorry.

I stayed up until midnight last night reading answers to questions I'd always wanted to ask but never knew who to ask them of...and being fascinated. A true beginner will need to study this book. A professional will laugh and be refreshed and have a lot of fun with it. All should purchase it and support a new way of learning!
******

I've been involved with the Head First series as a reviewer from the beginning and, as such, my review might be biased, but I will regret not telling you how good this book is.

The Internet is fast becoming a means of sharing one's life with friends, colleagues and anybody out there who is prepared to listen. Some start by telling their story using a blog; the more adventurous create their own web sites, and it is that category of person that this book is aimed at. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this book, and the whole series, seems too upbeat and too young for you. This book is for all ages, The Head First series is designed to make learning fun, and though it was originally aimed at the younger generation, I personally think that old age pensioners will be able to learn HMTL the correct way just as easily as their grand children if they use this book - and you will be sooo cool if you have this book on your shelf when they, the grand kids, visit again next time.

The emphasis in this book is on creating web pages the correct way, to make pages that will work correctly in any browser. If you work through Elisabeth and Eric's book, you will end up with a web site that can withstand anything the W3C's Markup Validation Service can throw at it. And when your web pages pass the validation, you can put the W3C's cool "passed validation" logo on your site. A sign of recognition that you know what you are doing.

This book does not require you to have prior HTML knowledge; it takes you by the hand and teaches you everything you need from scratch. But don't be fooled, I was the review manager for this book and even some of the reviewers with years of HTML knowledge under their belt learnt new things from it. Sure, it isn't a complete HTML reference book, and it does not intend being one, but it lays the foundations for a solid start to becoming a true HTML/CSS expert.

I think this book should become the standard text book in HTML/CSS courses in schools, colleges and even professional training centers.

I highly recommend it to all. It will make the perfect Christmas gift for your family, all ages !!!, friends and even colleagues who are thinking about or are doing something with a web site of their own.
Have fun.

Like I said, I might be biased, but I am sure an independent reviewer will confirm what I said.

My 8-year-old son has long wanted to learn about this mysterious thing I do at work but I've really struggled to find a book written in an engaging, approachable style that didn't sacrifice good practices (semantic markup, standards, etc.) My son devoured it, whipping through 80 pages the first day. But as he was pointing out some things he'd discovered I encountered a few *unexpected* phrases. Upon reading the prose more closely than I had upon my initial content evaluation, I've so far discovered a "kick-a**", "what the h***", and "d***" just in the first chapter. It's a shame because it makes absoultely NO relevant contribution to the learning experience and it makes an otherwise excellent work unsuitable for an audience for which it would otherwise be well suited. I actually *appreciate* the book's irreverance for the norm - it adds to the character of the book and the aids retention, but the language was totally unnecessary and there was no warning given anywhere in the book's intro, title pages, endings -- nothing. Given the likelihood that the Head First style would appeal to younger audiences (if not 8-year-olds) it seems it would have been reasonable at least to have provided a warning (or better yet, to have avoided the ridiculous language choices in the first place.) Bad call guys, but an otherwise good product.

I know this Head First series looks silly, but the content is very in-depth, up to date and accurate. And the format of the book makes some of the harder technical pills much easier to swallow.

If learning HTML and CSS is in your future then I highly recommend this book to get you there.

When I purchased this book I wanted more than a hip, new-age way of getting me to absorb the material, I wanted the exercises in the book to work. Like myself, the 30 or so other reviewers were influenced to purchase the book by the pictures, cartoons, and sometimes irreverent prose. None of us could test out the book's exercises in the store. I can't vouch for the other reviewers, but once I got the book in front of my computer I began at the beginning and in the first exercise, Uh oh, problems. I am not alone. One just has to go to the HeadFirstLabs online forums to read that the exercise apparently wasn't tested on the world's most popular browser, IE6. If the first, and what logically should prove to be the simplest exercise in the book is flawed, what disappointments and frustrations do the following 620 pages have in store for us IE users.

A quick caveat if you're thinking of buying this book. ITS FOR BEGINNERS ONLY. The 'beginners and experts alike' tagline is a misnomer. Nothing new here, and what is presented is done so in a very patronising manner. If other books haven't helped this one might.

Like so many other instructional books these days, this one is written for those who can't read a page of text unless there are several sidebars, illustrations, cartoons, etc., on every page. Today's authors apparently feel they have to pander to young people addicted since childhood to video games and incessant multitasking by littering their books with what are in effect non-stop popups. I find it very annoying. This isn't a bad book, and there is a lot of information in it, but why oh why does it have to be so noisy? A little strictly sequential thought never hurt anyone, but it only comes with disciplined focus and practice! We should be encouraging linear thought, not allowing it to be marginalized in this way.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned . . . well, yes, I suppose I am.

But if you want a serious book, get Schultz and Cook's Beginning HTML with CSS and XHTML instead. A much more quiet and calm approach to what turns out after all to be a not very complicated subject.

I passed over this book initially because it looked too goofy, and the first half of the book seemed to take a lot of pages to cover HTML, which I basically already knew. I picked up Richard York's Beginning CSS instead, because it seemed more serious, and it looked a lot more dense with technical detail.

What a mistake. Beginning CSS was incredibly obtuse and difficult to get through, and the examples were just ugly (not to mention they don't work properly in any browser). A couple hundred pages in, I got lost in all the "direct adjacent sibling combinators" and "@import notations" and I gave up.

Then I decided to give Head First HTML a shot. It's about the same thickness as Beginning CSS, but it's much much much easier to read. The type is bigger, and there are lots of illustrations and puzzles and what-not. Most importantly, it's written much more clearly. The examples are easy to code, they look great, and they actually work in real web browsers.

I got through the book in about a week and a half, and boom, I know how to write standards-compliant XHTML & CSS. Obviously, I still have plenty of room for advancement, but I know enough to put together some pretty decent web pages. The book is up-to-date (it even mentions iWeb, which was just released earlier this year), and it really does make the learning process easy and, dare I say, fun.

Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML is totally unlike any other HTML book I've ever read -- or owned. Most are basic references -- "if you want this, do this" type books. Very dry and dull, not something you're going to sit and read in one setting. Not helpful to someone who is not technologically inclined who wants to learn how to "do a website."

This book is written to teach. It's written so that you remember what you read, using techniques that teachers are being taught to use in the classroom. And it's one that I would actually use in the classroom if I were still teaching Computer Applications.

The first thing you notice about the book is that it's colorful. Normally, the only color in an HTML book is the chart of colors and their hex codes (which, ironically, this book doesn't have). Even the acknowledgements include color pictures of the people they are thanking. And everything in the book is worth reading through -- including the acknowledgements and the table of contents. There's a healthy use of humor throughout that makes it worth actually reading through, rather than just using as a reference.

And that's the point. The authors are quick to say that if you're looking for another HTML reference book, to keep looking. This is a book for people who want to learn.

I wasn't sure how much I'd really learn from this book -- after all, I'd just read and reviewed Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual. But while that book gave me a good basis for understanding CSS, this book has expanded my understanding considerably. I've got a CSS reference book that has been seldom used; I think I'll be dusting it off soon, because I know enough to be able to use it now.

If you've ever had a family member who wanted you to design a website for them, buy them Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML. If you've ever asked a family member to design you a web site, buy this book. If you've ever bought an HTML book and ended up using it to level your desk, or for kindling on a cold winter day, buy this book. This is the book you've been waiting for. This is the learning system you've been waiting for.

