molly.com
Saturday 2 October 2004
zen of css
The Zen of CSS Design: visual enlightenment for the web. By Dave Shea and me.
Due early 2005, published by New Riders. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon.com and at your favorite independent bookstore.
Filed under: professional, standards, web design and development
Posted by: Molly | 9:34 am |
October 2nd, 2004 at 9:47 am
Congratulations Molly! It looks great. I eagerly await seeing more than just the cover.
October 2nd, 2004 at 9:57 am
I would’ve been really excited about a book by Dave Shea, but since you co-wrote it my enthusiasm has worn off.
Nice cover.
October 2nd, 2004 at 10:03 am
That reminds me, I meant to mail you with a thank you for ‘The Designer’s Edge’ What a great great book!
I can’t wait to get my hands on this one!
October 2nd, 2004 at 10:16 am
Due 2005! You know how long that is?!
I can’t hardly wait. The cover is appealing…
October 2nd, 2004 at 11:17 am
Looks great, Molly and Dave. I’m going to add that one to the stack of web books I’m already reading. Never stop learning!
October 2nd, 2004 at 11:31 am
Wow, that’s totally awesome. Congrats!
October 2nd, 2004 at 12:25 pm
Fortunately I’ve read books written by Molly, so I’m not as in the dark as Dante, and can say I’m thoroughly excited for this book. The fact that Molly is co-writing it just makes the book twice as informative and exciting. If Dave Shea didn’t think Molly has the knowledge to co-write the book, she wouldn’t be doing it. I can’t wait to be enlightened with the zen of CSS.
October 2nd, 2004 at 12:34 pm
I have already pre-ordered my copy. Thanks for the heads-up, Molly. I know that any collaboration between you and Dave is bound to end up being excellent, and New Riders are well-known for publishing quality work.
October 2nd, 2004 at 1:43 pm
Looking forward to reading this one, too. I’m always looking to learn something new.
Dante - when was the last time you wrote something worth reading? I mean, that Inferno thing, that was okay, but certainly not a page turner.
October 2nd, 2004 at 4:02 pm
Keith B., I created the Italian Language
See http://www.fact-index.com/d/da/dante_alighieri.html
I read stuff by Doug Bowman, Dan Cederholm, Zeldman and others. I just don’t think Molly’s stuff is as good as the previous stuff.
October 2nd, 2004 at 4:13 pm
Note that Dante is 14 years old. I don’t know what he’s read or hasn’t read of mine book-wise, but my thoughts are that he might just be going by the content of this web site - since he reads Douglas and he hasn’t (yet) written a book.
Douglas, Dan and Jeffrey focus on standards and design topics a lot more than I do on their respective web sites and therefore might be more appealing to Dante’s interests, so please don’t take him too much to task for expressing his preference, however rude it might appear in light of the fact that I’m letting him do so here on my personal web site.
It is interesting to point out that Dave Shea actually became a web designer in the first place because he read my book “Sizzling Web Sites” way back when our Dante here was all of, oh, about 6 or 7 years of age.
October 2nd, 2004 at 5:35 pm
Wow. That cover is beautiful.
October 2nd, 2004 at 6:00 pm
Congrats! Yours have much nicer covers than mine.
October 2nd, 2004 at 11:46 pm
Correction: 14 and a half
I was still on the web when I was seven, believe it or not. My dad worked for Tandem then had had a lot of computers and the internet. I actually remember using Netscape 4. Seriously.
But this discussion is for Molly/Dave’s book, not me. If you want details on me, read my blogger profile.
October 3rd, 2004 at 12:28 am
I’d like to apologize on behalf of Dante for that rude comment.
So, Molly: I’ve got an idea of what the book is about, based on the title and your co-author, but could you possibly let us in on more details?
October 3rd, 2004 at 12:30 am
Dante, since your site sucks and fails all forms of validation, I can’t seem to grasp the value of your comments on any topic concerning web standards or web design.
October 3rd, 2004 at 4:01 am
Okay people, chill, chill.
William, I’m letting that post slide for two reasons. First, because I think in part you wrote it to defend me. Second, because it’s the perfect opportunity to point out the kind of posts that I don’t want to encourage here.
People! Nothing about me, or molly.com, is about telling anyone they suck. I’m all about the love, you know, we gotta help each other here. We’re all challenged in some ways, we all want to do better and learn more or we wouldn’t be here - god knows I have my limitations and faults!
