Author: Kevin Yank & Cameron Adams
Publisher: Sitepoint, 2007
Pages: 424
ISBN: 978-0980285802
Aimed at: Web developers
Rating: 4
Pros: Deals with real-world complexities 
Cons: Disorganised approach to HTML
Reviewed by: Mike James

JavaScript has been around a while but its public profile has gone up since the invention of Ajax and the emphasis on object-oriented JavaScript. As a result you can read books on JavaScript that teach you a style that is good but leave you completely at a loss when you try to make sense of web pages using “classic” JavaScript.

Kevin Yank describes classic JavaScript and this is an advantage if it’s what you want to know about.

He clearly knows his stuff and despite the attempt at creating a beginner’s book there are lots of things that will interest the intermediate to expert reader. It emphasises the complexities of having to deal with the reality of browser incompatibilities and I certainly learned something from this aspect of the book.

On the negative side the approach to HTML is a bit disorganised and there is a dependency on using JavaScript libraries to make the language more powerful. But these are small problems if really you are looking for a book on “modern” object oriented JavaScript and the Ajax revolution.

Today there is so much more to JavaScript than you will find explained in this book but this is an excellent reminder of where it all came from and given the number of websites that use this style it’s still important information. A book packed with practical information that will please everyone but the absolute complete beginner.