Editorial Review

Based on the student's ability to create--not memorize by rote--the Madrigal method can help readers convert English into Spanish in an instant, develop perfect pronunciation (thanks to a handy pronunciation guide), form sentences from the very first lesson, and more. Previously announced in September. ... Read more

Reviews

Entiendo Espanol..., May 9, 2001
I got decent grades in college Spanish; two “A-‘s” and a “B+.” However, when I needed to actually speak Spanish, I was lost. I couldn’t say much except “Mas cervezas, por favor (More beer, please)!”

"Madrial’s Magic Key", along with the expensive (but quite worth it) Pimsleur tapes, have corrected the “mis-education” I was subjected to. The drills Ms. Madrigal presents are easy to remember and fun to do, not like those tedious translations and verb conjugations that college texts are so fond of. In two months, studying this book in my spare time, I retained more Spanish than I did in an entire academic year. And, for the first time, I can actually say that I understand Spanish.

I would supplement this book with a comprehensive book on Spanish grammar (I have the Barron’s, but I suppose any would work) and a dictionary. I would definitely recommend “Breaking Out of Beginner’s Spanish” by Joseph Keenan for an in depth take on colloquial Spanish as well. Further, if you have the money, buy the "Pimsleur Comprehensive" series as well. Get vol.’s 1-3, even though they are pricey. If you are an audio/tactile learner like me, I guarantee that you will retain more Spanish idioms using the Pimsleur method than any other.

Fantastic start to learning spanish, January 10, 2004
Magic Key to Spanish is one of those rare books that you come back to again again, it inspires progress and there's so much to learn from it- it's certainly not going to be a dust gatherer if learning Spanish is what you truly want. If I've convinced you already buy it- if not read on.

The book starts with a very positive introduction and goes on to explain that an English speaker already knows hundreds if not thousands of words in Spanish and it gives you the rules that unlock this 'magic key' to Spanish. It then moves on to teach you grammar in a very novel way, none of the boring conjungations that had to be learnt by rote when doing languages at school. She starts with the past tense as this is how we speak to friends and then moves through much of the essential grammar required to Speak, Read and write Spanish.

I would recommend this book to all beginners in Spanish. It has got two downsides which are the layout, which is now dated (it was written in the early 1950's with Andy Warhol as the illustrator) and also (for me living in England) the fact that the emphasis is on South American Spanish not peninsular Spanish.

I wish the Magic Key to French and German were still in print as I have made substanital progress with my Spanish using this book, the method obviously works. If the publisher is reading this, please consider a reprint of the other two editions given the success of the Spanish version.

The late Margarita Madrigal was ahead of her time as the method she used in this book is akin to what trainers would now call Accerlerated Learning. A word of warning, make sure that you do all of the exercises and tests or you will not be learning to your full potential.

I recommend that you buy this book and use it in tandem with an audio course either the Pimsleur series (expensive) or Michel Thomas would be great- as these will give you the pronunciation which you will require to progress further. Both the audio courses are structured so that there is no repetition and so you have to consciously form the language and remain motivated not bored. If you would like more in-depth information on Spanish grammar I highly recommend 'Buscalo'

Hope this helps you with your introduction to the beautiful and very useful Spanish language- buena suerte!

An Excellent Book for Teaching Yourself to Speak Spanish., October 27, 1999
I have searched for years to find good books to teach myself Spanish, and this one is head and shoulders above the rest. The clear structured organization and presentation make it easy to read and to study. Most others are too basic or, it seems, oriented to very young students. If you are seriously interested in teaching yourself conversational Spanish, then this book will be very helpful. It progresses at a good rate, integrates vocabulary painlessly and uses excercises that build conversational ability. If you are interested in teaching yourself Spanish, then this book is very effective. It uses some very effective shortcuts. For example, it omits the familiar form which reduces the number of verb forms without limiting your ability to comunicate. Many books seem oriented to college course work and seem tediously and academically oriented to stucture and detail, rules and form. This book does not suffer these defiencies. It is committed to teaching you to communicate in Spanish easily (at least as easily as possible)and effectively. I am just someone who wanted to learn to speak Spanish and for that purpose, I found it very effective.

A brief note about accents, July 13, 2002
Since the original date of publication (1951), the Real Academia de la Lengua Espa�ola (guardian of the Spanish Language) officially removed the accents on some one-syllable words. The old spellings appear in the book. For example, in Chapter 31 (common irregular verbs), these words have changed:

Old form: v�, vi�, d�, di�, fu�, fu�
New form: vi, vio, di, dio, fui, fue
(NOTE: this is not a complete list!)

Old spellings also appear in exercises using these words.

These changes don't change the pronunciation of the words! Accent marks are used to show how a word should be written in accordance with the way it is pronounced. The rules on pronouncing weak-weak, weak-strong, strong-weak and strong-strong vowel combinations apply: so, for example, vio (new form) sounds the same as vi� (old form).

This is a great book for learning Spanish. Don't let the age of it throw you.

My plug for a top-notch dictionary: get the Pocket Oxford Spanish Dictionary Second Edition (2000).

Simply the best book I've found....and I've bought them all, July 17, 1998
Learning Spanish should be fun and easy. If not, the odds are that you'll get frustrated and never learn this fantastic language.

Madrigal's Magic key is trully "magical." The book simply is entertaining and a very easy read. It makes learning Spanish fun and not a chore. The book gets the student right into the language without all those complicated rules. The emphasis is on buidling your confidence and establishing a Spanish vocabulary quickly without pain. This is accomplished based on your knowledge of English. For example, she teaches you the tricks of converting english nouns into verbs. The result is that you're not memorizing verbs but focusing on applying simple rules to building a large spanish vocabulary quickly and maintain conmfidence.

The book would truly be outstanding if it combined more exercises (writing) with her "See It and Say it in Spanish" book which is great also.

This is not a book that you'll read and forget a! ! bout. The second and third time I read it increased my comprehension significantly. My ownly regret is that I found this book after spending alot of money on books that only frustrated me, were virtually useless and definitely too much like work.

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish, July 4, 2000
I've been studying Spanish for over 3 years and I have purchased dozens of books. I've also completed 2 years of study in a local college. This book is by far may favorite of all the books that I have collected during my studying. The lessons are put in a very logical order and the book has been written so that it is much easier to learn! I hope to see more of Madrigal's work in the future. This is a great book. It's worth every penny. In fact, soon I will have to purchase another because I have dog earred the pages and have written all inside of the book, soon it will fall apart because I have used it so much. How's that for a write up? Seriously, it's a great book for the student who really wants to learn the language and understand how the language is assembled, etc.

Leverage the 'Spanish' you already know within English, June 8, 2001
This book is loaded with great info on vocabulary-building, grammar, verb-conjugation, usage, etc. even though it was originally written in the 1950's. But what makes this book stand out for me is the "magic key" that Madrigal provides that allows one to derive or intelligently "guess" hundreds and hundreds of words, including verbs, based on words you already know in English which can be converted into Spanish with little to no modification following a few basic rules. It's actually AMAZING!

In addition to the "magic key" and the other useful info it presents, Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish is written in a very informal, unpressured style that reassures the reader constantly that they will master the material in short order, with quizzes and periodic self-tests to reinforce the learning process.

As I was already a beginning to intermediate Spanish speaker when I first encountered this book, I cannot say how well it would work for someone with little to no previous experience with the language. My sense is that it will be more helpful for people who are at least familiar with Spanish pronunciation and rudimentary grammar, although it is written as if the reader has no previous knowledge of the language.

It's also cool that Andy Warhol did the illustrations for this book.

I love this book! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to exponentially leap forward in their knowledge of the living Spanish language.

The fastest way to learn conversational Spanish, August 6, 1999
This book is the clearest, easiest and most rapid way to learn a foreign language I've ever experienced, and I speak 6 languages. I learned to speak rather fluent Spanish in record time because of the ease of using this book. I was able to rapidly perfect my fluency later because I was fortunate enough to find the late Margarita Madrigal in New York to teach me. She was a fun person, hence the fun of using Magic Key to Spanish to learn the language. I'm now using it to teach Spanish to my friends and they are advancing rapidly. It is an amazing book

The BEST Spanish guide, January 22, 2004
I found this book by chance in a bookstore in Berkely California 12 years ago. At the time I had only taken 3 years of Spanish in high school. My spanish took off after studying this book and most people now think I am a native speaker of Spanish. I think this book boosts your confidence from the start by showing you all the Spanish that you already know (the conjugates) and by teaching you the past rather than the future first. I highly recommend it. Also remember to practice at every opportunity! Speaking a new language is like learning to dance. You feel silly at first and will make mistakes. But with practice you will become more confident and you will experience the joy of communicating with others in this beautiful language.

Best 1st Spanish book I've ever seen, September 8, 2001
This book is undoubtedly the best that I have seen for people starting their study of Spanish. Its rapid introduction of past tense and simplified grammar rules are unique as far as I can tell, and I have an extensive library of current texts. It's a great way to get "up and running" in Spanish. When I first started studying Spanish, it was amazing to me how everyday after studying a chapter I would hear examples of what I was learning as I would walk around Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. This book stimulated me to further study because it made me conversational much more quickly than the more conservative, "let's master the present tense first approach" of other academic text books. Also, for the price it is unbeatable. It's nearest competitors in value per dollar would be books for a more advanced level of study, "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses" and "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Pronouns And Prepositions," they are great supplements to any text. You cannot go wrong with Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Showing what's inside the human body and how things fit and work together, the Human Body Encyclopedia is packed with fascinating facts and spectacular close-up photographs that make the subject accessible and fun. Covering every part of the body‹from major body systems to individual cells‹in language accessible to young children, this book is an inspiring new edition to the First Reference series and a valuable teaching aid for parents and teachers. ... Read more

Reviews

Very, very good!, April 24, 2006
This book is wonderful. I looked at a TON of human body books for my first grader. It seemed nearly impossible to find one for the 5-8 year old crowd that was factually thorough and had real photographs, but that wasn't too in-depth or too advanced in vocabulary. So many books for this age group are just plain simplistic and cartoony and don't do justice to the amazing machines our bodies are!

Since my dd is highly visual, the pictures are important to us and this book slam-dunks in that category (as usual for DK). Every major body system is covered, as well as a few things you might not think to teach a Kinder to 3rd grader, like allergies and non-verbal communication. My dd LOVED the section on the circulatory system and the real-life photos of the components of blood held her interest in a major way.

I highly recommend this for a classical homeschooling family (for first grade) or just for any parent with kids who want to know how their bodies work.

The Book that made my Daughter want to become a Doctor., May 11, 2006
My 3+ year old daughter and I checked this out of the library. As soon as we did we had to look and read it numberous times during the day and before bed. She is down right passionate about it.

When I had to return it to the library she cried very hard so I bought her a copy for Valentine's day.

Since seeing and reading this wonderful book my daughter is determined to become a doctor. She wants to read as many body books as she possibily can so that's what I have been buying her. I've learned much about the body myself.

I think these DK books are wonderful for kids with all the photographs plus text. They are books that provide information in such a way that as they grow through the years they can learn more and more from the same book.

Great book!!!!, November 13, 2005
I have a very precocious 5 year old who has been reading full sentences since he turned 3 years old. It has been a challenge to keep up with his thirst for knowledge! This book is full of all sorts of interesting facts that even I didn't know (like the fact that a baby's bones contain lots of cartilage, while an adults contain very little), with pictures of x-rays, inside of the esophagus, diagrams of lymphatic system - very detailed.

We checked this book out from the library and now Santa will bring one because he has already looked at it for hours and hours . . . great purchase for those looking for a fun and educational book to share with their children.

Fabulous!, November 28, 2006
I ordered this item to give as a gift, taking a chance that it would be as good as was reviewed here. I was DELIGHTED! This is a wonderful book for ANY child ages 4 to 12, I'd guess. Actually, I'm 34 and found it fascinating. The text is interesting, font not too small, not too technical or wordy. The mix of photos and models is just right. They have lots of interesting facts throughout, also. Did you know your hair can grow for up to 7 years before falling out? The writer puts amounts in ways a child can understand. For instance, the amount of blood in a baby verses a 10 year old, verses an adult is shown in bottles of red liquid next to a photo of that age person. Stunning photos of developing fetuses, pictures of white blood cells "eating" germs, and much more make this a terrific buy! We need to order ourselves a copy now. I let my kids look at it with me before we mail it to their cousin. We spent a half hour entranced before I realized we better mail it, or it would look like a used book! Buy it. You may want to get two copies!

I even learned a lot!, July 24, 2008
Great resource for young children! My 3-year-old is into skeletons, and the digestive process, so this book was good for his little curious mind. Obviously, some of the concepts are a little advanced, but he'll get there one day! I even learned a lot! Some of the pages in my book were a little off-print, but my fault for not exchanging it.

Great book for young people!, April 3, 2010
I purchased this book for my granddaughter's 5th birthday gift last month. What a nice book it is. As soon as she opened it she began looking through it....ignoring the other gifts! The pictures are great...and the descriptions of the body and all it's parts and functions are excellent. The age level recommended is 4 - 8, which is ideal. It intrigues children as young as 4, but I believe this book could appeal to children 11 or older. My granddaughter has been very interested in the human body for a few months now, and has several books related to it, but she's especially excited about this book.

Wonderful, October 16, 2008
My child wants me to read this book each night as a bed time story. She is six and loves this book.

Comprehensive book for yound kids, October 11, 2008
This is a great book for kids about the human body. My four year old loves reading and looking at this book and she has retained more information than I thought about the human body. It has been a great starting place for many discussions about the body - how blood works really fascinates her. The pictures are great and it has enough information on each page to be informative but not too boring. A great resource for young children about how the body works.

Very comprehensive, April 5, 2010
Gave this as a gift to the smartest niece in the world. She loves it. Would have given it 4 stars but a conservative Mom thinks the reproductive segment may be a bit premature. I think such is fine but be warned, there be ovaries in this book!

Wonderful Wealth of Info, June 2, 2006
This is the only kids encyclopedia I own and we love it. I got it as a unit study for the summer for my 6.5 yo dd who is going into 2nd grade. It is perfect for her. She asks so many questions they days and this really gets and keeps her interested for hours!!! It has lots of wonderful pictures and diagrams and even a few ideas to try as well! IMHO it is a great buy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Lose weight and still enjoy your food., December 7, 2009
I really like the Eat this Not That series of book and this restaurant guide really hits the spot with me. Because I love to eat out so much, I needed something that would help me during those times. This guide does. It tells you how to eat in a restaurant as well as what to eat in a restaurant. I was very happy to read this and implement these ideas from the author. A must have for anyone who wants to lose weight but still enjoy their food. I would also recommend Goodbye, Fatty! Hello, Skinny! How I Lost Weight And Still Ate The Foods I Loved-Without Dieting.

Great info!, March 14, 2010
This book is a great tool to know the do's and don'ts of different foods. If you're counting calories this book will help arm you with the knowledge to make your diet a lot less like a diet.. WE LOVE IT!

Love them, March 2, 2010
purchased these books for my husband, who is a firm believer in not dieting but realized he needed to change his eating habits- he loves these books- finds that just having the information available in an easy to understand way, is helping him make better choices- I'm finding that it is helping me also to make healthier decisions also.

Love It!, March 1, 2010
Very detailed and easy to understand and implement in daily lifestyle.

Kim

Very interesting book, February 24, 2010
I found this book interesting. Foods I thought would be good to eat were on the "do not eat list" and foods I usually avoided were really much better to eat. It changes your mind on which restaurants you should dine.

Enlightening, February 23, 2010
This is my second purchase in the "eat this not that" series. They really make you think about what you're putting in your body. I read them over and over. Would recommend them to everyone.
Pat

helpful info, February 3, 2010
This is some pretty interesting information that will indeed help when making choices at restaurants. The only problem there is for me is that there are a lot of restaurants that are not in my area. It covers enough of the restaurants in my area though. Just a lot of pages that are N/A for me.
All in all pretty interesting and helpful.

