Others say...

"About what I expected ..."
My impression is that this is a reasonably good book for a first introduction to Fireworks. It helped me to already be familiar with Photoshop since many functions are quite similar.

I like "learn by doing" books but they, like this one, can be a little light on why you are doing something in a particular way.

One irritation with the book's structure is that the author would tell you to do something, not explain exactly how to do it using Firework's definitely quirky interface, then explain it after all in a call-out tip box a paragraph or two later. This after one stumbles all over the menu and icons searching for the function and finally move on, discouraged. Then, I'd discover the tip box and go back and revisit the assignment.

When I caught on that this was a pattern, I learned to search ahead when something wasn't self evident and often found the information I needed and progress was smoother.

Another irritation was that the files on the accompanying CD seemed to be incomplete. I was able to construct similar components myself, but I would like to have had the example ones to see where mine differed.

In summary: I found the book a bit cumbersome to use, but it achieved its purpose. It gave me an overview of the more important functions of Fireworks and a humble capability with its interface. I didn't complete the last couple of chapters where you are asked to export to Dreamweaver and complete the functionality there. I tried and the resulting program was a hash. Hardly anything worked. The two programs do not seem well integrated. But, since I intend to use Fireworks for text and limited graphics and do not intend to generate navigation with the program I wasn't concerned. If you are to become proficient in the use of Fireworks, I suggest you plan on reading some other books on the subject. Sadly, I haven't discovered any good ones to recommend.

"Good for beginers not advanced uses"
I was hoping this would cover the advanced features of fireworks, but this is clearly not the point. Masking, for example, is barely touched. Compositing hardly at all. I was really dissapointed as it does not help with the great features that set fireworks 8 apart from other graphics programs for the web. I think the online help is actually more helpful and useful.

I usually like the training from the source books as a great reference, but this is one time the book falls far short of it's potential.

"Good book for beginners!"
If you know NOTHING about Fireworks this is the book to have as it guides you through the most basic of tools that Fireworks has. Nothing in depth but given the small size of the book I would expect that! Easy to follow along!

"great book for novice-to-advanced beginners"
PRO:

+ very straight-forward, uncomplicated examples teach by doing, without longwinded explanations.

+ lessons are not boring.

+ techniques taught can easily be applied to your own projects.

+ i learned many new, small things that i did not know before.

+ broad coverage of most of fireworks's utilities.

CON:

- nothing in-depth. this book skims along with the whats and wheres, and not the how's and why's. i craved more from every chapter.

- the examples you use/create, while acceptable for learning, are quite uninspiring. if fact, the website you create is downright hokey.

- almost no coverage on properly integrating FW with DW.

- skimming coverage on creating advanced logos & text & effects.

BOTTOM LINE:

beginners- this is your book, you will learn alot about FW if you have little or basic knowledge of the program.

intermediates- you will definitely pick some new things up, but most of the book will seem redundant.

advanced users- this book will make an excellent door stop for you.

****
i don't quite understand; there are a million books on DW and Flash, but books on FW are non-existent. where is the missing deep-book on FW???

"What a joke!"
I bought this book unseen from Amazon, hoping, since it came from Macromedia, that it would help me learn the new features in Fireworks 8. Not! Instead this is a barely reworked edition of the one I have had for Fireworks MX!

To be fair, I printed out the "What's new in Fireworks 8" from the Fireworks Help, and cross-referenced it with this book's index. Nothing!

Perhaps this is a good book for a beginner, but it covers little of Fireworks' better features. and, if you are an experienced Photoshop user, there is nothing for you here. Even worse, the "web site" you will learn to build is totally lame.

This is too bad, because there is a lot in Fireworks that I would like to learn. And there is a dearth of literature on this product. Macromedia has said there will be a Fireworks 9. Probably Peachpit will change the cover on this book and market it again...