Concluding Remarks

If you have a student standing on the ledge of his or her dormitory ready to jump because that student fears the Internet, then give that student this book, leave the computer on, and go home to bed. In the morning, that student will be surfing the net, not splattered on the pavement below.

To gain a better understanding of the minds of the authors, the reader could merely read from the Preface a great MOO interaction between the authors titled Eavesdropping on the Authors.

Nick says, "So what do you think of our preface? Did we cover all the major points, such as why we wrote the book?"
Eric says, "We wanted to do this because we felt too many people were worried about getting started online. This book helps people take the first plunge into the Net."
Nick says, "Exactly. It's not comprehensive. If it were, then it would keep growing and be re-leased every other day :). But it does offer a place to begin."
Eric says, "Right. It's like a pocket version of the American Heritage Dictionary: light, portable, and easy to use."
Nick says, "We did make some choices in our approach that differ from other Internet guides. For instance, we include examples fro lower-tech connections, whereas other guides assume only high-tech ones."
Eric says, "The web site is an extension of what's covered in the book. I think of the book as an inviting hallway and the web site as the rooms leading off it."
Nick says, "And maybe if people like a particular room they'll decide to stay a while, even MOOve in;)."

The book and the website bring to mind the first classic movie in which sound was heard, The Jazz Singer. In this movie, Al Jolson says, "You ain't heard nothing yet." With the English Online: A Student's Guide to the Internet and World Wide Web, you ain't seen nothing yet. This is the beginning of a new publishing concept boldly undertaken by Eric Crump, Nick Carbone, and Houghton Mifflin Company.

The best thing to do is :) and GOWI.

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