Absolute Beginner's Guide – serie

Master the art of AI prompting to unlock the full potential of generative AI tools for enhanced creativity and productivity

AI Prompt Engineering Absolute Beginner’s Guide, by best-selling author Michael Miller (writer of 200+ practical tech books), teaches readers how to craft effective prompts that unlock the full power of generative AI. You’ll learn what generative AI can (and can’t) do, why well-structured prompts matter, and how to craft them step-by-step for the results you actually want.

 

This approachable guide walks you through the anatomy of a great prompt--defining clear goals, outputs, constraints, tone, and style--then builds your skills with proven prompting strategies. You’ll also learn how to evaluate prompt performance, troubleshoot underperforming prompts, and refine your prompts with iterative techniques. Even better, you’ll learn how to construct prompts for specific tasks (productivity, writing, image generation, and more) and take advantage of a large library of prompt templates.

 

Whether you are a casual user or a professional in content creation, marketing, education, or tech, this book helps you unlock the full power of today’s AI tools. With practical examples and real-world use cases, you will learn how to evaluate performance, refine and iterate, troubleshoot weak outputs, and use AI responsibly.

 

This book will help you with:

Understanding how generative AI works and why prompts matter Structuring the anatomy of clear, specific, goal-oriented prompts Defining outputs, constraints, tone, and style to guide results Applying zero-shot, one-shot, and few-shot prompting techniques Using chain-of-thought and self-consistency to improve reasoning Adopting role- and persona-based prompting for better context Building prompt chains and multimodal prompts (text, image, video) Evaluating prompt performance and iterating for improvement Generating higher-quality text, images, and videos for real use cases Troubleshooting weak outputs and practicing responsible, ethical prompting

Succeed as a project manager, even if you’ve never run a project before! This book is the fastest way to master every project management task, from upfront budgeting and scheduling through execution, managing teams through closing projects, and learning from experience. Updated for the latest web-based project management tools and the newest version of PMP certification, this book will show you exactly how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Project management has never, ever been this simple!

 

Who knew how simple Project Management could be?

 

This is today’s best beginner’s guide to modern project management… simple, practical instructions for succeeding with every task you’ll need to perform! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn:

 

• Master the key skills and qualities every project manager needs

• Lead projects, don’t just “manage” them

• Avoid 15 most common mistakes new project managers make

• Learn from troubled, successful, and “recovered” projects

• Set the stage for success by effectively defining your project

• Build a usable project plan and an accurate work breakdown structure (WBS)

• Create budgets and schedules that help you manage risk

• Use powerful control and reporting techniques, including earned value management

• Smoothly manage project changes, issues, risks, deliverables, and quality

• Manage project communications and stakeholder expectations

• Organize and lead high-performance project teams

• Manage cross-functional, cross-cultural, and virtual projects

• Work successfully with vendors and Project Management Offices

• Make the most of Microsoft Project and new web-based alternatives

• Get started with agile and “critical chain” project management

Make the most of your new OS X® Mountain Lion notebook or desktop computer—without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to get comfortable, get productive, get online, connect with friends and family, explore the Web, enjoy music and video, and have way more fun! Even if you’ve never used a Mac before, this book will show you how to do what you want, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. OS X Mountain Lion has never been this simple!

 

Who knew how simple OS X Mountain Lion could be?

 

This is today’s best beginner’s guide to using your new OS X Mountain Lion desktop or notebook computer: simple, practical instructions for doing everything you really want to do! Here’s a small sample of what you learn:

 

•    Master Mountain Lion’s new iPad®/iPhone®-like features

•    Learn Mac essentials, from bootup to the Dock

•    Sync your data on iCloud, and use it anywhere

•    Personalize your Mac to match your style and make you more productive

•    Use iTunes® to enjoy music, Internet radio, TV, movies, podcasts, and even college courses

•    Stay organized with Contacts, Calendar, Notes, and Reminders

•    Connect with people via Mail, Messages, and FaceTime® video calls

•    Get instant access to weather, stock, and flight information

•    Compete against gamers running Macs, iPads, or iPhones

•    Explore the Web with Apple’s speedy Safari browser

•    Use Photo Booth® to capture, edit, and share photos and video

•    Automatically back up your Mac with Time Machine®

•    Protect your Mac (and yourself) against online threats

 

Category: Computers

Covers: Macintosh Operating System

User Level: Beginning

 

 

Make the most of Word 2013–without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to learn Word and use it quickly to prepare powerfully effective documents! Even if you’ve never used Word before, you’ll learn how to do what you want, one clear and easy step at a time. Word has never, ever been this simple!

