I am fairly new to 3d, and brand new to Lightwave. I am not new to computer art nor technical books.
I bought this book hoping to learn how to better use my new toy, and I am very disappointed. Not in Lightwave, but in this book.
The back cover says "need to learn lightwave fast" it should have continued "get a different book". Simply put, I've gotten free tutorials on the web that were more informative, more helpful and infinately more readable. For example, the first 42 pages are a recitation of what buttons there are without any context on why I want to know this. Nor any thing to do with said buttons and menus. A droneing list of pointless details and useless items that is really beyond description for dullness. There is a menu called 'x'. There is a button called 'y'. This continues for 42 pages, and is the introduction to the book; this is just strange. This is the sort of pointless writing that children engage in when trying to pad their homework to the required number of words engage in; it is the most useless introduction I have read in 25 years of reading these sorts of technical books.
Layout (chapter organization, topic selection, chapter order): F- (Is there a grade worse then F?)
indexing: C- (bad, but just barely passable)
Writing: D (Very bad. Reading this is like listening to a monotone lecturer reading his or her notes rather then speaking)
Over all useabiltiy: F
I wasted my money on this one, and am back here looking for another. Before you buy this book, check it out from the library or something. There may be useful reference material for intermediate users of Lightwave hidden in here, but beginners should look else where. The very bad writing, and worse organization has me kicking myself for this purchase.
