The CSS Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks is a compilation of best practice solutions to the most challenging CSS problems. The second edition of this best-selling book, now in full color, has been completely revised and updated to cover the latest techniques and newer browsers, including Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 7. It's the most complete question-and-answer book on CSS, with over 100 tutorials that'll show you how to gain more control over the appearance of your web page, create sophisticated Web page navigation controls, design for today's alternative browsing devices including phones and screen readers, and much more. The CSS code used to create each of the components is available for download and guaranteed to be simple, efficient and cross-browser compatible. This book will show you how to:

• Construct robust CSS layouts that work every time.

• Create sleek drop-down menus using only CSS.

• Build a professional tabbed navigation system.

• Replace image-based navigation with low-fat CSS lists.

• Design smarter, more usable CSS-flavored web forms.

• Use rounded corners minus the bloated HTML.

• Allow your visitors to select their preferred look and feel.

• Let the W3C validator do your debugging.

• Reduce the burden of site maintenance and updates.

• ... along with 92 other solutions to common questions and problems.

The CSS Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks is ideal for Web designers who would like to add sparkle to their existing designs, as well as newcomers who want to become true CSS masters.

The book can be read cover to cover, or referred to like a cookbook with 101 different recipies for your Website. It's written in an easy-to-follow, consistent format that's well illustrated with plenty of full color screenshots and code examples, providing quick visual cues. What the Reviewers say:

"This is likely the best book we've seen for extending the power of cascading style sheets... The book is an outstanding example of how a code-based, technical manual should be designed and presented... Anyone who uses CSS can benefit from this impressive volume." - The Kleper Report

"If you are looking for a practical, hands-on question-and-answer book The CSS Antghology is highly recommended. It is well designed in every respect: visually pleasing, content is well organised, and it is very well written." - PC Update

"Rachel Andrew has done people like me a huge favor by writing this revision... This is another book that I will not only use to expand my personal web development skills, but will be one that I expect I will refer to frequently as I venture further into more complex web page creation." - TCM Reviews

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 62 Ratings

Straight-Forward Presentation - 2010-01-17
Reviewer Rating:
Starting from scratch, I've read or skimmed a half-dozen css books in the last month before I got my hands on this one. This is the best one so far.
First, a bit about what I found lacking in the previous books. Many seem to assume that because the intended audience is new to a subject, it will somehow be easier to digest the material if its written conversationally, with graphics and sidebars on every page. I don't think that's the way to present this sort of information. I found the style of the writers annoying, but even if you don't, I don't think anyone sits down and reads a CSS or any computer book cover to cover, then gets on with it. It's there as a reference, on the desk next to or above your keyboard, and when you're attempting to locate how to do something you know is in the book, trying to sift through unnecessary verbiage makes things take longer, which certainly adds up.
Not all the books I looked at took that approach. Others were more direct, but for various reasons unique to each, the presentation of the information resulted in excessive page flipping, and a generally slower experience.
This book does a good job of presenting the necessary information succinctly and intuitively - qualities that sound easy enough, but are as uncommon as common sense.

Beginner's Book and not a good one - 2010-01-02
Reviewer Rating:
This is a book for beginners. If you have knowledge of CSS or if you have read other books on CSS, you probably already know what is in this book. I found it to be too text heavy and too simple. Also, other CSS books cover the same information better and in less space..."Stylin' with CSS" comes to mind. Also, I would fault the author for not having any CSS dropdown menus. She says only javascript menus will do, but never says why. Yet, there are plenty of good CSS only dropdowns on the internet. My advice, save your money and get either Stylin' with CSS or CSS The Missing Manual or any Eric Meyer book.

The CSS Anthology - 2009-12-05
Reviewer Rating:
Should I use pixels, points, ems, or another unit identifier to set font sizes? How do I form elements using CSS? How do I set an item's position on the page using CSS?

The CSS Anthology sets out a question and answer type of resource. Most people using this book will be browsing the topics for solutions to particular problems. However, if worked through from start to finish, this book would even serve beginners well.

The CSS Anthology is complete with full code and illustrations. I find this aspect is particularly useful for trying out different approaches. The book also contains a lot of good tips about compatibility and when CSS is not the best choice.

Very good for intermediate web designers - 2009-11-30
Reviewer Rating:
I needed to update my existing web site, and needed help with CSS for layout. This book was useful in that respect, and I was up and running with an elegant, simple layout that I edited with no problems.

I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons. First, I thought the chapter on layout should come slightly earlier than Chapter 9. I also found the question and answer format a bit of a turnoff. I almost didn't buy it because of that. But none of the other books on CSS that I saw at the bookstore did what this book does so well - to help you to create a nice modern looking site with relative ease. Like many of the other reviewers here, I'd recommend this book for those with some HTML experience, but it may be too basic for advanced web designers.

Another great CSS tome from Sitepoint! - 2009-11-27
Reviewer Rating:
It's Sitepoint, it's CSS, it's pure goodness in full color. Another amazing book from Sitepoint that is clear, concise, example-driven, and highly useful. I love how many of the topics are written in a before/after or progressive style. It's a great mix between a cookbook and tutorial approach.

There's enough content here to make this book useful to CSS novices or advanced folks.