Great information!, February 2, 2010
I have bought all of the books this author has come out with. They have alot of information we can all use to make healthier choices. Many of the foods we choose thinking they sound healthy are indeed NOT! This book has been a huge help.

very helpful!, February 2, 2010
This series is so helpful when trying to find out what is a better option to eat. I absolutely LOVE all of them.

Very helpful!!, February 1, 2010
This book was just liked it was described and a great buy. I have been using it to get healthy!!
... Read more

Editorial Review

What makes The Best 373 Colleges the most popular college guide?

The Best 373 Colleges is a comprehensive college guide written for any student or parent mystified by the confusing college admissions process. This essential college-planning guide, from the experts at The Princeton Review, provides the facts about the best schools in the country, popular college ranking lists, and the information needed to make a smart decision about which schools to consider.

Revealing answers from college students cover each school’s unique character and give you extensive insight into their classes, financial aid, social life, and everything in between. Students are the experts, after all, and we talked to 122,000 of them!

•Unique "Financial Aid Rating" scores for all 373 schools and list of 100 "Best Value" Colleges

•One-of-a-kind college rankings reveal the top colleges in 62 categories based on how students at the schools–the real experts! –rated their colleges. The ranking lists include:
-Top Professors  
-Best Financial Aid
-Best Career/Job Placement Services
-Best Classroom Experiences
-Top Party Schools
-Dorms Like Palaces 
-Best Athletic Facilities 
-Best Campus Food
-Most Politically Active Students
-Most Liberal Students
-Most Conservative Students
-Best College Newspaper 
-…and many more!    

•Learn what you can do in high school to prepare yourself for admission to a selective college  

•Get all the application essentials–tuition, admissions criteria, deadlines, phone numbers, addresses, demographics, student/faculty ratios, and most popular majors–for quick reference and easy comparison when you’re narrowing down your choices

•Green college ratings help readers find out if schools are environmentally friendly

•Special section on great colleges for the 15 most popular majors
   

 What the media is saying about The Best 373 Colleges from The Princeton Review: 

“The offbeat indexes, along with the chattily written descriptions of each school, provide a colorful picture of each campus.”–The New York Times

“The most efficient of the college guidebooks. Has entertaining profiles larded with quotes from students.”–Rolling Stone

“A great book…it’s a bargain.” –CNN

“Our favorite college guidebook.” –Seventeen

“Provides the kind of feedback students would get from other students in a campus visit.” –USA Today ... Read more

Reviews

The best college-search book, period., August 3, 2010
The Princetown Review publishes a number of college search-related books, including the "Complete Book of Colleges" and this one. This book is essentially a distilled version of the "Complete Book", and frankly a lot more useful (but for people completely new to the college-searching process, definitely check that out too).

"The Best 373 Colleges (2011 Edition)" (840 pages) is similar to last year's edition. After holding the number of best colleges at 371 last year (remember this book started off in 1992 with the best 350), this time there are 2 new "best" colleges: Austin College and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Not a single school from last year's list was dropped (if the inflation of "best" colleges continues, I surmise we'll get to 400 by 2020 or so). There are over 60 fun-to-browse top 20 lists of best/worst, such as "Most Beautiful Campus", "Students Study the Most", "Party Schools", and "Most Politically Active Students" (my daughter is attending the #1 ranked school on that list, it was ranked #2 last year, so yes these rankings change from year to year).

The best feature of this guide remains the 2 page layout for each of the colleges, with in-depth information on campus life, academic selectivity (the number of applicants, how many were accepted, and of those how many actually decided to attend), up-to-date tuition and room/board costs (I checked the numbers of the college that my daughter is now attending, and they are accurate), etc. Another aspect that is very helpful is the "Survey says" sidebar, in which the essence of the university is distilled from the college students themselves, and "The Inside Word" segment on how tough it really is to gain admission when all is said and done.

The proof is in the pudding: of the many college guides out there, my daughter spent more time with this book (when she was looking at colleges a few years ago) than with any other. This book is not the first place to start the college search, but once your son or daughter has narrowed down his/her colleges of choice, and assuming those colleges are featured in the "best 373", this book clearly is the best resource, the last step before a campus visit, and can be used again following the campus visits. I've looked at a lot of college-search books and if I was forced to recommend only one book among all the college search guides, this book is clearly it.

College planning BIBLE, August 3, 2010
My pre-order came in today, and thank goodness! I've been doing summer college visits with my niece, and in looking through Best 373, we found some more potential options for her to tack on before school starts up again. The rankings are great, as are the college info pages - everything you need to know, and then a little more. Highly recommended for families/students planning their college visits, or starting to research college options. A college bible, if you will.

Highly recommended!, September 14, 2010
The 2011 edition of The Best 373 Colleges should be in every high school and many a general lending library. It's the most popular college guide in print, juxtaposing direct quotes from students and unique rankings of the top 20 colleges in 62 categories with detailed admissions information from applications to majors and tuition. Highly recommended!

Great resource for students, September 25, 2010
I ordered this for my son who is a high school junior. The way the book is organized makes it very easy to access the information you need. The reviews give not only an academic feel for the institutions but also the flavor or culture of the place. This has been a very helpful resource for creating his long list of possible colleges. By having the book at home he has been able to browse at his leisure. For such an important decision, well worth the money.

Great reference, September 12, 2010
This book came recommended by a relative who's very demanding. It provides useful information, including useful facts but also insights and views from alumni and others. It's tough enough to plan the rest of your life and fully understand what one occupation or field will be like, so it's good to have all the perspectives you can get, organized in a useful manner, and this fills the bill.

OH MY GOSH Incredibly thorough with LOTS of insider info, December 14, 2010
This book provides a GREAT summary of each school reviewed, and is a perfect addition to all the books you need to narrow down this important process.
DONT try to think you can get away with just one reference book though - they ALL design them with limited info so that you need to buy multiple books. This book is a great addition to the mix. it has summaries of real student surveys - real insider opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of each school - I wanted to know if these were party schools, or which ones have drinking problems, or which ones emphasize greek membership - this book goes there with anonymous student feedback. GET THIS BOOK

Passed the teen-ager test, December 13, 2010
I bought this for my cousin who is a senior in high school. His mother tells me that this (among more than a few college guides) is the one he's kept going back to. This is the one that's dog-eared with post it notes, etc. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An extensive working vocabulary is a prerequisite for test-taking success on the GRE Graduate Record Exam. This revised and updated test preparation guide presents 800 college-graduate-level words with definitions that frequently appear on the exam, while also familiarizing test takers with how the words are generally used in various contexts. Additional features include a pretest that serves as a diagnostic, a lengthy word list with extensive sentence-completion exercises, and a chapter that discusses and analyzes essential word roots. The book concludes with a detailed posttest. Answers are provided for all exercises and for all questions in the posttest. ... Read more

Reviews

excellent way to build vocab, November 26, 2008
This is a great supplement to GRE exam study books. While not focusing on how to answer specific exam questions, it does build the critical vocabulary you need for the test. It gives you both definitions and context for the words, as well as numerous drills to help you practice them. I think that combination helped me understand these words a lot more effectively than just studying a list that the comprehensive exam guides tack on the end.

The Best, August 30, 2007
This book is very well organized, this book will help you to learn and memorize numerous words in short period.
Each unit contains 10 words with explanation and examples, after that, there are some exercises that helps to memorize the words. In just 1 week, I memorized about 600 words. I really recommend this book.

A real lifesaver, December 21, 2007
I was having so much trouble learning vocabulary before the GRE but this helped so much. I learned the words quickly thanks to how this book was set up and the next time I took the GRE I rocked the vocab section. This book is a must.

Very Important Book for GRE Test Takers, February 21, 2009
Although I have not yet taken the GRE exam, I recommend this book for the following reasons:

1. It contains 800 high-frequency GRE words, divided into units of 10 words each. The words are well explained and each unit summarize the 10 words by sample questions, which are answered at the end of the book.

2. In addition to explaining the words of the unit, it sometimes explain other strange words.

3. In addition to the 800 high-frequency words, it contains 300 high-frequency word roots, which learn you an additional 1500 words. For me, I prefer those 800 words + 300 roots over memorizing the GRE word list of more than 3000 words!


NOTE: If you buy the book, you will see at the beginning "300 Absolutely Essential GRE Words", but they are not defined! Do not waste your time looking in dictionaries, because those 300 words are partial set of the 800 high-frequency words, so it is just a list that will help you focus on those words.

worth getting, but imperfect, August 10, 2009
This book is certainly helpful and well organized. I would strongly suggest that you also get the Princeton Review general GRE book and also learn all of the hit parade words. I systematically cross checked all the words from the PR with this book and while there is some overlap it is definitely worth having both. It is slightly frustrating that Barron's doesnt go into a lot of second meanings for words, which is something you should definitely know for the GRE. I spent 9 weeks with a ton of flashcards working through both word sets and got a 630 V. The verbal section is HARD so practice and be prepared to make plenty of flashcards. Kind of knowing a word is not sufficient. I never got through the latter 2/3rds of the root section, but I can definitely see how that could help give you a high score. I'd say 10 weeks with this book if you plan to realistically ingest and retain all the information.

Decent book, but shouldn't be the only tool for the GRE., August 5, 2009
I'll keep things short. The issue with this study guide is that words are taught in alphabetical order.
It is easy to lose focus even if the book is divided in chunks.

I was expecting variation in how words will appear in the book, instead of lexical ordering. It's the same as reading a dictionary, memorizing a set of words, testing yourself, and moving on. This can get boring real quick.

Anyways, I give it 4 stars because it does have the GRE words you need to learn and useful exercises. I just wish words would appear at random or be listed by frequency. They do provide a list of the most frequent words, but it'd be better if the lessons were designed around the frequency of words. A little mix & matching would help.

Anyways, this is my initial impression. I do plan to study along w/ the Kaplan GRE Vocab. in a box.

Just okay, June 29, 2009
I'm still studying for the GRE, so I have yet to see if this book was actually helpful; but based on my experience going through the exercises, this book is for people who learn by memorization and have a limited vocabulary. I already knew 75% of the words. Words like "itinerary," "odyssey" and "dormant" are just a few examples of obvious words that someone looking to go to grad school should already know. That being the case, I'm not quite sure why the author chose to include them. Also, I found some of the definitions to be poorly worded, so I ended up having to use online dictionaries to better comprehend some word meanings.

The word roots section proved not so helpful as many of the exercises include words for which the definition can't be directly guessed or implied from the root's definition. The typos also created confusion and weren't helpful from a mnemonic (one word I learned from the book!) learning perspective.

All the same, I did appreciate the contextual sentences provided as they made the book fun and entertaining to work through. The secondary meanings / uses of some words were also provided which was rather insightful. There are also brief summaries of academic phrases, concepts, key figures, etc that could potentially be helpful in preparing for the GRE Verbal Section.

Will Improve Your GRE Verbal Score, September 24, 2009
I was only able to make it halfway through this book, and it helped me to improve my GRE Verbal score by 90 points. It makes it really easy to learn the words, and the word roots units in the end are highly useful. Even if you do not have time to go through this entire book, it is still a great buy.
In addition, I did not think it would be such a great help with the reading sections, until I realized that the GRE passages are crawling with the words taught in this book. Highly recommend!

Good to have for the test, July 8, 2008
I'm an international student and this book helps me a lot. I remember all the word and understand how to use it. Even you don't take the test, it is good to know these words for graduate level. Thanks Barron.

Great help for verbal section on GRE, July 25, 2010
This book was extremely helpful for preparing me for the verbal section on the GRE. The best way to do well on that section is to have a big vocabulary. The words in this book are pulled from many actual GRE tests, and I definitely saw a few of them on the test. I scored in the 95th percentile on the verbal section, and this book helped me achieve that. It has a whole section on roots that is quite beneficial, as well as a fairly comprehensive list of words (make sure you use other books in conjunction with this one. Learn words everywhere you can.) It also has effective methods of helping the reader to really memorize the words. As I said, it's best to use other books along with this one. Essential Words for the GRE is just what the title states- it's a great way to familiarize yourself with a lot of words. But you will need other books to learn about specific test questions. I used the Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE and GRE for Dummies, both of which were really helpful for all three sections.
This book is a must if you want to build your vocabulary. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is the writer?s bible to freelance success by providing the updated information writers need to get published and get paid for their work. Features include: more than 3,500 completely updated listings from the previous edition; exclusive interviews with successful writers, such as Charlaine Harris, Gwendolyn Heasley, and Cliff Dorfman; completely updated ?How Much Should I Charge?? rate chart for freelancers; and new articles on topics such as how to use social media and online freelance writing. ... Read more

Reviews

basically a good rescource for writers, August 8, 2010
I was disappointed to find that some of the information for the publishers and literary agents is outdated or changed. So be careful.

Easier to use, August 12, 2010
I found the new product much easier to navigate in the Consumer Magazine section, which is the one I mostly use. The magazines are grouped together by catagory in the Table of Contents. This puts all the information at your fingertips instead of having to flip back and forth.

90th anniversary edition, September 5, 2010
If you are serious about writing, you cannot live without this book. For dabblers like me it is fun to turn the pages and speculate on what you can do. I have started a collection of rejection slips.

Decades ago, everything you ever needed was in this one book. Now I have to buy separate books for different purposes like Poets Market. However, I still use this as my main source. There are grey tabs to tell you what section of the book you are reading. The last page has a legend on reading listings. Be careful you might accidentally find something to subscribe to.

I would describe the book in more detail except most people already know the details from older versions. If you ever start to make money you can write the price of this book off on your taxes.

Got it early, July 7, 2010
This is a revised review:
I found a huge number of typos, sometimes the same one over and over again. It seems like multiple people entered the listings and each one had a different way of formatting, so there is an inconsistency in the listings.

Under book publishers they say they don't list subsidy publishers and to let them know if anyone asks for money, yet one of the listings (which offers to write, illustrate and publish a book with your message) is just that.
Insufficient or incorrect contact information. For example one listing said to only contact the editor through email but didn't give an email address.

I'm hoping they accidentally published an early draft and that the quality hasn't really dropped to such a low level. I'm not sure how reliable the listings are with all these errors, so I think I will be returning my copy.

As a freelance writer this book is a "must have", December 25, 2010
This book provides, not only a writers market, it also provides clear instructions to writing query letters, steps to writing various genres to blogging successfully and launching a freelance writing business. Whether you are just getting started as a freelance writer or a seasoned freelance writer, this is a "must have" book.

No library should be without this key reference!, September 11, 2010
Continuing its history of publishing annual, winning references - a 90-year history - this provides over 3,000 updated listings key to any would-be writer's professional success. From book publishers to magazines, literary agents, newspapers and greeting card companies, this covers virtually anyone using a writer's output, juxtaposing listings detailing needs and acceptance routines with interviews and articles on basics such as what to charge for writing and how to produce a professional query letter. No library should be without this key reference!

2011 Wirter's Market, July 25, 2010
Always a valuable reference book, every year. I am certain this will be no exception. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

"A provocative title for a fascinating book."-Charlie Rose

Asked to explain why a few people truly excel, most of us offer one of two answers. The first is hard work. Yet we all know plenty of hard workers who have been doing the same job for years or decades without becoming great. The other possibility is that the elite possess an innate talent for excelling in their field. We assume that Mozart was born with an astounding gift for music, and Warren Buffett carries a gene for brilliant investing. The trouble is, scientific evidence doesn't support the notion that specific natural talents make great performers.

According to distinguished journalist Geoff Colvin, both the hard work and natural talent camps are wrong. What really makes all the difference is a highly specific kind of effort-"deliberate practice"- that few of us pursue when we're practicing golf or piano or stockpicking.

Based on a wide array of scientific research, Talent Is Overrated shares the secrets of extraordinary performance and shows how to apply these principles. It features the stories of extraordinary people who never stopped challenging themselves and who achieved world- class greatness through deliberate practice- including Benjamin Franklin, comedian Chris Rock, football star Jerry Rice, and top CEOs Jeffrey Immelt and Steven Ballmer. ... Read more

Reviews

Exhilarating, Infuriating or Terrifying -- it all depends on you
I inhaled this book. The informal plan was to read it over a few short weeks. Instead I plowed through it in maybe three days.

