NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/bit/listserv/circplus/2295

Text File | 1993-01-27 | 3.8 KB | 85 lines

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Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1993 10:08:16 CST
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From:         Tony New <[e-mail]>
Subject:      Book Review on _The Whole Internet_
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The following is cross posted. The usual apologies for duplications.
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I am posting this because I thought it might be of interest to members
of the list.  It is a brief book review of a excellent source of
information on the net and its workings which is in this months issue
of our Library's Newsletter.

------<<<<<< Begin Text >>>>>-----------

_The Whole Internet; User's Guide & Catalog_, by Ed Krol, 1992.

  When I first became aware of the Internet I was very
excited at the potential it offered.  The net seemed almost
too good to be true; like something from a science fiction
novel instead of a reality; but there it was, an ocean of
information just waiting to be sailed.  I confidently ap-
proached my PC, turned it on and was slapped in the face
with the massive, confusing reality of the Internet.  The
net has great potential but it takes some getting used to
and I found myself desperately wishing for a user's manual
of some kind.  _The Whole Internet_ is that manual.

  Regardless of the amount of experience, or lack thereof,
you have with the net, this book is for you.  It assumes
total ignorance of the net and only a passing knowledge of
computers in general.  The author takes you by the hand,
establishes a solid foundation of background and only then
moves onto the "nuts & bolts" of utilizing the net.  Thro-
ughout the work, the author speaks in English rather than
techno-speak.  When he introduces the necessary terminology
he uses clear analogies to convey the concepts.  The illus-
trations and diagrams in the work were easily comprehensi-
ble, used effectively and echo the author's relaxed tone
very well.  At times when reading the work I felt that I was
discussing the net with the author over coffee rather than
reading a book.  Just as a question would occur to me, he
would answer it in the next paragraph.  He explains the
"why" as well as the "how".

  The book is structured in such a way that it is not neces-
sary to read the entire work.  Experienced readers can skip
the introductory chapters and move right into the more
advanced features of the net.  I would encourage, as does
Mr. Krol, everyone to read the book in its entirety.  Since
most of us absorbed our computer  skills piecemeal, the
first portion of the work is an excellent way to fill in the
gaps.

  The book contains an excellent glossary with both techni-
cal terms and all those acronyms that proliferate on the
net.  I found the book's index very complete and easy to
use.  This book could easily be used as a desk reference.

  The work includes a catalog of services and resources
available on the net.  The catalog is arranged by topics
from Aeronautics to Zymurgy.  It contains net-addresses and
instructions for connecting with the service.  The only detriment to
the work is that it is a paperback.  For library use, it will need to
be mylar bound.

  An interesting note about the creation of the book;  the
work was completely written and illustrated on the Internet.
All correspondence between author and publisher was also
done over the net.  Only the final transcript and the con-
tracts were transfered via "snailmail".

by Tony New
University of Texas @ Arlington
Circulation/Reserves
[e-mail]