At its core, Amazon.com is a great big database concerned with lots of
stuff--books, of course, but also tools, clothing, films on DVD, kitchen equipment, and lots and lots (and lots) of Harry Potter paraphernalia. Want to wear an Anna Kournikova exercise brassiere while juicing celery (presumably with considerable vigor)? Amazon can help. Need a cricket bat, radar gun, dietary fiber supplement, or vibrasonic molechaser? Amazon has what you need. Which is all great, but the real value of Amazon.com isn't that these things are in the database. The real value of this site lies in the information about all that stuff--reviews, sales rankings, recommendations, and the like--and the large number of ways to access it.
Amazon Hacks explains how to get the most out of Amazon.com as an ordinary customer with a Web browser and as a software developer interested in the site's considerable collection of Web Services.
In Amazon Hacks, Paul Bausch documents most of the avenues Amazon.com has opened up for exploration of the database. A lot of his coverage borders on the obvious: Sections on how to `Power-Search for Books` and `Put an Item Up for Bid at Amazon Auctions` aren't too different from Amazon's own explanatory articles. Coverage of how to add an Amazon search box to your own site, and add Amazon Associates item links to various kinds of Weblogs (including Blosxom and Moveable Type) are much handier. Bausch really shines when explaining Amazon.com's Web Services (AWS), the remotely accessible software interfaces that enables programs to search the database. He includes AWS-enabled programs in PHP, Python, and Perl. --David Wall
Topics covered: How to use Amazon.com as a Web surfer, Web site publisher, and software developer. Detailed coverage goes to advanced product search techniques, managing the characteristics associated with your Amazon login, selling through Amazon Auctions and zShops, and the Amazon Web Services (AWS) API for Perl, PHP, and Python.
User review
Most Info No Longer Applies due to Amazon Restructuring of Site
Do not bother buying this book. Most of the information in this book is not only outdated, but no longer applies (obsolete). Amazon has changed its site and practices considerably since this book was written.
Examples of obsolete information include lengthy instructions for doing Amazon auctions and listing items on their Z-shops. Both no longer exist on Amazon.
Even the simpliest basic info has changed from the sold ship now emails to shipping to getting paid.
There was so much obsolete and out of date information that it became hard, if not almost impossible to sort out what still could be used in the here and now. In the end, I gave up trying to figure that out (too time consuming) as I didn't trust any of it to still be applicable. So, the book has been tossed into my handy dandy circular file, the only good place for it.
Best to read the site itself for the latest info.
User review
Surprisingly good and very informative
I've been using Amazon for years and am an active poster of reviews. I was astounded to see just how much I didn't know about Amazon's resources and capabilities.
Even if you're not interested in programming hacks or using Amazon's API, this is still an extremely informative book for any Amazon user.
It provides excellent insight into how Amazon works and the wealth of information you can derive from Amazon.
Jerry
User review
Amazon's improving usability renders this book unnecessary
When this book was first published, it might have been somewhat relevant. However, Amazon has continuously upgraded the usability of its site to the point that where the answer to any question you might actually have about its features is now on the website, including forums where you can discuss individual books, and even a forum where users discuss the well guarded formula for ranking Amazon reviewers, which one clever person came up with via experimentation. Also, Amazon's interface and features are constantly being changed and upgraded, so that some of the specific information in this book is no longer correct. I give this book two stars only because it is well written, but I strongly advise against buying it.
User review
Nothing special
All of the information in the book could easily be obtained (for free!) from the Amazon Web Services website. In fact, all I learned from this book was that Amazon's online documentation was VERY complete!
User review
Waste of Money
I can only assume that the positive reviews were written by relatives and friends of the author. This book is only useful if you are totally unable to search a database by typing in `rolling pin`, and if you are interested in doing a lot of programming to accomplish simple and mostly useless tasks. As a seller on Ebay, I found nothing of use in this book, and, as a purchaser, I am capable of finding a `flashlight` without doing a lot of programming. This book is highly oversold. Save your money.