As a general rule, just remember that criticism on molly.com is allowed, but make it constructive and do not make personal slights, or I will have to start deleting posts, which I am loathe to do.
Stu: To answer your question and get the discussion back on track: Dave and I are taking 36 designs from the CSS Zen Garden site and using them to describe various aspects of contemporary web design. Of course, much of this centers around CSS, but not entirely as we cover a range of topics: Design, Typography, Imagery, Special Effects and so on.
The book will serve as visual inspiration as well, as you can all see from the cover, Dave’s beautiful work is driving the book’s entire design. It’s been an awesome project to work on - getting to know the designers better has been incredible, and Dave is so talented as to make his first book authorship ever look like cake, even to a veteran like me.
October 3rd, 2004 at 6:52 am
Sounds like I’ll be buying it then. I’m glad you’re going beyond CSS; if I wanted another pure CSS book I’d buy Eric Meyer’s, and I honestly think there’s not much more that can be said about CSS already.
October 3rd, 2004 at 11:21 am
Who created the cover? Dave or you? Or both?
I know my site sucks, I am building a new one. Also due to be up in 2005 (other reasons conflicted my getting on the web sooner).
I beg you and Dave to not in any way shape or form advocate using CSS for Image Replacement. Please. Pretty please. Image Replacement is much better handled by Javascript. I never use CSS to replace Images, always JavaScript. And I never have to worry about accessibility, because Javascript can detect image support, something CSS can’t do.
October 3rd, 2004 at 12:58 pm
:-x
October 3rd, 2004 at 1:57 pm
Dante: Dave designed the cover and is the primary force behind the book’s entire design. He came up with the original specs, we tossed them back and forth, refined them - then gave them to the designers at New Riders. Together, we’re all working to create what I have to describe as a book of true beauty.
Insofar as Image Replacement Techniques, we discuss them in detail for several reasons. First, The CSS Zen Garden designs use image replacement, so we had to cover it by virtue of that approach. Second, there are a variety of image replacement techniques, so we describe those most commonly used. But don’t worry, we don’t advocate any of them per se, pointing out the problems that image replacement can introduce.
On the other hand, we don’t really cover JavaScript in the book at all, except in terms of where we are making a note of CSS techniques that can’t be accomplished cross-browser and providing additional resources. Remember, there’s no JavaScript used in any of the CSS Zen Garden designs, so that’s part of the reason.
William: Thank you
October 3rd, 2004 at 3:30 pm
Molly, I’ve read a few books of yours in the past and am looking forward to the Zen Garden book as I’m hoping it will help me finally learn CSS positioning and other techniques still alluding me. I love the Zen Garden site and hope to create pages like those one day.
thanks
October 3rd, 2004 at 8:00 pm
I’m so looking forward to this publication. This book is going live happily next to the other neo-web-design books (WSS; DWWS and DDW) that are spread over my desk (at home and work)
I’ve not read any of your print-published work (yet) but read your site daily. It’s great! Keep up the good work!
October 3rd, 2004 at 8:11 pm
oh dear…looks like I left out a > I’ll try again:
I’m so looking forward to this publication. This book is going live happily next to the other neo-web-design books (WSS; DWWS and DDW) that are spread over my desk (at home and work)
I’ve not read any of your print-published work (yet) but read your site daily. It’s great! Keep up the good work!
October 4th, 2004 at 6:47 am
I have prepurchased it at Amazon.ca. December 23? Hmm, maybe in time for Christmas. (Santa’s coming, Santa’s coming)
October 4th, 2004 at 6:35 pm
can’t wait to have my copy *grins sheepishly with a knowing glint in his eyes*
October 4th, 2004 at 8:06 pm
Looks great… I love the garden, it’s such an inspirational website. I hope the book will serve to inspire me further.
October 4th, 2004 at 11:47 pm
I’m glad you finally took some time to explain what this book will actually be about…
Now I am interested.
October 5th, 2004 at 4:11 am
w00t!
And also, thankyou for pointing out the actual content.
Both yours and Dave’s original posts were quite, um, content-free.
October 5th, 2004 at 7:02 am
Molly, is Shea married?
The book looks interesting, I look forward to more details on it.
