Last updated 9/15/2004

Google: The Missing Manual

Google: The Missing Manual
Authors: Sarah Milstein & Rael Domfest
Publisher: Pogue Press, O'Reilly
306 pages ... $19.95
ISBN 0-596-00613-6

This is the third book about Google published by O'Reilly and I believe it is the one that most people will like the best because the information will fit their needs and is easy to read and understand.

Google: The Missing Manual, maintains the reputation of the series for highly readable, informative, useful publications.

It begins with Google Search Techniques with Google 101, simple clear information about Google searches beginning with the home page at http://www.google.com. Simple Google searches from Safari can use information like:

• apples oranges must find both words, and apples more important than oranges
• apples | oranges must find apples or oranges
• apples -oranges must find apples but not oranges
• apples and oranges must find the phrase "apples and oranges"

After covering more advanced searches, Google: The Missing Manuall covers The Unknown Google which includes searches for images
http://images.google.com,
for purchases http://froogle.google.com,
for Usenet news http://groups.google.com,
and using directories http://www.directory.googles.com.

Directory searches are a good way to explore subjects within a broader field, such as Health. The authors suggest beginning a directory search within Travel to get different ideas about your next vacation.

Information is provided about searching with different browsers. For example, if you have Safari set for tabbed browsing, you can open a Google search result in a new Tab by pressing Command-return. You can also learn about Google searches with you cellphone or wireless PDA.

Google: The Missing Manual ends with chapters on Google for Web Masters.

The first time I used Safari's Google to search for homes for sale by owner, I did not find what I had heard was the leading web page. I may not have worded it right. I searched using Sherlock and found it.

Today I ran the same searches - possibly with different words. First Sherlock found it and other useful pages. Then Google found the site I wanted near the top of the list. I liked the results as presented in Sherlock better. I mention this because these books about Google do not. I use Safari so it is easy to search with Google, but I believe we should not overlook the results available using Sherlock.

I liked Google: The Missing Manual because it contains information I can use, and it is easy and entertaining to read. If you search the Web a lot, or have to search it for your business, don't miss Google: The Missing Manual

For more information or to buy Google: The Missing Manual go to
http://www.oreilly.com
or
http://www.missingmanuals.com