Our department has been making good use of the Head First series of books while we move out of our legacy applications and replace them with Java and Java related technologies. Many of the legacy app's are being replaced with JSP based web applications where CSS is used to present the common corporate look. We again turned to Head First to brush up on our HTML skills and learn what CSS is all about.

What an awesome book! It is both engaging and educating at the same time. The authors cover tons of information in a way that makes this dry subject something to look forward to and not to dread. Any college or tech school that offers an introductory course into this subject should consider using this book as a primary source for teaching.

I had previously though I was fairly fluent in HTML but I found a few things in the first 7 chapters I did not fully know. Even though this section was mostly review, I did not mind going through the exercise. Then once I got into the application of CSS concepts, Wow! Why had I shied away from CSS for so long?

I agree with the previous reviews...A book for the experts? No. A great reference book? Not great but OK. A book to get you going and get you 80% into the world of web page creation? Absolutely. Head First folks, keep up the great work!

To learn HTML / CSS, you will probably need three books 1) a book to help you learn the topic; 2) a reference; 3) a book that describes the hacks and tricks for getting your own designs to work in various browers. This book does an excellent job of covering the first topic. It does not bill itself as a book for experts, or a reference.

It's well written in an engaging way that turns a potentially dry topic into a more conversational read. It has useful examples that are well-presented and that continue and build throughout the book. Examples are accomanied by sidebars and out-takes that break up the format in an engaging way that helps understand the material, why things work the way they do, alternative designs and their trade-offs.

My only gripe about the book and the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is that it seems to side-step the browser compatibility issue.

We're using this book in a college course I'm taking. This book contains a massive amount of REALLY good information, which has been buried in a landslide of unnecessary blather. Add to this the complete lack of a sensible, extensive index, and this book leaves me so frustrated, I am nearly ready to drop the class. (see below..)

The vast amount of useful information in the book makes it difficult to remember it all at one time. But it's impossible to refer back and find something a week after I've read it without leafing through an entire chapter or more, page by page, because the index is so brief and incomplete.

With a good, complete index, I'd give this book 4.5 stars for it's excellent content (withholding 1/2 star for all the blather). Without a usable index, the book is nearly worthless to me.

GOOD NEWS UPDATE!! The O'Reilly people have replied to my complaint about the index. They're compiling, and will be uploading a complete, extensive index online in January 2008! Too late for my class, but hey! Someone really does listen. Thanks, O'Reilly!

This book was written like it should be for children. It's very hard to read because it's formatted like a third grade English book. This is not a good book to learn HTML, CSS, or XHTML with, not even as a starter book.
I can truly say this book was the most disappointing book I have ever bought. I'm sorry to be so negative, but this book is just ridiculous. Don't waste your money.

So far I am about a third of the way through this book and can say that it is definitely a well written book.

Why 4 Stars then? All of the examples are MAC based. It may not sound like much but when you are still in the first chapter and the little bit of CSS code they give you does not show up properly, and immediately gives you a headache trying to figure out why it's not, then you will know what I am talking about. Yes I tried the code in Firefox (Linux) and IE (M$) with the same results. It works only in the mac browser.

Then in chapter 5 it goes into image editing and expects you to download and install "Photoshop Elements" to complete the chapter. If they had written this book based on the most prolific OS they could have used the free image editing tool included with it. While not as great as MAC imaging it would have been fine for what this chapter taught.

Overall it's a 4 Star book that would have been 5 Stars if written from a PC perspective. You know... the OS that's on 95% of all desktops in the world? It might not be the best OS (Go Linux!) but it would have lessened the number of headaches.

Expect to learn a thing or two about CSS, that's about it. This book does not even cover drop down menus, which is a basic requirement for web design. Some of the most essential CSS tags are missing. CSS sample codes available all over the internet will teach better in more details at zero cost.

What distinguishes "Head First: HTML With CSS and XHTML" from the plenitude of books about learning about creating web pages is its novel teaching approach. It takes knowledge from modern developments in the science of cognition to develop a teaching approach designed to increase learning and retention using a checklist of techniques. It emphasizes use of visual and graphic elements to facilitate learning, the placing of words near graphics, use of a conversational and personalized writing style, engaging the reader's emotions, and grabbing attention by eye and brain-catching presentations. All of this is plausible pedagogically and I believe it works. After reading 655 pages of technical material, rarely did it feel tedious, difficult, or confusing.

The subject matter is basic coding with XHTML and CSS and is designed for beginner code writers and web page creators. It explains basic material for understanding and writing standards-compliant code. It is not a reference book and it does not dig deeply into its topics. Many readers may find the instructional approach highly appealing as it does make reading fun. Learning is likely to be enhanced by the brain stimulation provided by the many dozens of activities, like crossword puzzles, tests, exercises, and question and answer sections.

This is a handsomely produced volume with heavyweight glossy paper, clear, detailed photographs, and many illustrations and graphics. It is easy on the eye and stimulating to the brain. The discussion is suitable for virtually any beginners in XHTML and CSS. The presentation will appeal to the MTV generation especially, with its high density of graphics, bold illustrations, and low-density text.

Authors Elisabeth Freeman and Eric Freeman are software developers and computer scientists. The book emphasizes standards-compliant coding for all the right reasons - newer browsers may not correctly display older noncompliant code, accessibility for handicapped web users is heightened, efficiencies in code writing is enhanced, and more options are available for web page authors to display and style their content. It covers HTML 4.01 and XHTML, and covers both Mac and PC aspects of the topics.

After a couple of very basic chapters dealing with rudimentary HTML and hypertext, the authors turn to the building blocks of satisfactory, compliant coding - sketching structures, adding elements, learning inline vs. block element positioning, and similar items.

There are small sections throughout which inform on various related matters, like dealing with different browsers, using a hosting company and organizing one's site, but the bulk and better of the material deals with systematic construction of web pages using essential building blocks.

Headings, paragraphs, images, element identification, and the various components of CSS styling are carefully described and explained via examples using sample sites. The writing throughout is very clear and straightforward (as enhanced by the teaching elements noted earlier). The best chapter in my view is Chapter 10 explaining the "box model" of XHTML elements. The components of padding, margins, content, and body are very well illustrated within the context of the examples.

The chapter on layout is also very well done, showing how to create two and three column layouts and addressing how to handle common layout problems in positioning. Other matters covered include floating elements, liquid and frozen designs, and relative and absolute positioning.

Later chapters cover using XHTML to create lists, tables and forms, and then styling with CSS. The sections or CSS are very clear, but limited. This is an introduction, after all, and most of the most important and useful style components are described and illustrated. More advanced components like DIV and SPAN are covered nicely. The sections on classes and pseudo-classes are well done.

This is a fine introduction to the topics for the nontechnical reader. Higher-level computer types will not be satisfied; those people not attracted to the unconventional presentation may not be pleased. But, for the most part, this is a worthwhile introduction to the topics.

I know HTML and XML (I've designed a number of domain-specific XML vocabularies). The problem is my HTML knowledge was acquired in the dawn of the WWW when Mosaic was new technology and one could actually have a site announcing the dozen or so new sites appearing on the web each week. This was pre-CSS too. My skills needed some serious updating.

The first few chapters of the book are certainly elementary and I just skimmed them. But starting with chapter five I started getting new and useful information. Those first four chapters would be great for someone starting ab-initio. (I'll test them on my wife and kids.)

The rest of the book is good for fixing my bad-old HTML 1.0 habits and transitioning to strict XHTML. And by the end of the book I actually understood CSS, which had always been a black art to me.

