This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

More than just a basic how-to guide, this book covers all the bells and whistles of creating a rich Facebook experience, giving you smart strategies for setting up profiles, privacy and feeds, socializing, sharing, publishing, promoting, and the politics of using Facebook at the office. This book is a finely detailed roadmap that will help users avoid Facebook potholes and get them cruising serenely along with this social networking application. In addition to the basics, the author will set up a book page on Facebook to keep the interest in the book fresh. Within this group, discussions will cover what is arguably the most interesting and contagious aspect of Facebook: the apps. Since the apps can be overwhelming to new users the discussions will provide clear, simple, concise instructions on how to use specific apps and get the most out of them--from installing them, using their controls, and updating when necessary.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 13 Ratings

Up-To-Date, Fair and Balanced Guide to Using Facebook Features - 2009-07-14
Reviewer Rating:
This book provides the ideal balance between introduction to the Facebook application and reference manual for the more experienced user. The first few chapters will prove a bit superfluous to all but the greenest of newbies. After that, you can count on some pretty solid information on using Facebook to enhance your online social communications leveraging the breadth of Facebook's communication features. Several elements of the book appealed to me particularly:

* Very visual and, for the most part (ca. July 2009), up-to-date with respect to the latest enhancements to the Facebook user interface
* Offers pragmatic advice on using Facebook features without overhyping features such as messaging, where there are clearly other capable tools.
* Provides a balanced view of Facebook's features and alternatives for integrating other alternative mechanisms in with Facebook to augment the out-of-the-box offering.

I can't emphasize the importance of the last two points to my assessment of the book. It showed me how to integrate other Web 2.0 technologies that I'm very happy with, e.g. FlickR for photos and Twitter for status updates, into Facebook. This integration allows me to enjoy what I believe to be the best of what Facebook has to offer (a huge social network of people you already know) with dramatically more sophisticated, open, and evolved media and messaging capabilities of other platforms.

For the new to intermediate Facebook user, this may be the only book they'll ever need. More dedicated and fanatical Facebook users might find that this book doesn't go deep enough. I find myself somewhere in between. I've caught on to Facebook pretty quickly but I still don't plan on using the majority of features outlined in this book. That's why the book is a solid 4 starts for me. Were I a bit more into Facebook and a bit less into other Web 2.0 technologies, I could see this being a 4.5 or 5 start book.

Great for Facebook newbies and veterans! - 2009-06-22
Reviewer Rating:
We all know that Facebook is the hottest thing since maybe Friendster (anyone remember that?) or MySpace (does anyone go there anymore?), and unfortunately, Facebook constantly reinvents itself.

Whether you are logging on to Facebook for the first time, or are a pro, "Facebook Me!" will teach you some valuable tips and tricks on how to maximize your usage. The author takes the novice user through ever aspect of Facebook including a heavy emphasis on privacy and security. In particular, Awl's book will survive most Facebook interface changes because he focuses on the core values of why you are on Facebook and what you hope to accomplish. He handles such tricky issues as friending your boss and coworkers as well as to how to deal with friends who send you invites to every application known to man.

Awl gives great advice to new users on how to follow proper social mores on Facebook as well as how to prevent getting viruses on it. Experienced users will benefit from Awl's suggestions on topics such as how often and what to say in status updates and most important, how to check Facebook from work. Business owners in particular will benefit from this book's excellent explanation of pages, groups, and advertising on Facebook.

The book is extremely well organized so more experienced users can focus on the subject that interest them the most. A detailed table of contents helps readers hone in on their particular topics of interest and excellent use of color screen shots helps everyone visualize his descriptions. Although Facebook will surely redesign it's interface and the pictures will then look different, the concepts of keeping up with friends and acquaintances are at the core of Facebook. Awl's book is about how to use Facebook effectively, not merely a "how to" guide.

Pros: Well organized, detailed, perfect for novices and experienced users
Cons: Still doesn't tell me whether I should friend my Mom or not

Five out of Five Dogcows

Facebook Me - 2009-09-09
Reviewer Rating:
The book was received promptly and as advertised. The information is good, easy to access and understand. I returned a previous book because it wasn't user friendly and the info was incomplete. This book answers all the questions I have had. I keep it handy because I use it quite a lot. I recommend this book highly.

Good App Review for Facebook Vets, Better Intro for Newbies - 2009-07-05
Reviewer Rating:
I learned a few new tricks in this book, and found myself stopping several times to check out the item on Facebook that was mentioned on a particular page in the book. There are good examples (including screenshots) of the things mentioned in the book. I think it would be an even more interesting read for people who are newer to Facebook.

EXCELLENT BOOK! - 2009-08-10
Reviewer Rating:
I read this book from cover to cover I learn a lot about Facebook. I became sorta addicted to Facebook. After four weeks I had to find a way to block facebook. Right now I downloaded this program [....]to help me with my addiction ;-(

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