Review by Cathy G. Cole:

First Line: So you made the decision to start a blog.

This is a decision that thousands, if not millions, of people have made. If Google Blogger is the blogging platform chosen, how much help isGunelius’ book? A lot!

From Part I where the author describes Blogger’s features and compares it to other blogging software, Gunelius takes the reader step-by-step through opening a Google account, starting a blog, choosing a template, writing and publishing blog posts– everything a beginning blogger should know.

From the basics, she moves on to covering how to monetize a blog, blogging from different media such as podcasting and mobile phones, how to use social media such as Twitter to network and build a community, and how to obtain your own domain. There’s even a section for troubleshooting problems. Everything is written in clear, concise language and easy to follow instructions.

People who have been blogging for a while may wonder if Google Blogger for Dummies contains anything worthwhile for them. My answer would be yes. For example, I had questions about obtaining my own domain, just what does “bounce rate” mean, and how to increase my search engine ranking. This book answered all those questions and many others. This book is for everyone using Blogger, both novice and pro.

Review by Jerry Saperstein:

The “Dummies” franchise is notoriously uneven with lots of low-quality titles and a relatively few good ones. “Google Blogger For Dummies” is a winner.

Susan Gunelius effortlessly walks the reader through the history of blogs and Blogger, in particular, the mechanics of starting, maintaining and growing a blog and ehnhancing your blog with templates, widgets, elements and gadgets. Then Gunelius segues into “Making Money with Blogger”.

This section is surprisingly well done and thorough. It lists a number of resources for monetizing your blog and has a pretty detailed discussion of Google’s AdSense program. Gunelius then moves on to networking and relationship building.

All in all, Susan Gunelius has turned out a very usable guide to getting started with Google Blogger, growing into as sophisticated a blog as you like and, if you are so moved (and have enough traffic), monetizing and growing it. Good work. Do remember that this guide is oriented toward Blogger beginners.

If you’d like a good introduction to WordPress, Google Blogger’s major competitor, checkout another “dummies” title, WordPress For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

Jerry

Review by Steven J. Dorfman:

Wow! The author brings to light so many important issues in today’s workforce. It’s one of those books you’ll have trouble putting down because it just makes so much sense. I found it very easy to read and enjoyed the stories. In some cases, ignorance is bliss — in the case of generational diversity, there is much to learn and apply. This book will help you do EXACTLY that. I look forward to purchasing more books from this author and have been recommending it to others…daily.

Review by S. Hover:

Misti Burmeister has a wonderful ability to teach through experience. Her knowledge of generational differences and how to bring them together is terrific. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with “How do I reach the upcoming generation?”

Review by Antony:

Henry Jenkins provides an excellent step away from our normal expectations of media philosophers. Coming in between the doom-and-gloom media affect tradition and the corporate schlock Jenkins writes (and speaks!) for the fans.

The book is a collection of articles set in three chapters: In the first, Jenkins lets us into the world of fandom (if you aren’t there already) and more specifically his early focus- that of science fan-fiction. The second chapter, Going Digital, co-incides with his other 2006 book “Convergence Culture” in its mapping the flow of information and analyis of everyday Americans’ change in their day-to-day. Finally, Columbine and Beyond (my favorite) looks at, esentially, the fear our elders have of new media and youth culture.

Review by Diane Cipollo:

A blog or weblog is a great way to get started on the web and Blogger.com from Google is one of the most popular software for creating weblogs. In her book, Elizabeth Castro assumes that this may be your first web project as she walks you through the basics for creating a blog at Blogger.com.

First, she gives you an overview of Blogger.com, what the software does, and why she chose it as the subject for her book. After she introduces you to the Blogger Dashboard (the control panel where all the work is done), Castro shows you how to open a Blogger account, give your weblog a name and choose a template. The template does all the work for you when creating your weblog pages. All you need is the content that you want to publish and the template places everything in the correct spot on the webpage. Castro does a great job explaining all of this with step-by-step instructions and lots of illustrations.

