JavaScript in 20 Minutes (Coffee Break Series)

Recommended, with the caveat that it is not a gentle introduction.

I picked this up after getting stuck on a project and it turned out to be exactly the right book at the right time. A few of the examples could be more realistic, but the underlying points come across clearly. The examples are small enough to type out and experiment with, which is exactly what I want from a book like this. The explanations are careful without being condescending, which is a difficult balance to strike. Four stars, and I suspect a second edition could easily push it to five.

An enjoyable and informative read, though it could have been shorter.

A colleague recommended this and I can see why. It does something that few technical books manage: it respects the reader's time. Some of the diagrams are dense and I had to reread a few sections, though that may just be me. The chapters on javascript are the strongest — the examples are stripped down but complete, and I could follow along without constant guessing. Four stars, and I suspect a second edition could easily push it to five.

Good book. The writing is direct and the author is honest about limits.

This is the third book I have read on javascript this year, and it is comfortably the best of them. The writing is direct and does not waste space on filler, which I value in a technical book. I found myself making notes in the margins, which is always a good sign. A good addition to a technical library, as long as you know what you are buying.