Ask HN: Is there a good guide to the Internet that I can buy for my Dad?

1 points by dannnnnnny 13 years ago | 5 comments

Hi everyone, I've been searching for a good book that introduces key internet concepts and has some fun and interesting things to do on the net. My Dad has just started using the internet with the family laptop and he knows how to email, but I want something that will show him the true power of the net. I couldn't really find a book that fits the bill. Does anyone know of any?

dannnnnnny 13 years ago |

Some of my findings:

The Internet for Dummies: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Dummies-Computers/dp/111809...

Wading The World Wide Web: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/keith+kyk...

This is what I'll go for: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/john+naug...

antidoh 13 years ago |

In addition to whatever you find and think up (and it would be nice of you to post what you find later) ...

Set your Dad up with a blog - blogger, wordpress, posterous, tumbler ...

Discovery is very different when you're a participant rather than a mere consumer.

dannnnnnny 13 years ago | |

I was thinking of something like this. Maybe a book that takes you through the process of just signing up for a blog and describes each part of the process. It could also show a bunch of other things to do too, like joining up with social media, posting videos on youtube and vimeo, even setting up your own site. Anyway, I will continue my search and report back with details later.

bdfh42 13 years ago |

Could be the subject of a good eBook that could be kept reasonably up to date as time (and the key sites of interest) passed.

Otherwise - why not just email him a link every day until he is a confident Internet voyager?

dannnnnnny 13 years ago | |

The link emailing sounds like a nice idea. To be honest I'm kind of fishing for a Christmas present too. I think a book would be a good way of introducing it to him. It actually seems quite odd that there isn't a book that performs this function, or even a website that gives you a guide to getting set up on the net from the ground up. There must be thousands (millions?) of people out there who'd like to get involved, but are stuck outside of the net.