Geek Post: O'Reilly Books for Cheap

Years ago, when I was a C programmer in the basements of the UCLA medical center, I remember a co-worker making a reference to the "Camel Book." This was a book I had never heard of, until a few years later when I came across "Programming Perl," published by O'Reilly.

Over the years, I have bought very few of these books - even though they are great reference works for programming languages - simply because, well... they're not cheap. For example, "Programming Perl" goes for $33 on Amazon. (Granted, it is over 1000 pages.)

Most language references or guides or documentation is available on the web now. But it is nice at times to have these references in book form (for, like, reading in bed, and stuff). That is why I was so pleased to find that Amazon.cn also sells O'Reilly books! Some of them have been translated into Chinese, but some of them are just the China-distributed versions of the English books. And, not only that... they're way cheaper than in the States.

Back in October, I picked up "PHP & MYSQL" (in English!) for 46 元 (that's USD $7), and also "Designing Web Interfaces" (translated into Chinese!) for 60 元 (that's USD $9). The second book has been good simply for (slowly) learning the Chinese terms for computer and interface related terms. (Do you know how to say "single-click" in Chinese?)

In recent weeks, I've been working on a project that requires me to get a better handle on my MYSQL, AJAX, JavaScript, and CSS. I was so pleased to find a good set of O'Reilly books all available on Amazon.cn.



The AJAX book, the MYSQL book, and the CSS book (not pictured above)... go for about USD $30 each at Amazon.com.

I bought them for 70 元, 64 元, and 54 元... or about USD $10.50, $9.50, and $8 - that's USD $28 for all 3!

This will be a self-control issue in the days to come, simply because I know how much I would be paying if I were to buy these books in the States. Should I look for more books? I should probably hold off for a few months.

People who have moved overseas often rave about "rare finds" that they stumble across in this or that store - decaf coffee, Dr. Pepper, fresh basil, post-it notes, Pepto Bismol. Well, I recently found another one out here: O'Reilly Books... for cheap.