Use of first person in a book

[Jeremie Pelletier]

Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
> I'd decided to not use the first person at all in TDPL, but now I find 
> myself a bit constrained by that decision. I personally think a small 
> amount of meta-references and asides prevents boredom and brings a more 
> personal note to the communication, but such devices should be used very 
> sparingly and with care.
> 
> So I thought I'd ask a candid question in here. How do you feel about 
> moderate use of the first person in a technical book? Do you find it 
> comfortable, neutral, or cringeworthy?
> 
> 
> Andrei

I wouldn't cringe on the first person, so long as its not overused. Not 
using it definitely helps to set a neutral tone to the book, but a few 
uses of the first person here and there never hurt either.

For example, when describing something its best to avoid first person, 
but when you give a real world example its perfectly fine to use it 
since it shows you have personal experience with the example.

Just go with what you feel comfortable using, it usually shows when 
people go out of their way to try and please their audience instead of 
being themselves :)