The authors of this book about the most famous, recognisable and popular search engine have included the word “secrets” in the title. It may be considered a little ironic that we should need a book to uncover the secrets of a search engine whose stated mission is to “organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful”. However, many of the finer points in successful searching involve settings or tweaks which Google often hide or do not make obvious. Take, for instance, the initial search screen. In its quest for making life as simple as possible for the maximum number of users, Google has just a single search box with very few visible clues to the wealth of search options available, such as the special interest search engines, advanced searching, Google Drive, etc. Even help with constructing a search is buried within settings and several clicks away.
With the exception of a few introductory chapters and a final chapter on general tips and tricks, Burns and Sauers concentrate their look for secrets in an under-the-hood peek at the specialist Google search engines for images, news, videos, maps, blogs, patents, books and Google Scholar. The authors have researched each section with an almost forensic attention to detail. Virtually every step of the search process is fully explained with multiple screen captures. This can be both a good and bad thing. As the authors note, Google changes various aspects of its search screens at what often seems like monotonous regularity. Indeed, in the short time since publication, a number of changes have taken place. In addition, as I discovered when reviewing this work, there are occasional subtle differences between Google.com and Google.co.uk, which may mean that it is not always easy to follow the steps within this book.
Some of the secrets uncovered are not really secrets at all and, at times, downright obvious. For instance, in the section on Google Images, we do not really need to be told what the various size options are, as they are right there on screen. There are occasions when the authors deliver on the promise of the title, particularly in the final chapter on search tips and tricks, but I would have liked a greater degree of critical examination. The introduction emphasises the fact that Google cannot “answer all your questions”. Similarly, it is not always possible within the restraints of the search engine to construct a complex search. In Google Scholar, for instance, it is fairly simple to come across a vast amount of academic literature but quite difficult to refine the search to a meaningful handful of precise results.
The target readership is likely to be public libraries, where those working reference desks can usefully mine the specialist sections for tips and easy-to-follow guidance. There is a good index available to help here. There is also an accompanying blog set up by the authors to cover changes and developments in the Google service.
