PHP books, which of these are best?

Anon

PHP books:

I got 4 PHP books total, and I have decided to take at least 2-3 of them back later today.

First one is: "Intro to PHP programming" by W.Gilmore
Second one is: "MySQL & PHP database applications"(has a CD) by mandtbooks(greenbook with gold border on it)

Those 2 I am definitely taking back to get my refund/credit.

Now, I have 2 books left which are $50 bucks each!
So, I am trying to decide which to take back:
"Professional PHP Programming" by Wrox Press (red book)
or
"PHP & MySQL Web development" (this one comes with a CD) by SAMS (white/purple book)

So...any suggestions on which one to really keep?

Thanks! 😉

KewlFlasher
...still reading the script and readme files for the php guestbook I want to upload to make it work (www.netone.at) ...I am too hyperactive today, can't sit still long enough!

toma42

My personal experience:

Having a good background in programming, I taught myself php using only the php online manual and other free net resources.

I would recommend returning them all and getting this book:
Code Complete by Steve McConnell; Microsoft Press.

Another book of his, Rapid Development, is fantastic.

The Pragmatic Programmer is the last in my library. Although I've been programming for 4 years, that's all the books I've felt were necessary to own.

Good luck,
Tom

Anon

I really liked the book "MySQL & PHP database applications" by mandtbooks. It's well written.

The "Beginning PHP" Wrox book is good.
I also like the Core publishings PHP book.

I have a company which buys me books :-)

I like several books on programming, I like to be told the same thing in different ways and eventually it clicks. My brain doesn't quite know how to program as well as I would like it too.

sanand158

I have Professional PHP Programming and in my opinion it is a very good book. I do not have any other book. It is a comprehensive book.

One other suggestion though. Do you know Javascript? If not, I would suggest you buy the Javascript book published by o'Riley. This is because PHP is run on the server, to do any client side validation Javascript is invaluable.

Hope this helps.