RE: [DOCS] Re: [HACKERS] Outline for PostgreSQL book

If I may add..

I would highly recommend that you all read Phil Greenspun's story about his
experience in publishing his book with MacMillan.  Read between the lines,
however.  Where ever reference is made to MacMillan you could substitue
almost <any publisher>. Greenspun is a great story teller so the material is
a good read. I'm sure he embellished a lot on his experiences.  He strikes
me as being a puckish kind of guy, somewhat rare amongst engineers. Read
some of his other material. A Day at the Zoo is a good one.

Paul

Paul W. Becker
Addison Wesley Longman
671 Andover Road
Valley Cottage, NY  10989

914-268-8003 (v)
914-268-3874 (f)

Assistant: Ross Venables 781-944-3700  x2501




-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Momjian [mailto:maillist@candle.pha.pa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 11:49 PM
To: Lamar Owen
Cc: Dmitry Samersoff; Vince Vielhaber; Oliver Elphick;
PostgreSQL-documentation; "PostgreSQL-development"@candle.pha.pa.us;
pgsql-hackers@postgreSQL.org; Jan Wieck
Subject: Re: [DOCS] Re: [HACKERS] Outline for PostgreSQL book


> Bruce Momjian wrote:
> > Actually, I want to make sure the book is accessible on the web.  I will
> > keep your translation idea in mind.  Good point.
>
> Talk to Philip Greenspun.  Morgan-Kaufman cut him a deal where his book,
> "Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing" is also available free on
> the web (http://photo.net/wtr/thebook).  His e-mail is philg@mit.edu.

I have this from Addison Wesley.  It is online now.

> And you gotta see the quality of his book!  Amazon carries it.
> (although, I must say, some of his choices for pictures were a little
> over the top....)

Much thanks for sending me this suggestion.

I read it at:

    http://photo.net/wtr/dead-trees/story.html

First, it is very long, so let me give you a quick summary.  He did his
first book for MacMillan, which is like Sams, Waite, etc.  Basically your
fat book for dummies, and had a pretty terrible experience.  You have to
read it to appreciate it.  This reminds me of Thomas's comment that we
need a good, quality publisher for our books.  If the first book that
came out on PostgreSQL was "PostgreSQL for Dummies", Marc would have a
fit.  And I have seen him in fits -- it is not pretty.

He did his second book for Morgan Kaufmann, who is a quality publisher
like Addison Wesley.  Totally different experience, and a different
quality book.

This is required reading for anyone who is interested in the book
writing experience or is considering writing a book.  People, we need to
stay with the quality publishers, if possible.

I am sure there will be a "PostgreSQL Unleashed" book one day, with tons
of graphic arrows and very little content, but let's put it off as long
as we can.

--
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