For those teetering on the edge of greatness -- or thinking about really going for the gusto, in whatever field or endeavor that has captured their spirit -- this book is an invitation to walk among the gods.

For those who have soured on their dreams and bitterly written them off, however, this book will be painful. It might even read like a damning indictment, and thus incite a hostile emotional response.

And finally, this book also has the potential to be terrifying. For those who feel the pull of greatness but also wrestle with a deep-seated fear of failure, the starkness of the choice will be revealed to them in these pages.

Why? Because Colvin's deeper message, beyond the powerful insights into "Deliberate Practice" and what it can do, is that there is no excuse. Whatever it is you like (or love) to do, the fact that you don't hate it means you probably have the basic tools -- and so there's no reason you can't get better, maybe a lot better. And so, at the end of the day, there is simply no real excuse for not being great. Only the classic Bartleby the Scrivener response: "I prefer not to."

Greatness requires dedication and sacrifice, period. Being good at something requires a fair amount... being great requires a huge amount. If you truly desire greatness -- or simply to be great at what you do -- then much sacrifice is required.

But I fudge slightly. The book does leave room for one excuse of sorts, but not a very satisfying one. In some cases of highly competitive endeavor, wunderkinds (like Mozart and Tiger Woods) have built up a nearly insurmountable "time in the saddle" advantage via taking up the hard work of Deliberate Practice (which I shall from here on out refer to as DP) at an astonishingly young age.

Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps has analogized his hard training to putting credits in the bank. DP is like a disciplined investing program -- the longer you do it, the more compounding you see, and it takes many years up front to get to a point of real momentum. This makes it all but impossible in certain prodigy-dominated arenas to come to the game late and try to catch someone who has been continuously working their butt off from, say, age twelve. (Or in Tiger and Mozart's case, age three.)

My personal experience with DP -- which I practice in the world of trading and investing -- is that it's a lot like running. The brain is like a muscle, or rather a group of muscles, that has to be built up, like legs and heart and lungs for the runner, if a rigorous DP program is to be sustained.

This is another reason why getting into DP is so hard for the average individual. People don't intuitively grasp the concept that the brain is like a muscle... that you have to strengthen your cognitive control and tighten up your executive functions before you can become a powerhouse.

Nobody starts out on a running program from a dead stop and assumes they'll be able to run three marathons every week. They build up to it, and work on ways to overcome the initial physical pain and resistance that act as a barrier before "runner's high" kicks in and positive addiction carries them through.

It's a similar dynamic with DP. Many people fail in their early quest for excellence, I suspect, because the mind flags and the will tires, and instead of taking this as a normal part of the training process -- like being winded in the early stages of a running program -- they decide they can't hack it and quietly slip back into mediocrity.

Another thing I liked about this book is how it puts talent in the proper context. Is it true that talent is overrated? Well, yes. Based on these findings, absolutely. But that doesn't mean talent plays no role in success. It simply means that having some modicum of talent (whether imparted by genes or favorable early developments) is often a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for success. That lack of sufficiency, i.e. talent alone not being "enough," or even anywhere close to enough, is an absolutely critical point.

It's a further interesting quirk that too much talent can even be an impediment, in certain cases, if the obvious presence of said talent convinces the individual that it's okay to shirk on DP. It's no statistical accident, for example, that the less flashy "work horses" of the baseball and basketball worlds tend to have longer careers than their flashier co-players, thanks to a tighter regime of working hard on the fundamentals to make up for lesser natural gifts. And it seems like we all know someone who had a great knack for playing guitar or piano by ear in high school, but couldn't be bothered to put in the sweat equity of trying to develop it into something more.

Now, go forth and get on the path to greatness.

Deliberate practice "hurts but it works."

Colvin set out to answer this question: "What does great performance require?" In this volume, he shares several insights generated by hundreds of research studies whose major conclusions offer what seem to be several counterintuitive perspectives on what is frequently referred to as "talent." (See Pages 6-7.) In this context, I am reminded of Thomas Edison's observation that "vision without execution is hallucination." If Colvin were asked to paraphrase that to indicate his own purposes in this book, my guess (only a guess) is that his response would be, "Talent without deliberate practice is latent" and agrees with Darrell Royal that "potential" means "you ain't done it yet." In other words, there would be no great performances in any field (e.g. business, theatre, dance, symphonic music, athletics, science, mathematics, entertainment, exploration) without those who have, through deliberate practice developed the requisite abilities.

It occurs to me that, however different they may be in almost all other respects, athletes such as Cynthia Cooper, Roger Federer, Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lorena Ochoa, Candace Parker, Michael Phelps, Vijay Singh, and Tiger Woods "make it look so easy" in competition because their preparation is so focused, rigorous, and thorough. Obviously, they do not win every game, match, tournament, etc. Colvin's point (and I agree) is that all great performers "make it look so easy" because of their commitment to deliberate practice, often for several years before their first victory. In fact, Colvin cites a "ten-year rule" widely endorsed in chess circles (attributed to Herbert Simon and William Chase) that "no one seemed to reach the top ranks of chess players without a decade or so of intensive study, and some required much more time." The same could also be said of "overnight sensations" who struggled for years to prepare for their "big break" on Broadway or in Hollywood.

Colvin duly acknowledges that deliberate practice "is a large concept, and to say that it explains everything would be simplistic and reductive." Colvin goes on to say, "Critical questions immediately present themselves: What exactly needs to be practiced? Precisely how? Which specific skills or other assets must be acquired? The research has revealed answers that generalize quite well across a wide range of fields." Even after committing all of my time and attention to several years of deliberate practice, under the direct supervision of the best instructor (e.g. Hank Haney, Butch Harman, or David Leadbetter) I probably could not reduce my handicap to zero but I could lower it under those conditions. Colvin's insights offer a reassurance that almost anyone's performance can be improved, sometimes substantially, even if it isn't world-class. Talent is overrated if it is perceived to be the most important factor. It isn't. In fact, talent does not exist unless and until it is developed...and the only way to develop it is (you guessed it) with deliberate practice. When Ben Hogan was asked the "secret" to playing great golf, he replied, "It's in the dirt."

Others have their reasons for thinking so highly of this book. Here are three of mine. First, Colvin's observations and suggestions are research-driven rather than based almost entirely on theories developed in isolation from real-world phenomena. He commits sufficient attention to identifying the core components of great performance but focuses most of his narrative to explaining how almost anyone can improve her or his own performance. He reveals himself to be both an empiricist as he shares what he has observed and experienced and a pragmatist who is curious to know what works, what doesn't, and why. I also appreciate Colvin's repudiation of the most common misconceptions about the various dimensions of talent. For example, that "is innate; you're born with it, and if you're not born with it, you can't acquire it." Many people still believe that Mozart was born with so much talent that he required very little (if any) development. In fact, according to Alex Ross, "Mozart became Mozart by working furiously hard" as did all others discussed, including Jack Welch, David Ogilvy, Warren Buffett, Robert Rubin, Jerry Rice, Chris Rock, and Benjamin Franklin. Some were prodigies but most were late-bloomers and each followed a significantly different process of development. About all they shared in common is their commitment to continuous self-improvement through deliberate practice.

Here's another reason I hold this book in such high regard. Throughout his narrative, Colvin inserts clusters of insights and recommendations that literally anyone can consider and then act upon to improve her or his individual performance as well as helping to improve the performance of a team of which she or he is a member. For example:

1. Attributes of deliberate practice (Pages 66-72)
2. What top performers perceive that others do not notice (Pages 89-94)
3. Benefits of having a "rich mental model"(Pages 123-124)
4. Rules for peak performance that "elite" organizations follow (Pages 128-136)
5. Misconceptions about innovation and creativity (Pages 149-151)
6. How innovators become great (Pages 159-161)
7. How to make organizations innovative (Pages 162-166)
8. What homes can teach organizations (Pages 172-175)
9. The "drivers" of great performance (Pages 187-193)
10. How some organizations "blow it" (Pages 194-198)

Colvin provides a wealth of research-driven information that he has rigorously examined and he also draws upon his own extensive and direct experience with all manner of organizations and their C-level executives. Throughout his narrative, with great skill, he sustains a personal rapport with his reader. It is therefore appropriate that, in the final chapter, he invokes direct address and poses a series of questions. "What would cause you to do the enormous work necessary to be a top-performing CEO, Wall Street trader, jazz, pianist, courtroom lawyer, or anything else? Would anything? The answer depends on your answers to two basic questions: What do you really want? And what do you really believe? What you want - really want - is fundamental because deliberate practice is a heavy investment." Corbin has provided all the evidence anyone needs to answer those two questions that, in fact, serve as a challenge.

Colvin leaves no doubt that by understanding how a few become great, anyone can become better...and that includes his reader. This reader is now convinced that talent is a process that "grows," not a pre-determined set of skills. Also, that deliberate practice "hurts but it works." Long ago, Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." It would be "tragically constraining," Colvin asserts, for anyone to lack sufficient self-confidence because "what the evidence shouts most loudly is striking, liberating news: That great performance is not reserved for a preordained few. It is available to you and to everyone."

The Importance of Deliberate Practice
Last fall my friend Ron gave me a copy of Geoff Colvin's Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, which is far and away my favorite business book of the past year. (And, yes, I read more than one.)

Why do some hardworking people remain in a job for many years without increasing the quality of their work? Why do they fail to make the transition from average to outstanding performers? Too quickly we assume that the difference lies in innate abilities, those natural talents and gifts bestowed upon us at birth. Not so, argues the author. What distinguishes top producers from others is hard work, and not just any kind of work, but work that has at its foundation the specific concept of "deliberate practice."

What is deliberate practice? Deliberate practice is characterized by five basic elements: (1) it is designed specifically to improve performance, (2) if can be repeated a lot, (3) feedback is continuously available, (4) it is highly demanding mentally, and (5) it isn't much fun. (66-78)

You've heard the saying, "Practice makes perfect." No, it doesn't. Only perfect practice makes perfect. If I go to a batting cage daily and flail away at hundreds of pitched balls, month after month, I will probably show modest improvement in my hitting. But my untutored approach won't be disciplined or consistent, and the progress of my improvement will soon level off. In fact, the more I hit the more I will reinforce bad habits. Without an instructor's help and feedback, I'll waste a whole lot of time. Hours of hard work with little benefit. What's more frustrating than to work hard but produce little?

What I need is deliberate practice, which requires a teacher who gives me not only instruction but also immediate feedback. Marked improvement will follow as he instructs me in the mechanics of hitting, and then watches me practice, reinforcing what's right about my batting stroke, correcting what's wrong, and working with me over many months, even years. Hitting will never become automatic, because as I reach each new level of proficiency in striking the ball, additional areas of improvement will become clear to my instructor, first, and, and then to me.

Obviously, deliberate practice takes time. After evaluating top performers in a variety of fields, Colvin concludes, "not one, not even the most `talented' performers, became great without at least ten years of very hard preparation." (61-62) Others have called this the "Ten Thousand Hour Rule" - approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is required to become first-rate in any profession. Deliberate practice requires such sustained concentration that four or five hours a day is about the upper limit. (71) To put this in perspective, to reach 10,000 hours of deliberate practice requires a commitment of four hours a day, five days a week, for ten years. It's easy to see why so few make the transition from average to great. Also clear is the threat of constant distractions - from cell phones, computers, and PDA's - all of which, if we are not careful, deplete our powers of concentration, as well as hobbies that routinely consume enormous amounts of time. We must be able to distinguish between hobbies that refresh us from those that control us. Time is precious, and must be closely guarded.

People often attribute the early successes of people like Warren Buffet, Tiger Woods, and Mozart to their natural talent, and label them child prodigies. Certainly, each possessed raw natural and intellectual abilities. Nevertheless, what sets them apart from equally gifted people is deliberate practice, and each of these men put in their 10,000 hours earlier than most because of parental example and a rigorously enforced and supervised practice schedule. Tiger Woods would not be the golfer he is today if he first picked up a club at age 18 and started hitting golf balls. Demands of higher education, jobs, and family life would probably have made it impossible, that late in life, for him to achieve 10,000 hours of deliberate practice devoted to a game.

The book has a helpful chapter on cultivating the habits of deliberate practice among the members of organizations. Parents will want to consider Colvin's thoughts on how a supportive home environment helps a child to start developing early.

I've heard people say that success is more about "I will" than "IQ," an assertion the author's studies support. He writes, "IQ is a decent predictor of performance on an unfamiliar task, but once a person has been at a job for a few years, IQ predicts little or nothing about performance." (45) But even hard work is not enough. Without deliberate practice at its foundation, much human potential is wasted.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving performance. Whether it's preaching or teaching, honing sales skills, becoming a top actor or musician, or mastering the intricacies of a complicated technology field or organizational system, each of us should be building our work on the concept of deliberate practice.

Great performers work harder and in a more focused way than everybody else
I have always held that talent is a multiplier of work rather than the decisive factor in accomplishment and success. By this I mean that someone whose has a high level of talent, say a 10, and an average level of work, a 5, is going to accomplish at a level of 50. While a person of a level 7 talent who works very hard, a level 10, will outperform them at a level of 70. I have seen this borne out again and again in my life.

Geoff Colvin says that it isn't talent or hard work that are the deciding factors in achieving great performance, but a specific kind of focus when developing and practicing your skills. He calls it deliberate practice. Highly successful people not only practice a lot and work very hard at it, but they also have the ability to focus on what it is that must be practiced and how to work at it. And they can do this even though it is not particularly enjoyable and can, in fact, be painful.

Colvin argues that what we often point to as talent, say, for playing a musical instrument or any specific skill really doesn't exist. When high performers are examined there is little consistent evidence that being a prodigy is a strong predictor of later success. Even Mozart and Tiger Woods, were less about a Divine Spark and more about who their father's were, the focused training they received, and the immense amount of deliberate practice they put in. The author shows us how Jerry Rice worked six days per week during the off season to develop his abilities. Rice identified areas that mattered to his success and developed them systematically. He worked on developing his cardiovascular strength in the mornings, weight training in the afternoons, and those who joined him to see what is was like ended up feeling sick. These people tried to jump into a practice regimen that Rice had built up over years. No wonder they couldn't keep up! Deliberate practice requires building up abilities through repetition after repetition after repetition regardless of how you feel about doing it at any given time.

This repetition provides you with a level of familiarity and insight that others will not possess. While it may appear to be talent or luck, it is really based on becoming so familiar with the tasks involved and knowing at every moment what is going on. The book also takes you through how to apply it to your own life and in your business.

The multiplier idea I have long held is discussed on page 198 in very similar terms to my own. I also agree with him when he says, "What you really believe about the source of great performance thus becomes the foundation for all you will ever achieve." Colvin is honest that great achievement has a high price, a price most people are not willing to pay. However, even if you aren't aiming at greatness, you can still use these ideas to improve and accomplish more.

I think this is right. However, can I note that I think that insight to know what the right practice is and the capacity for that level of work is also a talent, is it not?

May 2009 revision. After thinking about this book a bit more, I want to push back a bit on the notion of someone like a Mozart being just a more focused worker. Or that there are more gifted prodigies today. Bunk. Point me to the body of work created by the hard working musicians who did their "deliberate" practice and created a body of work like Mozart? I think Haydn would be a much better example of the kind of thing the book is aiming at, but the general public doesn't know Haydn so well anymore. The musicologist the author cites trying to bring Mozart down to earth is only a musicologist, and not the final word on Mozart. While it is true that Mozart was not not as popular in his day as he is today, the people of real musical sophistication, Haydn above all, knew his worth. The public is always a poor barometer of artistic worth. Haydn's work is just as wonderful as it was a century ago, or two centuries ago, but the public doesn't esteem it as it should. Is Haydn less than he once was? No. We don't judge the art, our reaction to it judges us. The reputations of Mozart and Haydn were just about opposite a century ago than they are today. In reality, they are both musicians of inestimable worth and deserve our constant attention and careful study. Remember, this book is really about averages and statistics. You are an individual, not a statistic. The capacity for focused work is indeed a talent and one you can develop like any other. If you want something, go after it with your heart and soul.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

The Finest Book of Wine Region Maps Yet!, November 24, 2007
Basically this is an indespensible text for anyone in the wine industry of wishing to expand their technical wine prowess. I am a Master of Wine student and this is one of the three cornerstones of my library including the Oxford Companion to Wine and the Sotheby's Wine Encylclopedia. The maps are a bit much for beginners but that is what the colorful Sotheby's maps are for. These maps highlight elevation and exposure as well as vineyard land and forested land, all are important aspects for advanced wine studies.

