Taking an interesting approach to writing a reference book for CSS and HTML, Michael Bowers writes a highly technical book where he breaks down CSS and HTML into predictable patterns and writes the book following a systematic approach in covering those discovered patterns.  

Contents of the Book:
Chapter  1:  Design Patterns: Making CSS Easy!
Chapter  2:  HTML Design Patterns
Chapter  3:  CSS Selectors and Inheritance
Chapter  4:  Box Models
Chapter  5:  Box Model Extents
Chapter  6:  Box Model Properties
Chapter  7:  Positioning Models
Chapter  8:  Positioning: Indented, Offset, and Aligned
Chapter  9:  Positioning: Advanced
Chapter 10: Styling Text
Chapter 11: Spacing Content
Chapter 12: Aligning Content
Chapter 13: Blocks
Chapter 14: Images
Chapter 15: Tables
Chapter 16: Column Layout
Chapter 17: Layouts
Chapter 18: Drop Caps
Chapter 19: Callouts and Quotes
Chapter 20: Alerts

I enjoy the fact that I can work with the code on my own with the code printed in the book.  A big plus is the fact that every single piece of code used in the book is downloadable from the publisher's website, www.cssDesignPatterns.com.  A smart designer could quite possibly use the snippets of code from the website and make quick webpages from the different elements based on a wireframe of the website he or she is designing.

This book will serve in two ways.  First, it could be a useful reference for the seasoned designer.  The book itself is designed to do that via simulated tabs on the side.  If you have a question about positioning elements on a webpage, just flip through the book to the appropriate chapter using the tabs in the margin.  Second, if you want to become the CSS and HTML guru and the envy of all claiming to be standards compliant coders, then work systematically through the book.  It does have the characteristic of being a book that will teach you everything you want to know.  I'm not a pro at CSS or HTML yet but I know that if I work through this book page by page, I will be.

Negatives that I see in the book is that it is written in a form that is a wee bit too technical and dry for my tastes.  Other seasoned designers and coders may be used to black and white text and code in books, but I'd like to see more color and vibrancy to keep me interested in the book.  Michael Bower is a highly accomplished developer having done pretty much everything you can do with a programming language for 18 years of his life.  He is also an accomplished musician, having received a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in music composition, music theory, etc. With all his background I knew I was in for a highly technical read.  

Given the depth and length of the book I wasn't able to digest everything but I enjoyed learning from a seasoned programmer and coder.  After this review I will want to go through this book page by page teaching myself the elements contained in each chapter so that I can come out a Pro CSS and HTML Designer.