Re: why I like the Dummies books - was Boring documentation

["Bryan Sherman" <bsherm -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Since we are throwing out anecdotal evidence, I'll counter that I have
have found quite a few SMEs and Intelligent people that like the
Dummies series, even if it wouldn't fit their specific learning
preference.

I have also found that a lot of folks (certainly not all, perhaps not
even a majority) who loath the Dummies book (as opposed to simply
dislike) have never really looked at one, or tend towards the
pretentious. I am categorically NOT saying that anyone who doesn't
like them falls into this category.

IMHO it all goes back to variety. Some folks will find the
Dummies/Complete Idiots/whatever series incredibly helpful. Others
swear by O 'Reilly books. Isn't that the challenge of our jobs. There
is no ONE RIGHT WAY... :-)

On 3/24/06, Joe Malin <jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com> wrote:
> My own limited survey of the population yields these results:
>
> * Technical "experts" like engineers and tech writers, people who
> understand the field or a closely associated
>   one, dislike "Dummies" or "Idiots" books. The dislike varies from
> vague unease to downright loathing.
> * Highly intelligent people tend to dislike Idiots/Dummies books
> * A **large** majority of the general population *loves* Idiots/Dummies
> books.
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