I ordered this book because I needed to add a few bucks to my order to get free shipping. I would say if a person is new to the Internet or new to Google this is a good book. But for those like me that have been using both for years, this book does not tell you much you would not already know. If I had it to do over I would not buy this book.

I have maybe 6 or 7 of the Missing Manuals and each and every one of them is extremely well written. These really are the books that should've come with the product. And learning all about Google is no different.

Well, I expected more, may be some new tips, easy to read and some interesting data form google. But definitely didn't improve my search a lot. If you only want to sharp your knowledge it's ok.

Well, I expected more, may be some new tips, easy to read and some interesting data form google. But definitely didn't improve my search a lot. If you only want to sharp your knowledge it's ok.

It was with much anticipation that I awaited the arrival of this book... as I've poked around Google quite a bit and thought I knew most of what was there. When I first opened the book, my inner Geek's eyes immediately glowed... I was going to learn some seriously cool things!

Similar to users of most of Microsoft's products, the casual user of a search engine uses less than 1% of its capability blissfully unaware of its awesome poewr and still thiking it's is amazing and that they know how to use it. As a business researcher, I've learned over time to use some of the advanced features, tricks and tips and and it's these kind of books that are indispensible. This book is a first class guide to unlocking the power of Google.

While the basic and advanced guidelines to creating powerful searches on Google alone are worth more than the entire price of the book, it also includes other many other detailed chapters of how to get the most out of Google. Advanced users may be familiar with many of the features discussed in this book, I am sure they'd still get enough gems out of it to leverage their search capabilities to easily make it a worthwhile purchase. While it is possible to poke around google and find most of the features described in this book, what you'd miss out on by doing that is the in-depth discussions on each feature and how to get the most use out of them. You simply will not find this information in Google and I think you'd be crazy, no, insane, to not buy the book for the reason that you can see most of the functions and tools on the Google website for free.

What you get from buying this book is having all the information well laid out, with excellent descriptions and discussions of each feature, screen captures, links to alternative resources, practical examples of how you'd use each feature also how to get the most them or how to modify their use. Also, there are little gems littered throughout the text... have you heard of Soople for example? Neither had I. When is it best not to use google, and what would you use? How best to structure your searches to get the most relevant outcomes. In short, how to get more out of Google. There are many tools offered in the basic search box including stock quotes, definitions (just hit those underlined words at the top of the search results page, yes, that's what they're for! I bet you've never clicked them - and, there are a whole host of other cool features there right before your eyes also, that like most people you'd never have used them), weather, flight details, powerful calculators etc. Then other tips like who's linking to your site or your competitors, how to find PDF files or PowerPoint presentations and how to read them if you don't have the relevant software. While you may have already known some of these features were there, often it takes a little nudge or a comment to see how valuable they are. For instance, while you could do a simple search on Google to find a personal financial budget (and you'd come up with lots of results), you could also do a Google search for Excel files only to locate a file on the web where someone has created a personal financial budget template. Similarly you could look for a PowerPoint presentation someone gave at a conference. If it's not there, it might be archived either at Google or another site... this book will tell you how to find it.

The book also includes detailed chapters of discussion on other features and tools offered by Google - things like Froogle, Google Groups, Google Toolbar, Desktop Search, Wireless, Gmail, and others. Then excellent discussions of Google Adsense, how to increase your ratings, how to add google to your site, Google Analytics, understanding traffic to your website, assessing your site, personalising Google. You can pretty quickly see that it's a darn comprehensive book. And the intent is to enable you to use these features as a power user, not someone who just types in their desired CD name into Froogle to do a simple search. And while there are chapters you may not want to read or are not relevant to you, you will find others that you want to underline whole slabs of text, post-it note it and so on.

So yes, you can save a couple of bucks by just looking around Google rather than buying this book, however, you'd likely miss out most of the really cool stuff that it has to offer.

If you like this book then you're probably going to be interested in the other similar ones 'Yahoo to the Max' (Google ain't the only great search engine! Yahoo does a whole heap of things Google doesn't) and The Extreme Searchers Guide to the Internet, both by Dee Hock.

