Best book for learning javascript?

[testcpp]

Hi experts,
What's considered the best book to learn javascript? I searched this
newsgroup but the postings are over five years old, so is there a good
book to learn. I've searched Amazon and found that the best rated is,
among others, John Pollock, "JavaScript: A Beginner's Guide."

I am not a big fan of the O'Reilly books, to be honest.

I do know C and C++ but no Java, so would Pollock's book is the best
starting place?

Kim

 

[Danny]

From folks who started recently, I've heard they like The JavaScript Bible,
which I think is a WROX publication, and for desk reference, O'reilly's
Definitive JavaScript Guide volume 5.

Danny

 

[Randy Webb]

(e-mail address removed) said the following on 11/3/2006 8:52 PM:

Hi experts,
What's considered the best book to learn javascript?

The one referenced in this groups FAQ.

I searched this newsgroup but the postings are over five years old, so
is there a good book to learn.

When I search the archives for the two words "Javascript Book" the very
first hit it returns is this thread:

<URL:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group...gst&q=Javascript+Book&rnum=1#a7585db4cbf5e012>

And it is dated January this year. Not new but a long way from being
"over five years old". That thread also refers to this groups FAQ where
it ask, explicitly, "What books cover Javascript". And then it explains
the reason the FAQ only recommends one book.

I've searched Amazon and found that the best rated is,
among others, John Pollock, "JavaScript: A Beginner's Guide."

I am not a big fan of the O'Reilly books, to be honest.

Nobody else in comp.lang.javascript is either, not a regular anyway.

I do know C and C++ but no Java, so would Pollock's book is the best
starting place?

No, the best starting place would be

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition By David Flanagan

 

[Ian Collins]

No, the best starting place would be

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition By David Flanagan

5th Edition!

 

[Benjamin]

I give 5 stars out of 5 to the JavaScript Bible. It's a huge book, but
overflowing with all the information on JavaScript you could want to
know. I really liked the tutorial and then the following chapters of
in-depth info. Get it!

 

[Randy Webb]

Ian Collins said the following on 11/3/2006 10:28 PM:

5th Edition!

Have you seen it yet? I haven't and until a regular can review it, I
will stick with the 4th even though the 5th is out. But the 5th Edition
should be mentioned, even if not reviewed.

 

[Ian Collins]

Ian Collins said the following on 11/3/2006 10:28 PM:



Have you seen it yet? I haven't and until a regular can review it, I
will stick with the 4th even though the 5th is out. But the 5th Edition
should be mentioned, even if not reviewed.

My copy arrived a couple of months back. I would definitely recommend
it as a superset of the 4th Edition.

 

[testcpp]

Thanks for all the replies.

I forgot to check the FAQ, big mistake there. I searched on "best book
Javascript" and most hits I got had been from 2000, so thanks for the
recommendation and feedback, good information.

Regards.

 

[Ian Collins]

Thanks for all the replies.

I forgot to check the FAQ, big mistake there. I searched on "best book
Javascript" and most hits I got had been from 2000, so thanks for the
recommendation and feedback, good information.

One more recommendation - please don't top post!

 

[Douglas Crockford]

Hi experts,
What's considered the best book to learn javascript? I searched this
newsgroup but the postings are over five years old, so is there a good
book to learn. I've searched Amazon and found that the best rated is,
among others, John Pollock, "JavaScript: A Beginner's Guide."

I am not a big fan of the O'Reilly books, to be honest.

I do know C and C++ but no Java, so would Pollock's book is the best
starting place?

If you already know how to program, a place to start is
http://javascript.crockford.com/survey.html

 

[testcpp]

I Highly Recommend Javascript: The Definitive Guide (5th Edition) as an
all-around reference, even though other posters on this thread have
some mysterious dislike for O'Reilly. I find their publications to be
informative and well-written, and they are in my opinion the best
technical guides out there.

The 5th edition of JS:TDG is much more than a superset of the 4th
edition. In fact, don't even pick up any JavaScript text that's more
than about 2 years old, as JavaScript usage and best practices have
evolved greatly in that time.

5 stars for TDG 5th Edition!

I bought Flanagan's book and have to admit it's pretty good. I remain
anti-O'Reilly though, generally do not like their books (UNIX in a
Nutshell, SSH, etc.) just poorly written, my two cents. This book seems
better than most.

 

[abaqueiro]

This is the best I ever see, better than the bible (lot of speak like a
tale) or the o'reilly javascript book.
This goes to the point.

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-...88/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-9056130-7944600

 

[Bart Lateur]

Nobody else in comp.lang.javascript is either, not a regular anyway.
Okay...

....

No, the best starting place would be

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition By David Flanagan

Which is an O'Reilly book. wtf?

 

[Dr J R Stockton]

What's considered the best book to learn javascript?

I'll consider just that question, which would be an appropriate one for
the newsgroup FAQ, and ignore your

I do know C and C++ but no Java,

Reasoning leading to the answer to the Subject question must depend on
the circumstances of the questioner.

Firstly, is this for Web/browser Javascript, for Javascript in WSH, or
both? The language is much the same, but the usage is different; the
practical examples should differ. Here we presume the Web.

Secondly, is the questioner substantially new to programming, needing to
be taught about structure, modularity, layout; or does he only need to
learn matter specific to Javascript and (if not experienced in Web page
programming with VBScript) the DOM?

Thirdly, if the questioner is an experienced programmer, does this
experience include similar languages or only those which are
considerably different?


Clearly, that book best able to serve Jim, Randy, Matt, Lasse, Laurent,
etc. as a reference is not necessarily the best starting book for a
freshman student of computing, even though it will become worth owning.

It's a good idea to read the newsgroup and its FAQ. See below.