Film-induced Tourism (Aspects of Tourism)

Book Description

Film-induced tourism has the potential to revitalise flagging regional/rural communities and increase tourism to urban centres, however it carries with it its own unique problems. This publication explores such elements, delving into the disciplines of sociology and psychology, along with the fields of destination marketing, community development and strategic planning.

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2005-12-25

This book analyzes how films change our perception of place and is the first definitive work about film-based tourism. Highly recommended.

EXCERPTS

Many visitors to film sites and sets do not expect to see exactly what they viewed on the screen, rather they share a fascination for the 'inauthenticity' of the film media. They can now return home, 'knowing how it's done.' and brag about possessing an insider's knowledge. (p. 112)

Entertainment for the masses is regularly decried by numerous academic-based social commentators as bland, insipid, unchallenging, unsustainable and inauthentic, yet it remains a mainstay of the tourism industry. (p. 185)

Average customer rating:

Film-Induced Tourism.
Sue Beeton
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4PNW4

Film-Induced Tourism [A book review from: Tourism Management]

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Film-Induced Tourism [A book review from: Tourism Management]
A. Leask
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000P6OHB2

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Tourism Management, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:

Toddlers, tourism and Tobermory: Destination marketing issues and television-induced tourism [An article from: Tourism Management]

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Toddlers, tourism and Tobermory: Destination marketing issues and television-induced tourism [An article from: Tourism Management]
J. Connell
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR4XG8

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Tourism Management, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
It has been witnessed on an international scale that destination-specific film and television has the power to increase tourism demand. For destination marketers, the projected image and the profile of visitors attracted form significant areas of concern. Nowhere has this been more marked than on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, where in 2003, a new phenomenon termed 'toddler tourism' was sparked by the popularity of a new pre-school children's television programme called Balamory, which is filmed on the Island. This paper reports on a survey of tourism business operators on Mull and provides evidence of the nature and scope of the impact of television-induced tourism on tourism business performance and activity, indicating that the effects were concentrated spatially and temporally. Marketing implications are explored using business operators perceptions of the effects of marketing on tourism patterns and broad areas of concern for the future development of tourism as a result of television programmes are highlighted.

Average customer rating:

Great little read

I just wish it got more in-depth.

The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984
Ian Glasper
Manufacturer: Cherry Red Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980-1984

Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk, 1980-1984

"Crass" "Crass"

No More Heroes: A Complete History of UK Punk from 1976 to 1980

Punk Rock: An Oral History

ASIN: 1901447707
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

If the bands in Burning Britain were loud, political, and uncompromising, those examined in Ian Glasper's new book were even more so. With Crass and Poison Girls opening the floodgates, the arrival of bands like Zoundz, Flux of Pink Indians, Conflict, Subhumans, Dirt, The Mob, Omega Tribe, and Icons of Filth heralded a new age of honesty and integrity in the 1980s underground music scene. It was a time when punk stopped being merely a radical fashion statement, and became a force for real social change. Anarchy in punk rock no longer meant "cash from chaos"—it meant "freedom, peace, and unity." Comprehensively covering all the groups and names, big and small, The Day the Country Died also features exclusive interviews and hundreds of never-before-published photos.

Customer Reviews:

Great little read.......2007-07-19

If you are a fan of hardcore/punk then you need this in your collection.

Forget BLush's 'American hardcore' BS this is well put together collection of histories of some of the most (and least) well known Anarcho/Punk bands of the UK. From Crass to Zounds, Flux, Oi Polloi and a whole bunch of others are included. Yeh, because of the number of bands included in this book there is not an awful lot of detail there is a gret little discography at the end of each chapter though for anyone looking for the music of the bands mentioned.

Most of the stuff on the bands covers their history (how they formed, band members, memorable events etc) Still, for the size of the book its still worth buying. It is interesting to read some of the comments of band members who for the most part are speaking long after their former bands have split up and have since moved on in life. Interviews that stand out for me are from former members of Crass who for the most part seem to see themsleves as beeing unfairly placed as 'spokesmen of the anarchist movement' and also their own concept of what anarchism realm meant.