Once you have posted your first weblog entry, Castro moves on to more advanced Blogger features such as working with the template tags to customize the look of your blog, how to control the members and comments features, how to post an entry by email and how to use Audioblogger to post an entry via the telephone.

Now that you have your weblog ready for the public, Castro discusses hosting your blog through Blogger’s BlogSpot hosting or on your own server. Finally, she shows the many ways to publicize your blog including email and site feeds.

Elizabeth Castro has written many other Visual QuickStart Guide books for Peachpit Press.

Review by Manny Hernandez:

I have been writing on my blog using Blogger since 2002, so I am very familiar with almost all the options it provides you with to get your word out there in the blogosphere. Yet, I was able to pick up numerous new things when I read this book by Elizabeth Castro. It goes from the very basics that you’d need in order to get off the ground, all the way to incorporating audio into your blog, blogging via e-mail/telephone, customizing your blog, hosting it yourself and much, much more. It’s incredible the amount of useful information that the author was able to pack in a little over 100 pages.

As an experienced Blogger user I highly recommend this title (and of course, I recommend Blogger as a blogging platform).

Review by Laura:

If you have a sense of humor and a fondness for man’s best friend then this is a must read. I was literally laughing out loud as I read it. I have never done that before. Great gift idea!

Review by Lisa Hoefinger:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3HEDK79IXA178 Bo Hoefinger is not your everyday, run of the mill author; he’s a mixed-breed shelter dog with an attitude.

Bad to the Bone focuses on how he and two seemingly normal people wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world while creating a lifelong bond in the process. All the stories are true and will eave dog lovers laughing out loud.

“A real treat. Bo is so distinctively adorable and funny, that no other dog will be able to follow in his pawsteps.”

–Tracie Hotchner, author of The Dog Bible and host of DOG TALK (NPR affiliate WLIU-FM 88.3 radio show)

“You’ll laugh, you’ll howl, you’ll practically wag with pleasure…Bo is truly the voice of his doggy generation.”

–Dr. Marty Becker, Resident veterinarian on ABC TV’s Good Morning America, Host of “The Pet Doctor with Marty Becker” on PBS, Author of 17 pet books, Nationally syndicated columnist, [...]

“A well-written and fun read…Bo takes you inside his family and you feel as if you’re right there experiencing all the joys and pains with them. You’ll want to hug your own dog after reading this book!”

–Suzanne Jalot, Editor-In-Chief of DOGliving magazine

“Bo’s rebel adventures in naps and squirrels will stir the heart and stoke human understanding of how dogs must think. His “voice” is utterly original, sharp, and kind.”

–Monica Collins, “Ask Dog Lady” columnist, [...]

“Witty commentary and hilarious observations.”

–DOGliving magazine

A must read for any animal lover.

Woof!

-Bo

Review by Todd Hawley:

This book explains how to take your WordPress blog and turn it into something special, a blog that sets it apart from the tens of thousands of other blogs online. Using as its example the “Chiliguru” blog, Mr Thewlis explains how to produce a blog that readers will take notice of and read every time you post new content. He starts with the basics, like setting your goals for the blog, designing it, incorporating image and video files, then goes on to offer “blog writing tips.” With so many bloggers, it’s important to incorporate good writing into your blog. Even though he stresses there aren’t any “set rules” to blogging, few people will read a blog that is boring or poorly written.

Search engine optimization is a hot topic in the blogosphere these days and Mr Thewlis devotes an entire chapter to this topic, discussing keywords, permalinks, tags and site maps. He also touches upon other ways of promoting your blog, how to analyze your blog stats, and more importantly ways of making money from your blog. There are also lots of good screen shots throughout that help explain different procedures.

I found this to be a highly enjoyable book. It’s clear Mr Thewlis put a lot of effort into showing the reader how to create a stand-out business blog.

Review by gypsytu:

I have purchased and studied many technical books, this is the first book I felt a need to write a review. I find it well organized and understandable. The information concerning plug ins and the proper process is extremely valuable. I have only read about half way through the book, but I understand more about WordPress than I thought possible. The ability shown how to design the blog on your own computer and then upload it to your host is priceless. I highly recommend this book!

