A few weeks back, I finished reading Applications = Code + Markup by Charles Petzold.
It's a mixed bag of positives and negatives.
On the plus side, Charles' writing style is awesome. The way he breaks down a topic with mild humor thrown here and there, is like an expert cook mixing all his ingredients in just the right quantity to create something ultra tasty. I also like the completeness of the book. It delivers on what it promises - and tells you of everything you need to know about a certain topic.
On the negative side, my personal opinion is that the two logical sections the book was organized in, Code + Markup, is unnecessary. More than unnecessary, it also contributed to the bulk of the book. This is a nearly 1000 page book, so it is a huge commitment in time to read the full thing. The biggest complaint by far though is the lack of screenshots in this book. Hard to do justice to a "Presentation framework" book without the necessary screenshots. So, don't read this book without a computer handy. Get the source code, and match your screen with what the book describes. The problem is, I like to walk upto starbucks with a nice book, and it is just a whole lot inconvenient carrying a 1000 page book & a laptop. Plus I look like a complete dufus juggling between the book, and the coffee, and the laptop on that tiny starbucks table. Terribly unfortunately, MSPress doesn't offer an e-book version of this book, so you really have no choice to carry this 20lb brick with you. On the positive side, I guess you could use it for self-defense if the need arises.
Now I understand that including screenshots would have bulked this book to 2000 pages, but well, therein lies the last part, i.e. reduce the bulk. Combine Code + Markup into what I really need to know, keep your awesome writing style, and keep your focus on getting the concepts across.
Overall, a good book, with some room for improvement. My WPF concepts are crystal clear, and that was the whole purpose - so I like this book.
Will I read the next Petzold book on 3D WPF? Probably.