I just wish it got more in-depth........2007-04-11

As an american punk in suburbia in the early 80's, these anarcho bands were a big part of my soundtrack, so it's great to read the interviews, and learn about the bands. I do think the interviews could have been a little more candid, though I give high marks to several of the features. It's also real nice to read about some of the lesser known bands.
I give it 4 stars for the content. This is Ian Glasper's best book.
I would have given it 5 stars, but nicked off a star for the typesetting (I blame the publishers for that though), I would find my eyes getting very strained after even reading for a little bit.
Also, I am wondering why the Poison Girls were not featured.

The Day The Music Died: The Last Tour Of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, And Richie Valens

Average customer rating:

Great and Honest Book
Great Story
Extraordinarily readable and entertaining rock history
Superb - get one before they're gone, again
The best book I've seen on the subject

The Day The Music Died: The Last Tour Of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, And Richie Valens
Larry Lehmer
Manufacturer: Schirmer Trade Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0825672872
Release Date: 2003-09-01

Book Description

Now available in softcover format! The story of the last tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens—and the fatal air crash that took their lives. Drawing on new documentary information, the author recreates the often grueling conditions of an early rock and roll tour, and provides new facts about "the day the music died." With 50 photos.

Customer Reviews:

Great and Honest Book.......2007-09-04

This is a great book. I have always been interested in "The day the music died" I had read several books and magazine articles about Buddy Holly's life but there was little in the way of the actual Winter Dance Party or the other musicians. I purchased this book and was shocked at how well and detailed the accounts of the musicians lives and the aftermath of the plane crash was. Larry Lehmer did an excelent job and should be commended on telling the truth not just what Buddy Holly's widow wanted or others who are wanting to cover the truth about what life was really like for all those involved. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in rock and roll, Buddy Holly or just 50's style music.

Great Story.......2007-03-04

This book is great because it not only tells of the careers of those involved in the Winter Party Tour, but also tells details leading up the crash (including stops in many small towns along the way). It was quite informative.
Buddy Holly is the best known,yet most elusive and enigmatic of all Rock 'n' Roll legends.This man was a genius.The way he constructed his songs was sensational.

Extraordinarily readable and entertaining rock history.......2005-01-21

Larry Lehmer has crafted one of the better journalistic books about a historical rock 'n' roll event. He brings a newspaperman's observations and senses to the project, which connects all the dots in the tragic last tour for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. "The Day the Music Died" is not only entertaining -- somber and occasionally macabre in appropriate moments, and humorous elsewhere -- but it describes the days and weeks leading up to the tragic crash in Clear Lake through the eyes of people who were there. In each case, he paints a vivid portrait of a fallen star, making their stories all the more tragic. To read this book is to understand how American rock 'n' roll evolved from its early, innocent roots toward the fragmented, even chaotic market it encompasses today. I highyl recommend this book.

Superb - get one before they're gone, again.......2004-05-11

The initial first run of this great book was not around very long and people have been begging since for a reprint and here it is! This one is hard to put down, it is intriguing, informative and FACTUAL, which most Buddy book are not (avoid the Amburn book at all costs). What is particularily nice is that it features a great deal of updated info about the last tour & crash, info about Roger Peterson, and a good deal about Ritchie & The Bopper that usually doesn't get included. Lehmer talks to people that were at the shows, helped with the Tour, etc. No wild theories here, just the facts. Top notch in every regard. You see any bad reviews here? 'Nuff said!

The best book I've seen on the subject.......2001-09-10

Lehmer's book is downright exhaustive in the coverage of the fateful Feb. 3 1959 plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson.

I appreciated the detail and content of this book a lot. Being from Iowa, I have been interested in the Winter Dance party, and accounts of the crash for a very long time. (In fact, I just visited the Surf Ballroom and Mason City Airport while returning from a recent weekend vacation.)

Lehmer's book is very well-balanced, with chapters devoted to each of the three headliners. And it also has detailed plane crash info as well as analysis of the official CAB report.