This edition expands upon the notable regions, including a massive increase in the US and Australian sections, Hugh Johnson giving a nod to the increasing popularity and success of these countries.

This should be one of the first three books purchased for any wine enthusiast.

The World According to Wine, October 27, 2007
At 400 pages, British wine experts Huge Johnson and Jancis Robinson have created their most exhaustive atlas yet, and a tremendous resource. The book is gorgeous - with a generous amount of color illustrations, photos, and maps, including 2 page spreads. All told there are 48 extra pages over the previous edition.

The 6th edition contains 200 maps, all revised and updates, including 20 new maps. The introduction contains essays on wine in the ancient world, vine types, grape varieties, weather, terroir, the wine growers calendar, how wine is made, etc. etc. Robinson has said this new edition took two years of concentrated effort. It was worth it!

Then the authors dive deep into wine regions organized by country. Each region or country covered has a colored map, an essay about the characteristics of the reason, vital statistics, and a few wine labels. France has the most with 55 regions featured, indeed, a quarter of the volume (100 pages) is on France. Italy features 18 regions. Spain 9. Portugal 6. Germany 12. United States 17. Australia 12. New Zealand 4. Other countries covered include: England and Wales, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Western Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania, Former Soviet Republics, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, South Africa, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia. I find the information scant on Chile and Argentina, which is odd given their increased market exposure and rising excellence of wines.

The authors have expanded New World coverage, in keeping with expanded exposure and quality of the wine produced in these regions, for Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South America, and South Africa. These are additions, with nothing taken away from the previous fabulous coverage of Old & New World wine regions.

Since the first edition in 1971, the World Atlas of Wine has sold more than 4 million copies and I'm happy to add this new 6th edition to my library, especially at such a reasonable price. It's always a pleasure to look up some background information on tonight's glass of wine.

Note - this is the SIXTH edition!, November 29, 2008
The editorial notes for this listing refer to the 5th edition, but the listing itself is actually for the new, 6th edition. I own the 5th and have gone through the 6th in some detail. It is worth buying the newer edition if you have an earlier edition. The authors have not only added a couple dozen entirely new maps, but the format itself is nicer, in my opinion, and of course, the contents have been comprehensively updated. New editions of this book are not as frequent as the annual pocket guides (co-author Hugh Johnson's is excellent - Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2009: 32nd Edition (Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book). The 5th was published in 2001, and I would not expect the 7th edition for several years.

This is a favorite wine book, and, unlike ratings-focused books, not quite so readily replaceable by software and not particularly suited for mobile devices. A wonderful use of this book is to read about a region then go buy a few representative wines, which will help enormously in fixing the reference information in your mind as well as increasing the enjoyment of the wine itself. It's also a nice companion to wine articles in Wine Spectator and other magazines to supplement the tasting and travelogue information typical in such articles.

It is a shame that there isn't a "Look Inside" for this book. If you are unfamiliar with it, the World Atlas' maps are quite wonderful. Not just plain-Jane maps, but viticultural maps, with chapters and pages of accompanying commentary to help you understand the unique characteristics of each region as it pertains to wine. It is a delightful book to leave lying around, as you can read a page or two casually - each region stands on its own, i.e., this is not a book you have to slog through cover to cover.

The best wine atlas out there, December 12, 2008
While there many quality books out there that provide more detailed information about a particular type or style of of wine (Bordeaux, California, etc.), none approaches the scale and scope of this phenomenal book.

Now in its sixth edition (and the third edition I've purchased), The World Atlas of Wine, just keeps getting better and better.

If you are looking for an overview of the world of wine, information on the geography and provenance of different wines from around the world, this is the book you must have.

For instance, after returning from Italy a couple of months ago, I wanted to learn more about Italian wines, an area I understand less about than the wines of the USA or France, which I have studied and tasted extensively. I wondered about the difference between Barolo vs. Barbaresco in Piedmont, and the difference between Brunello di Montalcino vs. other Sangiovese-based wines from Tuscany. With just a few pages of reading and studying the maps, I learned more about these wines than I could have ever imagined.

If all you care about is a certain type of wine, there are better and more comprehensive books available to you. But, if you want to learn about the WORLD of wine, there is no better place to start than The World Atlas of Wine.

World Atlas of Wine, September 2, 2008
Great update to a reference work well-known among wine educators and consumers. The geographical context of the knowledge base about wine and winemaking is exceptionally well done and informative.

A Master's Secret..., September 10, 2008
I am a Master of Wine Student. I have own 5 editions of this atlas during my wine career. I thought I wouldn't need to upgrade to this new edition because, well, honestly, I didn't think this book could tell me any more than I already knew. Wow, I was wrong. The details of New World regions alone is reason to buy this book. The maps are always the BEST, but now they are more informative and more realistic of the wine world at large. You can also see the maps on the [...] site, but the book is still a great reference.

Fun and informative, October 12, 2010
I wanted a good book to take my rather modest knowledge of wine to the next level, and to put it on a more systematic basis. This book fit the bill. Also of the several dozen top titles I've looked at so far, this is my favorite just to read and enjoy. The encyclopedia type format is very convenient for reference, but the text is a lot more interesting than your typical encyclopedia. The maps are beautiful, detailed, and a useful learning tool for getting to know the details of the terroir. I often pick this book up just to browse, or to get a quick handle on a particular region or type of wine. This new addition adds about 20 new articles especially on southern hemisphere wines, reflecting their increasing importance. A truly great book on wine and rightly deserving of its reputation.

almost an encyclopedia, August 22, 2008
This is my third copy of World Atlas. Each one has been such a substantial improvement over the previous one that its purchase was inevitable. Great maps, witty, relevant text and the usual breath-taking photographs of wine country. (did you ever notice that no body grows wine in ugly places?)

Amazing atlas of wine, January 12, 2008
I absolutely love this book. However, the reason why I gave it only 4 stars is because this is the second time I've ordered it and it came without the CD. Otherwise, I find it fulfills all of my expectations. I often browse through it with my husband while opening a new bottle at the dinner table. This allows us to peak through sections of the book as desired. Most books this size make great coffee table props, which people don't even read. This one is meant to be read. Great text, great pictures, well organized!

rcarney, December 7, 2007
This is the book for those who wantthe in depth look at the world of wine. The maps and vineyard details along with the analysis of the various wines is extremely helpful. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Rick Steves, December 9, 2010
This book provides a lot of inside information and hints on how to most enjoy time in Paris. There are hints on tipping, how to arrange transportation, how to locate a rest room...and generally great information on how to see and do the things one wants to do. Additionally, Rick has identified special recommendations on how to see the high lights of Paris in a short or longer period of time. I love his books and have used them many times when traveling.

I highly recommend this and all of his travel books.

good quick review of paris, October 17, 2010
I am taking a quick trip to Paris, which I have visited several times in the past. I wanted a recent updated guide to Paris to hit the museums and any other desired sites in a short time. I will add the Pompidou center for modern art to my list, as well as sight seeing in Marais. Rick Steves seems to have good suggestions. I will really know after I visit. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For more than eighty years, The New Yorker has been home to some of the toughest, wisest, funniest, and most moving sportswriting around. Featuring brilliant reportage and analysis, profound profiles of pros, and tributes to the amateur in all of us, The Only Game in Town is a classic collection from a magazine with a deep bench.

Including such authors as Roger Angell and John Updike, both of them synonymous with New Yorker sportswriting, The Only Game in Town also features greats like John McPhee and Don DeLillo. Hall of Famer Ring Lardner is here, bemoaning the lowering of standards for baseball achievement—in 1930. A. J. Liebling inimitably portrays the 1955 Rocky Marciano–Archie Moore bout as “Ahab and Nemesis . . . man against history,” and John Cheever pens a story about a boy’s troubled relationship with his father and “The National Pastime.”

From Tiger Woods to bullfighter Sidney Franklin, from the Chinese Olympics to the U.S. Open, the greatest plays and players, past and present, are all covered in The Only Game in Town. At The New Yorker, it’s not whether you win or lose—it’s how you write about the game. ... Read more

Reviews

Sports fans will no doubt welcom this edition into their library, July 26, 2010
Some amazing writers from various disciplines have contributed to the pages of The New Yorker in the magazine's 80-plus-year history. More than 30 of them are included in this wonderful anthology of the best from the world of sports, in itself a competition of sorts.

One would not find these pieces in the back pages of a local newspaper. These are thoughtful, long pieces that go beyond the box score and records, or the simple accomplishments on the various fields of play. Some --- like "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," John Updike's chronicle of Ted Williams's final game --- have become part of the larger time capsule of sports' legendary figures, both subject and author (a 50th anniversary edition of "Hub Fans" was published earlier this year by the Library of America). Others --- such as Lillian Ross's "El Unico Matador," perhaps the only profile ever written about a gay Jewish-American bullfighter --- offer people, places and events they otherwise would never discover.

It is fitting that New Yorker staple Roger Angell "leads off" the collection with his famous report of a classic 1-0 extra-inning 1981 college contest between Frank Viola of St. John's and Ron Darling of Yale. (And if you want to know the details, in the words of the eminent baseball philosopher Casey Stengel, "you could look it up.") Adding to the enjoyment of Angell's tale: the presence and commentary of "Smoky Joe" Wood, a standout of the early 1900s and later a college coach himself. Other notable writers include John Cheever on fathers, sons and baseball; Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on Michael Jordan; A. J. Liebling on the 1955 Marciano-Moore fight; and John McPhee on Princeton basketball star (and later U.S. senator) Bill Bradley.

But is good writing on its own enough of a draw? While there are five essays on baseball, it seems editor David Remnick tries perhaps a bit too hard to be democratic as he includes so many sports/games/activities. Maybe that's the point. In what other mainstream publication would you find so much thoughtful prose on such diverse topics as surfing (William Finnegan), snowmobiling (Calvin Trillin), dog sledding (Susan Orlean), ping-pong (Nancy Franklin), and parkour (Alec Wilkinson; parkour is a jumping "sport" that seems more applicable to cinematic stunt work than athletics). Oddity for oddity's sake? Or is it perhaps a "snob factor" the historic magazine is after?

Regardless, sports fans who hold The New Yorker in the same regard as The Sporting News or Sports Illustrated will no doubt welcome this edition into their library.

--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan

Our Sporting Lives Done New Yorker Style, November 3, 2010
If you're a hopeless follower of the classic periodical "The New Yorker" and have a love for sports, this is your book. Contained herein are selected stories from the best sports writing of a classic magazine. This is the type of book that you don't read in order from cover to cover. The selection of stories range from subjects of baseball to bullfighting to ping pong written by such Authors as Roger Angell, John Updike to Ring Lardner and Adam Gopnik.
David Remnick selected this compilation of stories and dedicated the book to Roger Angell who is the senior august sports writer for the New Yorker. In fact the very first story is the classic baseball saga entitled "The Web of the Game" written in 1981 by the aforementioned Mr. Angell. This story is an absolute classic of which I've seen nothing written any better on the subject of our national pastime. While this story is my favorite writing in this book, the other selections are eclectic and diverse with great writing.
This is a type of book which you don't gulp down from chapter to chapter. It is to be taken as a fine wine. Sipping is allowed to digest these stories of sport which goes far beyond the normal jock type sports writing where the spoils of victory are the only rhyme of reason. These stories go beyond the "jock mentality of present day Fox sports and immediate Sports Center gratification coming from the studios of ESPN. This is the type of book that you go for an eclectic night's diversion of thoughtful insight into the world of sport as seen from the writer's prospective of that certain time period. The stories are humorous at times. sad at times and always thought provoking. Also as an aside, in true New Yorker tradition, its pages are scattered with its thought provoking cartoons.
Great read and fully deserving the 5 Star rating!!

A great read, July 26, 2010
Terrific stories from best writers at the New Yorker. Well chosen, introduced me to some writers I was not familiar with, and provided several great moments. One of a series of compiliations along a theme. Highly recommended.

Great selections of great writing, June 24, 2010
For instance,

"It may be that, compared to managers' dreams such as Joe DeMaggio and the always helpful Stan Musial, Williams is an icy star. But of all team sports, baseball, with its grateful intermittences of action, its immense and tranquil field sparsely settled with poised men in white, its dispassionate mathematics, seems to me best suited to accommodate, and be ornamented by, a loner. It is an essentially lonely game. No other played visible in my generation has concentrated within himself so much of the sport's poignance, has so assiduously refined his natural skills, has so consistently bought to the plate that intensity of competence that crowds the throat with joy."

from Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu
by John Updike

$9.99 boycott, July 27, 2010
I know many readers here do not like reviews like this. I so want to read this book, but not at the price listed by the publisher. Get this publisher to reduce the price to $9.99 like most Kindle books are now.

I will wait until the library here gets this book before paying only $3.00 less than the DTB.

Steven
Oregon ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Excellent resource, July 17, 2008
Although there are many books on writing research or term papers, I have not found anything else which brings together material on planning, reasoning and writing the research paper as well as this book. Ignore any reviewers who make this book out to be a simplistic text. It is an excellent work on well reasoned writing that even most graduate students can benefit greatly from reading. As a professor of a graduate class on Research and Writing, I have recommended and required this book for several years. The book guides the reader from an idea of a topic, to defining a question, to formulating the conceptually signifcant research problem. It briefly covers finding, evaluating and using primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Then a major portion of the book is devoted to understanding effective reasoning in the writing process. This is based quite a bit on professor Stephen Toulmin's practical approach to effective reasoning and argumentation. The Craft of Research diagrams and explains claims, reasons, evidence and warrants. It has detailed illustrations of warrants and when to use them, as well as how to challenge them. The book has other sections on organizing, drafting,and revising a paper. It also has a chapter on communicating information visually using tables, graphs and charts. Rather than focusing on the simple mechanics or obvious steps in writing a serious research paper, this book concentrates on the more difficult tasks of clearly defining the conceptual problem and addressing it with in depth, effective reasoning.

The best guide to research and writing on the market today, July 24, 2008
I read this book about a month before I submitted my dissertation (in U.S. history) and it convinced me to completely rewrite my introduction. That experience left me kicking myself for thinking I was too advanced for these sorts of guides and for not consulting this book earlier. The sections on formulating a topic (how to turn a general interest into a question/problem to be researched) and warrants (how to match claims to evidence) are especially helpful. Make no mistake about it, this book can help researchers at all levels, and I have had many students, both undergraduate and graduate, tell me how happy they were that they took my advice to read this book.

Disappointing, December 8, 2008
The third edition of this classic text pales when compared to the second edition. Many of the changes are cosmetic in nature and often blur what was clearly and succinctly stated in the second edition. For example, rearranging paragraphs within chapters often detract from what were logical sequences of ideas and information found in the second edition. Unfortunately, the authors, sans Booth, appear to abandon their own advice in order to create a new edition that will bolster sales. I hope the fourth edition, if there is a fourth edition, returns to the high standards one comes to expect from the University of Chicago and its press.

Good Antidote for "Just the Facts" Writing, September 20, 2008
We all respect scientists--even budding science students--for their commitment to accuracy and objectivity. Sometimes our strengths are also our weaknesses. Beginning scientists can naively believe that their writing only needs to report the facts, that anything further is bias, sophistry or even dishonesty. This book lays out the path to a better writing style. Readers will learn how to arrange and present their facts and evidence as coherent arguments. As a result, they will better serve their own readers.

The table of contents, outlined below, shows that the authors cover more than putting fingers to keyboard. Introductory chapters discuss the perspective and information needs of readers and how to connect with them. The authors address development of one's own authentic authorial "voice"--a topic often neglected in books about research writing. The next four chapters teach us how to conceptualize a research question, then find relevant and credible sources of information to answer it. The third edition contains a needed revision of the authors' earlier avoidant stance on the credibility of web-based information, containing good guidance for weeding flakey from factual online sources.