October 5th, 2004 at 10:03 am
CSS, Zen, Bowman, Shea, Holzschag
The Beauty and Business of CSS I’ve been reading Douglas Bowman now for a couple of years and am a huge fan of css Zen Garden: The Beauty in CSS Design, David Shea’s design koan to those seeking CSS enlighment and who, BTW, is putting out Zen of CSS,…
October 8th, 2004 at 9:58 am
I’m a thirtysomething seasoned developer who’s read enough of Molly to comment intelligently. And, well, Dante’s comment pretty much echoes my thoughts, as well.
October 9th, 2004 at 5:16 am
Watch out Eric Meyer, Molly’s on her way!
October 10th, 2004 at 4:36 pm
The Zen Garden amazes me every time I pay a visit, so, so inspirational.
October 10th, 2004 at 8:04 pm
The book’s cover is breathtaking and truly represents the feeling you get when you go to CSS Zen Garden. I am sure the insides will be as equally impressive knowing Molly and Dave. Mazels!
October 12th, 2004 at 1:07 am
Having been a sandbagging reader of molly.com for a while and a previous co-worker of Dave Shea, I cannot fathom anyone not being impressed with the intellegence of both of these people.
The work put into the book aside, just having people like Dave and Molly around sharing their thoughts and skills is a benefit to us all. I for one have seriously benefitted from the tutelage of Dave and look forward to having this book on my desk.
Keep it up Molly…
October 12th, 2004 at 2:25 pm
Woah…this sounds like it’s gonna be awesome! I have great respect for both the authors and can’t wait to read it!
October 13th, 2004 at 7:31 am
Im happy to buy this book, and i’ll give you my comments afterwards
October 14th, 2004 at 1:28 pm
[…] S Design: visual enlightenment for the web parle de… tout est dans le titre en fait, la couverture. Commentaires Il n’y a pas de […]
October 15th, 2004 at 2:31 am
Looks a lot like some of the books we were trying to put out at glasshaus before she went down with all hands. I’m sure Bruce will forgive you for it being a New Riders title. Good work: the world needs more beautiful stuff in it.
December 28th, 2004 at 8:45 am
I only read one book by molly….”the designers edge” and it was very disappointing. Read the review at Amazon for this book to see what people think of molly’s work. Hopefully her authorship is much better in the Zen book since I’m a fan of the Zen website. Please, Molly, add substance to this book (unlike your designers edge)….the website itself sets high standards and people would expect the same standards from the book. Otherwise it’s going to be a big disappointment and the last time I take a chance on any book you are involved with.
January 11th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
I am a very big fan of the CSS Zen Garden website. So I am eagerly looking forward to the release of this book. Good job, Dave and Molly!
Aby Rao
February 3rd, 2005 at 7:30 am
Preordered on Amazon already, I can’t wait! It looks great Molly and Dave
March 7th, 2005 at 7:06 am
Molly, I bought the book this weekend (March 5) and have to say it’s great. Congratulations!
April 29th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
I been caught my eyes saw “Zen” keep remind me of “Trading Space” on cable tv show. I thought it meant colors following. So I read…I been mind blow and impressed. I love all them and css is awesome. Almost better than Eric Meyer. But I love both Molly and Eric Meyer, too. Keep up good job! My Suggestion? My Suggestion is: made “The Zen of CSS Design 2″ or “The Zen of More CSS Design” whatever. Hopeful!
January 5th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Hi Molly,
I love your book. I find that by combining the book lessons with the online instruction (by way of providing working samples), I am improving my understanding of CSS while changing the way I approach design.
I have a question, though. I came across a confusing entry on page 119.
The first paragraph starts with:
“Internet Explorer for Windows doesn’t support the width and height properties quite as the CSS specification recommends…….the floats remain unaffected, even if the content starts overlapping other elements.
“Internet Explorer, on the other hand, allows the width to expand as necessary….”
I am confused. In the second paragraph, did you mean to say, “Firefox, on the other hand…”, or did you mean “IE for the Mac…”
or…??
Thanks in advance for any clarification you can give.
Carolyn
October 18th, 2007 at 11:24 am
would’ve been really excited about a book by Dave Shea, but since you co-wrote it my enthusiasm has worn off.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Molly E. Holzschlag, and this web site shares my web development work and personal thoughts. Think of it as a personality site. Given that, one hopes I have an interesting enough personality to keep you entertained
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Thanks,very nice blog.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Nice job.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:14 am
it is easy to find it on google