Book Description

Their lives were cut brutally short...yet the legacy has on lived on for four decades. They were three of rock 'n' roll's brightest stars, touring together in a music revue that was as grueling as it was magical. Dilapidated school buses that frequently broke down and rarely had heat carried them hundreds of miles across the Midwest with its unforgiving cold. Hoping to get a decent night's sleep, a hot meal, and a chance to clean the clothes they'd been wearing for weeks, Buddy Holly chartered a plane. On February 3, 1959, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly boarded a small plane bound for rock 'n' roll heaven. This is their story, told by the family members, bandmates, and witnesses who lived it. Including material not seen in the original VH1 broadcast, "Behind the Music: the Day the Music Died" is a compelling record of one of rock 'n' roll's defining moments.

Customer Reviews:

Memories Abound In This Book.......2001-08-17

Larry Lehmer's hardcover book entitled "The Day the Music Died" gives a very detailed review of the ill-fated Winter Dance Party in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson, aka "The Big Bopper" took part. If you would like to read a more concise version of these three singers I would strongly suggest you buy a copy of the paperback copy of "Behind the Music: The Day the Music Died." This book contains 122 pages and includes numerous pictures of the singers in addition to the crash site. Comments from family members and those who were close to the singers make up the prose of the book leading to accuracy in what they say. I read the book in three sittings. Make sure you have time when you sit down to read it because you will want to continue. I intend to order numerous additional copies to give as gifts to friends. Many thanks to authors Martin Huxley and Quinton Skinner for putting the book together.

Nice book.......2001-05-28

For my recent birthday, my mom bought me a copy of this book. She didn't want to spend too much, and although I was skeptical at first, I actually enjoyed it. I was very surprised at how well the text flowed, considering there is just so much separate commentary throughout the course of it. As strange as it may seem, this event just fascinates me, and this book was a good source of information. ....

Average customer rating:

Nice storytelling, but what about copyediting?
A lucky Find.
retro revisionism
Easy read
Dissapointing

The Day the Music Died: A Mystery
Edward Gorman
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0786705698

Amazon.com

Veteran mystery writer, editor, and anthologist Ed Gorman plays all the right notes in his latest book--hopefully the first of a promising period series. It's 1959 (the book says 1958, but that must be a mistake, because everyone knows Buddy Holly died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959), and Sam McCain--"a young lawyer in a town that already had too many lawyers"--is working as an investigator in Black River Falls, Iowa, for Judge Esme Anne Whitney, a wealthy and eccentric old woman who smokes Gauloises in Chesterfield country and takes pleasure in shooting McCain with rubberbands while they confer.

The day after a long drive to and from what turns out to be Buddy Holly's last concert before his fatal plane crash, McCain finds the murdered wife of Judge Whitney's rotten nephew, Kenny, and then is unable to stop Kenny from killing himself. Everybody, including the town's loutish police chief, is sure that Kenny killed his wife--only McCain has his doubts.

Complicating things are the troubles of a local black former football star now crippled by booze, and those of McCain's teenage sister who is trying to abort her baby. The period details about race and sex seem dead right; the people of Black River Falls, especially McCain's family and various girlfriends, are all sharply-sketched; and even the very late appearance of a possible villain can't spoil the considerable fun.

Previous examples of Gorman's craft, or sullen art, include Daughter of Darkness, Black River Falls, Dark Trail, The First Lady, Hawk Moon, The Marilyn Tapes, Senatorial Privilege, Trouble Man, and Cage of Night. --Dick Adler

Book Description

Buddy Holly's plane just went down. But for P.I. Sam McCain, bad news hits even closer to home. A local couple turns up dead, and the investigation teaches him that behind the white picket fences of small-town Iowa, there's a flip side to the American dream.

"An enjoyable start to a new series... Gorman rocks."--Publishers Weekly

"Hugely entertaining."--Dean Koontz

"Genuinely affecting.--Wall Street Journal

Customer Reviews:

Nice storytelling, but what about copyediting?.......2004-02-11

As many have pointed out, the date that Buddy Holly died is wrong, and song lyrics are misquoted. There are other copyediting errors as well. We are told that the Judge's grandfather was shipped out to Iowa after disgracing the family back east. But later it becomes the judge's greatgreatfather. There are other such minor gaffes. But far worse, especially for a novel in this genre, the hero solves the mystery with the help of a verbal clue referring to something a character said earlier. But I went back and reread that passage several times and the key line was never said! For a mystery such an error is disgraceful. Didn't anybody read this book before it went to press? All that aside, this is a minor but reasonably entertaining effort, with a nice breezy style and a likeable protagonist. There is little real suspense, however, and the author seems far more interested in depicting the late '50s small town Iowa setting than in building a creditable mystery. The "solution" to the crime seems tacked on and half-hearted.

