Using WordPress

On the strength of the text content alone this is clearly a five-star book. Unfortunately however, it is seriously let down by a very poor implementation by the publishers. The large number of screen-shots that are supposed to clarify the content are mostly unreadable because they are too small. This is caused by a page width that just cannot support a clear representation of the screen-shots (just a 120mm width between the margins). For some subjects it might have worked but WordPress screens are fairly busy and contain lots of text.

This book deserves a better treatment than this.

The saving grace is that the book comes with a free on-line copy at Safari Books. So my recommendation is to sign up for this and then throw the book away. The screen-shots in the on-line version are bigger (relative to the page size) than in the printed book. It’s actually hard for me to say this because I do not like reading long books on a backlit screen. It makes my eyes hurt. But in this case the eye-strain from trying to read the minute screen-shots in the book is likely to be worse.

The book is also enhanced with on-line videos and audio notes that are accessed via the on-line version. The Amazon.com listing includes a preview of one of the video tutorials that almost put me off buying the book. The seven minute video put me to sleep in three minutes. The author seemed to be poorly prepared, spent a lot of the time thinking about what to say and then caused more confusion than enlightenment. However, the videos I have watched since buying the book are all much much better. In particular the ‘real-time’ download and set-up of WordPress and MySQL episodes rapidly dispel the severe apprehension that the words “installing and setting up a database” create in most non-programmers used to graphical web design tools.

The content seems to me to be perfectly pitched to someone new to WordPress. It also explains a lot of the other (non WordPress) things you need to know about getting a site working. I do have a few minor gripes–they are not significant but you may want to know about them to avoid disappointment. First of all the book is not produced in colour as the Amazon ‘Look Inside’ feature indicates. Even the on-line version lacks some of the style of the Amazon preview but at least the screen-shots are in colour. This is really a case of misrepresentation that I feel should be corrected. As with just about everything I read from WordPress fans the author does tend to overstate its benefits. I have lost count of the times I have heard that “its the only way to update a full site without editing each individual page” when this can be done on almost any template-based site.

The supporting website for the book does not exist. Instead you get re-directed to the author’s blog but since this is about WordPress we probably get the same information. The thickness of the book and the page-count are not as specified on Amazon either. It would seem that the information on Amazon was probably provided by the publisher before the book was printed and then the book got hit with a severe budget cut that resulted in fewer thinner pages in black and white rather than colour.

On the plus side there are three additional useful chapters in the on-line version and the publishers have also stated that this will be updated to keep up with WordPress’ frequent updates.
Despite all of the issues raised I would definitely recommend this publication for anyone just getting to grips with WordPress.

Using WordPress

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) –

  

  

Here’s my situation: I continue to learn as much as I can about WordPress basics so that I can work more effectively with those I have retained to prepare and then launch my own website on WordPress. What I learn from these books accomplishes several important objectives: first, it fills in knowledge and understanding gaps, next, it helps me to ask better questions and to understand answers to them; and finally, because I know what my options are, I can clarify my intentions and make better choices both now and in the future.

I am unqualified to claim that Tris Hussey’s book is the best choice for persons such as I. However, I do think it offers more than sufficient information, insights, advice, and instruction on website “basics.” The material seems to be of high quality and is well presented, in large measure because of Hussey’s skillful use of several reader-friendly devices. For example, throughout the narrative, he inserts “Show Me” video walk-throughs (accessible online) that explain how to complete essential tasks such as “Setting Up and Using WordPress Menus” on Page 166; also, “Tell Me More” audio segments that provide practical insights from various subject matter experts such as “How to Find the Right Plugin for the Job” (Page 128); and “Let Me Try It” exercises that demonstrate tasks presented in a step-by-step sequence that enable the reader to follow along such as “Moving a `Static’ Website to WordPress” (Page 239). These three devices – in effective coordination with direct address — help Hussey to establish and then sustain a tutorial relationship with his reader.

For those such as I who lack extensive technical training and practical experience with various WordPress procedures and processes, this book offers two major benefits: gaining an understanding of how to work effectively with those who do as well as gaining an understanding of how to increase a website’s capabilities, once the basics have been accommodated. In my case, my objective is to create a community of interest in cutting-edge business thinkers as well as in the articles and books they write. My website [] also features my interviews of these business thinkers.

I am grateful to Tris Hussey and to those whom he invited to contribute to the material in his volume. It should be added that those who purchase a copy can access three additional chapters (“Tips and Tools for WordPress,” “Managing Multiple Blogs,” and “Becoming a Part of the WordPress Community”) by visiting []. They can also “unlock the free web edition” when doing so.

Using WordPress