Re: Reading versus Referencing Books

[iansmith]

On Fri, 15 Jun 2001, Michael D. Risser wrote:
> I tend to read about the first 1/4 - 1/2 of a programming book to get the
> basics down, after that it becomes a reference for me. "How do I do this
> thing?"
>
> I don't think I have ever read cover to cover, though I probably would get a
> much better understanding if I did (Hmmmm have to try to remember to do
> that...)

I am the same for most reference books, except for a few like "Programming
Perl" which I read cover to cover because it was an enjoyable experience.

Books like that are similar to having a friend teaching you something and
talking to you verses being taught at in a big classroom.  Most of the
Perl books I have read read well like that, must be something in the
water.

--
Ian