small reference books

5Mar/072

small reference books

PIX12.jpg

Originally uploaded by SKoon.

If given a choice between a large, 200+ page reference book and a smaller pocket sized reference book, I generally pick up the small reference book. At this stage of my life, I’m at the point where I don’t really need the “introduction to programming” sections that most large reference books have. I just need a quick way to look up some syntax or parameters

Someone asked me about the book on the far right. It’s titled “On Bullshit” and it’s by Harry G. Frankfurt. It’s a somewhat humorous exploration of what bullshitting is and why it’s done. From the Amazon.com review:

More pertinent is Frankfurt’s focus on intentions–the practice of bullshit, rather than its end result. Bullshitting, as he notes, is not exactly lying, and bullshit remains bullshit whether it’s true or false. The difference lies in the bullshitter’s complete disregard for whether what he’s saying corresponds to facts in the physical world: he “does not reject the authority of the truth, as the liar does, and oppose himself to it. He pays no attention to it at all. By virtue of this, bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.”

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Pingback: Jeffrey Palermo [C# MVP]
http://www.vixen.com/blog Morgan Schweers

Greetings,
I know it’s a few days late, but I’ve been pushing the power of the pocket for a few years now. They’re SO much easier to use as reference than the full size books, and there aren’t any random AdSense ads getting in the way of finding out what you want to know. I don’t need handholding, I just need instant answers.

That said, I’ll push a site I’ve found as nearly as invaluable (no affiliation, just really useful):
http://www.gotapi.com
They make searching for just the right function a lot easier, and generally wrap the actual sites that have the best knowledge.

I use that HEAVILY for my RoR development, for example. (There being a dearth of decent RoR pocket guides…)

Anyhow, best of luck with the more technical writing. I find it nearly impossible to break myself of the habit of writing personal stuff in the middle of my technical posts. Discipline, I guess…

– Morgan Schweers, CyberFOX!
http://www.lazycoder.com Scott

Hi Morgan,

That’s a GREAT site. i’ll second the lack of Ruby pocket guides, let along RoR pocket guides. The best I’ve found for RoR has been at Amy Hoy’s site. She has a series of PDF cheatsheets.

Right now my biggest impediment to more technical blogging, and blogging in general ,is about 3′ tall, weighs 25lbs, and loves to get into things she’s not supposed to.