Your problem seems to be the register_globals setting.
If you have set up your php just recently your are probably using php 5.
They have changed the setting in this version so that register_globals is off on default.
Therefore you have to write $_GET or $_POST, etc ... to use the variables.
It just has something to do with security.
You can also change the setting so that your examples works (register_globals = on).
Just have a look at the php.ini.

tbs

yeah, theblacksheep, you are right. i have just came to tell this
i have given up reading that book, and started "Beginning PHP5, Apache, MySQL Web Development". it explains more further about difference between PHP4 and PHP5. and when reading my last book about PHP4, while i had PHP5 installed, i didnt know anything about register_globals.

btw, i think in Bright-shadows.net register_globals are turned off, right?