I've been using HTML for quite a while, but I really didn't understand it -- largely because I couldn't bring myself to care. I just used my cheat sheet a lot.
Having worked through thsi book, I understand it all well enough to remember it.
This is the first book in the Head First series that I've used, and I hesitated because of the price. I already had an HTML book, and it seemed like an extravagance. It is absolutely worth it.
Now that I've emoted over it, let me describe the book for you.
It's like a good language book. This is very sensible, since HTML is a language of a sort, but I've never seen it before.
Instead of big blocks of code you're supposed to copy, the book works through concepts and patterns, with plenty of exercises and graphics to clarify it all before you're expected to take it to the keyboard.
There is an element of cuteness here, but it's sharp, not silly, and there is nothing extraneous. The entire book is designed to work with the way human brains learn information.
You'll work through everything from basic structures to getting your pages on the web to CSS. The natural "Wouldn't it be easier to...?" objections are presented, with explanations of why taking early shortcuts leads to regrets later. This is a good alternative to trial and error.
I'm going to order my next Head First book right away.

I really like the approach as a tutorial. It is an excellent introduction to HTML / CSS / XHTML. I am repeatedly amazed at the considerable thought that must have gone into the presentation of the material. The exercises are clever and the tone is engaging. From Chapters 1 -15, the tutorial progressively ramps you up and has you doing hands-on along the way. It gives you confidence.

The only aggravation is that by Chapter 10, sections of pages started to come undone from the binding. At over 650 pages, the book is a heavyweight. The binding seems too constricting for it. At first, it resisted staying open. Once it "relaxed", it began to slowly separate. It progressed to whole clumps of pages coming unglued from the binding and detaching. Other books have given me years of like-new service, but this one will soon be unusable.

I gave the book only 4 stars because it is falling apart. Actually, I would rate it this way: Book content, approach and presentation=5 stars. Binding=0 stars. At over $26, a book ought to hold together, at least long enough to read through it once.

At first it seemed a little silly with the cartoonish images and handwritten notes, I found them a bit distracting. But after reading further in and doing the exercises I began learning and retaining the lessons. I went from down and crawling to up and running in a very short time. The concept really worked for me.

My Sombrero OFF to all the people who help create this book.
Lots of thoughts and effort are put on every page layout
I have over one year of vb under my belt but no html experience.
I love this book ! Its funny and does not beat around the bush wen it comes
to explaining the codes (tags). Does not read like a technical manual and the pictures keep your Mind interested in the subject at hand.
This book is mainly for people like me with very little understanding of html. if you have read books or have build web in html then this one is not for you.
Did I Mention, this book Ticle your funny bone at times.
PS. I leave this book on my coffee table, so every morning I can look at that great smiling face...LOL..

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET YOUR FEET WET ON HTML THIS ONE IS FOR YOU ! !

Happy Shopping

HOSE A

I'm a Java developer specializing in business logic that has always gotten hung up on the UI portion of web applications. This book is great for understanding the fundamentals.

I am only adding to all the good things that have already been said about this book. The book was never overwhelming nor intimidating. It broke down concepts in way even the most amateur of people could understand. And, the reading was actually a little entertaining.

I found this book to be both clearly and entertainingly written. It provides a well paced foundation in XHTML and CSS. Highly recommended.

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 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?

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.

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 stands above the other HTML books that I've read. It's explainations are easy to follow and complete. The examples are fun and you will learn XHTML and CSS so well that you'll be designing clean and effective websites in no time.

Unlike other HTML books where authors have you copy their information and expect you to follow along, with Head First the skills you learn will be yours.

Highly recommended!

This book was excellent in providing the background, the "why, what and how" of HTML. Not just a boring book, but a step by step guide to making a nice website, with everything you want to know.
I really liked the way it's written, because it's not just hard facts but written with a lot of humor.

If you're searching for a book that is actually nice to read, it's great. If you just want to look things up about HTML, I'd buy a handbook.

A lot of tech books ive read in the past i have had trouble following, but not this one. This was my first Head First book and it completely sold me on them. It was super easy to follow and actually enjoyable to read. The authors silly antics made it read more like a novel vs a tech book. I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn XHTML and CSS.

This is by far the best intro book for html, css, and xhtml. In fact who would believe that that an instructional computer language book would be enticing enough to lure you back after a session of study because it was fun...

Who said that...

Did I say that?!?!

If you would have asked me before this book if that was possible I would have thought not. In the past books on topics such as this resulted in a fine night's sleep after a few pages. This one kept me up at night thinking so there you go one of the down sides is, it is not an effective sleeping aid. To those just starting to learn these skills I highly recommend the W3C schools free tutorials to accompany this book.

I found the Head First HTML, CSS, and XHTML book to be very well written for a beginner to grasp these concepts. If you are already familiar with web authoring, this is not the book for you. If you aren't sure what a tag is, or what the point of content sheets, this would be the best book to start with.

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.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the relaxed writing style and the many examples used to bring home the essential points of HTML. I'm sure I will continue to use it as a quick reference point.

this is a good introduction book for beginner who intend to learn CSS and DHTML

I got a second shipment of that same book, which I did not order. I returned it, per instructions and was told by Amazon I would not be charged for it. Upon receiving my bank statement, it appears I was charged for that 2nd book, which I did not order and returned. I am now bummed and cautious!

Sandy Gage

I finished this book in only a few weeks it was so engaging. I couldn't believe a book on code could be that interesting and I was able to jump right in to designing pages and using the book as a reference.

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.

I love this book, it is very well written. This book does not follow the normal trend of today's textbooks. This is a fantastic interactive learning book. I will definitely be picking up some more of these "Head First" books. Think HTML for dummies, ITS AWESOME!

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.

This book has a funny way, yet clear way to introduce to difficult
topic of HTML. It's easy to follow and each detail is explained for the analytical mind! I would recommend this book for a beginner who enjoys a humorous way of learning!

This is the clearest, BEST book on computer programming that I've ever come across; GREAT to read. Makes me want to use graphics and pictures in my own writing!!

I'm taking a College level HTML class, and the instructor is using this book to teach us. It is the most enjoyable text book I've ever had to read for a class. I like it's casual style with lots of "hands on", "real world" examples. Plus, it has color!

I'm already a veteran in HTML and CSS topics, anyway I just got this book just for curiosity (I already own other books in the 'Head First' series) and to my surprise the book is damn funny and really well written, maybe one of the best books in the Head First series.

Just to give you an idea about how easy and how good it is: my sister (who just uses the computer for chat and email) is coding HTML!

With more than 190 reviews theres nothing to say except that this was the best buy I've ever made.

Enjoy.

This book is definitely for beginners. I found about 2 pages of pertinent/usable information on xhtml, I think the title of the book should remove the xhtml statement imho. It's style is a bit "young", meaning there is no serious tone to the book, probably good for someone with A.D.D syndrome :) I am giving this book 3 stars because it does, in fact, contain all the basics for html web design and it keeps it very simple. I took away 2 stars because I was expecting a more advanced book with more css + xhtml and the format was somewhat aimed at a younger audience.

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.

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.

This is a must-have book for really the beginners. If you don't know where to begin with HTML, you shouldn't miss this book.

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.

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!