Updated July 11, 2023
Books to Learn CSS
CSS is used to format the layout and visuals of a markup language, mostly HTML, along with XML documents such as SVG and XUL. This language has become very popular because it saves time and effort when creating and updating multiple web pages with different layouts simultaneously.
Knowing more about the language is imperative as CSS evolves over time. Combining book learning with hands-on practice and exploring online resources is beneficial to stay updated with the latest CSS features and best practices.
Key Takeaways
- Books explain the various selector types in-depth, including class selectors, ID selectors, attribute selectors, pseudo-classes, and pseudo-elements.
- CSS books delve into layout techniques, including the traditional block and inline models, and newer approaches like Flexbox and CSS Grid
- Many CSS books touch upon CSS preprocessors like Sass or Less. These preprocessors extend CSS by introducing variables, nesting, mixins, and other valuable features.
Top 10 CSS Books
Here are the top 10 books in no specific order to further your understanding of CSS.
| Sr No | Books | Author | Published |
Rating |
| 1. | Head First HTML and CSS: A Learner’s Guide to Creating Standards | Elisabeth Robson, Eric Freeman | 2012 | Amazon: 4.6 Goodreads: 4.3 |
| 2. | Learn CSS in One Day and Learn It Well | LCF Publishing, Jamie Chan | 2015 | Amazon:4.4 Goodreads:4.05 |
| 3. | CSS in easy steps | Mike McGrath | 2020 | Amazon: 4.7 Goodreads:4.0 |
| 4. | CSS Master | Tiffany B Brown | 2021 | Amazon:4.7 Goodreads: 4.0 |
| 5. | CSS: The Definitive Guide – Visual Presentation for the Web | Eric Meyer, Estelle Weyl | 2017 | Amazon:4.6 Goodreads: 4.2 |
| 6. | CSS in Depth | Keith J. Grant | 2018 | Amazon: 4.8 Goodreads: 4.5 |
| 7. | CSS Pocket Reference: Visual Presentation for the Web | Eric Meyer | 2018 | Amazon 4.6 Goodreads- 3.9 |
| 8. | Modern CSS: Master the Key Concepts of CSS for Modern Web Development | Joe Attardi | 2020 | Amazon 4.5 Goodreads -4.2 |
| 9. | CSS Secrets: Better Solutions to Everyday Web Design Problems | Lea Verou | 2015 | Amazon 4.7 Goodreads- 4.5 |
| 10. | CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions | Andy Budd, Cameron Moll, Simon Collison | 2009 | Amazon: 4.1 Goodreads: 4.09 |
Let us discuss the reviews and takeaways of the CSS Books:-
Book#1: Head First HTML and CSS
Author: Elisabeth Robson, Eric Freeman
Book Review
Software developers and tech enthusiasts have preferred this book to broaden their knowledge spectrum. Does an excellent job teaching coding from scratch in a conversational and friendly way.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Learn to build blocks, create a new lounge, find a hosting company, etc., to learn more about web development.
- Find how the browser works with images, add meta tags, and know overriding inheritance.
Book#2: Learn CSS in One Day and Learn It Well
Author: Jamie Chan
Book Review
See complex subject matter concepts broken down into simpler byte-sized vital elements that are easily comprehensible. Practice hands-on examples with suitable illustrations that cater to the need of each learner.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Glance and understand padding and margin properties, Border properties, Navigation bars, and text much better.
- Take in applying CSS code, CSS Box model, absolute positioning, etc.
Book#3: CSS in Easy Steps
Author: Mike McGrath
Book Review
If you want to bring creative, stylish web pages to the table, then look no more, for here is a book that provides extensive knowledge of the latest style sheet techniques. Access interactive functionality and syntax highlighted code at the touch of your fingers.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Includes getting started in CSS, organizing tables and lists, and generating effects in a simple mannerism.
- Manipulate text content, enhance controls of the intuitive web design, and curate beautiful layouts for grids and devices.
Book#4: CSS Master
Author: Tiffany B Brown
Book Review
A contemporary take on binding and presenting the facts of advanced CSS methodology inbuilt with the most cutting edge CSS techniques to boost up mind strengthening in web designs. It doesn’t disappoint in providing top-level code examples and clear illustrations to guide an individual.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Highlights the importance of complex layouts and bettering repaint and reflow performance penalties.
- It provides the best of Flexbox and deep dives into the nitty gritty of using CSS with SVG.
Book#5: CSS: The Definitive Guide
Author: Eric Meyer, Estelle Weyl
Book Review
Bundled with impressive page styling, improving speed development, and the latest CSS specifications, this book is sure to leave you thoroughly mystified by its amount of clarity.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Overview of selectors, line cascade, and old CSS values and units.
- Bring colors, gradients, 2D and 3D transforms, container queries, etc.
- Reacquaint yourself with padding, borders, and an inline direction layout paradigm.
Book#6: CSS In-depth
Author: Keith J. Grant
Book Review
This book is wonderfully curated for the average web developer searching to upgrade his skills to the next level. The author has assembled the documentation in a very straightforward and to-the-point method.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Comprises key pointers, technical guidance, insights, and more on topics such as shadows, blends, contrast, etc.
- It contains online documentation that can be accessed on Git Hub.
Book#7: CSS Pocket Reference: Visual Presentation for the Web 5th Edition
Author: Eric Meyer
Book Review
An all-in-one reference for all your doubts about the vast subject of CSS. Ideal for someone not accustomed to reading page-long books and looking to search for quick tips to know about certain CSS features.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Contains detailed sections on selectors and queries, structural pseudo-classes, and iteration pseudo-classes.
- Learn property references, table layouts, and color values, amongst many more content topics like this.
Book#8: Modern CSS
Author: Joe Attardi
Book Review
Modern CSS has never been this easy before this book. This book collaborates labeled screenshots with plenty of hands-on examples and is presented absolutely in a crystal clear way.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Covers basic CSS concepts, basic styling, backgrounds, and gradients concisely.
- Go through topics like transitions and animations, CSS grid, Responsive design, and transforms.
- Create vivid animation elements in your projects with CSS transitions.
Book#9: CSS Secrets: Better Solutions to Everyday Web Design Problems
Author: Lea Verou
Book Review
The author combines her broad knowledge of CSS and brings about unknown terminologies to surprise the reader with jaw-dropping details and thoroughness in her research that has made this book akin to an adventure ride.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- The 47 chapters contain the secrets of daily functional CSS code snippets that use common UI problems and aim to solve them one step at a time.
- Features introducing less markup, glass effect, Circular text, starstruck typographic techniques, etc., in this whirlwind of CSS3 adventure.
Book#10: CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions
Author: Andy Budd, Cameron Moll, Simon Collison
Book Review
This book is an amalgamation of cutting-edge CSS development combined with real-life case studies and a huge emphasis on fixing improper bugs and tackling the trials and tribulations of code hacks.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Lays the foundation of the style sheet language, visual formatting model, and image replacement.
- It is meant for people already skilled in advanced language learning techniques and trying to uplift their knowledge with time-efficient hacks.
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