Chapter 7, "Making Good Arguments: An Overview," is the keystone chapter and a relatively quick read at eleven pages. It's where to focus when deciding whether to read the rest of the book. The authors define their working vocabulary of arguments, reasons, evidence, claims and warrants. In this and the following four chapters they show us how to use these concepts to present our points and how to acknowledge and respond to positions with which we disagree. They demonstrate how to do this with integrity as well as skill.

The final six chapters address the actual writing of a research report. Much of the advice on planning, drafting and revising is standard and consistent with other writing guides. Some, such as advice on graphical presentation of data, is an overview of information covered more thoroughly in other books (e.g., Tufte's Envisioning Information). But there is also a great deal of guidance on revising and fine-tuning arguments that is unique to these authors and their framework of written arguments. The closing chapter on style will help writers create clear and understandable structure while following their own authorial style. Recognizing they have presented only an introductory measure of what good writers need to know, the authors close with a comprehensive bibliography of readings, both online and in print.

This book, thoughtfully read and put into practice, is as good as a course in professional writing. Read it, underline in it, bend back the page corners, and keep it nearby when you write your next report.

--

Brief Table of Contents

I. Research, Researchers and Readers
- 1. Thinking in Print: The uses of Research, Public and Private
- 2. Connecting with Your Reader: (Re-)Creating Yourself
II. Asking Questions, Finding Answers
- 3. From Topics to Questions
- 4. From Questions to a Problem
- 5. From Problems to Sources
- 6. Engaging Sources
III. Making a Claim and Supporting It
- 7. Making Good Arguments: An Overview
- 8. Making Claims
- 9. Assembling Reasons and Evidence
- 10. Acknowledgements and Responses
- 11. Warrants
IV. Planning, Drafting and Revising
- 12. Planning
- 13. Drafting Your Report
- 14. Revising Your Organization and Argument
- 15. Communicating Evidence Visually
- 16. Introductions and Conclusions
- 17. Revising Style: Telling Your Story Clearly
V. Some Last Considerations

Wonderful, concise resource for students and researchers, August 21, 2008
Have you ever faced a blank computer screen and were at a complete loss of what you should write about for a 10-page research paper due the next week? Or maybe you knew what you wanted to write about but didn't know how to start? Or maybe you had all your sources, wrote out a draft and realized that no one cares if The Great Gatsby illustrates the three Aristotelian elements of a tragedy?

The Craft of Research helps students and researchers solve dilemmas like these and more. The authors dissect the anatomy of a research paper and create step-by-step stages that guide you all the way from choosing a topic to polishing your final product.

The major sections of this book address how to form a good research claim that your readers will care about; how to find and evaluate sources; how to support your claim with evidence, reasons and warrants; and how to prepare, draft and revise your paper. The authors use simple and clear language, and if that's not enough, they provide easy-to-understand visuals and diagrams to help make their point.

The authors also cover useful areas such as ethics (why you must always cite even when just discussing an idea of another writer's), the Internet (when it's acceptable to use web-based sources), and visuals (why 3-D graphs are a bad idea).

Sure, some of the advice they provide you may already know, but as the authors cover nearly everything to do with research papers (albeit in a generalized way), there's something for everyone. It's also nice to have a guide that will remind you of everything you learned in your freshman English classes. Clear, concise, and accessible, the Craft of Research is one of the best books on research.

Great book for the beginner researcher or undergrad who needs help with understanding research, especiallly the first 4 chapters, May 7, 2009
This book has been a wonderful help, easy to read and understand. I am working on my dissertation and need help with writing my comprehensive exams and my project proposal. I had so many questions and this book was recommended by someone on my committee. What a life saver for me!

A classic, October 29, 2008
I used the 2nd edition of this book and it got me through writing my honors thesis, and now that I'm in grad school I've found it useful, as have many of my colleagues. Sometimes it really helps to work your ideas out step by step - and this technique works whether you're using print or electronic resources. I find the authors' style to be candid and refreshing, and their approach can make any scholarly writing feel more doable. And while some people (like Freston) may find this book too elementary in its approach, I will say that in my experience as an editor of my department's working papers, I have found that many good papers could be made great if there was a bit more attention paid to the seemingly simple advice in this book like properly introducing data and clearly stating your focus. This book isn't just about becoming a better writer, it's also about becoming a better thinker.

For both scientific and humanities research, January 17, 2009
This is a well-written book primarily intended for researchers in the humanities. However, as someone who conducts research both in humanities and basic science, I found the book provided a useful perspective on scientific research. While the methods and method-specific questions are usually idiosyncratic to a field, the timeless question that the book poses: "What additional insight into [insert field here] does [insert novel work here] give me?" and the authors' meditations on how to approach it are well-worth the price of the book.

Great resource for graduate students, June 25, 2008
This book provides a wonderful introduction for graduate students embarking on their first research project. I use it every year in my classes. No matter what the field, students will find helpful advice on how to pick a research question and how to evaluate evidence. Invaluable!

Mandatory for academic research, optional for anything else, February 15, 2010


This book is literally a classic because it thoroughly covers the challenges involved in basic academic research. It is intended as a course between covers on academic researchers. It covers formulation of issues and questions, determining and finding stories, making your claims and how to write and support them. Overall, it will be of use to anyone who is new to academic research and writing.

It is not a guide to sources nor a treatise on using particular resources. Rather it is more along the line of teaching principles of effective research and academic writing.

It serves students well, but is lacking for those with real-world research needs, such as in business and law.

Overall, like so many academic style guides, a nice book to keep on the shelf if you are outside of academia, but not a necessary one.

Jerry
... Read more

Editorial Review

Contains rules of grammar phrased as direct orders and provides the principal requirements of plain English style.Concentrates on fundamentals: the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated.Softcover. DLC: English language--Style. ... Read more

Reviews

Essential Writer's Tool., August 27, 2001
When I write a book I use only a handful of reference tools: dictionary, thesaurus, Gregg's Reference Handbook, Writers Market, and the Elements of Style. Strunk and White is a wonderfully-written, extraordinarily concise tool that pays homage to classic high-end English. It takes language insight to make this prediction in 1979: "By the time this paragraph makes print, uptight... rap, dude, vibes, copout, and funky will be the words of yesteryear." The book begins with eleven "Elementary Rules of Usage," and then continues with eleven more "Elementary Rules of Composition," and eleven "Matters of Form." Each is presented as a brief statement followed by another sentence or two of explanation and a few clarifying examples. This amazing compilation fills only thirty-eight pages, yet covers ninety percent of good writing fundamentals. My favorite section is Chapter IV, a twenty-seven-page, alphabetical listing of commonly misused words and expressions. Here's a trade secret: when my manuscript is "done," I then turn to this chapter and use my word processor's Find function to study every instance of all these problematic words and phrases. I never fail to find errors this way. Many great writers are so only because they've learned to make use of the best available tools. The end of the book contains an essay on "An Approach to Style" with a list of twenty-one "Reminders." Those who fight the apparently-natural tendency to go against these recommendations succeed as writers. Those who don't, fail. It's that simple. The single drawback of The Elements of Style is that it's too concise; it does not stand alone as an all-encompassing tutorial or reference guide. Many readers will seek other sources for more in-depth explanation of style elements. Despite that, it easily replaces ten pounds of other reference material. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Essential, June 7, 2003
As the 'rules' in this iconic book take up only 14 pages, it continually amazes me how often I can find the answer to a grammar or punctuation guestion within those pages. It doesn't cover everything, and some of the 'rules' are of course changing with the passage of time - but if a wannabe writer can't afford a whole bookcase of tomes on How to Write, then this is the one he or she should buy.
Beyond those 14 pithy pages, however, are another 100 or so that extend the value of the book immeasurably: Principles of Composition, Commonly Misused Words, and perhaps the most valuable: An Approach to Style, which gives excellent advice along the lines of Do not overwrite, Avoid qualifiers, Don't over-explain, Avoid adverbs, Avoid dialect, Don't inject opinion, and tons of others.
When all's said and done, however, one of the very best parts is a wonderful essay by the inimitable EB White himself - the Introduction, which serves as a perfect example of all that the rest of the small book preaches: write concisely, clearly, and well, and say something worthwhile.
Other books for writers to consider: Bird by Bird, On Writing, and Writing Down the Bones.

TEXTBOOKS DON'T HAVE TO BE BIG, March 19, 2001
While skimming through Stephen King's book ON WRITING, he highly recommended THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE. Taking his advice I searched for a copy and found one in a free bin--of all places! I looked at it and decided that it was so much better than any other textbook that I had seen that I decided to WRITE IT. Three pages a day for a month or so. It's a very short book, only about 80 pages or so. You learn everything from words that are often spelled wrong, to punctuation, to style, etc. Very blunt and to the point. No exercises in here, problems 1 - 10 all. Nope, you just read this book and enjoy it. Why, there's actually a little humor in it at times, which is pretty good for a textbook. Now I've heard some people say that this book is bad because it is saying to follow all these rules and don't stray from them. I think they got it all wrong. This book is essentially saying this: you can't blaze new trails in the English language without having a solid foundation in the basics first! This goes for ANYTHING. You don't suddenly set off an a 200 mile trek, you slowly work up to it, starting from the basics. After you have mastered the basics, then you can break free. One thing that this book continually points out is that it is OFTEN A MATTER OF EAR. Meaning that if you are experienced enough, you will know whether to stick to the traditional or whether to be liberal when phrasing something, for example. By far this is the most talked-about textbook that I've seen and the most valuable.

Indispensable for anyone who wants to write., September 24, 1998
I bought my first copy of THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE nearly thirty years ago, when I was 13 years old. It cost me one dime, in a thrift shop. That is still the best dime I've ever spent.

THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE is indispensable for anyone who wants to write. It distills the essence of writing clear, direct, logical prose. I read it four times a year; in addition, I read it again whenever I am about to begin a large writing project. This book has shaped every word I've ever written, and it has taught me more than I can say about life. That may sound weird or idiosyncratic, but it's not -- for the principles that guide the writing of clear, direct, logical English prose are the same principles that guide a life of integrity and commitment. Writing honestly and clearly is the surest path to living honestly and clearly.

Buy it, read it, reread it, live by it. You won't be sorry.

A short book every writer should read once a year., December 16, 1996
Many books about writing are huge, but "The Elements of Style," the best of them, is extremely short: 92 pages, including index. Read them all. Briefly and vigorously, Strunk and White will tell you, for example, when to use (and not to use) commas, which words to avoid, how to divide paragraphs, and generally how to pare your writing down to essentials. Many professional writers advise reading Strunk and White cover-to-cover once a year. If you do any regular writing, of letters or anything else, then follow that advice.

Ignore the pseudo-intellectuals, December 4, 2000
I've noticed a number of pseudo-intellectuals here complaining about ``The Elements of Style'' based mostly on the fact that is pedantic and restrictive. Obviously these people have neither read the definition of ``element'' nor studied art.

These are the basic rules, one half-step above grammar, that should be followed by al people that need to make themselves definitively understood through written communication. It is more than obvious that far too many people have gone through their lives without ever having been exposed to the simple, basic rules presented in this book. How many times have you seen a sign that claims ``Egg's $2.00''? I often wonder why I should care about how much money some guy named Egg has. The majority of the rules that proposed by Mr. Strunk are not pedantic, but simply the basic rules of the English language. There are also other rules that are excellent for straightforward making-yourself-understood writing. These are much more flexible, a point often made in the book by the authors. However, if you don't know what you're doing, these rules are much better to follow than the rules apparently made up on the spot by most uninformed writers.

The vague point that some of these pseudo-intellectuals seem to make is that writing this way is very limiting. However, the point of the book, and of rules in general, is to be limiting. If one is striving to make art, one needs to intentionally break rules. However, it is difficult to break rules if one does not know what they are. There is certainly an element of art that discounts rules altogether, but those artists tend not to work in the element of writing at all. It is difficult at best to convey this sort of mindset through words, as words are very definitive and that sort of art is almost totally expressionist.

In other words, I would encourage everyone to read this book, or in some way get these basic rules of English in his head. ...

Anh..., August 11, 1999
OK. So this is one of the definitive reference books on style in written English. Just don't confuse style with grammar--if you want to understand grammar per se, this isn't the book for you. (Steven Pinker's "The Language Instinct" is what you want--quite a bit wittier than Strunk & White, too.) "The Chicago Manual of Style" or "Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age" are both for sale at Amazon, too, and I think they're ultimately better references. But if you want to write well, well, buy Strunk & White, and abide by their oft-archaic but always lucid guidelines. Just, please, don't stop with them. The most-acclaimed writers in the English language conform not closely to Strunk & White's principles (cf. Shakespeare, Jefferson, Longfellow, Hemmingway, Pynchon, Morrison... whatever your taste may be), so be mindful that this book is not alone the key to becoming a great writer.

Great Little Book, May 9, 2004
A pithy little handbook that gives rules and examples to help you avoid the most common mistakes in writing, plus some smart advice on the finer points by a renowned essayist and children's writer. It is by far the single most useful book on writing. But it is not the last word. For those who wish to go further, I recommend these books in addition to Strunk & White: The Prentice Hall Handbook for Writers, for a review of basic grammar and syntax; Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, by Joseph M. Williams, for more detailed advice on constructing paragraphs; The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing, by Thomas Kane, for more general advice; and Garner's Modern American Usage, for intelligent, detailed, and up-to-date guidance on diction. All these books belong on the shelf of every serious writer.

(By the way, I agree with the previous reviewer that the third edition is slightly preferable to the current one.)

Short and concise, the way you should write, March 24, 2001
This book can be read in a couple hours (at most), but despite its short length, it provides many useful suggestions to help clarify one's writing. It is mostly a collection of simple rules and their explanations, all of which are easy to grasp and to employ in one's writing. As in George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language," the central theme here is to be clear. Be precise and don't confuse the reader.

The table of contents list the rules, so once you've read the book, you can just flip to the contents to remind yourself of them. If you want to improve your writing, there are many books on the topic, but here is where to start. If you disagree with the rules as some Amazon reviewers do, fine. The authors are dead, and I'm sure they won't take it too personally if you criticize their work. But I don't find the rules restrictive. To the contrary, unless you really know the language and are adept at using it, you can't break these rules without making a terrible blunder. Anybody who writes will benefit from spending an hour or so skimming through this book once every few years.

Get the 3rd Edition, September 4, 2003
The second edition of this classic work improved on the first edition, and the third was the best of all. It was perfection. The fourth, posthumous edition slips a little bit. It's still better than any other style guide, but a hint of Political Correctness has crept into some of its advice and examples. Why did the publishers feel the need to tinker with perfection? If you already have the third edition, don't bother getting the new one. If you don't have any copies of this great book, check the used bookstores for the previous edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A masterpiece of linguistics scholarship, at once erudite and entertaining, confronts the thorny question of how—and whether—culture shapes language and language, culture

Linguistics has long shied away from claiming any link between a language and the culture of its speakers: too much simplistic (even bigoted) chatter about the romance of Italian and the goose-stepping orderliness of German has made serious thinkers wary of the entire subject. But now, acclaimed linguist Guy Deutscher has dared to reopen the issue. Can culture influence language—and vice versa? Can different languages lead their speakers to different thoughts? Could our experience of the world depend on whether our language has a word for "blue"?

Challenging the consensus that the fundaments of language are hard-wired in our genes and thus universal, Deutscher argues that the answer to all these questions is—yes. In thrilling fashion, he takes us from Homer to Darwin, from Yale to the Amazon, from how to name the rainbow to why Russian water—a "she"—becomes a "he" once you dip a tea bag into her, demonstrating that language does in fact reflect culture in ways that are anything but trivial. Audacious, delightful, and field-changing, Through the Language Glass is a classic of intellectual discovery.