I'm using my new-found knowledge to build some web sites using an XHTML template for Joomla and CSS for all the styling.

The treatment is light and fun, but not nearly as smarmy and condescending as, say, the XXX For Dummies series. It is kind of neat how they match the visual personalities of the make-believe actors with the questions and topics.

This is NOT a reference manual: you'll be very disappointed if you buy it for that purpose. Instead, read this book and keep it nearby when coding up your web sites; use an on-line XHTML or CSS reference when you need it.

If you want to learn HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 (along with a healthy dose of CSS), this is the book.

You don't just read through the book. It is not laid out in the traditional "This is the 'a' tag, blah, blah, blah .. now the 'b' tag, blah, blah ..." After you wake up from your nap from reading those types of books, you haven't really learned a thing.
This book wants you to be involved. If you simply read through it, you are missing the point. There are many exercises that get you involved in writing the code. I'm a big believer in the "learn by doing" philosophy and this book lives by that credo.

Not only does it give you the code exercises, it tells you what the code you are writing does. And before you know it, by Chapter 7, you are writing strict XHTML 1.0 code. It sounds simplistic, but I've seen lots of books that simply throw the code at you and you are supposed to understand by osmosis, the force, or some deity exactly what you just wrote.

If there are any faults, Chapter 13 and 14 seem a bit out of place, but tables and forms are presented well. You'll also be chomping at the bit to learn CSS, but really have to wait until Chapter 8 -- this makes sense when you realize that the authors want you to get basic structure down before you tackle design.

Chapter 12 is worth the price of the book -- you can pretty much re-arrange some XHTML and CSS here and there and make a very professional page of your own. But by then, you really understand how everything works, so you can do a lot of educated tweaking.

Highly recommended -- would be a great textbook. As mentioned in other reviews, you might want to get a copy of the pocket references (you don't need the big versions after this book)for CSS and HTML/XHTML that O'Reilly puts out. They are about $10 US apiece and cover some of the few tags/selectors that the book doesn't cover.

Written very "cute" and easy to understand - definitely only meant for BEGINNERS who have never developed an HTML website (properly). A little overdone on the extra text in the book (there are "conversations" between the elements, for instance)

This book is also perfect for TEENS who are learning to develop generic websites.

No content pertaining to advanced coding or browser compatibility (such as "fixes" in CSS for browsers)

If you have already developed a properly coded HTML website, this book is not for you. If you are looking to develop XHTML and/or CSS websites, this book has very little information. More than half the book is about HTML only.

Nice book for starter HTML designers.

You want a lecturer to sit next to you and teach you HTML @ CSS?
This book is just that. I have bought training cd's on this subject and compared to this book they are absolute rubbish.
The whole essence of this book is the transfer of knowledge.
You can go from nothing to a very competent web designer in a few days, this is the cheapest most effective training I have ever had.
You have to read the book from beginning to end, it is not a reference manual. It is 650 pages but it reads quick, lots of graphics, you can easily do 100 pages a day.

Long reviews can be informative. But sometimes they're so long that people don't read them. So I'm gonna keep this one short...
This is my fourth "Head First" book. If you see a "Head First" book on a topic that interests you, buy it and read it. Period.

This is the first "head first" book I've read, and unfortunately it will probably be my last.

I actually don't have a problem with the material covered in the book. It seems pretty complete. But to me, having to wade through all the "cutsie-poo" little pictures and notes and jokes and all that just leads to a book that is difficult to pick up and find the info you need. I suppose if your goal is to be amused, then by all means pick up this book. But if what you are trying to do is learn so that you can accomplish something in an effecient way, then I'd definitely buy something different.

I'll leave the "head first" book to the teens, I want my medicine "straight up" and strong, not watered down like this.

I would put myself in the "intermediate" HTML/CSS coding catagory, and there was still plenty for me in this book (even though it's designed for beginners). And that's the great part - beginners will definitely be able to undestand, learn, and design using this book, and people who already have a firm grasp of HTML and CSS will also find useful info in here.

Many people who have been coding for a while learned by doing, or learned haphazardly (like me), and as a result there are some basic concepts which I missed. This book addresses those concepts. And, XHTML is still new - and this book explains it - and why you may want to use it - superbly.

The most useful section for me (so far) is the chapter on code validation and etc. What a simple and straight-forward explanation! Now I can stop screaming at the validator, choose the right doctype, make a few minor adjustments (and switch to XHTML no less!) and have my code validate! Yay!

Okay - 103 positive reviews so far - will my voice count? I feel I owe it to the authors of this book to express my thoughts. So, here's my review, which I also posted on the publishers' (O'Reilly) site.

I spent five years designing table-based sites using Dreamweaver's Design Mode, during which I aged 10 years and pulled a bushel of hair. Recognizing at last - doh - that CSS/XHTML would give me wonderful control, I purchased four books and grimly vowed that I would learn HTML or die.

As it turned out, the experience was not grim. Three of the books were quite useful - but this was, by far, the best. (The others were Creating a Web Page With HTML, a really good 126-pg. quick tutorial by Elizabeth Castro; and CSS: The Missing Manual. I found Elizabeth Castro's longer book, HTML, XHTML, & CSS, less useful, as it contained little material that wasn't covered in the Head First and Missing Manual books).

I was initially a bit dumfounded by the simple language of the Head First book, but quickly accepted the Freemans' explanation of the underlying tested learning principles. And, indeed, I learned better with this book. Occasionally, I'll need to look in the Missing Manual - e.g., it includes more information on workarounds for Internet Explorer. But in all other respects, this is simply a wonderful introduction to HTML for beginners. I think it would also be excellent for designers who want to learn the basics of coding.

I'm still using Dreamweaver, but I'm screaming much less.

This book has wonderful graphics and does a good job of trying to not be dry. All that being said, it is introductory material. If you have some experience with the subjects of this book, you may find it to be too basic as I did. It is another dust collector for me.

I have experience in HTML and CSS; however, I had not dealt with them in some time (five years or so). I needed to find a book that would get to the basics, yet at the same time NOT be so exhaustive that I would find myself dozing. Can anyone blame me for not wanting to be bored to death by wordy descriptions?

I happened to be in a Borders bookstore when I found this little gem, and, needless to say, I do not regret buying it impulsively. (Though I do wish that I had purchased it here -- I'd have saved myself a lot of cash.) I went home directly that night and dove straight into it. I devoured the book in four days - it's 650 pages long, not including the index!

I have found this to be hands-down one of the best books on what could have potentially been a daunting subject. However, Elisabeth Freeman and Eric Freeman were so professional in the content they placed within this book and it's layout that I have NOTHING but positive things to say about this book. I was concerned about XHTML, and now I see I had nothing to be concerned about at all.

I've developed computer based training, and there are certain principles of instructional design that are important to adhere to -- namely engaging the student, challenging them to think outside of the box, building on concepts in a logical matter, and re-enforcing points so the student actually learns. The authors of this book do that and more.

In short, I highly, highly recommend this book to both the absolute novice and those like myself who've been away a bit. I also read a great deal of historical, biographical, and fictional books, and quite often I find that I dread the end of the book. For those considering buying this book, let me tell you something a bit odd... As I drew to the end of this book, I felt that same dread! I kid you not. This book was that good.

Needless to say, I will be purchasing more books from this title.

This is a true learner's guide to building standards-based Web pages. It includes a lot of information on common HTML and CSS traps and pitfalls as well as why common conceptions about style are often wrong. To help the reader actually learn the material in a fun and friendly manner it includes a lot of puzzles and exercises and other material that make it a joy to learn. This is truly a guide for the non-programmer that will have them quickly up to speed on how to design and build a web site. One of the virtues of this particular book is that the authors relate common problems and frustrations of users and how to avoid them in your website.