A lucky Find........2002-05-23

I found this one on the unwanted books rack at my local Gym. Never had heard of Ed Gorman before (turns out hes pretty prolific!) but this is a great 1st novel in this new series which takes place in the late 50s. I loved the plot, the characters, and the setting (midwest 'natch!)- I await my other books in the series!

retro revisionism.......2001-09-18

The characters and action in this book are possessed of a political correctness that did not exist in the Heartland (or probably anywhere else) at the time (whichever time that happens to be - February 3, 1958 or 1959 - see previous reviews.) In a time when June Cleaver wore chic dresses and real pearls everyday to wash & wax the kitchen floor, the author expects us to believe that one of the main characters is a FEmale judge and another main female character intends to go to law school? It just wasn't like that then.

Another error - let's try a little sing-a-long here: o/~ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 . tell the people what she wore. She wore an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie, _____ polka dot bikini o/~ The author gets gonged here because he says it was pink. [p. 154, original hardcover ed.] Those of us old enough to know better will tell you it was yellow.

The mystery is just so-so and the ambiance the author takes pains to create is simply not credible because he needed fact checks!

Easy read.......2001-07-27

The author has another winning book, but don't expect much stimulation from it; it is an easy read, but that is not a bad thing. The characters and story are interesting, but there isn't much challenge to it, so you can just flow along until the end, and you will have a nice, entertaining time. Unhappily, the author is guilty of having some of his characters be more "politically correct" than would have been the case in '50s Iowa; it seems he is inserting his own sensibilities more often than is reasonable. At that time, people were both good and bad, as in most times, but they weren't as conscious of some of the distinctions then as now. In those days, newspapers and politicians weren't always beating everyone over the head about how they should think, and yelling at us to be so "inclusive." Even the most open-minded people then developed their own ideas and morals, with help from family and close friends, but the media didn't press us with many ideas and names. So the author's characters are nicely done, but their "politically correct" pronouncements are jarring and seem out of place for time and place of the story. But if a nice, easy read is what you need, and all of us do at times, then this should be satisifying.

Dissapointing.......2001-07-26

As historical fiction, and as a mystery, this books fails. Besides occasional references to convertibles and AM radio, the story could have been from any time. The mystery is uninvolving, and ultimately dissappointing.

Average customer rating:

The day music died
Bob Larson
Manufacturer: Bob Larson Ministries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0884190307

Average customer rating:

The Day Music Died
Bob Larson
Manufacturer: Creation House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WMNTN6

Average customer rating:

As Simplistic as early Rock n' Roll
A great history book

Day the Music Died
Joseph C Smith
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0394519515

Customer Reviews:

As Simplistic as early Rock n' Roll.......2005-08-03

I went for this one on the strength of Greil Marcus's recommendation. It sure-footedly sketches in the rise and rise of the rock industry, the death of payola,and the cynical power mongers who controlled and shaped the industry. But is a very wooden piece of story-telling, and the author has only a standard understanding of language and rudimentary plotting to paint his picture. That is, it has more than a whiff of managerial lingo and much less the dramatic shading and pulse of music. Be that as it may, it's a story with sufficient gravity to pull me to the emmergence of the Fab Four and Bob's nasally folk days.

A great history book.......2005-03-23

This is a very good book. Mr. Smith has done a remarkable job of explaining the history of the music business as it happened. Although the book is fiction, the 'real life' characters are very obvious to anyone who knows a thing or two about how the music business changed from the mid-50's to the mid-60's.

The book covers several genres and (I believe) accurately describes the atmospheres of each. One character is obviously meant to be Phil Spector. Another is Barry Gordy. Other characters are composites of characters in the 'Beach Boys' scene and the 'Buck Owens' crew.

