Yes, the three italicized words/phrases are references to the names of popular programming book series: Programming for Dummies: http://www.dummies.com/store/C

Yes, the three italicized words/phrases are references to the names of popular programming book series: Programming for Dummies: http://www.dummies.com/store/Computers-Internet/Programming.html http://www.dummies.com/store/Computers-Internet/Programming.... Sams Teach Yourself X in 21 Days: http://www.informit.com/search/index.aspx?query=21+days http://www.informit.com/search/index.aspx?query=21+days The Complete Idiot's Guide to X: e.g. http://www.help4web.net/webmaster/Java/NewJS/JavaScriptIdiotsGuide/toc.html http://www.help4web.net/webmaster/Java/NewJS/JavaScriptIdiot... Maybe those series are no longer as well known as they used to be? They were household names in the '90s and everyone would've gotten the references, but it's possible they're now dated and better removed from the intro.