Finding the information you need--or want--on the Internet can sometimes be a challenge, at best. This book outlines some "secrets" to successful surfing, and does a good job of it.

As with most Complete Idiot's Guides, this book is very easy to read and follow. Charts, tables, screenshots of web sites, and summaries help readers find the information they need quickly. A handy bullet list at the end of each chapter, entitled "The Least You Need to Know", is ideal for those of us who are looking for facts without the details.

Among the many topics explored, readers will learn the difference between search engines and directories, how to use wildcards and boolean searches, the ins and outs of the major search engines, and more. This book is ripe with tips for specific searches, such as finding people, email addresses, personal web pages, financial and market information, jobs, sale items, solutions to technical problems, graphics, homework help, and a whole lot more. For those who have their own web pages, there are tips on how to rank higher on search engines as well.

All in all, this is a handy book for Internet beginners, and may surprise those of us who already think they are doing just fine.