This book is for CSS haters, people frustrated with CSS, and those making the transition to CSS-based design. I fall under the frustrated crowd. My site has been using CSS for a few years now and yet, I still waste a full day trying to get something to look right. Other resources are better served for those who haven't touched an inkling of CSS. Once you have basic grounding in CSS, then come back to this one.
While reading the book, I wipe away my history with CSS so I can see it from it perspective of a person new or relatively new to CSS. Based on the title, it's true you don't have to read the book from front to back; however, it flows well so it is possible to read it cover-to-cover.
The introduction indicates the book is not a tutorial. The first chapter uses a different format from the rest of the book and provides a CSS refresher. The chapter is also useful for getting your CSS vocabulary straight with its describing CSS selectors, tag selectors, pseudo-class selectors, and class selectors.
Every item in the book begins with "How do I…?" with the solution following. Tips, important notes, and warnings are sprinkled throughout the chapters. The book's layout is friendly for scanning and finding what you need. Screen shots and sample code support the content to help those who appreciate visual aids.
A good way to use the book is while you're working on a site and you get stuck. For instance, you're working on a form. In the old days, many of us used two-column tables to organize the form. You want to do the same thing with CSS. Here you would refer to Chapter 6: Forms and User Interfaces and check out "How do I lay out a two-column form using CSS instead of a table?" Or use the index to look up "forms" and underneath is "two-column forms."
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