Reddit reviews Head First HTML and CSS: A Learner's Guide to Creating Standards-Based Web Pages

Sure :)
EDIT: Added links to Amazon just in case anyone wants to see reviews.


[$1 Or More Tier]
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[$8 Or More Tier]
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Sure. To be honest, it really came down to some luck and starting the job application process before I was ready.

Learning HTML/CSS/Javascript


I started off with no coding background at all so Head First HTML and CSS was a total godsend when learning the basics. I completed every exercise and then tried to find a few local business websites and recreated them with what I had learned. That took about a month and a half. I still had very basic knowledge, but it was enough that I wasn't intimidated as much anymore.

Then I needed to learn Javascript. I tried out codecademy, but didn't really get too much out of it. Somehow I found a learning path someone had written out here. Again, I'm not building crazy web apps, but at this point I could make something happen on a screen if someone clicked something.

Finding a job


I've always been intimidated by job postings for developers since they always require 5+ years of experience with every single programming language out there. So, I made the decision to start applying before I was ready. I made sure that mentally I knew this was a test. There would be no failure, even if I looked stupid or out of place. I was just going to see what kind of questions I would be asked and to really get the jitters out.

The second interview I went out for was a small trade association that had no technical staff and wanted someone who could improve their current website. I had done a lot of reading on effective websites so I told them more about what could improve their user's experience and less about the technical details. I was upfront and said I was completely new to the field, but that I would easily learn as I went. Surprisingly, they called me back that same day and told me I got the job.

Initially, they paid me crap. Low 30's (I took a pay cut), but they were pretty much paying me to learn so I jumped on it. I'm not an incredible developer now, but I'm much better than I was when they first hired me. About a year after I started I renegotiated and am now making high 60's. It's not incredible, but I get to work from home, no one works after 5 or on weekends, and I'm still learning so much.

The biggest lesson I learned here is that most companies aren't looking for the most experienced programmer in the world or someone with a CS degree. If you can solve their problems and do it with the right attitude then it doesn't matter that you're just starting out. It won't get you hired at Google immediately, but it's good enough for the first step into the field.

If you are looking for some books with easy to digest information on HTML/CSS then I would suggest something from the 'Head First' line of books.

Head First HTML and CSS: A Learner's Guide to Creating Standards-Based Web Pages
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0596159900/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Vt9nDb8WCVZJY

thenewboston.org is a really good tutorial website. I like the Head Start HTML & CSS book, then the O'Reilly book, PHP,mySQL,JavaScript, and CSS (all in one book)

Here is the link to the book. I am on chapter 4 and so far it is pretty good. They explain everything like you have never touch it before, which is good.

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-MySQL-JavaScript-Step---Step/dp/1449319262/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343577123&sr=8-2&keywords=learning+php%2C+MySql%2C+and+JavaScript

Oh, and here is the one to the Head First HTML & CSS one
http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-HTML-Elisabeth-Robson/dp/0596159900

If you read both of these books, you will be well prepared to tackle web development projects. Then, when you want to learn more about a programming language (Like JavaScript) you can either buy the JavaScript book from O'Reilly, or watch the more advanced TheNewBoston tutorial videos.

Good luck!

You might consider one of the "Head First" books. Some of them are a little out of date; they have a very distinctive style that you may really like or really hate. I think the style could be useful if you are dipping in and out of reading at work. Two examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Head-First-HTML-CSS-Standards-Based/dp/0596159900

https://www.amazon.com/Head-First-JavaScript-Programming-Brain-Friendly/dp/144934013X

Hard to go wrong with [Head First HTML and CSS] (http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-HTML-Elisabeth-Robson/dp/0596159900/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393891076&sr=8-2&keywords=head+first+html5). I had a web unit at university last year and it was brilliant for learning the basics of HTML and CSS. Easy to digest with some silly but fun humour. Leads into their HTML5/JavaScript book too, so you can easily carry on your learning.

As learning by doing is IMHO the best method for getting to know web design I'd recommend you the book Head First HTML and CSS published by O'Reilly.

Its very good for self-teaching HTML & CSS, I can only recommend it.

I’m halfway through this book and making great progress plus having tons of fun https://www.amazon.com/Head-First-HTML-CSS-Standards-Based/dp/0596159900

Regarding resources, it largely comes down to a matter of taste or even learning styles. Some more logically minded people actually prefer and function better with "just the facts" style documentation whereas others prefer a "walk me through it" idiot's guide type thing - neither is superior it is just what you and your brain seem to prefer. I'd leave PHP for the time being and just learn HTML and CSS - PHP will make much more sense after you know these well. HTML and CSS are very simple languages to learn - so simple in fact that sometimes it is easier to just follow somebody else as they code rather than read a book. Personally I find the Dummies guides to be too slow and bulked out and I prefer a snappier pace - I can provide my own distractions. Try the Head First series - you'll see them on amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Head-First-HTML-Elisabeth-Robson/dp/0596159900/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376224557&sr=8-1&keywords=head+first+html

You'll know after reading this whether you prefer a friendlier approach or not and they do at least work well - some people swear by them.

Head First HTML and CSS


http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-HTML-Elisabeth-Robson/dp/0596159900

Hi James!

One of the best books for a novice web developer/designer (and not just novice, for anyone who wants to get up to speed with the newest editions of HTML and CSS) in my opinion is the "Learning Web Design" by Jennifer Robbins. The 5th edition was published in May last year, so it's pretty recent. You won't be learning any outdated stuff from this book.

The book is quite big, with around 800 pages, but the author is really great. She explains everything you need to know and she explains it really good. Throughout the book you'll be building an example web site by doing a lot of exercises.

The book starts with an explanation of how Internet works in general. It doesn't go too deep into this topic, just enough for a beginner. You'll then learn HTML, and after that CSS. There are two chapters on JavaScript, but it covers only bare essentials. You'll need another book(s) for JavaScript, though. The one I would recommend is Head First JavaScript Programming, which somebody already recommended it, too.

The Head First HTML and CSS and HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites (also already recommended by other users here) are also great, but they are a little bit old now, as they are from 2011. Not that you won't learn anything from them. You could read these two, and then the book by Jennifer Robbins, so you get better familiarity with HTML 5 and CSS 3.

This is a good book - Head First HTML & CSS. It assumes no prior knowledge of previous versions of HTML, but it does go through them and puts things into perspective. I know HTML 4 very well, and this book was great to get me updated to HTML5. https://www.amazon.ca/Head-First-HTML-Elisabeth-Robson/dp/0596159900