The authors take one of the most successful approaches to learning - read about it, try it, see the results, try something different, see the results, etc. Everything is done is a logical step-by-step fashion with small steps first explained and then applied and you see the results right away. An extensive introduction, it is one of the easiest and definitely the most fun way to learn HTML, CSS and XHTML from no knowledge to an intermediate level. Throughout the book the authors make great use of sidebars, photos, illustrations, notes, and other elements to keep the reader interested in the subject. Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML is highly recommended.

For those looking to learn HTML and/or CSS, you will not find a better book than 'Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML' by Elisabeth and Eric Freeman.

Period.

When I turned the book over to look at the retail price for this encyclopedia-sized guide, I had to look twice just to make sure I was reading it correctly, and that was just the price printed on the back cover, never mind the price you will find online!

Checking in at over 650 pages, this is the kind of bargain you just don't see any more. The # of pages for the price listed alone would make anyone interested in this book without even opening to the first page, but for those that do decide to start reading, you are in for an absolute treat.

Full color pages are the rule, not the exception in this guide, and the writing is absolutely fantastic. Clear examples, big print, highlighting throughout -- all I can say is WOW!!!

I've read a lot of HTML books and there are many good ones out on the market. But if you want to learn HTML the easy way at home without having to drive to a class, this is the closest you will get to having a web developer lecturing in front of you. Buy this book if you want to go from thinking the only web that exists is the one in your basement to experiencing the wonders of the Internet and how YOU can add to the virtual world with you own unique style and attitude.

OUTSTANDING!!!

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECCOMENDATION

I TEND TO CRITISIZE THOSE WHO SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT A BOOK, BECAUSE A BOOK SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR JUST BEEN OUT THERE, BUT I COULD NOT LET THIS ONE SLIP BY.
THIS BOOK IS EXTREMILY SLOW, YOU OPEN A GRAPHIC IN PAGE 5 FOR INSTANCE AND SEE THE SAME GRAPHIC IN PAGE 267 WITH THE SAME BLOCK SCROLLED TO THE RIGHT THIS TIME. THE AUTHOR WORKS WITH A PORTAL UGLIER THAN THE ONE EBAY HAS.
THE FIRST LIKE 270 PAGES TALKS ABOUT HTML WITH A COUPLE OF TAGS REFERED OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NICE SITES YOU SEE OUT THERE.
VERY SHALOW CONTENT, (NOT EVEN THE JOKES ARE WORTH THE BOOK)
SORRY GUYS, NOW I CAN SLEEP BETTER AT NITE.

I knew that creating web pages using the out-of-the-box software systems had its challenges. Sure the pages looked nice to me but I kept getting reports that other browsers weren't displaying my work as I had intended. I had a basic understanding of HTML (old school, serious old school) until I got this book. I read it cover to cover in just 3 evenings (I do read fast) then I jumped right in to create my web site. I'm so thrilled with how much I learned then when I went to the great Gods of WWW to find out if my pages were well written, after a few adjustments (that I actually understood thanks to this book), I now have a fully approved site.

What I'm saying here is that this book is fantastic. It gave me just the tools I needed to build a foundation and I know the questions to ask to learn more. Sometimes that's half the battle. I have a couple of companion reference books that I use now that I have the basics down and I feel like I can build anything I want on the web.

Next stop ... javascript!

This book is great for a true beginner. Don't skip any steps or parts. I was amazed with how quickly I could write HTML. If you know nothing of HTML, this is the book for you.

this is a very good book for beginners. TSTC Waco is using it for the intro class in the webmaster 2 year degree program. Covers HTML , XHTML, AND CSS STYLE SHEETS in detail. A lot of screen shots showing what the code should look like. Which, for a beginner is VERY IMPORTANT! If you do not know the code how else would you know that you got it right if something small is wrong. The only fault I have with the book compared to my first HTML book is there is not a quick reference card printed on the back cover. This is a minor thing but is handy for quick review.

I usually don't feel compelled to post reviews for anything, but I felt the need to write one for Head First HTML...I was a complete newbie when it came to web design and HTML (my background is in print work). Now, after reading 12 of the 15 chapters of this book(I'm finding myself re-reading div/span and layout and positioning chapters so the concepts really sink in), I feel competent and confident in my knowledge of HTML and CSS. I absolutley feel like this book has given me a solid foundation that I will be building on as I learn more about designing pages. Head First HTML is well written, the pages aren't loaded with endless paragraphs of text, the entire book is broken up nicely in terms of graphics and content. One thing that intimidated me was learning CSS. After reading the getting started with CSS chapter, it finally clicked!

If you are a web design newbie, you will come away with a solid understanding of CSS and much more if you read Head First HTML. That is a guarantee. I still can't believe I bought this for only twenty-three bucks from Amazon...It's worth so much more.

It's glitzy and pretty and empty. I was trying to learn about internal anchors in documents and I could find nothing of value except cute images and non-explanations. I went back to my old brute-force 1995 methods and they worked. The verbiage and pictures don't refresh anyone's memory, they contribute nothing to it.

Every single one of the glowing reviews on this site is spot-on. There really isn't much I can say that will add anything new here, but I will say that this book and its methods made HTML, XHTML and CSS crystal clear to me. Other books I read on the subject were helpful, but the whole CSS thing just wasn't "clicking." CSS seemed cumbersome, awkward, and I was wondering if I would ever be able to understand it. Well, not only did I learn it, I went from knowing next to nothing when the book arrived October 25, 2007 to being able to design and code stylish web pages that meet HTML 4.01 Strict standards - by November 12, 2007. I have read a lot of instruction guides/textbooks, but I have NEVER read a book even remotely like this. I can't recommend it highly enough without blathering on like a giddy idiot. This book, coupled with Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition are two must-haves in any aspiring web developer's library. Thanks to both, I no longer feel I'm just "muddling through."

First, let me say: this book is NOT pants.

I am a frontend engineer for one of the world's top 5 web companies. Even at such a company, I frequently encounter backend engineers and content producers who don't know the first thing about semantic markup, CSS presentation layers, or unobtrusive Javascript. The result with engineers is a constant battle to keep content, presentation and functionality separate. With content producers, we end up with articles that are completely non reusable -- they would quickly break if the page context within which they are embedded changes.

This book helps me bridge that gap of understanding. It speaks in easy to understand language, utilises lots of colour pictures, and more or less holds the reader's hand through what could otherwise be an insurmountable topic. Even if someone only makes it through a couple of chapters, if they've any intelligence at all, they'll grasp the basics of what you've been trying to tell them.

If you're a frontend web engineer, this book absolutely belongs on your shelf for people to borrow.

If you are looking for a different approach than most web design books take, this is for you. I have really appreciated the style of this book in teaching a high school web design class.

Rather than just throw code your way with dry explanations of what the code does, or pursue over in-depth discussions on the importance of following web standards, Head First uses a great combinations of clear and really well illustrated explanations and exercises to bring you along in your learning.

Reading the book is a lot of fun and almost effortless.

A critique of the book, but also its strength, is that it does not go into a lot of depth about what all tags mean, and their optional attributes. Rather it gives you a big picture and gives you just enough explanation so that you don't get lost (but maybe don't understand everything).

I would certainly recommend this as one of your primary resources for learning html, xhtml, and css although you will benefit from also having a more "reference" type book as well.