Editorial Review

With millions of records now available online, those interested in their family history have a wealth of information?and misinformation?at their fingertips. In this book, author Kimberly Powell, the About.com Guide to Genealogy, helps both novice and experienced genealogists sort it all out. She shows readers where to search and which key-words they?ll need to create an accurate family tree?from start to finish. With this book, readers will learn how to create an online search strategy, use search engines and Soundex to find kin, reach out to others with peer-to-peer record swapping, discover useful records from around the world, and more. Packed with tips on free databases, search sites, and downloadable government records, readers will have all they need to use the Web to dig out their family?s true tale! ... Read more

Reviews

Best book I have seen on genealogy, March 1, 2009
I am a librarian and have bought a lot of books on genealogy but this one is fantastic. It is loaded with websites and ideas and to have it all in one place is just staggering. The author did a great job.

Very good and informative, December 28, 2008
This book offer a trememdous amount of very useful information for doing online genealogy. I prefer the information in it compared to "Printed Sources .. a guide to Published Genealogy Records". It is well written and user friendly.

The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy by Kimberly Powell, November 13, 2008
This was my first purchased book on genealogy. It was great. There is so much I didn't know. I've been doing genealogy for 12 years, here and there. I definitely recommend this book to beginners and advanced genealogist.

Great resourse book, June 23, 2009
This was my first book on Genealogy I purchased and it has been a big help, after I had started my family tree. It's packed with great information and on-line resourses and also, some samples of family tree research. A must have for your Genealogy library.

Excellent Resource, January 27, 2009
This book is great. It tells a lot of stuff I already knew about researching family history, but I also learned a lot just in the first Chapter! This is a must have for serious researchers!

A GREAT STARTING POINT, May 4, 2009
THIS HANDBOOK IS A GREAT ASSET TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN GENEALOGY (AS I AM). IN FACT, I PURCHASED 2 COPIES; ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR MY SISTER. NOW WE BOTH CAN BURN UP THE NET!

great book, January 30, 2010
Started researching family history a couple years ago, but was't making much headway. This book really has helped me get going and is improving my results. I purchased the book along with the Family tree maker 2010 software which is a much better than the previous editions. A great book to buy.

The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: A complete resource to using the web....., September 12, 2010
I have read most of this book, did not finish it because of new semester at college. Will finish it when class settles down.

What I have read so far is very interesting. This book has chapter titles and subtitles and if you are doing genealogy for the first time, or not, I would highly recommend this book. Chapter 2 Begin Backward and Chapter 3 Learn How to Search are to me the most important start to genealogy.

The book has 4 useful guides to help you: questions? Answers to common questions, e-link Important snipets of information, e-Alerts urgent warnings and Essenials qick hand tips. I am familiar with the author, Kimberly Powell as I subscribe to her articles on a genealogy website named on the cover of the book and the articles have been very helpful to me. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Braille edition of the popular bestseller. "Let go of theidea that gentle, relaxed people can't be super-achievers," advisesDr. Richard Carlson in his widely popular self-help book, DON'T SWEATTHE SMALL STUFF. In 100 chapters--each only a few pageslong--Dr. Carlson shares his ideas for living a calmer, richer life.This book has been on the New York Times bestseller list for 38 weeksand is No. 3 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list. Two small volumesin braille. ... Read more

Reviews

Read- And Perspire No More!
The cover of this book says it was a bestselling book of the year at one time. After opening it up and glancing through it, it't not hard to see why.

The pupose of the book is to get you to look at things, common situations we all come across everyday, like being criticized or being given more work than you can possibly finish, and see them a little differently. Believe it or not, it delivers- and in just a page or two at a time if you can believe that!

That's because the wisdom is definitely there, on every page, and it just plain makes sense. Many times I've read a chapter or two and thought, "Why didn't I think of that before?".

The other good thing about this tiny book is that you could either sit down and read it cover-to-cover, or just pick it up once in awhile and pick a random chapter to read. Either way, the mini-chapters are sure to quickly leave most readers wondering why they make such a big deal out of the things they do. Other short self-help books I like include "Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World".

Excellent, well written, and superbly concise
This is marvelous magical book you hold in your hands in which every word written counts without being weighty. Richard Carlson has written a book packed with ideas that will uplift the spirit, open your mind and heart and free you in a delightful easy manner as he guides you into a clearer focusing of your life. He takes our lives and breaks our activities into bit-size pieces to savor and study easily without choking on our whole life all at once. His next book written "Don't Worry, Make Money" is just as direct and as enjoyable to read. Both books are filled with ideas that just make so much sense, you wonder why it wasn't clear to you before, yet somehow you sensed you've know these things all along. Never mind that you couldn't see them before, Richard Carlson is helping you to see them now! Carlson is a real intelligent pied piper who feeds the mind with seemingly simple words but which form profound concepts and ideas without boring or "spoonfeeding" the reader. You'll find that you won't mind sharing these books with others, in fact you may find yourself encouraging others to take a look at them while you are together; but you won't want to loan them overnight you'll rather wish to keep them nearby for easy reference, they become valuable comrades to you. One of the best things about both his books is that that you can start at the beginning, or just pick up a chapter at random, each chapter stands alone, yet works within the framework of the whole work. Kudos to Carlson, thank you for your enlightened writing.

A Soft and Profound Approach to Enlightenment
"Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" is delightful in its conception and reads like a wonderful collection of wisdom vignettes. There are 100 short chapters in the book, each containing some insight on finding the keys to a satisfied, compassionate and enlightened life. The chapters can be read in any order. The soft and nurturing style is very appealing and makes this book a perfect companion to keep on hand when you are having a rough day and need a little support to put things into perspective. The simple and gentle wisdom of this book reminds me of another book Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment by Ariel and Shya Kane. In this book, the Kanes reveal, through very engaging personal stories, how every moment is a life lesson and a gift, and they invite us to experience life directly, with compassion and in line with our true heart's desire. I heartily recommend both books to anyone interested in a soft and profound approach to enlightenment

Hard Work That's Worth It
It's not so much a book about helping you handle more stress better, but about making your life better so there won't be so much stress. Nearly all of the little "chapters" contain behavior-altering suggestions that are not easy to do--but that's the hard truth of self improvement. You cannot change behavior overnight, it's the kind of thing that requires day-to-day concentration. Benjamin Franklin discovered his, and wrote about it in his autobiography. He chose a handful of things he wanted to change about himself, and set out to practice one thing each day until he got it down--and it often took him much longer than he anticipated. If you don't want to put forth the effort of self-improvement, especially where stress is concerned, don't buy this book.

This book is easy to read, the suggestions being one to two pages. It may seem like he's "watering" down the facts of stressors and behavior, when in fact this material *must* be simplified in order to be at a level that is concise, direct, and understandable. Some of the 100 suggestions seem to overlap, but in my opinion, it is necessary. There are many aspects to human behavior. For example: Is patience really as simple as we think it is? Or is Mr. Carlson right in helping us with different aspects of it by overlapping the "patience" theme in several chapters? You may just need to decide for yourself.

So, when you're feeling bad about yourself and want to improve, this is a good place for ideas/reminders that can help you from the inside-out. You will have to read it slowly and re-read it again and again, using it as a reference for years to come in order to benefit from its potential effect on your life.

Suggestions from a Qualified Therapist - Not Pop Psychology
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF is an absolute exception to the following statement. The majority of self-help books are a turn-off for me. The pop gurus we see on television and in infomercials who, in 90 seconds or less, know all about you and can solve all your problems, aren't qualified to help you. In contrast I believe that the suggestions given in DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF are so useful that I have purchased copies and given them as gifts to those nearest and dearest to me.

Dr. Carlson writes from experience garnered in over a decade as a practicing therapist. From these experiences he has developed a set of suggestions on how to cope with the stresses and annoyances of life. He doesn't try to analyze anyone, he just makes suggestions that one can use if they seem applicable.

There are so many useful strategies in the book that I can't begin to cover them all, so I will summarize a few that I found helpful.

"Choose Your Battles Wisely": In this section he advises us not to make a big deal out of things or persons with which we are at cross purposes. Most confrontations are both an unnecessary waste of time and damaging to relationships, usually over meaningless issues. Just let them go, he advises.

"See The Innocence": Here he tells us that when we are frustrated or irritated by something that someone says or does, we should look for the innocence behind the behavior. If we do, we'll probably find out that the we, ourselves, are the cause of our upset.

"Choose Being Kind Over Being Right": Here he suggests that, in most cases, who is right and who is wrong just isn't important. There's no need to always be right, so just ignore the opportunity to correct people.

One More: "Become A Less Aggressive Driver": The benefits of this suggestion are practically self-explanatory, so I'll let you guess at them until you read the book.

These are just a small sampling of the 100 suggestions in the book, each of which can help to make a life more pleasant and less stressful. Obviously, Dr. Carlson gives more detailed explanations, case studies, and various other enhancements to each of the hundred sections. He doesn't pretend that these are easy principles to put into practice or that it doesn't take a lot of work and introspection to learn to feel better. As he indicates, old habits are hard to break and a lot of backsliding is to be expected. As my old grandmother said. "Try it, you'll like it." (Or at least you'll like the results.)

Required reading for angry aggressors and cherubic creatures
In the 1950s two American scientists studying coronary-prone personalities defined what they called Type A and Type B personalities; in the 1980s the study of cancer-prone personalities yielded an additional Type C. Extreme Type A personalities are characterized by a free-floating hostility, aggressiveness, competitiveness, a constant sense of time-urgency, impatience and a constant striving for ill-defined goals. Just think of a choleric person you know. Extreme Type C personalities, on the other hand, suppress strong emotions, comply with the wishes of others, lack assertiveness, avoid conflict and behavior that might offend others, they obey conventional norms of behavior and maintain an appearance of niceness; stoicism and self-sacrifice appeal to them, their approach to life is outwardly calm and unemotional, and they have a tendency to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Richard Carlson has something to tell both of these types. His message is: become more sanguine, more forgiving and accepting of yourself, more laid-back, unaggressive, and easy-going; be the driver, not the driven; in short, become more like a typical Type B personality.

Richard Carlson's 100 suggestions how to slow down to the speed of life (incidentally, the title of another of his books) and how to focus on what is important are valuable reminders and great common-sense advice sprinkled with small bits of Eastern wisdom. Carlson does not push any theories or New Age stuff at the reader; he simply says, here are some things you might try and see if they work. If they do, practice them. Practice makes the master.

To give an example of a typical suggestion by Carlson: if you face an angry, aggressive person, imagine the person as a tiny infant and as a 100-year old adult; it will give you some needed perspective and compassion. That's true. When I underwent military training, the recommendation was that whenever the drill-sergeant yelled at me, I should picture him naked instead of resorting to some typical Type A or Type C behavior. It worked quite well. The yelling usually stopped with the comment "get that smirk off your face". ... Read more

Editorial Review

A Rulebook for Arguments is a succinct introduction to the art of writing and assessing arguments, organized around specific rules, each illustrated and explained soundly but briefly. This widely popular primer - translated into eight languages - remains the first choice in all disciplines for writers who seek straightforward guidance about how to assess arguments and how to cogently construct them.

The fourth edition offers a revamped and more tightly focused approach to extended arguments, a new chapter on oral arguments, and updated examples and topics throughout. ... Read more

Reviews

Keeps you on focus in writing, February 20, 1999
> Following this book allows you to keep your head on straight as you avoid the various problems that a philosophy paper or argumentation essay might instantiate. The book is short, and allows one to look up relevant sections on commonly occuring issues. Some basic fallacies are discussed, and suggestions are given on what is the best form for an critical essay. It advertises itself not as a textbook, but as a "rulebook". An excellent resource to recommend to students, and saves instructors the time of describing common errors. Simply refer to the page numbers in the book.

> APA Newsletter on the Teaching of Philosophy gives it high marks, calling Weston's examples "brilliant," claiming that the book is "simply too good for philosophers to keep for themselves."

Contents:

1. composing a short argument: some general rules

2. arguments by example

3. arguments by analogy

4. arguments from authority

5. arguments about causes

6. deductive arguments

7. composing an argumentative essay: exploring the issue

8. composing an argumentative essay: main points of essay

9. composing an argumentative essay: writing

10. fallacies

xx. appendix: definition.

Don't argue, just buy it. Then you can argue., June 30, 2003
A college applicant allegedly wrote the following one-word essay to describe himself: "Concise." While I was tempted to coopt that entire essay as a review for this book, ultimately I decided to be more verbose: first, some general remarks about the relevance of this book, then a summary of its content.

I often lament that the mythical "average person" does not appreciate what counts as evidence, nor distinguish between prejudice and rational conclusion. This is particularly evident in the realm of politics, where inflammatory rhetoric is the rule and rational argument the exception. If this tiny book (or its equivalent) were required reading for every high school senior, or college freshman, I wager there would be a wholesale shift in the texture and value of day-to-day discourse. No longer would we hear "Don't vote for that crook!", but the more sober, albeit prolix, application of modus tollens, "Public office requires honesty. Jones is dishonest. Therefore, Jones should not be elected to public office."

Of course, "Don't vote for that crook!" will never be abandoned for the simple reason that it is good tight prose. Yet, wouldn't it be grand if it were crystal clear to everyone that it is simply shorthand for the more prolix version? I claim that it would, for then we would be apt to challenge such a remark with "What evidence do you have that Jones is dishonest?", rather than "Would you rather I vote for that child molester, Smith?" The latter invites further character assassination of Jones, if not impeachment of his entire lineage. Perhaps I'm just a stuffy academic, but I can't help thinking that the introduction of a bit of cool logic into every-day discourse would lower our collective blood pressure and maybe, just maybe, allow us to occasionally see beyond our prejudices.

This wonderful little book lists 44 specific suggestions, or "rules", for injecting much-needed logic into argumentative discourse. In the author's words, each rule is "illustrated and explained soundly but above all briefly"; Hence, to Weston the book is a "rulebook" not a textbook. Weston continues "In this book, 'to give an argument' means to offer a set of reasons or evidence in support of a conclusion." This is in contrast to the variety accompanied by loud invective and broken china.

Throughout the book, Weston offers advice that we would all do well to remember. For example, he reminds us that one can neither craft nor analyze an argument by merely consulting our prejudices, and that "it is your reasons, not your language, that must persuade." With regard to language, Weston asserts that prejudicial or loaded language "preaches only to the converted, but careful presentation of the facts can itself convert." Moreover, "It is not a mistake to have strong views. The mistake is to have nothing else." Well put.

Weston also injects some broadly applicable principles of critical thinking (although he does not label them as such). For instance, in contemplating possible solutions, explanations, or causes, he urges us to continually look for more options, rather than immediately narrowing them. In so doing, we can state our case more fairly, and possibly head off objections more effectively. But perhaps the most important admonition is this: "If you can't imagine how anyone could hold the view you are attacking, you just don't understand it yet." Imagine a world in which all disputants took this to heart!

Beginning with short arguments consisting of a sentence or two, Weston builds to a chapter on crafting effective long arguments. As usual, Weston anticipates common blunders and warns us, for example, to first "find out what each side considers the strongest arguments for its position." He then prepares us for the inevitable process of rewriting and reorganizing our arguments as we accumulate evidence and analyze positions on all sides. He coolly advises us to adopt a different strategy, or even a different conclusion, should we discover that our initial inclinations are not adequately supported by the available evidence. While this may seem obvious, it would be wonderful if everyone actually did this.

Weston provides some concrete advice on writing, such as developing one idea per paragraph, getting to the point quickly, and stating the conclusion clearly and directly. According to Weston, you ought not "fence more land than you can plow. One argument well-developed is better than three only sketched." To do otherwise would be like "preferring ten very leaky buckets to one well-sealed one." Finally, Weston urges us to preemptively raise possible counter-arguments and to develop them in sufficient detail that our readers will fully appreciate the position we are disarming.

The book includes a short but helpful chapter on fallacies, focusing primarily on the two "great fallacies" of generalizing from incomplete information and overlooking alternative explanations. One angle that I found illuminating is that several classic fallacies are in fact species of "overlooking alternatives", such as "affirming the consequent", "denying the antecedent", and "false dilemma". Several fallacies were discussed in this chapter that I have not encountered elsewhere, at least not by these names: specifically, the fallacies of "persuasive definition", "poisoning the well", "provincialism", and "weasel words". All are tersely but amply illustrated. Weston concludes with a brief chapter on definitions, of which there are several varieties: stipulative, operational, essential, and genus-and-differentia. I found these distinctions to be equally illuminating. As Richard Feynman said, "To name a thing is not the same as to know a thing", yet it is often a step in the right direction.

