I'm taking a JavaScript class using this book, and it is probably the worst textbook in my 3+ years of college. I have learned almost nothing from it, and have had to search the Internet for better explanations of the concepts I am supposed to be studying just to complete my homework.

One problem (among many) is that it seems to have been poorly edited in going to the third edition. It seems they may have rearranged some of the content in the chapters, but left the assignments/projects in the same place so that when trying to do a project, don't assume everything you need in the book precedes the assignment.

If you are taking an online class and this is the textbook you are stuck with, you'll want to look for additional help online or with a better book. If you're interested in learning JavaScript on your own, start (and finish) somewhere else!

I agree with some of the other reviews in that this is not the best book to learn JavaScript without any prior knowledge of the language. I am using the book for a JavaScript class, but I am having to supplement it with other books on the subject. Gosselin's explanations are not that clear, and I am finding myself lost at times.

This book helped me learn what I needed to know in order to maintain my own website. I'm a small business owner and didn't need to hire a programmer to do this for me. It was easy to learn and beats taking a college course! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants to learn Javascript.

I'm not sure why there are people here who bash the book... maybe they work for a competing company?

I must say I was very excited to read this book and throughout the book I was explained in great detail all that JavaScript has to offer. I concur with everyone here this is a must have for anyone planning to learn JavaScript. This book will show you how to use all the math functions, string function, perform complex calculations, manipulate array's, security and even database connectivity!

It is amazing to me that a third edition could contain as many errors as this book has! There are even errors in the exercises, which could have been tested easily by cutting and pasting from the publisher's layout program (e.g. QuarkExpress) to an actual web page. My suspicion, given the discussion of objects in chapter 6 and cookies in chapter 9, is that the publisher never bothered to correct the errors because the book is so bad that HUGH sections would have to be totally re-written. I agree that the publisher, Course Technologies does a bad job of editing in the 2 books I have studied, but I also agree with another reviewer that this author doesn't have a clue. I emailed the publisher's tech support to ask for an errata list, and the tech emailed back "if there is an errata sheet, you instructor should have a copy in the instructor's package." The tech didn't even check if there WAS one. There wasn't. Great service, fine editing, genius author. Don't think so.

It is amazing to me that a third edition could contain as many errors as this book has! There are even errors in the exercises, which could have been tested easily by cutting and pasting from the publisher's layout program (e.g. QuarkExpress) to an actual web page. My suspicion, given the discussion of objects in chapter 6 and cookies in chapter 9, is that the publisher never bothered to correct the errors because the book is so bad that HUGH sections would have to be totally re-written. I agree that the publisher, Course Technologies does a bad job of editing in the 2 books I have studied, but I also agree with another reviewer that this author doesn't have a clue. I emailed the publisher's tech support to ask for an errata list, and the tech emailed back "if there is an errata sheet, you instructor should have a copy in the instructor's package." The tech didn't even check if there WAS one. There wasn't. Great service, fine editing, genius author. Don't think so.

This is a well written book covering (almost) all areas of JavaScript. A lot of excercises and MCQ's are also available. But, beware of some printing errors.

I used this book for a web development class on JavaScript. I felt that it was a good book and overall I have little ill to say about it. The examples are well written and do a good job of reinforcing what you read in the chapter. You read a little then do an example, then read some more, then add to the example and so on. You don't need any Programming experience to use this book just a decent understanding of HTML.
The only criticism I could offer is that the editor should have used arrows when content is being continued on a new line for reasons of page space so that readers will know and understand (beginners can have trouble with this). It's a good book for learning the whole language from the ground up and for this reason it's worth the money. It's not an overnight crash course (if that is what you are looking for).

This isn't your typical 'cut and paste' JavaScript book. Time is spent explaining the concepts of what you are doing and why you are doing it. The book goes far beyond simple JavaSvript and covers some server-side scripting (ASP and server-side JavaScript) as well as database connectivity. It even contains a section on Java Applets. The student resource site has exercise downloads as well as powerpoint slides that cover each tutorial. I didn't find mistakes in the book. I wonder if what people perceive as mistakes are simply browser compatability issues?

The one negative I have found is that I feel that the book introduces the concept of prototypes too early. But since most JavaScript books don't even cover prototypes at all, I can't say that is much of a negative. If you find prototypes difficult you can simply browse the section over the first time through with no loss in continuity overall. This book covers beginner to intermediate material.

This Course Technology book is easy to follow. Step-by-step examples give you hands on experience in programming. Examples have illustrations to see what the results should look like. The few errors that are in the book actually help you to learn to debug your problems.

I recently finished a web development course using this book for javascript. The book is poorly edited and full of various errors. I doubt that this is the fault of the author and blame Course Technology. My progam tends to use books from Course Technology and I find them all poorly edited.

Do not buy this book!!!
i read the whole book and did the exercises, there is a of mistakes in it, even in the excercises. the book looks pretty good when you read the preface, however, when you read the content of it, you will lose your way.

do not expect you can learn much from it.

The first thing one notices about "JavaScript-Comprehensive" is that neither the publisher, Course Technology, nor the author, Don Gosselin, could come up with any reason for the reader to part with (the money) for this book. With good reason. Having read more than 300 pages, I am convinced that Mr. Gosselin is as lost as I am when it comes to JavaScript.
He seems to have no idea of what an object is, and is completely incapable of explaining how JavaScript and HTML meld into a single whole.

On the otherhand, Professors Nakhimovsky and Myers, in "JavaScript Objects" have no trouble describing JavaScript objects as associative arrays, and pointing out that HTML governs how a web page looks and JavaScript controls how it behaves.

Gosselin is at his most confusing when describing objects, functions and variables (is there anything else?). One never knows when he is using an illustrative name or a builtin function.

The coinage of the term "instantiate" is annoying since he means "create an object" in some cases and "populate and existing object" in others.

Mr. Gosselin may be able to explain how to use office applications, but he should leave JavaScript alone.

JavaScript is not a language, but a collection of regional dialects of C++ or Java. Having said that, Mr. Gosselin's book is extremely difficult to understand. One never knows if he is using an illustrative name or calling a builtin function in his examples. His inability to explain just what a JavaScript object is puts him at a distinct disadvantage, which is not helped by the errors and ambiguities with which he attempts to advance his book.
He also doesn't seem to have a clear idea of the relationship between HTML and JavaScript. There are many clearer authors and other comprehensive books. Readers would do well to leave this one on the shelf

I was forced to buy this book as a textbook for my JavaScript class and looked forward to learning the language. The author seems to know what he's writing, but assumes that you do not need everything explained. There will be numerous examples instructing the reader to type lines of code to build short programs, but the author neglects to explain how each line is actually affecting the program. I went out and purchased "JavaScript for the World Wide Web, 4th Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide" and used it often when I needed further and better explaining of terms.

JavaScript Comprehensive by Don Gosselin is a great way to learn the rudiments of JavaScript. After surmounting the rudimentary subjects on JavaScript, it will slowly lead you to the the course's intricacies and will prepare and provide you the advancement skills you need to write your own complex scripts. The weaknesses of this book include lacking of further informative details to complement a very important concept at times. Furthermore, though comprehensive, it still lack that necessary effort to further simplify an easy task, but overall this book is a great reference and a great guide in achieving concrete grasp on JavaScript. I also recommend other Web Warrior books.