This is the greatest book ever for people who want to learn how to make a website! It doesn't assume that you know anything. It starts from the basics. I am already a web designer but I got this book to learn more. I already knew most of the stuff from the first few chapters, but this book changed the way I work by making things a whole lot easier. There is some humor on almost every page, which keeps you interested. I can't recommend this book strongly enough.

Having been absent from web development since 1997, I decided to get up to speed with modern web page technology. I also heard a lot about these Head First books in regards to how they take a fresh approach to learning, so I decided to see what all the hype is about. The best part about the book is its amazingly clear explanations and presentation. You don't get a headache from reading this book and often enjoy moving onto the next chapter. Having said that, I could do with a little less of the cutsie stuff in it as well as some of the intended repetition. The authors claim to present the material in a way that you are less likely to forget it. I have mixed results on that one. Some stuff has stuck, especially for the items I did examples for, while other stuff has quickly faded. Part of this is likely due to the book repeating styles. For example, by time you read the fifth Fireside Chat or debate, your mind grows bored of the humor or concept. Despite a few compliants, I think this is the best introductory book on XHTML/CSS for all skill levels. As a computer scientist myself, I get some criticism from my peers for reading this "short bus" book, but I've always believed that learning should be as easy as possible no matter how educated or smart you think you are. Rating: 4.5 stars

This book is so good it should have some kind of cult following. I've read a few books on HTML and CSS and this is definitely the best -- by far. I would say it's most appropriate for beginner to intermediate.

It's a huge book at 650 pages, but I was kind of sad when it ended. I'm looking forward to the sequel, if one ever comes out.

As an instructional designer, I spend most of my day (okay, the part of my day when I'm not playing online Mah Jong) trying to design training that will both engage the learner and ensure long-lasting knowledge retention; believe me, it's hard to do both, especially with technical instruction. Sadly, most training materials (especially technical manuals) spew forth an avalanche of terms and jargon, all with the tacit belief that if you want to learn something badly enough, then you will slog through the mire to get that knowledge. When my local Adobe Users Group offered Elisabeth and Eric Freeman's "Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML" to someone for review, I accepted the mission. However, instead of finding a dry, overly-technical tome that would cure anyone's insomnia, I found a well-written, cleanly-designed book that uses educational design to teach skills in a way that anyone can grasp. More importantly, the book's design makes sure that the information sticks with you.

First and foremost, know that the authors' primary audience is the html novice. (They don't even assume that a reader has a high level of computer proficiency. If you can open your text editor and save files, you're golden.) However, because the book's scope runs from basic html through xhtml, more advanced users can jump into the fray later in the book and still learn a lot. The authors take the reader through basic html- and Web-related terms, stopping to examine how servers and Web sites interact, before plunging into page creation, design, and XHTML.

However, if that was all that could be said about the book, then it would be no more valuable than the five kajillion other html books on the market. No, the true value of Head First HTML is the way in which information is presented. (Amazingly, the authors even explain their educational design in the book's beginning.) They use conversational English to help readers grasp content quicker, as opposed to more traditional manuals that follow the dictate that instruction is only valuable when it's confusing. Additionally, they use images (black-and-white and color pictures, as well as drawings and clip art images) to help visual learners. Best of all, they incorporate hundreds of puzzles and exercises into the book to make sure that not only will you understand what you just read, but you'll be able to use that knowledge. (The application exercises are great because they don't follow the standard multiple choice question model. Studies show that learners are more likely to retain knowledge when they apply it soon after they learn it.)

I cannot say enough good things about Head First HTML. If you want to learn html or the more advanced design elements of xhtml, but have been afraid to take the plunge because of horrid instructional manuals, buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

Bill Bridges
Johns Hopkins Adobe Users Group

I just turned 14 a month ago, and this textbook was super easy to read. I shouldn't really call it a textbook, because when I picture a textbook, I imagine a really boring, pictureless, hard-to-read reference. This book is the complete opposite. It has pictures on just about every page, all the hard words are defined so a two-year-old could understand them, and best of all, on top of all the pizazz it dosn't stray away from teaching HTML, CSS, and XHTML.

This is the first Head First book I've worked with and I have to say that I'm impressed with how it streamlines the learning process. I learned a little about web design in college and from an out dated how-to book from the library, but this book was able to fill in the gaps in my knowledge with understandable explanations (that even the college course lacked) while remaining engaging.

A couple of downsides:
1. The book assumes that you have a full-time, high speed internet connection, and relies on examples and validation services on the internet. Something that's somewhat annoying (but not insurmountable) readers restricted to dial-up.

2. This book is long. The meat of the subject matter is diluted by all of the content that's meant to streamline the learning process. This isn't necessarilly a bad thing unless you process information like a computer instead of a human. It does make the book inadequate as a reference though.

That said, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good base knowledge about web design.

When I first picked this up, I thought "Wait, I've been doing web sites for years. I know a lot about HTML." Well I was wrong. I learned quite a few things about HTML & CSS I previously was unaware of. Not only does this book contain a wealth of information for any web designer (or beginners wanting to learn more), but it conveys that information in a way that's at times funny, entertaining and informative, all at the same time. This is the kind of book that makes you "want" to learn, as opposed to "needing" to learn. Not only are there coded examples, but there are exercises in each chapter to help you learn. And with all the humorous little bits throughout the book, in addition to the diagrams and illustrations you can;t help but walk away feeling like HTML is a breeze to learn.

I wish there'd been a book like this when I first started to learn web design several years ago. It would have saved me some mistakes along the way, which I've now had to unlearn as well as deleting from the sites I maintain. The Head First series is one of the best ones O'Reilly has ever published, which is saying a lot considering the high quality books they have published. Not only that, it's set up in a way where it is easy to go back and refer to various topics once you're finished reading the book. I can see I'll have this book a long time.

I wish I had this book before I started tinkering with HTML. Sure I managed to pull things from websites together to mash together a page, but I had no clue what I was really doing. This tome literally could have saved me hours. Even better, it helped me transform my hackneyed code into HTML 4.01 compliant and ushered in new techniques and methods.

It is a great book for non-IT folks (in case you could not gather from the title, cover, or a glance at any of the pages), but that does not mean they sacrifice technique. I believe the authors walked the fine line of advanced skill and communicating it to the uneducated very well. It is very readable, quick to grasp and understand, and great fun to apply. I highly recommend this to anyone considering a webpage of their own or wanting to better understand HTML. Definitely not for the experts or an exhaustive compilation of HTML elements, but it never sets out to be. It far exceeds what it aims to be, which is a great resource for beginner to moderate HTML programmers. Especially those in need of CSS tutilege.

I have to agree with the other reviewers who gave this book five stars. I have read two other books on HTML - one in school and one on my own, and I have learned so much more with this volume. This book is full of clearly presented illustrations that show you exactly what is being discussed. Each chapter has various problems to solve to enhance your understanding and a "no dumb questions" section that provides additional information. There is an associated Web site that has the files and graphics for each chapter to enable you to do the sample projects that are a great aid to learning. You will be instructed in the basics of the HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0 standards. You will also learn how CSS can effectively format your Web pages to look the way you want them.

With this book, you will learn correct and up-to-date code. Because of this book, I can write much better XHTML and CSS. Kudos to the authors for such a great book!

I have (and love) the Head First Design Patterns book by the same authors. It was easily the most enjoyable and useful book I'd read on Design Patterns, so when I saw this one I had high expectations. I was curious how the style that worked so well for the more techie Design Patterns topic would work as a more mainstream Mom and Pop web page development manual. I wasn't disappointed.

