If you've visited your local bookstore shopping for a text on the Internet, you've undoubtedly discovered what I did -- shelves full of network-related books. Glancing at title fragments was fascinating -- the Internet unleashed, hooked up, and wired. There were love bytes (an online dating guide) and books on navigating and publishing; some were browser-specific. Choose from starter kits, quick starts, and Internet 101 class. My choice, Teach Yourself the Internet: Around the World in 21 Days, by Neil Randall, is 635 pages of "everything you need to make the Internet your own."
The book is organized in a progressive fashion -- to be followed daily -- so I began at page one. Each chapter starts with a brief description of what you'll be learning. After a series of exercises, followed by a summary of what was covered, there is a task review, and finally a Q&A section on chapter-related topics. It's a pretty good set-up, and I appreciated the consistency of each day. The book is also designed "so that you can get a great deal out of it without actually being on the Internet." This statement holds true.
Chapter 1, or Day 1 of Week One, "The Internet: A World Tour from Your Armchair," took about 40 minutes to read and to explore the Internet sites mentioned. As a reader, I was frustrated when referred to later chapters for more information or to understand a particular point. This found me either jumping around out of context or left in the dark. As an "Internetter" (the author's term) I was also annoyed when Internet addresses did not work or were busy. After completing Day 1, I skipped around. Day 7 is "Click and Ye Shall Receive: The World Wide Web and Mosaic" with tips on Netiquette and Web navigation.
Moving along, I jumped ahead to Week Three, "Using the Internet Professionally." For ways to promote full Internet access at your workplace, Day 15 offers some pretty persuasive arguments ("Business 101: Making the Case for Full Internet Access").
Day 16 discusses business on the Internet -- at home and abroad. You can examine newsgroups dealing with business issues and explore how businesses have used the Web for corporate purposes.
Day 19, "Social Issues 101," explores Internet resources related to social concerns, such as AIDS, world hunger, and women's issues. "These topics are only three among a large and growing number of resources available for the researcher, activist, or simply the concerned," says Randall. The chapter "demonstrates that there's a great deal of collaborative activity about the world's problems taking place on the Internet constantly," and the author invites others to get involved. I like that.
Plan on at least 15 hours to finish this book -- more if you get sidetracked while surfing. With all the books out there about the Internet, this one gives you an excellent value. Published by Sams Publishing, a division of Macmillian Computer Publishing (Indianapolis, IN). ISBN 0-672-30519-4. Softcover: $25.
About the Author: Neil Randall teaches English at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He conducts research on Internet issues, computer-mediated communications, and other issues of technology. He is a columnist for PC Games and a weekly newspaper as well as a contributing editor for CD- ROM Today and Computer Entertainment News.
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