The story lines of each very closely correspond to real-life events that happened in the lives of each of the main characters. For instance, Smith accurately portrays the way Barry Gordy was muscled out of Motown by the mafia, or how Phil Spector made himself famous by (for the most part) stealing the ideas and material of others.

The book 'ends' with the arrival of the Beatles- a logical place to stop.

It's easy to read between the lines in this book, and the story is too close to the truth. But by making it a work of fiction, Smith was able to 'tell it like it was' without exposing himself to nasty litigation.

The book is well-written and easy to read. I found it very interesting and enjoyed it very much.

Average customer rating:

The Day the Music Died
Lynn A. Eastman
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 141847956X

Book Description

Set in the early twenty-first century, The Day the Music Died tells the story of greed, patriotism, revenge, and misguided loyalties. The body of Charles Townsend III, former director of the CIA, is found floating in the river. Though initially thought to be a canoeing accident, his son, Charles Townsend IV, international banker, learns that his father's death was murder. As he attempts to find out who murdered his father and why, Townsend stumbles into an international plot to steal Nazi gold hidden since May of 1945. As Charles Townsend IV investigates further, he becomes involved with the CIA, the Mossad, the PLO, and the lovely Jeanne. He finds revenge, salvation, and love. The Day the Music Died is a suspenseful tale of intrigue and double-cross that takes the reader from Maryland to the heart of Russia, Eastern Europe, Japan, South America, and the finally the high seas. Seven greedy young European bankers locate a missing shipment of Nazi gold. Their attempt to recover the gold for themselves triggers the PLO to search for the gold as well. The PLO wants the gold to purchase two nuclear devices from two disillusioned Russian scientists, who are willing to sell their expertise and materials for a life in the West. The Mossad, always vigilant when it comes to the PLO, begins searching for the same gold. Charles' search for his father's murderers brings American interests into the intrigue, and the CIA joins the hunt for the gold, the bombs, and the scientists. The quest for gold and power and a son's search for a murderer culminate on the high seas.

Average customer rating:

The Day the Music Died
Bob Larson
Manufacturer: Creation House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ID624C

The Day the Music Died (Plexus): A Rock 'n Roll Tribute

Average customer rating:

The Day the Music Died (Plexus): A Rock 'n Roll Tribute
Various
Manufacturer: Plexus Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Amateur paleontologists will treasure these informative playing cards, featuring four different views of 13 dinosaurs. Includes each dinosaur's descriptive name, family, geologic age, and fossil site. Contains 54 cards.

Average customer rating:

100 Dinosaurs to Spot (Spotter's Cards)
Kirsteen Rogers
Manufacturer: Usborne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0794519652

Create Your Own Dinosaur Sticker Cards (Dover Little Activity Books)

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Create Your Own Dinosaur Sticker Cards (Dover Little Activity Books)
Mel Greifnger
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crafts & Hobbies | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0486401049

Average customer rating:

Dinosaur Snap (Snap Card Games)

Manufacturer: Usborne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0794509037

Average customer rating:

Jurassic Dinosaur: Trading Cards
Philip J. Currie
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Accessory

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ASIN: 0486287572

Average customer rating:

Good Access 2003 book, but lacks coherence

Not for Beginners

Very Helpful

Excellent information; well organized; horrendous writing

The sequel of Step by Step

Microsoft Office Access 2003 Inside Out
John L. Viescas , and John Viescas
Manufacturer: Microsoft Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Software Development | Software Design, Testing & Engineering | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 Inside Out

Building Microsoft Access Applications (Bpg Other)

Microsoft Office Access 2003 Step by Step

Microsoft Access 2003 Forms, Reports, and Queries (Business Solutions)

Access 2003 Bible

ASIN: 0735615136

Product Description

Microsoft Office Access 2003 - Inside Out - reference book - CD, English

Customer Reviews:

Good Access 2003 book, but lacks coherence.......2007-09-08

PROS:
- Thorough read on the essentials of Access 2003 and building databases in Access.

CONS:
- The author is dry.
- Other parts of the book dealing with VBA and SQL Server (.adp files) frequently assume more information than the reader is introduced to making it necessary to have multiple reference sources to understand what the author is talking about.

