Linux Users of Victoria, Inc.

Five authors, each of whom is a professional in the field, have contributed to The Art and Science of CSS. It is well presented on all fronts: content, writing, typographic design, illustrations, and the use of spot colour to separate code examples from the main text. It is neither a definitive reference to cascading style sheets (CSS), nor a primer for raw novices. The approach is practical, focusing on examples of real-world tasks and their respective solutions. The book achieves an excellent balance between technical depth, conciseness, and a relaxed style that quietly engages the reader. It sticks to CSS standards, which helps in coping with cross browser issues and simplifies the task of site maintenance.

By not attempting to present a definitive coverage of every nook and cranny the authors have left themselves room to show readers how to create well-designed web sites using fully standards-compliant CSS. The large format (255 × 203 mm) lends itself to a page layout that is uncluttered and shows the source code to best advantage.

For many users this is the only CSS resource they will need. For those who want to develop a high level of CSS knowledge and skill the book provides a sound introduction for further study. If you want to master CSS at a practical level, this is a book to have.