Review by Michelle M:

I’ve had a few blogs over the past several years that never got off the ground, because I’d get stuck (and/or bored with it) and let them sit there, collecting cyberspace dust. This fun book is just the kick I needed to start over and make it into something I can be proud of and will enjoy doing. All the main points of blogging that you need to know are touched upon and easy to follow. Even if you’re not exactly new to blogging, it’s easy to skip through to the parts you do need because the chapters are all outlined very well. Overall, a fun and witty, well-organized buy for anyone wanting to dive into the world of blogging!

Review by elleinthecity:

I just started my own blog earlier this year. It’s been quite a learning experience, one that would not have been so painful if i had read this book first. If i had, i would have learned how to find the right *me* tone, where to get insiration from, how to get people wide and far to come to my blog, and how to handle comments good and bad. Oh, and mix the perfect martini. I had such fun reading this book, I recommend it for anyone who wants a blog that’s all that and a pair of Jimmy Choos.

Review by L Goodman-Malamuth:

Having devoured Eric Boehlert’s previous book, “Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for George W. Bush,” I wasted no time in buying and reading “Bloggers on the Bus.” This seminal book confirms my belief that Boehlert is one of the most incisive and accurate media critics writing today. He is perhaps uniquely well-positioned to document how election coverage has adapted (or not) to a 24/7 news cycle, and to detail what a substantial role bloggers have played in this seismic shift.

Like millions of other news junkies, my reading habits now include a wide variety of political weblogs along with MSM articles and broadcasts. In this book, Boehlert demonstrates that during the 2008 Presidential primary season, the candidates’ innovative use of all forms of cybercommunication transformed electoral politics forever. Even before 2008, bloggers who posted video and audio links influenced campaign results, as George Allen learned when his use of a racial epithet at a Virginia campaign stop–recorded and posted online–probably cost him that state’s Senate seat in 2006.

Bloggers have made an enormous improvement in the amount and accuracy of information available to the electorate. The ranks of bloggers comprise many of today’s savviest and most eloquent writers on electoral politics. It’s impossible to think of elections now without, say, pre-YouTube Internet video pioneer John Amato of Crooks & Liars, pollster Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com, the communities posting at firedoglake, DailyKos, TalkingPointsMemo, ThinkProgress, and Boehlert’s own base at the media watchdog site, Media Matters, to name only a few.

The sheer luxury of space that bloggers enjoy allows their postings to include much more information than in traditional print journalism. Though both media allow embedding links, and to some extent allow readers to comment, bloggers are freer of the space restrictions of newspaper and television coverage, allowing them to include a seemingly limitless amount of detail for anyone to access.

For example, before late August 2008, to non-Alaskans Governor Sarah Palin was known primarily to policy wonks (like me) who were following “Troopergate” and her other ethical irregularities. Once Palin was named John McCain’s running mate, readers who wanted to know more–much more–about her encountered bloggers who bore unfamiliar names, such as Shannyn Moore and Andrew Halcro, and sites including The Mudflats, Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis, The Immoral Minority, and PalinDeception, just to name a few. Worth the price of this book alone is “Saradise Lost,” Boehlert’s chapter on the tireless Alaskan bloggers who detailed the unlacquered history of McCain’s surprise choice of running mate.

Boehlert may be among the first to document the enormous impact of the Internet on political reporting, but he certainly won’t be the last. This book deserves a wide readership, no matter where your political loyalties lie.

Review by R. Smith:

I’ve been reading the blogs for about ten years now. Have been reading some of them like Glenn Greewald since almost the beginning. This book has a lot of satisfying”inside baseball.” For an avid blog reader it’s a must. Boehlert provided lots of background on bloggers I take for granted. Good info on all my favorites. I think it would also be interesting for a non (political) blog reader. Boehlert is an engaging writer who tells the story of how progressive/liberal/left wing blogs came to prominence to rival right wing talk radio and significantly affected the 2004 and 2008 elections. There are many interesting stories in the book. One of the most interesting tells how local bloggers vetted Sarah Palin for the rest of the country. Highly recommend.