Andy Rathbone
Encyclopedia
Andy Rathbone is the author of a number of ...for Dummies
books about Microsoft Windows
as well as other computing books.
. He attended San Diego State University
, majoring in comparative literature, and graduated in 1986. He lives with his wife Tina in Ocean Beach
, a suburb of San Diego, California.
The character of Mark "The Rat" Ratner in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High
was modeled on Rathbone after writer Cameron Crowe
befriended him during Crowe's research for the original book at San Diego's Clairemont High School
. Rathbone's portrayal in the film was featured in an article titled "Geek God" published in the March 13, 1995, issue of People Weekly magazine.
newspaper, was an editor at ComputorEdge Magazine
, and has freelanced for PC World, ComputerWorld and CompuServe.
In 1992, he wrote his first For Dummies book, Windows For Dummies, which was a New York Times bestseller. Since then, he has published some 50 computer books. His latest book is Windows 7 For Dummies. Several of his For Dummies books have made USA Todays bestseller list.
...for Dummies
For Dummies is an extensive series of instructional / reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. Despite the title, their publisher has taken great pains to emphasize that the For Dummies books are not literally for dummies....
books about Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
as well as other computing books.
Biography
Rathbone was born in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He attended San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, majoring in comparative literature, and graduated in 1986. He lives with his wife Tina in Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach, San Diego, California
Ocean Beach is a beachfront neighborhood of San Diego, California.-Geography:Ocean Beach is located in San Diego on the Southern California coast. It lies on the Pacific Ocean at the estuary of the San Diego River, at the western terminus of Interstate 8. It is approximately from Downtown San...
, a suburb of San Diego, California.
The character of Mark "The Rat" Ratner in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
was modeled on Rathbone after writer Cameron Crowe
Cameron Crowe
Cameron Bruce Crowe is an American screenwriter and film director. Before moving into the film industry, Crowe was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, for which he still frequently writes....
befriended him during Crowe's research for the original book at San Diego's Clairemont High School
Clairemont High School
Clairemont High School is a public high school located in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. The campus is situated close to the intersection of Balboa Ave and Clairemont Drive. There are approximately 1,350 students and 87...
. Rathbone's portrayal in the film was featured in an article titled "Geek God" published in the March 13, 1995, issue of People Weekly magazine.
Career
Before becoming an author, Rathbone was a reporter for the La Jolla LightLa Jolla, San Diego, California
La Jolla is an affluent, hilly seaside resort community, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California within the northern city limits of San Diego. La Jolla had the highest home prices in the nation in 2008 and 2009; the average price of a standardized...
newspaper, was an editor at ComputorEdge Magazine
ComputorEdge Magazine
ComputorEdge Magazine was first published on May 16, 1983 as The Byte Buyer in San Diego, California. It was one of the first local free distribution magazines in the United States devoted to the microcomputer. In 1988, in a dispute with the now defunct Byte Magazine, the name was changed to...
, and has freelanced for PC World, ComputerWorld and CompuServe.
In 1992, he wrote his first For Dummies book, Windows For Dummies, which was a New York Times bestseller. Since then, he has published some 50 computer books. His latest book is Windows 7 For Dummies. Several of his For Dummies books have made USA Todays bestseller list.