In 1999 Microsoft Press published by first English book, "Programming Visual Basic 6". It was a 1,200 page book that covered virtually every single facet of VB6, the most popular Windows programming language at that time. It was also one of the few books that didn't treat VB-ers as second-class developers who highest aspiration was to put a bunch of controls on a form and write some code in a button's Click event.

The book has had an incredible success, far higher than even Microsoft Press expected, and quickly became the "VB6 Bible" for many developers all around the world. It was translated to 5 or 6 different languages. In Italy alone it sold over 60,000 copies (counting the standard and the pocket edition) and after all these years no other programming book has topped that number here in Italy. According to my calculations, it sold between 200,000 and 250,000 copies all over the world.

Frankly I don't know whether Programming Visual Basic 6 has been the most successful VB6 book every published, but I am rather sure that it has been the one which has sold for longer. In fact, I still receive royalties from this book, which is truly unbeliavable given that Microsoft discontinued VB6 seven years ago.

To face the demand from readers and to celebrate the success of the book, my Italian publisher Mondadori just published "Programmare Visual Basic 6 - 10-year Anniversary Edition". It is a pocket book with a beautiful, golden hard cover. At least here in Italy only another computer book was successful enough to deserve a 10-year special edition. 

Wow! Cool