Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL

Kevin seems like a super guy on sitepoint, but please, kevin, stop writing books. Boring read and far from being well structured. I'm sure kevin is a good coder, but if he happens to code like he writes, his script would be all over the place.

Sorry, I mostly gave it 3 stars because I really like Kevin, but if anyone wants to get a book on php and mysql this is not it.

p.s.

Sitepoint books lately have been bad. I'm starting to think they have a cookie cutter method of writing. I'm still a fan of the forum, but their books are not what they use to be.

I read this book and did not make it past Chapter 2.
The book is just boring and very sporadic.

It's like getting lecture on driving and never actually getting in a car. When will these expert understand, you have to be practical, projects before epic explanations.

A variable is like a container, it can hold information, blah blah, I can get that off Google.
Strings are text. Really, wow! I did not know that. Come on!

Kevin Yank is great but on this one, it's a failure.

When a book puts me to sleep, that's the end of it!


MO

I have read two books from different publishers and authors on this subject. The other is called PHPSolutions, i do not recommend that book. I believe sitepoint is one of the better publishers for beginners and their newer books are very well written. Compared to PHPSolutions I believe that this book shows much better methods of organization and gives the reader a better understanding of the subjects. His writing is very elegant and would be very good for a beginner but yet after reading another book on php and mysql i am still learning valuable techniques and strategies from this book.

While some people may find the absence of CSS in the book a drawback I find it very helpful, the authors goal is not to teach you CSS it was to instruct you in the art of mixing PHP and a MYSQL database to create functional webpages with data. What author does is creates a focus on the code and does not spend time elaborating example code, that will in all most all cases, never be used. A better approach to css is to pick up another of Sitepoint books such as The CSS Anthology where you will learn css that you can use to create your own webpage designs.

I hope this review will make you consider looking at the sitepoint website, and another great thing about sitepoint is they offer large previews of their books so you can see what you are getting into.

Understanding some of the basics and having knowledge somewhat of PHP and MySQL going in, I wanted a book that broke everything down to explain to me exactly what everything did, and on a recommendation, I bought this book and was not disappointed. Kevin Yank does a good job showing the reader, and giving them access to the actual code itself, how to execute and even some security flaws that one might encounter. I think after reading that book, that having a full understanding of php and mysql, that I will be able to write my own programs (but of course still looking back for reference).

This is a good book in an overall point of view. If you want to learn from the ground up without any help from any web editor this is your choice. It is a little difficult for a beginner but the examples in the book are pretty clear and straightforward.
What is most interesting about this book is the use of php templates and the coding style that the book wants the reader to learn. The book shows a wide use of php templates.