It is just as fun, irreverent and educational as I expected. The visual layout and writing style are as easy on the eyes as they are instructionally humorous. I thought doing the book in full color was a nice touch as well, which I think will appeal to the more casual HTML student.

As noted in other reviews, this isn't a reference book or for the experts. I agree it's more for the beginner through intermediate and maybe advanced users. I don't really want to use the term "textbook", because it can have a less-than-desirable connotation. But, it is, by far, the coolest textbook you'll ever read on HTML.

Grab this book, have some fun, and learn some HTML.

The presentation of information in this book is absolutely terrible. The layout is totally disjointed with arrows, lines, balloons, etc. To be fair, it does contain a good amount of information, if you have the patience to logically organize it yourself. So many other good sources to learn from, pass right by this book.

i bought this item because the reviews were great. then i returned the item 3 days later. this book is not for regular people. it is written as if the reader has just seen the computer a month ago and doesnt even know how the web works.it wastes a lot of time explaining in layman terms. and i dont know if it is a html book or how the web or business works tutorial. even on that it fails miserably.if u dont have a simplest of ideas abt computer or web, this is not the one to start. and if u have some, this is not where u would want to start.for someone who has some ideas, there are lot of better books out there.it would not be ethical to name them here. write me if u want the names. one better way is to do some research . some websites, they allow u to see some sample pages from the book. even a couple of pages, and u will know how goood the book is.

if u belong to the other half, the ones who are trying to get into the computer and web world,its not a good idea to go to designing webpages right away. if u want a webpage just for fun/hobby or really small businesses and have a really small budget, there are lots of sites out there who provide real html templates for prices lesser than this book.
i can tell u some if u write me. again its not right to advertise someone here.u can do some research. u will find plenty.or u can go to a website that resembles ur ideal site, click on the "page" tab of ur browser window and click on "view source". on the new text window that opens, u can find the designer's web site address.

If you're a newbie looking for step-by-step training in coding with HTML and CSS, this is your book. Funny, entertaining, and clearly written, it patiently walks you through the process of crafting web pages. The one drawback I might mention is that because the book deliberately leads you down blind alleys in order to make you back up and do things correctly, it's a bigger book than it needs to be for the purpose. If you're a "cut the crap, get to the point" kind of learner, this might not appeal.

Also, it gives only an introduction to CSS. There's much more to CSS than this book shows, because it's intended as an introductory course. You'll need another book (I recommend O'Reilly's "HTML & XHTML") to serve as a comprehensive reference.

I would consider myself an intermediate HTML writer. This is a great book for people like me or beginners. The book provides explanations for things to help with a deeper understanding of HTML and CSS. The style of this book is easy to read and understand. I find the information really sticks with me. This book is not about Web design or usability, the creative side is left to you.

When I first flipped through the pages of this book I was highly skeptical. It looked more like a comic book than a technical manual. I decided to give it a shot and I was extremely happy I did.

The material in here is very comprehensive (from a beginner's perspective). They even state right in the front that for a complete reference of the material you would need a secondary book.

As far as teaching the material the book layout is second to none. The more complex topics like "CSS layout" I found to be very well presented and I feel like I learned the material completely and can now apply it to my own Web site projects.

Additionally, the book is extremely entertaining to read with interesting photos, captions and side bars.

I wouldn't really compare this with the "...Dummies" series of books. The Dummies books suck (for lack of a better word) and are not humorous at all. This book is genuinely entertaining and you will probably find it hard to put down, just like it was some fascinating novel.

Recommended all the way!

I have accumulated about 6 books on the topics of (x)html and css. Most of the books I have seem to be fairly good. Nevertheless, I just could not even begin to digest them without first getting a handle on the "CSS" topic. This "Heads First" version was able to provide me that handle and much much more. It had great progression of building knowledge on previous topics; it was easy to understand, provided challenging quizzes and it offered wonderful encouragement by the authors. Yes, it is a beginning book. Nevertheless it is a super well done text book on the topics of XHTML and CSS. I had heard from others that the "Head First" series are very good. Though, I can not imagine the other books in the series are as well done as this one. I do have a major negative comment. After finishing this excellent book, weeks later, I attempted to look up topics that were beginning to fade from my memory, I found the "Index" of the book very poor to say the least. I had to literally thumb through the book multiple times to find the section I was interested in order to review. Yet, this complaint should by no means discourage anyone from purchasing the book. I give this book my highest recommendation!

I could not believe the ease with which I was able to learn HTML and CSS. I had a through understanding of both concepts by the time I was through with the book. I love the humor and all of the pictures, as each one helps the reader to understand the concepts presented. The projects are enjoyable and relevant!

I did not know anything about HTML or CSS when I started, but by the time I completed this book, I took a website that I built with Adobe GoLive, and completely re-did it with hand-written HTML and CSS with no problem.

I cannot wait for Head First's book on JavaScript to be released. You better believe that I'll buy it. These books are awesome!

This book was amazing! i read it in one weekend and i have my site up and running now! Good for future reference as well to go back and look up some example code. It definitely is a great buy! Highly recommend it.

If you are newbie, then this book is a MUST !! Excellent,Funny and definitely not a boring one !!

I'm a middle school teacher that was tasked with creating a website for our cluster (core teacher group)in about a month. Not wanting to have one of those school sites with a gazillion animated GIFS, cheesy clip-art, and one column of text that scrolled on for miles, I was desperate to find a reference that could give me a crash course in web design.
This is THE most accessible technical how-to book I have EVER read. Aside from being entertaining to read, the instruction is clear and to the point and the exercises are appropriate and engaging. After looking at other books where the table of contents alone put me to sleep, this was definitely a pleasant surprise. After reading about half of the book, I was able to easily alter a CSS web template to create an aesthetically pleasing, personalized multi-page site. I'm sure when I find the time to complete the book that I will be able to upgrade our site to an even more inviting and media rich website. BUY THIS BOOK!

The team that wrote this book must have gone through hundreds of edits until they had a concise, well written, and believe-it-or-not, a good humored book. If you have a friend (or child) that explains things to you in a really cute manner that holds your attention and makes you laugh at their enthusiasm and their interpretation of events, then you will understand how this book was written. It is such a good natured book that you will want to rush back here and leave them feedback; it's really the only way to Thank them for their effort. I have never enjoyed a technical book so much. I usually read long, boring technical books that are described as the "Bible" for the particular subject, so this was a complete surprise. If you want to teach yourself HTML & CSS, then stop dreading the task and join the journey that the "Head First" team has blazed. You'll soon understand why all these people are giving them 5 Stars.

Needless to say that 117 reviewers before me were not mistaken.

At first, I was surprised (and somewhat skeptical) with the number of great reviews that this book had received to date. However, as an Electrical Engineer adventuring into HTML/CSS I decided to give this *inexpensive* (specially for a college student's budget) book a try.

If any of you know an Electrical Engineer by now, you should realize that we are not the most avid readers; that is why I was *shocked* when I finished reading this book (638 pages) in three (3) days. It is *that good-of-a-reading*, and here is why:

1. As most people emphasize, the learning tools provided by the authors (casual tone, interactive exercises, lots of graphics, good sense of humor, etc, etc, etc...) make the reading quite interesting. Please note that I have read less than five books from start to finish, being this one my first *technical* one that I've read completely.

2. They cover all the ground from the basics of HTML, all the way up to XHTML (which is really not a long way up ;-) ), and of course, they explain in great level of detail the whole CSS ordeal. All concepts are explained in the most straight-forward manner, so they are easy to grasp on the first read.

