The Zen of CSS Design: Visual Enlightenment for the Web [Paperback]

It is then explained that the book is intended; in part to be a documentation and narrative about the Zen Garden website (http://www.csszengarden.com) but primarily it is intended as a tutorial on the best practices and techniques relating to modern web design. Simultaneously the book serves as a gallery of "eye candy" that can be referred to for inspiration for reader's projects.

The intended target audience of this book falls under the umbrella of anyone interested in designing and developing websites, and is then subcategorized into the following:
* Designers - Teaching practical design and real-world problem solving.
* Programmers - Using already logical skills and putting them into a design context.
* CSS Novices - Expand on knowledge of basic syntax/concepts and apply them to work.

Personally I'd classify myself as the programmer, however whilst reading through the book it is certainly apparent how users falling under the other classifications would perceive things.

The book is structured as well as any I've encountered, beginning with an introduction, then followed by the main tutorial section which is constantly reinforced by examples from the Zen Garden Website (http://www.csszengarden.com) which I believe to be a strong tool as it means readers always have a visual representation of what they are reading.

Overall I would deem this book suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about CSS, for me the main level on which The Zen of CSS Design reached me was the design aspect, as I consider myself to be primarily logically minded, it's always extremely useful for me to have examples on which I can base my own designs. Alternatively I'd assume that for a designer, the book will reach them on the programming level by teaching them the basics of logical thinking in regards to CSS. Finally for the novices this book will serve as a valuable and effective balance between the two areas, thus creating the next generation of coders who will have proficiency in both disciplines.

Each page in the book is almost like a webpage explaining design. The book has several chapters; some include: Design, Layout and Imagery. There are some more chapters which will give you a handle on Special Effects and Typography. All together there are 7 chapters, each color coded with tips and examples of design and programming/code.

Looking for something specific in the book? Go ahead and flip to the index because this book is equipt with a fourteen page index. The book doesn't have a glossary, but most of the terms they will be using throughout the reading is in the first chapter -- Source.

There are not many weak points in this book. The only thing I'm disappointed about in the book is that the authors took the first chapter and created it into a whole biography of CSSZenGarden.com's website. Other than that I'm pleased with it. If I were to recommend a book that gave good examples of efficient and eye catching designs along with great code examples I would direct you to this book.

It could be great for coders who need a little help to develop their designing skills.
For those who already have these skills honed, the book is of little use.
The layout of this book is thoughful and aesthetic, nothing wrong on that side. As for the content, I find it to be very repetitive. There is a LOT of space spent on a FEW design principles. In my point of view, that could have been shrunk into a third of what it is, but then, the book would be ridiculously thin and not saleable.
Well, I suppose I was expecting something more technical, which this book is NOT. For webmasters who've been in the business for a while, this book is mainly common knowledge. Sure they will find bits of goodies here and there, ...but the web is full of them.

I am now reading Eric Meyer's CSS book, and I find it way superior.