A noted Web developer and long time WaSP member teaches readers all they need to know about Microformats technology. The focus is kept on practical examples as much as possible throughout. The end of the book features a chapter full of anecdotes from many professional Web designers and developers already using Microformats in their work today.
Microformats are a great idea with a not so great implementation (IMHO). This book tries to explain what microformats are and how to use them. But John Allsopp keep getting lost in all sort of marginal details without never going to the point. The book is missing: (1) a chapter with a clear syntax for the most common microformats, (2) a perspective view of the evolution of MF and their relevance for the web and the final users. John waste pages and pages explaining all sort of irrelevant details such as how to make a frame with rounded corners using CSS (BTW showing us a very obsolete technique) and similar off-topics. The impression is of an author working with the main concern of generating enough pages not to invalidate the contract with the publisher.
I found this book kind of all over the place. But is this the fault of the author, or is it an intrinsic problem with the subject, which is still a bit undefined and and may change quite a bit in its unfolding?
This is a great introduction to microformats and provides the technical reader with everything needed to implement microformats on their site. Allsopp presents a clear case for using microformats without fear of changing standards and a clear process for implementation.
Good ideas, and effectively demonstrative of the technique. Filled with too much CSS styling techniques that aren't needed (and belong in another book).