3. I personally did not use the HTML/CSS files available on the website (read paragraph below for why I didn't do this) because I was able to visualize all the content just using the book, after all, every example is illustrated on the book's pages as it would look on the computer browser; however, it is quite nice for people who want to learn-by-doing to have this content readily available.

[...]
Way to go, Beth and Eric! Can't wait for you guy's PHP+MySQL book to come out.

Cheers,
Cisco

For a beginner's book to HTML and CSS, this book fullfilled its aim wonderfully, in unpretentious and pedagogical way. This book is for intelligent readers with inquisitive mind, remember "Head First" motto.
Normally, I loath books that are loaded with technical jargons with no or failed attempts to simplify or clarify.
But this one surprised me: what a teaching book should be. As I read, I felt as if I have been transported and enrolled in a real class with students debated over the finer points of XHTML and CSS. The book is engaging and fun.
I was able to read through it without using a browser or touching the keyboard in 2 weeks on and off.
Hats off to the authors. It's a work of passion.

I bought this book for the CSS & XHTML sections but have passed it on to a friend to use. I found the book to be humerous in areas, which definitely is a break from so many of the dry, only the facts ma'am, books. I would recommend this book to anyone learning HTML that appreciates a good sense of humour :).

This is the perfect book if you are either brand new to web page development, or perhaps have dabbled in HTML before but want to get up to date with newer techniques such as layout using CSS etc. The approach is very much "learn by doing", you start with building basic pages and then these are built up and improved upon as you progress through the book. All files used in the book are available online, and all of the examples work!

Perhaps the best compliment I can pay this book is that I worked through all 658 pages in just over a week and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. Not many technical books you can say that about...

After several failed attempts to learn HTML over the past two years, I finally stumbled upon this book. I finished reading it in less than a week, doing all the exercises and was incredibly impressed with how my brain managed to retain so much new information.

The format of the book is fantastic. It's easy to read through and most importantly, enjoyable. The way things are explained and all the examples given help you process what you are learning in half the time.

I love this book. Buy it. You won't regret it.

This book is terrific. I am an advanced html programmer and I even learned new things from readin this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing the lessons in this book. I am not a computer programmer though I've used computers professionally for 25 years. In starting up a business I found it necessary for various reasons to understand and be able to program very basic (X)HTML and CSS. This book gave me all the information and practical experience I needed to get going in a user friendly and engaging manner. Not only am I able to program beyond my wildest expectations, but I have all the background I need to direct people I hire, and to know what to ask the experts without feeling foolish or being unable to understand the answers. Though I bought other books on the subject, this one was by far the most useful and "do-able".

As a retired teacher (and learning disabled), I found the author's approach unique. HTML/CSS is a written foreign language and you have to learn to think differently in order to grasp it. This book helps you do that better than any other I've read.

It does two things well: 1- covers enough basics for a newbie to REALLY understand how to write HTML; 2- and in such a way that you remember it all (well at least most of it). It covers the main basics so you can understand much of those heiroglyphics behind those webpages. Don't skip this thinking you can take a shortcut. The money saved will be spent in a lot of extra learning time and dead-end learning detours. Another plus - you will be able to make good choices in selecting other HTML books (keeps you from wasting money)

This is the best choice for anyone who thinks they can't learn HTML (or someone who just wants to get started). It will be the first of several books in your learning HTML as it does not attempt to teach everything. But every other HTML book you read will be much easier to understand.

I recommend it for someone just starting or someone who can't seem to get the idea. It is too basic for someone who has been writing HTML.

I've read a few different books/web sites on web design some relating to HTML/CSS others to PHP. Bottom line is that this was the most "fun" of the books I've read. It was clear, easy to follow and the repetition helped beat it into your head. I would advise this book to anyone trying to learn how to create their own web page as a starting point. I just hope they can find enough time to put out the PHP/MYSQL book they were working on. I'd buy it in a second.

This book was very unique in its presentation style which is very effective. Very easy to read and technically top notch. Beginners welcome here, but goes into advanced subject as well. A very comprehensive book.

I needed to put together a web page for my wife to use in her business and was seriously procrastinating over getting started because my only experience with web design was with a terrible WYSIWYG editor. I decided that if I was going to do it, I need to do it right which meant learning HTML. I tried a couple of courses that I found, even got the first draft of the page on the web; but I wasn't happy with it and I couldn't get it to do what I wanted.(After starting this book I found out they were teaching HTML 3.0) When I stumbled across this book I debated for a long time. Did I really want to spend $25-$35 and several evenings, just for one web site? I read the opening section about how the book was laid out to help you learn and decided to try it. I rarely make it farther into a book like this than is necessary to finish what ever project I am working on. Not so with this one - I finished the whole book, then went back and went over several sections. Now it is at the top of my HTML pile. If you want an enjoyable, entertaining course on (X)HTML and CSS and you are a complete novice (like I was), or are used to just slapping the HTML together and hoping it works and would like to learn to build pages that will validate under the latest W3 standards, then I would HIGHLY recommend this book.

I've taken training courses and read reference books, but this one is different because it explains HTML using real world comparisons that make sense. It points you to other references as well, and explains how and why HTML & CSS work to create web pages. Now I feel that I am writing code, not regurgitating it. It makes the difference between a web page that just is and a web page that is great, versatile, and usable. NOT A REFERENCE BOOK! If you need a reference book, I suggest HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, Fifth Edition by Chuck Musciano and Bill Kennedy--it has everything, but it won't teach you HTML like Head First will.

This book is roughly 650 pages long and I finished it in 3 days. The material in this book is presented in a way that made me anxious to get back during my few breaks between reading it. It is conversational, speaks to the reader, and without over doing it, thouroughly lays out each and every concept from start to finish.

Included with each chapter are puzzles and tasks that really help you reinforce the concepts. Rather than rely on the reader to reinforce the concepts with their own research, they provide the exercises, code(from their website), and projects to really bring home the topics and make them stick. All this in an interesting and conversational format.

Each topic of HTML and CSS they present leaves you with enough knowledge to understand how each works. Further they provide enough information for you to build a pretty impressive site. While not a complete guide to all the different rules(think styles) that you can use in CSS, the foundation knowledge gives you a complete understanding of how, when, and where to use the rules they supply. I'm now ready to get the reference and begin experimenting with all the new rules!

They really do a bang up job focusing on the reader, I wish I could give it 6 stars.

I just finished reading Head First HTML w/CSS & XHTML and am quite sad that the book is over!

I have previously purchased Head Fist Design Patterns, got through the first chapter and realized that the subject matter was a tad too advanced for me. I need to do a refresher on OO programming before picking it up again. But I was enchanted by the style of writting the Head First authors presented.
So I purchased Head First HTML. I consider myself fairly knowledgable in web technologies and wasn't expecting to learn a great deal more than what I already know. I simply wanted to read the book to get a feel for the style of writting. Wow, was I amazed!!!

I did learn a lot, however, I can't say most of the stuff I learned was new information. Most of the stuff I learned was about the proper way of using XHTML & CSS. And the best chapter in the book for me was Chapter 12, Possitioning with CSS. I can't tell you how many online articals I have read trying to figure out the difference between absolute, relative, fixed, and static, and how the elements are affected by them. Everytime I tried to implement CSS positioning it felt like blindfolded target practice, I could never get things where I wanted them.

Now I completely understand why pages react the way they do when you use 'float: right;' and 'clear: right;'

Yes!!! <-- a 'kick @$$' moment

The intro of the book explains why they used the style of writting they did and it was almost identical to the Design Patterns book. An informitave read.

