[perlmonkey]

We are absolutely interested in feedback like this, keep it coming!

Indeed the first chapter is tough - we learned that through various iterations with many reviewers. Eventually we decided to just introduce you and skip the meta talk about methods and stuff. That should be in the "Welcome" passage before the actual chapter (included in chapter 1 - free download). If you didn't find the argument to let you know whether or not the book is for you we might have to refine this section and bring out our main points more.

Personally I am not convinced a starting chapter that told you how the book is going to teach you things would help that much with deciding whether you'd be comfortable with said book. It might be much more helpful to have a more advanced chapter as a free read oftentimes.

Eventually Meteor in Action will be a printed book as well, so that theoretically you will be able to browse through all chapters in a book store of your choice. Always assuming they carry Manning book, of course :)

[angrymouse]

Personally worked on a few tech books (150+) and everyone wants to do an introduction chapter but how many people buy a book without knowing the history or Wikipedia level info of the tech?

Jump in faster I say.

Site is extremely well done. Is that something advocated by Manning or a personal thing?

[perlmonkey]

Thanks for the compliments - it's a personal site, not officially run by Manning.

[erokar]

I appreciated the broad overview and rationale for using Meteor in the introduction. Well laid out, well written. I'm looking forward to the rest of the book -- the best of luck with it.

[conductr]

What if you put a small excerpt of each chapter? or, maybe just a TOC (I didn't see that on site)

This would solve what buyer wants without giving all your content away

[perlmonkey]

The TOC is available on the Manning site (where you buy the book). plus all chapters that are already available have "AVAILABLE" behind the chapter heading.