In summary, I found this book to be an excellent guide to crafting effective arguments. Although I have studied formal logic fairly extensively, and even informal logic to a lesser degree, this book left me with many new ideas, and made familiar old ideas suddenly more cogent and relevant. And, it's concise.

Playing by the rules..., February 20, 2004
When I was studying as an undergraduate, I toyed with the idea of becoming a philosophy major. I ultimately did not pursue that particular field (opting for the areas of politics and religious studies, then venturing on to history, mathematics, astronomy, and ultimately theology) but I did take among my earliest courses a sequence of lectures in logic, including symbolic logic. I cannot express the value of this training adequately for all of my subsequent courses of study, but I also find it difficult to recommend the 700-page textbook to my students today who have problems crafting arguments and seeing the problems inherent in certain types of argumentation when they have little grounding and even less time for formal logic.

This is where this book by Weston comes in most handy. Weston's 'A Rulebook for Arguments' is a concise, accessible and very practical book for anyone looking to write or craft persuasive, coherent and consistent lines of reasoning. The first chapter gives seven basic principles that anyone who wishes to convince or persuade should know, whether they be arguing before a judge, a debating panel, a teacher, or even in a friendly pub conversation -- principles such as using natural order of argumentation, avoiding loaded language, being consistent in terminology, and starting from realistic and reliable premises.

From these basic and reasonable pieces, Weston develops more formal systems for argumentation -- Arguments by Example, by Analogy, from Authority, about Causes, and Deductive Arguments. Each of these systems are useful in and of themselves, as well as in relation to each other, but all have specific rules for application. What constitutes an Argument from Authority, for example? Who or what is authoritative? What are the limitations on this type of argument? One thinks immediately of the family-based Argument from Authority, 'because I'm the mommy, that's why.' Perhaps it is just as well the average grade schooler won't be purchasing this book!

In all, there are 30 primary rules for argumentation. These are adapted into 14 primary steps for developing an argument in writing.

There are three chapters specifically devoted to composing an argumentative essay, focusing upon research into the issues being argued, developing the key points of the argument, and finally writing the narrative of the text of the argument. These are basic steps to be followed whether one is putting together a two-page persuasive essay for an introductory politics class or a 200-page dissertation for a doctorate in philosophy. Key points such as definition, outlines according to natural flow, and consistency reflect the seven principles from the simplest arguments shown above.

the final chapter looks at fallacies -- how do we know if an argument fails itself? The two most common fallacies -- generalising from incomplete information and overlooking alternatives are the most important problems with argumentation. The argument 'the streets are wet, so it must be raining,' fails because of both fallacies; the streets could be wet because of water pipes having burst, or because people are washing their cars and there is run-off -- the information is incomplete, and the alternatives are not explored. There are twenty-two fallacies named in all, lots of ways for arguments to go astray.

There are longer books on critical thinking; there are other texts on rhetoric and writing. Many of these are useful and worthwhile, however, for clarity and concise information, Weston's book is superb and a very present help for those in a time-crunch.

Sharpen your edge, May 26, 2001
This introductory volume, slim and commendably affordable, takes a concise 'cookbook' approach. As the general reasoning skills discussed are useful in any academic discipline this book is for any student, or anyone wanting to write an report, essay, dissertation, or sharpen up examination answers, and is certainly of use to public speakers wishing to prove their point in a more effective and efficient way. It is probably also of interest to anyone in the 'knowledge worker' category, such as business analysis or systems analysis. As the title suggests it is rulebook as opposed to a textbook, taking a rule-of-thumb approach. It is a valuable adjunct to more discursive works, such the much older and more famous 'Straight and Crooked Thinking' by Thouless.

The chapters are: composing a short argument, arguments by example, arguments by analogy, arguments from authority, arguments about causes, deductive arguments (modus ponens, modus tollens, etc). And composing an argumentative essay (exploring the issue, main points of essay, writing), fallacies, and an appendix on definition.

Although there are no wasted words in this book, a work of this size has obvious limits; for instance there are no specific sections on reasoning with probability, inductive reasoning, or data analysis. Apart from the lack of statistical analysis, these deficiencies can probably be remedied by consulting 'Thinking from A to Z' by Warburton.

There are some small gems; the section on composing a short argument 'Use definite, specific, concrete language' could easily be subtitled 'How to puncture windbags'. His selected target is a wonderful eighty-word specimen of sociobabble (Talcott Parsons being his chosen victim), which he reduces to its thirteen-word equivalent - an 84% redundancy! Recommended.

Concise and useful, but there is room for improvement., February 25, 2004
I have a habit of picking up thin books because I believe great authors should have the ability to summarize their ideas without sacrificing the clarity. Most importantly, it won't waste the reader's time.

The book is thin and inexpensive. Upon studying other customer reviews(mostly positive), I decided to give it a go. It has not disappointed me. Here're my thoughts:

Strengths:
In the first half of the book, the author has provided a useful checklist (rules) to assist the readers in developing good arguments. In the latter half, this is followed by some useful tips to help plan and write an argumentative essay. Overall, I have no problems understanding the ideas presented in the book, though some of the rules might sound a little trivial depending on the reader's background.

I also like the idea that the author is willing to suggest the readers to acquire further reading by listing some of his recommendations at the last 2 pages of the book. This certainly is a helpful source if the reader is eager to learn.

Weaknesses:
The author quite frequently jumps from one rule to another in his discussion. For example, when talking about Rule 19 (propose the most likely cause), he mentions Rule 10 (background information is crucial). Since there are a total of 30 rules (and some more tips in the latter numbered from A1, A2... to D3), it is inconvenient to recall what Rule 10 was when reading Rule 19. It would have been better if a proper indexing system exists.

For a similar reason, it would have been much more helpful if the author can very briefly summarize all his rules in 2-3 pages and put this part at the end. This would have been an especially helpful overview for a reader who just finishes an essay and would like to glance quickly at the list to see whether he/she has missed anything.

In sum, for its price and compact size, I consider it a useful addition to my library.

Highly recommended for younger readers, July 25, 2006
I was lead to believe that this book was more detailed but that's a misunderstanding on my part. At the very end of the book the author writes "the subject of this book is usually labeled 'critical thinking'.....If you are a high school or college student and want to learn more about the subject, look for courses with these titles being offered in your school." This is a good point showing the type of reader which would benefit the most from this book. If you are a high school student or a college freshman, this book may be of interest to you. If you have taken some courses like mentioned above, or some philosophy courses or you are a maturer book reader, you will probably get little from this book. For instance, some of the sections (rules) are titled "seek impartial sources", "personal attack do not disqualify a source", "explore the arguments on all sides of the issue", etc. However, the author seems to have written the book for younger readers so the fact that it is too simplistic is not a negativity for the book, but just a point to take into consideration for the reader before deciding to buy it.

The book is short (87 pages) but concise. In a rule based format it shows how to approach an argument, how to reach a conclusion based on evidence instead of preconceived notions or prejudices, and how to explain your conclusion clearly. In the introduction, the author writes "Arguments are attempts to support certain views with reasons.....Argument in this sense is a means of inquiry". The first 30 rules of the book is about this inquiry. These rules are numbered 1 thru 30. Also in the introduction the author writes "Once we have arrived at a conclusion that is well supported by reasons, argument is how we explain and defend it. A good argument doesn't merely repeat conclusions. Instead it offers reasons and evidence so that other people can make up their minds for themselves". The second half of the book is about this definition of arguments. In 17 rules (numbered A1 thru D3) it shows how to plan and write an essay to explain your view on a subject. Another section called "fallacies", defines fallacies as misleading arguments and gives examples of some classical fallacies and shows why they are illogical or why they violate the rules of good arguments.

Potential buyers can click the "check inside" link at the top of this page and see the complete list of rules to get a better idea about the book. (When I wrote this review, "check inside" was available)

Overall, it is a concise, well-explained and beneficial book for the target readers.

The Elements of Argumentation, January 17, 2002
Years ago a college writing professor recommended Will Strunk's "The Elements of Style." That slim volume distilled thorny thicket of grammar into a compact, easily understood guide to writing. I still have my thirty year old copy. As I read "A Rulebook for Arguments," I could not help but compare it to "The Elements of Style." Same format, same brevity, same quality. What "Elements" did for grammar, "Rulebook" does for rhetoric. I plan to follow the recommendation of "Rulebook's" final sentence: "Keep them ['Elements' & 'Rulebook'] together on a shelf somewhere, and don't let them gather dust!" They won't be far from the "Harbrace College Handbook" and "Thinking from A to Z."

Very good for what it is., November 6, 2005
This book is a good overview for constructing written arguments. Weston takes a step-by-step approach to formulating, organizing, then constructing an argument. It would be a very helpful book to students or anyone writing persuasive essays. It's fairly basic, but it never hurts to refresh, and Weston's examples are clear and entertaining. I would have liked a little more on deconstructing an argument and a broader range of persuasive approaches. But to be fair, that's a slightly different topic, and there is a good chapter on various false arguments (ad hominem, straw man, red herring, etc.). A good, quick, easy guidebook.

A Basic Introduction to Clear Thinking and Writing, December 2, 2006
When I was an undergraduate taking English 1A one of the books on our reading list was Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. I read it and it turned out to be the most helpful book I read that quarter, at least in terms of improving my writing. If I had known about a book like Weston's A Rulebook for Arguments then I would have read it together with Strunk and White, and I suspect that I would have written noticeably better essays than I in fact wrote at the time. In the final chapter which discusses Next Steps and further reading, Weston notes that The Elements of Style is a book of much in the spirit of his own, and that they should be kept together on the shelf. I agree completely.

The book is brief and to the point, and as noted in another review, is a model of conciseness. It nevertheless includes a surprising amount of information and examples of the points that Weston wants you to remember. Weston starts simply, discussing short arguments and presenting general and reasonable rules to follow, and he then advances to cover somewhat more complex ideas. There is a brief interlude that introduces some simple concepts of logic, and he then proceeds to talking about how to put the rules together to write a convincing essay. The rules are straightforward and the examples are clear and straightforward and they illustrate the concepts well. At the end of the book there is a brief section that defines different fallacies in arguments, and a final section on how to define terms so that you will better understand what you're writing about and how your readers will then better understand what you're writing about.

I would have appreciated this book years ago, but even so I think that reading it has improved some of the writing that I do professionally now. Even though it is directed primarily towards advanced placement high school students and college students early in their college careers, I suspect anyone who has not already had formal exposure to logic or a class in critical thinking will find it helpful. I have two children who have started college in the last couple of years, and it seems that books like this are not being consistently recommended to them. I expect that I will be sending my copy of A Rulebook for Arguments to my youngest son who is now a freshman in college, as I hope he will benefit from it as much as I did.

When a Full Course of Logic Isn't Possible, June 28, 2005
The analogy of this wonderful little book to Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" is apropro. This does for reasoning what the latter did for English. It's not a complete course in logic, nor a full exposition of all the inductive fallacies, but it is sufficient for most people to get through college and life. Easy to read, no excess verbage, and straight to the point. An excellent first source and reference work. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is a 5 volume set of the newest editions of the now famous ExamKrackers MCAT Manuals. You'll find everything that you need to know to score your best on the MCAT. For the first time, these books are sold as a five volume set with a top quality, full length practice MCAT included as a bonus. 980 pages of color and black and white illustrations on text book quality paper. 31 thirty minute topical exams in MCAT format. Over 1400 MCAT questions in all. This 5 volume set is certain to become the top selling MCAT study set this year. ... Read more

Reviews

Ignore people who say they used their textbooks to study..., October 31, 2004
MY STORY:
Lets start with my score on the first MCAT I took... 13. (8V, 3PS, 2BS) My score on the MCAT of Aug/03 was 35. (12V, 12PS, 11BS) I am not that smart but at the moment I am at Georgetown School of Medicine with a scholarship and I owe it completely to Examkrackers. I never took a prep course and I also only took 32 hours of science courses ever. I was a finance major.

HOW I PREPARED:
I studied at a bookstore for the MCAT and in addition to having my textbooks, every widely available MCAT resource, and every esoteric text I could buy on Amazon, I bought all the examkrackers stuff. I also bought the past exams available from AAMC. After the first month, I realized using anything but Examkrackers stuff and the AAMC stuff was detrimental to my progress. I spent around 450 HOURS STUDYING and taking practice exams. My practice exams came from Gold Standard, Kaplan, Examkrackers, and the actual past exams from AAMC. You should take a practice exam every week but only trust your scores from the examkrackers and the aamc's. The rest are just practice.

MY ADVICE:
TEXTBOOKS?!? If someone tells me they used their textbooks to study, I wonder if they have even been to the AAMC website. Look at the content description for the MCAT!

Examkrackers is the only company that covers the stuff on the MCAT with great detail and ignores everything else. They also keep it interesting with illustrations, jokes, etc. Want proof? Why hasn't Kaplan changed their books or the content of their prep course (that course is a joke) after the AAMC changed the content of the MCAT? Examkrackers is interesting and it provides you with a plethora of questions to practice.

If I had it to do over again, I would buy the past exams from AAMC (a must, you are cheating yourself if you don't) and everything possible from Examkrackers (the CD's are a must too). After doing that I would look myself in a room with them for around 400-500 hours and then sit the exam. This is a guranteed recipe for success.

MY WARNING:
You may be successful doing other things or spending less time studying but let me warn you that nothing is more time consuming or expensive then spending an extra year in college or doing some lame research because you couldn't get into med school on the first try. Dish out the money on these prep materials, put in the time and you will be in med school in august.

I compiled the data from all the 5 star reviews, an honest look., June 4, 2009
EDIT: I want to preface this review saying that Examkrackers is a good resource and may be great for some and not for others. I don't want to give the idea that it is a bad resource.
________________________________________________________________________
Advantages:
- the materials look great (color)
- it seems to cover all the material necessary
- great marketing

Disadvantages:
- The concepts are very weak, especially in biology. You need to understand WHAT is going on conceptually. You can't just be thrown facts and material without knowing WHAT is going on. I quote another reviewer, "I have to say, the science is very conceptually weak... they teach you shortcuts, but if you don't grasp the concepts, the mcats is about tricking you on the weaknesses and you'll go for all the tricks."
- Not all of the books are excellent, the physics book is particularly weak.
- SIDE NOTE: Exam Krackers 101 Verbal passages is actually very strong and a quality resource.

I went through nearly all the reviews for this site for 30-40 minutes after I found the series to be less than 5 STAR quality (closer to 3) as so many reviewers were saying. I also noticed that a lot of the 5 star ratings were quick little "this is great, blah blah" short reviews. Please read some of the 3 star honest well written reviews. I did this. I also noticed over half of the 5 star reviews were following a certain pattern. The other thing that raised a flag was that this series had 96 reviews! 96! I tried to find ONE other MCAT comprehensive review that was close. Not one. The Kaplan 2007-2008 had 15 reviews, that was the closest.

So I asked a simple question, "how can I be sure these reviews are real or not?". One possible answer was, reviewers like to review. So if these were REAL reviews then I would assume there may be at least ONE other review by that reviewer. JUST ONE. So I decided to waste an enormous amount of time (I have a nice quad-core HP computer less than a month old, so it helped me go faster) and open every reviewer to see if they had reviewed any other books, I felt compelled to do this if there was any foul play going on. Here is what I found:

Here are the results as of June 4th, 2009:
There were 58 reviews that gave 5 stars:

---37 of these reviews only reviewed this book (2 anonymous "by Customer"). That is over 63%

---Another 2 were fishy in that they only reviewed this book and another Examkrackers book OR this book and gave a Kaplan book a low score saying in the first sentence, "I would use the Examkrackers books". In the first sentence made it tough to swallow. Also they were referring to some site called secret-route-dot-com which I looked up on amazon and google and found to be a scam type book with glowing reviews and then people calling it a scam.
All in all I estimate that 67% of the reviews were SINGLE reviews for this book (with only 2 that were this book and another EK book). 2 of every 3!