 

Who knew how simple Word 2013 could be?

 

This is the easiest, most practical beginner’s guide to using Microsoft’s incredibly powerful new Word 2013 word processing program…simple, reliable instructions for doing everything you really want to do! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn:

 

•   Navigate Word 2013’s updated interface and make the most of the Ribbon, Quick Access toolbar, and other handy tools

•   Quickly develop any document, from reports to résumés, brochures to calendars–even web pages

•   Control margins, indents, alignment, columns, and spacing

•   Improve document appearance with themes and style sets

•   Organize and present data attractively with Word tables and charts

•   Build professional-quality visuals with SmartArt and WordArt

•   Use images from multiple sources, including screen captures and Bing Image Search

•   Master long documents, tables of contents, cross-references, and footnotes

•   Collaborate with others using Word’s tracking and revision tools

•   Easily create personalized mailings and email

•   And much more…

 

Succeed as a project manager, even if you’ve never run a project before! This book is the fastest way to master every project management task, from upfront budgeting and scheduling through execution, managing teams through closing projects, and learning from experience. Updated with more insights from the front lines, including agile approaches, dealing with security and privacy priorities, and leading remote/virtual teams, along with the latest on Microsoft Project and PMI standards and certifications and a special bonus chapter on preparing for the PMP certification. This book will show you exactly how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Project management has never, ever been this simple!

Who knew how simple project management could be?

This is today’s best beginner’s guide to modern project management… simple, practical instructions for succeeding with every task you’ll need to perform! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn:

• Master the key skills and qualities every project manager needs

• Lead projects, don’t just “manage” them

• Avoid 15 most common mistakes new project managers make

• Learn from troubled, successful, and “recovered” projects

• Set the stage for success by effectively defining your project

• Build a usable project plan and an accurate work breakdown structure (WBS)

• Create budgets and schedules that help you manage risk

• Use powerful control and reporting techniques, including earned value management

• Smoothly manage project changes, issues, risks, deliverables, and quality

• Manage project communications and stakeholder expectations

• Organize and lead high-performance project teams

• Manage cross-functional, cross-cultural, and virtual projects

• Work successfully with vendors and Project Management Offices

• Make the most of Microsoft Project and new web-based alternatives

• Get started with agile and “critical chain” project management

• Gain key insights that will accelerate your learning curve

• Know how to respond to real-life situations, not just what they teach you in school

 

Using Artificial Intelligence Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Who knew how simple AI could be?

Using Artificial Intelligence Absolute Beginner’s Guide will have you getting the most of popular AI tools in no time! Here’s a small sample of what you’ll find inside:

Learn how AI can make everyday life easier. Get tips for using AI to write, gather information, get advice, and more. Discover how to use AI to generate images that are  realistic and fantastical! Examine the risks and rewards of artificial intelligence. Find step-by-step instructions for today’s most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Midjourney. Find out how to tell when something is AI generated so you don’t get fooled by deepfakes.

Artificial intelligence can be fun and productive if you know which tools to use and when. Using Artificial Intelligence Absolute Beginner’s Guide tells you all about today’s major AI tools and shows how to get the best results from them. You’ll learn to use AI for turning your ideas into art, writing a great email, sharpening your resume, and even sparking conversation. Instantly research everything from planning a trip to making your next big purchase. It’s all a matter of picking the right AI tool and constructing the right prompt. You’ll also learn to protect yourself from the risks of AI and distinguish AI fakes from the real thing. Everything you need to know is here in this book!

Who knew how simple using JavaScript could be? Make the most of JavaScript--even if you've never programmed anything before.  JavaScript Absolute Beginner's Guide is the fastest way to learn JavaScript and use it together with CSS3 and HTML5 to create powerful web and mobile experiences. Learn how to do what you want, the way you want, one incredibly easy step at a time. JavaScript has never been this simple! Here's a small sample of what you’ll learn: Organize your code with variablesUnderstand how functions make your code reusableUse the popular if/else statement to help make a decision in codeLearn about switch statements and when to use themWork with for, while, and do...while loopsLearn how to use global and local scopeUnderstand what closures areLearn about the various places your code can liveUnderstand how to write comments and use good commenting practicesLearn about the basic types of objects you’ll run into in JavaScriptFind out that pizza has an educational value beyond just being deliciously awesomeLearn how to perform common string operationsUse arrays to handle lists of dataLearn to create custom objectsGet up to speed on some of the big ES6 changes

