I would have thought that all approaches on how to get to grips with computers had been covered - but Getting Started With Basic seems to think it's found something new.

John Parry tries to bring home to the beginner the essentials of computers: he asked "Why call it a program?" and then discusses a washing machine program in relation to a computer.

He explains - in a long-winded fashion - the keyboard and cursor. Then he looks at Lets, Ifs, Thens, string arrays, subroutines and so on.

At £5.95 there's nothing outstanding about this book. There are no pictures or illustrations to liven up and add to the text. And there aren't too many programs to get you tapping away at your computer.

At the beginning of each chapter a brief quotation is given - I suppose to highlight what's going to be discussed. Here's one that will set you thinking in chapter 14, Working Through.

'LORD SANDWICH: "You will either die at the rope's end, or of the pox."
MR JOHN WILKES: "That must depend on whether I embrace your lordship's principles or your lordship's mistress."

In 15 chapters you'll get a taste of what a computer is but that's about it.

Sandra Grandison