By: Larry S. Bonura Publisher: Wiley Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Wiley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 256 Publication Date: March 23, 1994
Product Description: A step-by-step guide to creating comprehensive and usable technical indexes. Numerous surveys indicate that the most common complaint about technical documents concern a poorly designed index--or the lack of an index altogether! An organized, thoughtful index not only ensures that the contents of your book are accessible, but also increases the value of your book. In The Art of Indexing, professional indexer and editorial consultant Larry Bonura addresses the indexing problems specific to technical documentation and presents practical solutions to those problems. The Art of Indexing shows technical writers, editors, and documentation managers how to chart the topics of their books, reports, and documents and present a concise and accurate map that readers, researchers, libraries, bookstores, and reviewers can use to maximize the usefulness of their book. Step-by-step, The Art of Indexing shows you how to become a better indexer by: * Discussing the function of an index * Showing how to estimate indexing time * Presenting methods for selecting entries and subentries * Reviewing reasons for cross-referencing * Describing how to treat locators * Offering an extensive editing checklist for reviewing indexes * Covering indexing for online documents * Including numerous usability tests for verifying the strength of an index * Containing information on indexing standards * Providing sample indexes and a sample indexing style guide * And much more!
A good book for beginners I liked this book and the way it is written. The subtopics allow the reader to go to whatever category she wishes. You don't have to read through the whole book to find what you want. I especially liked the entries on sample indexes, editing an index, and the check list.
Obscure examples cloud picture I had no experience in indexing and so did learn a lot from this book. However, for the most part I found it confusing. I was especially disappointed that he used unfamiliar topics for his examples, making it impossible to relate them to the point he was trying to make or to my own work.
Concise Indexing Reference I ordered the book because I needed a reference for developing an index for online help. When I received the book, I was astonished at the size. I was expecting a hefy book. After taking a look, I discovered that it is so well-written that there is absolutely nothing unnecessary in it. It makes good use of headings and provides examples. Also, I liked the sections that helped the writer focus on how to anticipate what questions the user might have.
A very disappointing book Sorry dear readers, but this book is poorly written, shallow in its treatment of the subject, and often factually inaccurate.
The mostly bullet-point and numbered-list style does not lend itself to sufficient examples and explanations, and the grammar errors will absolutely drive you to distraction if you're a good writer.
Here's a sample of some of Bonura's tangled writing from page 78: "While 'see' references are usually italicized when used in indexes, the only time they are usually not italicized is when used in a cross-reference that is also italicized." Got that?
If you only buy one book on this subject, choose from among these three: (1) Nancy Mulvany's "Indexing Books," (2) Hans Wellisch's "Indexing from A to Z," or (3) the chapter on indexes from "The Chicago Manual of Style." All three are available from Amazon.com.
Four Dollars More Gets You Chicago The "Reprint permissions" (p. xii) indicate excerpts from the Chicago Manual of Style in ch. 2, 14 and 21 of Bonura's very short primer. For less than five dollars more, you can get all of the Chicago Manual of Style + its extensive chapter 17 on indexing--what a deal! Bonura's "real-world examples" to managing an index (pp.123-125) are unclear--it's hard to see what he is trying to illustrate. Sorry, the 'art' of indexing is just too much 'marketing' for the price.
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