Succeed as a project manager, even if you've never run a project before! This book is the fastest way to master every project management task, from upfront budgeting and scheduling through execution, managing teams through closing projects, and learning from experience. Updated with more insights from the front lines, including agile approaches, dealing with security and privacy priorities, and leading remote/virtual teams, along with the latest on Microsoft Project and PMI standards and certifications and a special bonus chapter on preparing for the new PMP certification. This book will show you exactly how to get the job done, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Project management has never, ever been this simple! This is today's best beginner's guide to modern project management--simple, practical instructions for succeeding with every task you'll need to perform! * Master the key skills and qualities every project manager needs * Learn how to lead projects, not just "manage" them * Avoid 15 most common mistakes new project managers make * Learn from troubled, successful, and "recovered" projects * Apply agile, hybrid, and traditional project management approaches * Learn the differences between a project manager, Scrum master, and product owner * Learn how DevOps and DevSecOps impact the project manager * Set the stage for success by effectively defining your project * Build a usable project plan and an accurate work breakdown structure (WBS) * Create budgets and schedules that help you manage risk * Use powerful control and reporting techniques, including earned value management * Smoothly manage project changes, issues, risks, deliverables, and quality * Manage project communications and stakeholder expectations * Organize and lead high-performance project teams * Manage cross-functional, cross-cultural, and virtual projects * Get started with agile and "critical chain" project management * Gain key insights that will accelerate your learning curve * Learn how to respond to real-life situations, not just what they teach you in school

Make the most of your Windows 11 laptop or desktop computer--without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to get comfortable, get productive, get online, get started with social networking, make more connections, and have more fun! Even if you've never used a Windows computer before, this book shows you how to do what you want, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. Computer basics have never, ever been this simple! Who knew how simple using computers could be? This is today's best beginner's guide to using your computer or tablet with the Windows 11 operating system...simple, practical instructions for doing everything you really want to do! Here's a small sample of what you'll learn: * Set up your computer and personalize the Windows 11 Start menu and desktop * Connect to the Internet and browse the Web with Microsoft Edge * Get started with social networking on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn * Video chat with Zoom and Microsoft Teams * Use Windows 11's built-in apps--and find great new apps in the Microsoft Store * Connect printers and external storage * Connect to a home wireless network or public Wi-Fi hotspot * Go online to shop and sell--including ordering food and groceries online * Get work done quickly with Microsoft Office * Organize, view, and share photos * Listen to streaming music with Pandora and Spotify * Watch streaming movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, and more * Protect yourself against viruses, spyware, and spam

Make the most of today's JavaScript--even if you've never programmed anything before. JavaScript Absolute Beginner's Guide, Third Edition is the fastest way to learn JavaScript, starting with the basics and gradually going deeper and broader into all the techniques you need to begin building highly scalable, performant web apps and experiences. Do what you want, the way you want, one incredibly easy step at a time!

 

Learn all this, and much more:

 

Start fast with the basics: values, variables, functions, conditionals, loops, closures, and more Create well-organized, clear code that's easy to reuse and improve Learn proven best practices to build web apps that scale with outstanding performance Make the most of powerful object-oriented techniques to build complex, extensible apps Wrangle data like a pro by learning how to use the popular JSON standard, arrays, web storage, and more Translate your ideas into visually compelling and interactive content by learning how to work with the DOM Identify and fix issues quickly by learning how to use the in-browser development tools Understand the ins and outs of events and how you can use them to react to actions the user or the page will perform Learn how to ensure your code runs lightning-fast with extra coverage of performance optimizations and techniques you can use Learn the basics that set you up to more quickly use modern web frameworks like React, Vue, Next.js, and Nuxt Explore advanced features such as object destructuring, making web requests, the class syntax, accessing your webcam, variable hoisting, and more Get up-to-speed on the latest JavaScript enhancements proposed by the EcmaScript standard

Signed up for a half-marathon and not sure what you've gotten yourself into? Absolute Beginner's Guide to Half-Marathon Training: Get Ready to Run or Walk a 5K, 8K, 10K or Half-Marathon Race is an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of running half-marathon, or shorter, race. Endorsed by the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, this book is packed with illustrations, notes on how to stay motivated and tips on how to train without pain. It will guide you through your marathon-training program and show you how to find the appropriate clothing and shoes, prevent and treat injuries and warm-up before running. Even if you are walking a shorter distance, this is a beneficial training manual. So run, or walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of ABG to Half-Marathon Training today!