I highly recommend Google: The Missing Manual for seasoned and beginning users alike.

For me, is not a very useful book, because is only a little more of that you can find in the help pages of Google site.

For me, is not a very useful book, because is only a little more of that you can find in the help pages of Google site.

The problem with Google is that it does not seem to advertise all of its tools, or for that matter, all the functions within their tools. For instance, did you know that you could search for Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) with Google as see the auto history?

Google: The Missing Manual provides an essential source that brings together all the tools and hidden functions in the tools and puts it into an easy-to-read volume. The book is separated into four main components: searches with Google, general Google tools, Google tools specific to webmasters, and Gmail.

Google searching is the best-known tool that Google offers. It is the most popular web search on the Internet also. However, many of its functions are not as widely known, as they ought to be. This book goes through all the different items besides web pages that can be searched for (phone numbers, UPC codes, tracking numbers, and so on) and then goes into the search syntax. It presents search tools individually in easy-to-digest chunks to make it accessible to even the novice user.

The general Google tools include some of the newest Google tools such as Google Maps, Google Desktop and Google Print. The book goes through these point-by-point to give the reader a solid grasp on the latest tools available. It even includes a chapter on how to shop with Google and integrated Google with your web browser.

There are two tools, in specific, that have been to some measure controversial, Google Desktop and Google Search History. Google Desktop allows you to Google search the files on your computer for words and phrases. Google Desktop has to be explicitly installed and set up, but Google makes it clear (and the book re-emphasizes) that no data from your PC is sent to Google. Google Search History allows you to view previously executed searches (if you have a Google account and are logged in). Some are less than comfortable with the prospect of having all web searches archived, however, there are instructions in the book to delete the data and the service.

Third, the book goes through how to use Google to get the most out of your website. It talks about the rudimentary tasks of getting listed in Google searches and how to use AdSense and AdWords, which is invaluable information for the uninitiated. However, the most interesting chapter is on a tool not yet publicly available (you have to request an account and they grant them on a slow but ongoing basis), Google Analytics. Google Analytics harnesses the power of Google to get the most data and statistics out of your website visitors. It helps you know what keywords work, what your visitors are interested in, and what pages are or are not popular. After reading this section you'll unfortunately have to curb your enthusiasm because you'll have to wait in line like everyone else after you sign up.

Lastly, the book goes through all the power and functions of Google Mail. As a relatively new service, Gmail keeps adding functions for the user. This book has the most up-to-date information on how the manage mailboxes; work with the contact list, and setting up keyboard shortcuts. Unfortunately with the speed of Gmail development some functions like Google Talk integration are missed by the time the book hit the shelves.

All in all, the book is a solid resource for anyone trying to get the most out of Google and harness that many powerful tools Google brings to bear.

Without a doubt, Google is the most important and fastest growing software company probably since Microsoft. It's not just what Google puts out but the QUALITY of what they release that makes them so special. It seems that Google is coming up with new, amazing tool nearly every week (certainly every month), and sometimes it's hard to be able to track all the new features or know what features exist because there is something new to find so often.

Because of these facts, the fact that a Google book is out on the market is a welcome addition. The fact that 'Google: The Missing Manual' is that book makes life even sweeter. Of course I am going to like it, it's a "Missing Manual" book, probably the best line of publications that O'Reilly puts out! If you have read any of my reviews before, you know that I love this line, and I know when I pick up a MM text it's going to be savory.

From improving searching techniques to using GMail to using the web tools available from Google, this book will make you a Google expert in no time at all. Google Video, Google Images, Google AJAX-powered Suggest, there seems to be a Google for every problem out there... when will we see Google Open Heart Surgery or Google Kung Fu?? Remember that scene in The Matrix when Neo is being downloaded will all pertinent information in only a couple hours' time?? There's no doubt that Google is working on an application and when it comes out it will no doubt be a hit like everything else this incredible company puts out.

Do I sound like a Google mark? Possibly, but I appreciate highly the quality of what this company does, much like I appreciate the Missing Manual line of books.

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED