Wordpress for Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) 8th Edition

excellent overview of the software but also detailed explainations of how to get a web site up and running. excellent recommendations about what to do, and not do, and what plug-ins to try first.

I've done computer science work for a long time and many times I've been introduced to a whole new technology or programming environment. These new environments are a mystery to me until I get a lay of the land, generally from a book geared toward me- experienced programmer wanting to develop "code" in a new-to-them environment.For WordPress, this book is fulling that requirement for me. I already had my host provider who had WordPress preinstalled so I can't comment on those chapters, but the one showing all the features of the Dashboard has been immensely helpful. I've started a couple of YouTube videos, including Joy of WP, and while good and I get pages published, I don't know what I'm doing since I don't have the "big picture" and instruction in what all the "buttons" do.I'm still learning about the Dashboard but my edition (2017) of the book has been 100% right-on for WordPress 5.4.1, and I don't expect (hope :^) that to change in the future chapters. Thumbing through the chapters. it looks like there is all the material I'll need to watch those YouTube videos and know what I'm doing.The book is not directed only to someone with my experience but would be helpful to anyone wanting to do a WordPress website.This book already feels like it's going to one of those books I'm going to refer back to many times when I'm working on the small scale WP sites I envision.I'm curious, what am I missing? Why the negative reviews? I was unable to find all this info in one place anywhere else- Web, Kindle books, Amazon books (except this one!)Edited 5/13/20I lowered my rating from 5 to 4 stars. The book did fulfill my need to get a better understanding of the overall WordPress architecture an the different pieces and how they fit together. The book also did a good job explaining all the control in the Dashboard.I did feel that much of the later part of the book was out-of-date and the examples either did not work or should have been done using the latest tools like the Gutenberg editor.Overall I feel alot better about working in WP now that I've got a better idea of the big picture, which would be even better if all of the book was up-to-date.

thanks

Okay for basic WordPress but hard to adapt to purchased templates

Great book easy reading

Helpful in developing my website

I've purchased many other 'dummies' books in the past and most were extremely helpful., but this one is the absolute worst instructional book ever! First of all, it seems to focus primarily on blogging, which in my opinion, few website builders care much about. The other issues that I find fault here - it doesn't seem to follow a logical and easy to follow step-by-step approach. I've received far greater instructional information through various youtube videos. I then hoped I could use this book as a sort of follow-up, to answer questions I have about the specific issues, such as for example, typography, adding sub-menus or alignment of elements, themes and plug-ins, etc. The table of contents and index are practically useless . Trust me, do not waste your money and don't buy this book!

Nearly useless for learning wordpress. Might be useful if one is trying to build a simple wordpress site. Not useful for editing existing sites or understanding wordpress as a whole.