Indexing Tactics & Tidbits - Janet Perlman

Indexing Tactics & Tidbits
Janet Perlman
Information Today Inc.
Copyright Date: March 2016
978-1573875257

The amazon.com product description:

In this highly-recommended reference for indexing professionals, master indexer Janet Perlman presents a treasure trove of practical, in-depth explanations and advice. The author pays homage to the Hans Wellisch classic, Indexing from A to Z, while bringing her own in-depth, conversational style and a multitude of fresh topics to the table.

Indexing Tactics & Tidbits provides answers and insights on such vital subjects as audience analysis, clients and contracts, computers and software, ethics and standards, index depth and length, index structure, periodical indexing, professional resources, quality and usability, work methods and strategies, and much more.

New and experienced indexers alike will appreciate this significant effort to address "everything you always wanted to know about indexing but were afraid to ask" by one of the preeminent indexers of our time. 

As crazy as it sounds, I really enjoy reading indexing reference works, so I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this one. I'd seen nothing but good comments about it on the indexing mailing lists when it first came out a couple of months ago, but had to wait until last week to get it.

Anyway, Indexing Tactics & Tidbits more than lived up to the reviews I'd seen. Well written and informative, the book covers a wide range of subjects much the same way that the Hans Wellisch book Indexing From A to Z does.

The topics she has chosen to cover are wide-ranging and useful, both for newer indexers and those who are more experienced at the job, and cover more than just the mechanics of the indexing process itself. There are numerous entries concerning office space, computers, and the business side of indexing as well. All of which I found very intriguing, and I am likely to be coming back to this book many times in the future.

There is another useful feature that I'd forgotten to mention before now. At the end of each entry is a "Notes" section which includes references to other indexing books and articles where you can find further information on any of the topics listed.

I have only one minor complaint. The book is too short! At the same time, I can't think of anything that she missed. My complaint stems more from the fact that I tend to read indexing books while traveling, and this one got read in about a day.

Definitely a well written book and one that I'm going to be keeping on my shelf for future reference (One of the first sections I'm planning to revisit is the one on "Websites For Indexers").