OVERALL:
- A really good book for someone with prior Access knowledge who would like to have a through understanding or fill in missing gaps to complete their understanding of working with MS Access 2003. However, it is not a good book for a beginners understanding or gap filling knowledge of SQL Server, ADP files or VBA, which is ½ of the book

- A questionable book for someone with no Access experience because the volume of information is overwhelming.

- This IS NOT a reference book!

SUMMARY:
The book is over 1,000 pages long. Not that it should matter but it is kind of bothersome that the author's picture is in the book at least 30 times; what's up with that?

The biggest drawback to the book is that the author jumps into deep material without providing enough clarification and background information about what he is discussing prior to starting a discussion.

The section on VBA can only be read if you have other reference material in front of you that defines words and terms that are being used to tell you about VBA. In this regard, the author fails the reader and may as well have not written the last half of the book because there is too much information to introduce to do a good job discussing the primary points without having to assume the reader is familiar with all the extended topics that are involved with learning VBA as written by the author.

Overall it is a good book but certainly did not meet my expectations given the reviews written on this board.

Not for Beginners.......2007-07-10

I have been tasked with developing a new database for tracking and reporting city inspection data, permits, citations, etc. I had limited previous experience in using Access. I did take a one-day class in access programing, which gave me a leg up on getting into some programming. The Beginner type Access books that I previously used did not provide enough depth to help me develope the database. So, I was looking for a more advanced reference book. The great reviews for Access 2003 Inside Out encouraged me to give it a try. But, after daily using the book for the past several months, I found that it was not very helpful. The Microsoft website help function provided much more understandable help to me than is book. Perhaps if I had time to read the book from cover to cover to get a comprehensive view of how everything works, this book would be useful. Perhaps it is a good comprehensive reference book for people who have more experience with Access. But, for me, who had limited prior experience, it was not very useful.

Very Helpful.......2007-05-25

This book is incredibly helpful to the relatively experienced user. There were quite a few things I was having a great amount of difficulty understanding, but this book explained things in such a way that I now understand and have since completed my databases I was creating for work. Not recommended for the beginner user.

Excellent information; well organized; horrendous writing.......2007-04-25

Viescas certainly deserves his status as a Microsoft Access database expert. He packs a lot of information into this book and, at over 1200 pages, there's a lot of room for packing!

The book is very well organized and walks you through the many aspects of developing an effective database and using Access' many features. It's also well indexed so you can find what you're looking for when you need detail.

Given these positive aspects about the book, it's truly a shame the writing's so bad. If something can be described in 10 words, Viescas uses 100. Here I put the blame on the editors. Writers are frequently over-verbose and it's the editor's responsibility to ensure writing is concise and clear. Perhaps the editors were intimidated by Viescas' database knowledge and were afraid to cut anything out; perhaps he's given such high status by the publisher that the editors had no clout. Whatever the case, the writing's a detriment in that it makes it very hard to read.

One example where Viescas gives his IT background precedence over his writing background is his naming of the database elements. He gives all elements (such as tables) long, drawn out descriptive names. This results in sentences like 'you might be tempted to start a new query on tblContacts and add the tblCompanies, tblContactProducts, and tblProducts tables.'

While anyone doing major database development knows naming conventions are VERY important, applying the most detailed of these conventions in a manual aimed at explaining concepts is nothing but confusing. Viescas should have used very simple element names in the text, then added a chapter about use of proper naming conventions in your development.

Additionally, the naming concepts he applies are his own - not any 'standard' that readers might be familiar with. In fact, he waits until page 372 to include a sidebar explaining what the little prefixes he uses indicate. Until that point, they're nothing but annoyances to the reader. After that, they're explainable annoyances.

Again, with all the valuable, well organized information in this book, it's really a shame the writing is so poor. The difficulty in this type of book should be gaining understanding of the concepts - not trying to make it through the poor writing.

The sequel of Step by Step.......2007-01-21

This book is the perfect sequel to Microsoft's "Microsoft Office Access 2003 Step by Step". You will learn tricks and short cuts to improve your knowledge of MsAccess.

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