Google Hacks - Tara Calishan and Rael Dornfest, O'Reilly
Google Hacks a review of the book by Tara Calishan and Rael Dornfest, O'Reilly, 2002.
Google Hacks is the best book I've read on how to use the Google Search engine's advanced features to perform many different kinds of searches.
For instance, do you know how to get the most out of the Froogle price-searcher? Do you know what syntax to use when attempting an advanced search? This book is the place to start when searching for answers to questions like this.
Written by experts for intelligent users, O'Reilly's Hacks Series has reclaimed the term "hacking" for the good guys. Google Hacks reveals many capabilities of the Google search engine that most people are not aware of.
Although there is much to please the Google user, programmer's are not left out. Google Hacks introduces the Google API (the capabilities that Google exposes to application programs). The concepts they present are difficult to find on the web, partly because you need to understand the terminology before you start to search.
The book includes a full description of the WDSL parameters needed to make complicated searches using Google. Once you understand the basics introduced by this book, you will be fully equipped to find out more through searching the web.
Google Hacks provides programming examples in Perl Java, ASP and Visual Basic. Also, the concepts are easily translated into other languages. For instance, Google Hacks was invaluable to me when developing a VisualWorks Smalltalk search engine.
Google Hacks tells you how to perform specific useful searches, like for Stocks & Shares information and reverse look up of phone numbers. (Although UK readers should note that this only works for US data).
The Internet has a wealth of information, but you have to know how to find it. Google is your ultimate research tool. The more you know about Google, the better you are at pulling data off the Web. Google Hacks is a collection of industrial-strength, real-world, tested solutions to practical problems. The book offers a variety of interesting ways for power users to mine the enormous amount of information that Google has access to.
Google Hacks made it to the New York Times top ten business books list which is unprecedented for a technology book. This reflects the clear, precise language they use and the excellent tips and techniques they introduce. In summary, this is the best compendium of Google tips and tricks available anywhere.