Sebastopol, CA—Facebook is spreading about as far and fast as the Web itself: 500 million members and counting. But there's a world of fun packed into the site that most folks miss. With this bestselling guide, Facebook: The Missing Manual, Third Edition (O'Reilly Media, $19.99 USD), you will learn how to unlock Facebook's talents as personal website creator, souped-up address book, and bustling community forum. It's an eye-opening, timesaving tour, guaranteed to help you get the most out of your Facebook experience.

"I wrote Facebook: The Missing Manual to help people get the most out of the site as quickly as possible," explains expert author E. A. Vander Veer. "Most of us lead pretty busy lives. We want to spend our online social time having fun and connecting with each other in meaningful ways—not plowing through help files, clicking around hoping to pick things up by trial and error, or (worse) leaving ourselves open to identity theft."

With this book, you'll learn what you need to know:

• Get started, get connected. Signing up is easy, but the real payoff comes when you tap into networks of coworkers, classmates, and friends. Pick and choose who gets to see what, and learn how to steer clear of people you want to avoid.
• Add applications. Transform your Facebook account into an addictive, one-stop resource with thousands of mini-programs, ranging from silly to serious.
• Go professional. Facebook isn't just for college kids. Thousands of companies and businesspeople use the site for everything from project collaboration and advertising to filling (and finding) jobs. You'll learn all the tricks.
• Protect your privacy. You may feel too exposed with so much personal info on display. This book features an easy-to-follow, multi-pronged approach to staying safe on Facebook.