If you wish to learn the popular and modern Microsoft Visual Basic then don't go past this book.
Over the years I have spent a lot of money on programming books, some of which were not too bad, some not so good and others were hopeless and a waste of time and money.
As a self-taught programmer the problem I faced was finding a book that was truly for beginners and that would take me up to an intermediate level. Unfortunately most claimed they did but in actual fact most do not. By that I mean that they may start with the typical layout of controls etc. and progress upwards to a higher level, but they all failed to thoroughly and properly explain in a manner you can grasp easily as John Smiley’s book does. The teacher & classroom method is unique but there is no doubt it works well providing you with a good foundation required for further development.
I have read the book from cover to cover and by the end I felt as if I was actually a member of the classroom and John was my real-life teacher, amazing.
Hey! credit where credit is due I give this book ten out ten and allow it to sit on my "good-book" shelf, a small shelf space I have reserved for the best books I have Purchased.

Tony Monteleone

Software Engineer
Victoria Australia