Once you discover a few shortcuts with Google, you treat the search engine as your friend. I use shortcuts for dialing area codes in the States, ISBN numbers, UPC numbers, flight numbers, Fedex/UPS/USPS tracking numbers as well as vehicle ID numbers.

Two of Google's less frequently used services, Groups and Answers, reveal many time-saving tactics. Few know that Google runs a paid service that can help you if you're just stuck with no results. Moreover, once the answer is posted and someone has paid for it, Google allows all the visitors to browse it for free, and some advice, for example, in small business section, can save a trip to the lawyer or paid consultant. The book takes the reader through the process of setting up an Answers account (which is actually the same account as the one for Groups) and asking informative questions requiring additional research.

Sarah Milstein and Rael Dornfest have written an easy-reading book. They include buckets of screenshots. Each chapter is clearly market. They really tame Google for the uninitiated.

I think the book is essential reading for our first year multimedia degree students so I'm integrating it to the curriculum. It's one of those purchases that will hold good residual resale value. It's priced for students (€20) and it will make novices into experts able to offer important clues that answer questions beginning with "Where do I find...?"