Many people have told me that I would make an excellent instructor. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's because I have the ability to explain things in a manner understandable by the non-technical. Regardless, teaching a subject to an audience is not as simple as is it seems. According to the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction, there are fourteen components for a competent training session. Successful Technical Trainer has been generalized so that the reader learns not how to teach just computer concepts, or just manufacturing processes, or just safety procedures, for example. These fourteen competencies apply to anyone who wishes to effectively teach anything. The book leads the reader through all the competencies by chapter and summarizes the procedure for applying and taking the CTT+ certification exam.

Terrance Keyes holds a Master of Education degree and writes this book in the style most often taught to those who are first learning how to write an essay. He itemizes the objectives for each chapter, briefly describes what the chapter covers, discusses the topic of the chapter, summarizes the chapter, and lastly provides a series of questions so that you can determine how well you learned the chapter topic. It appears he wrote this book just as if he were giving a prepared lecture on this same topic.

Throughout the book, Keyes refers back and forth to other topics, emphasizing how they interrelate to the current topic. His style of writing, while not difficult, quickly becomes onerous.

For anyone who has given a presentation, as a high school student, as a college student, or to your fellow employees, the first six chapters are rather simplistic and cover competencies that, given a little thought, would seem to fall under the heading of "common sense." However, the remaining chapters do deal with aspects of instruction that most people just don't see, or realize they exist. These aspects, or competencies, are critically important for the successful reception of the information by the audience, evaluation of the outcome, and for improvement of future presentations. Keyes uses examples and scenarios to illustrate the various competencies but from personally playing the role of student, I feel these examples are very simplistic and naive.

This is the only book currently on the market that relates to the subject of teaching giving specific focus to the CTT+ certification. While this book isn't worthless, I hope a better book with more complex examples, practice sessions, and workbooks will come along soon.

The CTT+ certificate requires that you successfully pass a multiple-choice exam and get a positive evaluation of your video taped teaching performance. Visit CompTIA for an overview of their CTT+ certification. They also have available The ibstpi Standards Guide and a videotape on how to make a video of your performance.

How to be a Successful Technical Trainer
Terrance Keyes and Andrew Zeff
Osborne/McGraw Hill, 2000
ISBN: 0-07-213033-4
400 pages, $29.99

David Strom knows his business and that is teaching, writing, and consulting about networking and Internet technology. While most press releases and articles in computing magazines do not distinguish between home computing and corporate computing when discussing new products or their usage, Strom has done an excellent job of focusing on home networks. I might add that this book on home networking would also apply to most of the business networks that I have been exposed to as a database developer.

In reviewing a book when I know a little about the subject already, I try to determine if there are things that the author did not cover. In this case, my conclusion is that he did not omit much of anything on the subject. His scope and depth on networking covers everything from a single voice-grade telephone line with a slow Internet connection to a single PC, up to and including multiple Internet connections using DSL, TV cable, and even T1 services.

His "dream" setup, covered as a case study in Appendix C, includes a half-dozen computers with routers, hubs, and firewalls, two outside telephone lines, cable TV to most of the rooms in the house, and TV cable as the high-speed Internet service. The total cost for this system was about $4,500 (not including PCs) when installed during this past twelve months in Maryland. Fortunately, they were able to do the installation of wiring, 14 data jacks, 12 phone jacks, 10 cable TV connections, a LAN and a broadband Internet connection before the drywall went up when the house was being built. He even includes circuit diagrams of the in-house wiring locations for each of the components required. He actually planned ahead.

I recommend that you read Appendix C first, for inspiration. It will also show you "the big picture" for perspective while you are reading the rest of the book.

In his many articles, Strom invented a new word and he uses it in this book. It is "frhub." Frhub is a contraction of "firewall/router/hub" because all three can be purchased either as one assembly or as separate components. He reviews the functions of each of these in detail, lists the advantages of different configurations of them, and provides comparative charts you can use to make an intelligent decision before a purchase.

In my own case, for instance, I have a router RT311 that includes a firewall. It is connected to a 4-port hub. I could have bought an RT314 that is a 4-port "firewall/router/hub" (or frhub) all in one unit.

He stresses security throughout the book even though it has a chapter on security. Why do you need a good firewall? Is a dynamic or fixed IP address the best? Do games cause problems on networks? Are there special security considerations when using AOL? These are just some of the subjects discussed in the security chapter.

For current and future devices that you will learn that you really need but didn't know about until you read the book, he has a chapter called "Fun and Games." This deals with wireless connections for a variety of uses, as well as the growing family of X-10 devices for monitoring and controlling the entire home environment within the scope of your network.

Both Mac and Windows systems are discussed in each subject area, if applicable.

David Strom is not only knowledgeable on his subjects but entertaining as well. He turns what could be a good sleep aid into an interesting discussion of esoteric technology. His sense of humor is sprinkled liberally throughout the book. In addition to this book, he provides valuable references and links to other books and Internet sites. One of these is his own: Strom.com, where he provides an almost weekly essay on networking issues for free. I joined.

You can easily spot this book on the shelf at most bookstores. It is 7.5 by 9 inches and less than an inch thick. I think you will enjoy the read.

Home Networking Survival Guide
By David Strom
Osborne, 2001
ISBN: 0-07-219311-5
350 pages, $24.99

I had the unique opportunity to review this book coincidentally with taking a class in Unix/Linux. I also looked forward to reviewing a Sams book because I have a great deal of respect for the company. I have used Sams portfolios since I was 14, to work on radios, TVs, etc. They were the "bibles" of the industry. (And I am 55 now so that is a lot of years.)

Unfortunately, I can only say I was very deeply disappointed. I honestly can't say even one good thing about the book. Even with the advantage of learning about Unix/Linux from a teacher, I could make no sense whatsoever of it. And the book provides no examples of any practical uses of Unix so even if you were to actually learn anything, it does not help to show you what you can then use it for.

I compared it to other books; (System 5 Unix, Using Linux, and Linux In A Nutshell), and found them all to be more complete, informative, and functional.

NO STARS. Please do BETTER, Mr. Sams. I had expected more.

Sams Teach Yourself Linux in 24 Hours, Second Edition
By Bill Ball
Sams, 1999
ISBN: 0-672-31526-2
600 pages, with CD, $24.99

[Editor's Note: After reading Joe's review above, I read the reviews for this book on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble sites. There was a great range of difference of opinion among the various reviewers. A couple of issues did keep popping up. There are different versions of Linux, so make sure that the book(s) you select are addressing the version of Linux that you are using. Secondly, make sure that the book is directed toward the skill level that you need (beginner, intermediate, etc.). Finally, because computer technology changes so rapidly, a book can often become outdated in a very short time frame.

Also keep in mind that not everyone learns in the same fashion, so one author's style may not work as well for you as another's. Some books are great when you are just learning a process, and others make wonderful references that you may refer back to over and over.-EK]