Every chapter has puzzles and exercizes that are REQUIRED reading for the book. It states that the crossword puzzles are optional, but I highly suggest you do them. You can feel your brain shift gears each time you focus on the end-of-chapter crossword puzzles.

There are also several stories that weave in and out between chapters. I found these stories helped push me forward through the book; after all Tony and Tess, the CEO of Starbuzz Coffee, and the Head First loung were all counting on me to get their pages up and running ASAP!

This book will obviously benefit beginers more than experienced webdevs, but I think even the most experienced web gurus will find at least something new, or a new way of thinking about something. Even if you know it all, you can read it just to see how Tony and Tess meet. I think something is going on between them that isn't mentioned in the book... ;)

Another plus, this is the first Head First book to be in full color!

All in all, a fantastic trip through 'webville' !!!

When I got my copy I was surprised at the size of the book. As this is a beginner's text I expected it to be smaller. That's not a complaint, just an observation. This is a meaty volume.

With all the buzz about Head First I was interested to see if this series really offers something new. The short answer is yes. The authors have attempted to make learning HTML and CSS easy and fun. That's a big order, though they have succeeded as well as anybody and better than most.

Instead of pages and pages of dry text, Headfirst HTML interjects lots of images and learning games. There are exercises in matching, even crossword puzzles to keep the material from getting too dry.

Some people have complained about the repetition in the book. It is certainly there. The authors even mention this in the forward. For the most part it is well done. Learning requires repetition and learning requires repetition too. Having taught web design to adults, this has become very obvious to me. Fortunately the authors do a better job of repeating themselves in different and interesting ways than I am able to.

Will this book work for everybody? No. It does make good use of modern learning theory to break the material into digestible chunks that are offered in a logical and sequential manner. I'm very impressed. But as with any training sequence it needs to be followed and worked.

If you like to try things out yourself then check a reference work to get you past your stuck points you would be better served by something like the "HTML for the World Wide Web: Visual Quickstart Guide" or "Web Design in a Nutshell". If you are good at following training programs in order and take the time to work through this book you will know more HTML than most web designers. And your knowledge will be current and standards compliant.

This is an excellent training manual but a poor reference book. So, if you are looking for solid, well designed sequential training course, I highly recommend this. If you won't take the time to work the book, look elsewhere.

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML
Authors: Elisabeth Freeman & Eric Freeman
Publisher: O'Reilly
699 pages .... $34.905
ISBN 0-596-10197-X
A Brain-Friendly Guide to HTML & CSS
A learner's guide to creating standards-based Web pages

I am not sure whether I should say, "I resented interruptions," or that my brain did, while I was studying Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML by Elisabeth and Eric Freeman. As the announcement says, "Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML" by Elisabeth Freeman and Eric Freeman (O'Reilly) treats your brain to something different." I do know that when I finished, I remembered a lot more than from any other computer book I have ever read, and had a better understanding of how and why to use HTML and CSS.

Head First is designed to appeal to your brain in ways that help you to learn. HTML engages the brain with important concepts repeated in different forms that keep your brain interested. I doubt if there is any other book for learning HTML that grabs your attention better, or from which you will learn more the first time through.

The authors trick you into learning. You think you are learning HTML, the traditional language of Web communication. Later they show you that you have been learning XHTML, the new and future version of the language. They provide you with what you need to choose between which of these two versions you want to use now.

In friendly conversations, HTML and CSS debate their roles, so that you understand the advantages of HTML for structure and of CSS for style, and how together they give you control over your Web pages. By concentrating upon what is important to learn, Elisabeth and Eric Freeman are able to teach you the essentials of CSS and XHTML with all the detail you need to create effective professional looking Web pages in one hard-to-put-down book

This book is for learning HTML, CSS and XHTML, and it works. The authors recommend other O'Reilly books for HTML and CSS references.

I intend to convert our Northern Vermont Macintosh User Group site to make full use of CSS and the Strict version of HTML. After reading Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML, I am sure that I can do it, and I will not need expensive programs.

The only problem is that, after being engaged by Head First HTML, it may be more difficult getting my brain to go back and concentrate on the manuals I have been trying to feed it.

I teach college courses on Web development that emphasize Web standards and usability. This is one of only two entry-level (X)HTML + CSS books that I will recommend to students.

"Head First.." is a fun and lively book that is very much aimed at ordinary folks who are having a hard time figuring this stuff out. It's pleasurable scenarios and tongue-in-cheek humor push learning toward the authentic and affective.

I have just finished -- from page 1 to 649 -- learning HTML, XTML, and CSS while having fun and actually being able to create a great looking website from scratch.

For years, I've used Dreamweaver and Flash to design websites. My clients loved my designs and were totally impressed with my sites, but something was missing in my life. I really wanted to learn what it was that I actually was doing. What did all that code mean? Could I be more efficient?

You can tell how many times I tried to learn HTML by the number of books on that subject on my shelves. They have all sorts of publication dates and some of them are just various editions of the same book! I started to read each of them with all good intentions but I'd bog down and never get to the part where they put it all together. It wasn't their fault. I learn by example, not by explanation.

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML is amazing. I was hooked at the very first page. It's not often that you read, let alone laugh, through a table of contents! The authors have fun with the subject and give you the information in various ways. Concepts may be discussed several times, but never in the same format. I learned so much! Now I'm taking apart the code of some of my websites and turning it into simple, elegant code that is much more efficient.

The only thing that I found that I really wanted in this book was an introduction to how JavaScript works in this environment. I know there is another book in the series, Head First JavaScript, that I will be buying soon, but it would be nice to have more than a few paragraphs at the end of the HTML book about the use of JavaScript in the XHTML/CSS environment since it is used a lot in sites.

Kudos to Eric & Elisabeth (and their hard working staff). I am looking forward to seeing the next books in their series -- perhaps Head First Web Design?

When I became interested in starting my website, www.stevechambers.com, I wanted to learn the basics behind the code so I could get my web pages looking as close as possible to how I wanted them to look. I first tried some free HTML tutorials on the web, then purchased several different books before happening upon this one. Far and away, this is the book to use to learn the basics of HTML and CSS.

While this is not a reference book I have it sitting on my desk every single time I code. It will teach you HTML & CSS in a fun manner, and will clarify the often dry reference material you will use after you complete this book.

If you are on the web in any capacity you should know some code. This is the book to use to learn it.

This book is really brilliant. It includes everything a beginner should know about HTML, XHTML and CSS. I learned from this book a lot of things which I thought that I already knew, but I didn't know. The book is written in format, very different from every other format of the book I read so far. It is very easy to read and very clear written. Images, photos and simple examples makes it even more interesting. I just hope that majority of the books from Head First are written so well.

I've been working with HTML for years, and for the first time, I find a book that actually describes everything easily. This is one of the few books that makes learning entertaining.

For years I have maintained my own table based web site using FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Having decided to convert the site to XHTML and CSS (and also understand a bit better what I was doing) I bought a couple of books on CSS. They turned my brain numb. I could NOT understand what, where or why any of it worked and I'd decided I was incapable of ever learning it until I came across Head First HTML, (thanks, [...]!). Having started from the very basics in Chapter 1 I finally understand it!! The book is totally amazing. At the end of every chapter I think, so THAT's how it works and because I now know the how and the why of it all, I remember it. Also, because they use so many visual aids, I have a sort of background mental picture of the structure of a site, into which all those previously incomprehensible