---33% of the reviewers that gave this book 5 Stars had reviewed some other book by some other publisher. Which looked real.
Crosscheck me on this, it is verifiable and true. Also because the reviews were fake it is likely that Examkrackers will not be able to remedy this situation because when you create a fake email to write a fake review you can't log in again because you will forget the log in/email.

To be fair I went to check out the Kaplan Premier Program with the highest number of reviews. The 2007-2008 had 15 reviews, I was only interested in the 5 star reviews as on this book (as if someone is to falsify reviews that would likely be 5 or 1 star reviews). There were FIVE 5 star reviews, and of the 5 all 5 had reviewed at least one other book or product from amazon.com.

--100% of the people who highly reviewed the Kaplan product were REPEAT reviewers and had reviewed some other book.

I am not advocating Kaplan's book as I haven't used it yet. I am very worried about the fidelity of some of these 5 star reviews. I would estimate that most of them are fake.


_________________________________________________________________________
---------I have spaced this out as a poster didn't think I was being fair to examkrackers (objectively I do give them a 3)--------

Overall I would give the EK books a 3, but I had to give them a 2 because of the high probability of dishonesty.
_________________________________________________________________________




I almost gave them a 1 because I am strongly against cheating and my gut tells me that employees created a lot of those reviews.

No one can be 100% sure, but after reading over the ones that seem fake, I see an eerie resemblance and repetition.
_________________________________________________________________
EDIT:
So all in all, I would say this. If you are really conceptually strong and did amazing in the classes then ExamKrackers is ok because the quick summary fashion in which they present information will be great. If you haven't taken a class in a few years and are a non traditional student, these may not be for you. The other option is using the Examkrackers as a good base and when you don't understand the quick overviews to use a textbook or some other more comprehensive source that explains concepts better.

I think this is why you can see some people really enjoying this and some people who don't think it is that great. A person who HAS a concept down can read this and say, "oh yeah I remember this, I need to know this? ok" while someone else can read it who has the concept down and say, "wow, if I hadn't learned this really well I would have no clue what this is saying. This is horrible."

You see, 2 people with the same strength reacting to the same resource differently. And of course those who don't have a concept down will have a vague understanding based mostly on memory but their ability to think critically in new directions (which is what the MCAT truly tests, not memory) will be tough. They may be able to get a 10 but I think a lot of us studying are setting goals higher than a 10 in each section.

EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M SAYING: The section on the electron transport chain is 1 long paragraph. When I read it I had NO idea what it was talking about other than all the definitions of all the major constituents involved. If asked a difficult question on proton gradients or what would happen if you inhibited ATP synthase I would have been clueless and unable to get it right. If asked a simple Q I may have been ok.

So, what I did was also buy the TPR hyperlearning books and I read the EK (with a lot of questions and confusion, filling in gaps with wikipedia sometimes) then I read the TPR section on the same topic (2-3 pages instead of 1 paragraph), now I am conceptually stronger, then I will create a small review back with the EK material.

So I am using the EK as my backbone, because it helps me make the review BUT with only the EK I wouldn't be able to excel (as I took bio years ago). Had I just finished bio and had an excellent prof that covered everything, then I may have been conceptually strong with something like the electron transport chain and the EK short paragraph (as opposed to 2-3 pages in the princeton book) would have been sufficient.

Not ALL the EK sections are this much shorter than the TPR sections BUT you will find more effort to make sure you know everything that is going on and why in a TPR book while EK's goal is cleary: HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW in the shortest way we can do it. (useful if you already conceptually strong).

GOOD Luck peoples!

Great Review Platform, December 4, 2002
I bought this 5 volume set and the Audio Osmosis CDs and spent 3 weeks pouring over them in preparation for the August 2002 MCAT. Additionally, I purchased the 1001 question series for the subjects in which I was feeling weak. I was barely able to get to any of the 1001 question books in that time.

10 years after originally taking the courses covered on the exam, I managed to score in the 80-90 percentiles. Considering how many new graduates I was testing against, I am happy with that result. I thank the Examkrackers series for my good score.

The books and CD lectures cover all of the subjects on the MCAT and allow you to realize your weak spots.

I made a set of flash cards from the CD lectures and books on points of information that I was rusty on. I then memorized those flash cards. I understand Jon and Jordan are coming out with a set of flash cards so that may save you a step.

As a bonus to buying their books, you can access their website at examkrackers com and chat with Jon and Jordan themselves. They will personally answer any questions you have. Also, they have a medical career counselor who will answer your career based questions. From their website, I see that they offer in-class preparation courses on the East Coast. That may be a good option for people living in that area.

Hands down this is the best series for MCAT preparation.

All the information you need and nothing more, October 14, 2005
This study package is marketed as the only one out there that gives you everything you need to know and nothing more. That's absolutely true. While studying for the MCAT, I used these books as my sole source of review material and found nothing lacking. I had friends who were taking Kaplan and Princeton Review prep courses, and I looked at the books they used: they all tell you to memorize way more info than you need. They're also a lot more boring than the Examkrackers books, because, face it: if you're going to spend three months poring over some review books, you might as well get ones with color pages, a really dorky cracker mascot, and at least some sense of personality behind the writing voice. The Examkrackers books won't ask you to waste valuable brain space on extraneous material, and the style of the books favors conceptual understanding over rote memorization (though of course the latter is used when appropriate, as with biological sciences).

I would suggest that in addition to buying this package, you also get the Examkrackers "101 Passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning". It's probably the only good book out there for practicing MCAT verbal questions and it's an absolute must. I was scoring 9's on the Verbal before I worked through it, and 12's by the end.

I would say that if you can learn and memorize all the things that these Examkrackers review books tell you to, you are completely set in terms of knowledge. Everything else is just practice, and for that I suggest doing all the tests you can get your hands on. The AAMC publishes old MCATs which are DEFINITELY worth buying, despite the expense. For more practice I would also suggest Princeton Review's "Practice MCATs" and Kaplan's "MCAT Practice Tests" (each contains two complete tests) as well as Kaplan's "MCAT 45". Examkrackers also puts out a book titled "16 Mini-MCATs" which I found to be useful for additional practice. The only caveat I can add is that Princeton Review's practice tests are written to be harder than the actual MCAT -- they will ask you questions about stuff that is contained in their books but is NOT on the MCAT. Therefore, I wouldn't panic if you find that you don't do well on them. The Examkrackers and Kaplan tests ARE commensurate in difficulty to the MCAT so they are more useful for gauging your performance.

I did not use any of the Examkrackers 1001 Questions series, because I understand that all of the questions in those books are stand-alone, which is unrepresentative of the real MCAT, on which almost all the questions are passage based. However, if you're having trouble learning the science, they might be a good option because stand-alone questions really test your knowledge base. Just keep in mind that success on the MCAT is based just as much on how well you can glean information from passages as it is on pure knowledge. And learning how to glean is something that only practice with actual MCATs (either real AAMC ones or test company-made ones) can give you.

So basically, my point is that if you use this study package and practice the hell out of all the practice tests you can find, you should be fine. I never took a MCAT prep course (couldn't afford one) so all I did was shell out about $300 for books and tests, and I ended up with a nice 42R. (15P, 13V, 14B) It can be done. Examkrackers can help you do it. Go buy this study package now. ^_^

Just got my scores!, June 7, 2002
As a non-science major, I used these books and the AAMC practice exams and scored a 13V 10P 10B S on the April 2002 MCAT. These are wonderful books, especially if you're self-studying (if you haven't considered this option, DO IT! It is possible to study on your own, do well, and save HUNDREDS of dollars in the process!!) The books are easy to understand and emphasize important information you need to know for the MCAT rather than getting bogged down in tons of facts that won't be on the exam anyway. Best of all, there are mini-exams and quiz-type questions throughout the book, so you can constantly assess how you're doing and know which areas you need more work on. The message boards on the examkrackers website are also a GREAT help for any self-studier because you can post questions and the writers of the materials respond in less than 24 hours. I strongly support these books! USE THEM AND MAKE STUDYING FOR THE MCAT AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE! :)

The best books I've found so far, May 15, 2002
I have several MCAT review books, but I use this set most. Of course they are easier to carry than hulking telephone book sized ones. But they are more direct is what you need to know and providing tips. The diagrams, pace and definitions are great.

Basically, after a 15 year break from undergraduate school, I found these much more approachable and readable than ones from Kaplan and Princeton Review.

this is what you need to score high, May 19, 2002
I was a little worried that these books were not going to be as good as everyone said they were. I read reviews everywhere on the internet about how great they were, still I was worried. Well all I can say NOW is that I am glad I took the chance. I have learned more from these books than I have with my kaplan book and Prince. Rev. course I have taken, simple, simple simple! Anyway, I'm now looking to buy those CD's (Audio Osmosis) by examcrackers which I hear are excellent as well. Go for it people, don't look any further, I sure as hell did and spent tons of $ and time doing it! Why can't other books get to the point, I wonder if their objective is to fill our heads with junk we really don't need?

Everything you need is here, July 14, 2004
I cannot recommend this set highly enough. I used these books and virtually nothing else to study for the MCAT. In fact, I recommend that you NOT use anything other than the ExamKrackers books (backed up by your textbooks as necessary when you need a particular topic clarified). They present absolutely everything you need to know -- and, more importantly, they tell you what you DON'T need to know. The MCAT covers an overwhelming amount of material as is, and these books tell you what not to waste your time studying. Every time I picked up a different company's study guide, I was sorry almost immediately due to their wealth of irrelevant content and confusing organization.

The ExamKrackers books present their information with full-color drawings on glossy pages, written in colloquial language that holds your attention. Formulas that must be memorized are written in bold red centered font and compiled at the end of each chapter. If a topic is particularly important, it tells you so; if a topic is background and won't be tested directly, it tells you so. Helpful mnemonics and diagrams abound. The book on general math skills and verbal reasoning provides real, very helpful strategies. Even if you don't find their mascot, Salty the Kracker, amusing, his presence helps lighten the mood, which in turn helps you maintain your concentration.

The ExamKrackers books were absolutely indispensable for my MCAT preparation. When I bought the set one month before the MCAT, I felt completely overwhelmed by the task of studying for the MCAT. Using these books (and devoting my entire spring break to them), I was able to wrap my brain around all of the necessary subject matter. I'm not a science major and I started taking the premed classes less than a year before I took the MCAT. Do these books work? Judge for yourself: I scored 14P 13V 13B S.

I am so glad I found these books! Highly recommended!, January 30, 2006
These books helped me get into the top medical school of my choice,and I was accepted to every school to which I applied. At my undergrad institution it is not typical for students to do well on the MCAT (they usually score in the teens). When I took my first practice test I scored a mere 15 in my junior year. Then the summer before I took the August MCAT I discovered this series and what a difference it made. I can't imagine what I might have scored if I had more than 3 months to study.

Examkrackers only teaches the stuff you really need to know for the MCAT and puts it in clear examples so you can understand. It does not simply just reprint all of your science textbooks in one volume, like Kaplan and Princeton Review.

Also the 30-Minute quizzes at the back of each book are extremely good indicators of how you will actually score on the real test. I found that sticking to a study schedule and actually working through the examples was very effective.

Pay attention to Salty, he gives excellent memorization tips and they really stay with you.

If you want to do well on the MCAT, then purchase this series. It will be well worth it.

very condensed mistake free study guides, August 9, 2002
I studied for the MCAT using the examekracker books and the princeton review materials side by side. The princeton review material was far more extensive, but none of the extra material was on the MCAT.

The princeton review exam's were also much harder than the actual MCAT or the examkracker tests (which were of the same difficultly). I guess their theory is that if you can handle their material the MCAT will be a snap. This a disserice to their students as it both demoralizes them and doesnt realistically prepare them for the exam.

Another advantage the examkracker books had was that they were nearly mistake free while the PR had many glaring mistakes. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Uncle John's Exceptionally Large Book of Facts combines the most intriguing, enlightening material from nine previous Bathroom Reader favorites into one concise volume. Flush with delightfully useless — and sometimes even useful — information about sports, movies, music, politics, American and world history, and much more, the book is the most extensive reference guide in the series to date. Contained within this handy, portable tome are the fascinating narratives, terrific trivia, and easy-to-read lists that fans have come to delight in, as well as quotes, facts, findings, and historical tidbits. Weird and wonderful factoid footers on the bottom of each page are perfect for super-quick trips, while quizzes and puzzles enliven lengthier stays. Arranged for simple and speedy reference, the book is the perfect companion for trivia buffs and knowledge junkies who need a quick, fun read not just "at the office", but in airports, waiting rooms, while traveling, or any other moments that would otherwise be wasted. ... Read more

Reviews

LOVE IT!!, April 1, 2007
Ive read this book front to back; I love facts.
It's a tad nerdy, but if you like to know things that are obscure that make great for awkward silence or everyday conversation starters, this book is for you.

Great Book, April 6, 2007
This is a great bathroom book! I have learned so much from my trips to the bathroom now. Everyone that comes over and has to use my bathroom now has to know where to find this book because they have to have it. It's great for all that "everything you ever needed to know but never thought about" kind of stuff.

eat black beans and sit down for extended pleasurable reading., January 14, 2007
If you love books of fact. You really can't beat the Uncle John's series. Even acceptable reading outside the throne room, these page turners have a little bit of everything. Quotes, news, famous people, sports [sports articles tolerable enough for even the least interested]and potpouri. Yes, read these an get ready for Jeopardy! I usually wipe my family across the floor when we play because of these books...except my dad who reads them too.

Awesome as Usual, September 7, 2009
You have to love the bathroom reader! This book is another great addition to the line. Be sure to realize that this is not like the regular bathroom reader. It is a collection of the one-liners from the bottom of the page in the other bathroom readers. If you are like me you can't remember those anyway. I didn't realize that was what this book was, but I love it! It also has an extended reading section for those longer visits to the "john".

Can not put this book down, March 25, 2008
I loved this book so much, it was a nice different angle on the Uncle John series. Anyone who loves Uncle John will love this book.

Short but sweet facts worth knowing, January 5, 2007
If you prefer the shorter articles in the BR series, this book is for you. The perfect gift for someone with ADD as a reading assignment, or a fun addictive read!

A fine gathering of hilarious trivia, perfect for any general lending library or as a giftbook, October 16, 2009
The most intriguing, entertaining material from nine previous 'Bathroom Readers' is compiled in a gathering of fun facts and easy topics, perfect for bathroom and other trivia reading. Quick, fun facts are arranged in sections ranging from 'Fruits and Vegetables' to 'Skin and Bones' in a fine gathering of hilarious trivia, perfect for any general lending library or as a giftbook.

Awesome and addictive!, February 23, 2009
I love, love, love this book! I am always pulling it out and shocking people with the facts in it. The facts in it are great and truly interesting. I wish they would come out with a second version of it. I've pulled this book off the shelf more than just about any book I've owned!

Don't Just Read It In The Bathroom, October 24, 2008
This is my 1st Bathroom Reader and won't be my last. If you enjoy trivial facts about anything imaginable..... This one's for you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If it’s on the SAT, it’s in this book. Cracking the SAT, 2011 Edition, includes:

• Access to 5 full-length practice tests—4 in the book and 1 online
• Practice questions with detailed explanations
• Updated and exclusive “Hit Parade” of most frequently seen SAT vocabulary
• Expert advice on how to tackle and ace the essays
• Practical information the what, when, where, and how of the SAT
• Key information about SAT strategies and myths
• Thorough review of all topics covered, including essay-writing techniques and a focused grammar review
• Planning and organization tips to get you all the way to test day! ... Read more

Reviews

disappointed in online tools, September 6, 2010
This is a great study tool, but when my daughter went to take the online practice tests, we learned her code had "expired", 5 weeks after purchase. No where in the materials does it state that you need to register online immediately. Very disappointing.

Best tool for SAT preparation, October 7, 2010
This book is by far the best tool for SAT preparation. It teaches very useful tactics and presents a complete vocabulary list, which provides 99% of the hard words in SAT tests.

SAT Prep, October 3, 2010
I bought this book for my daughter who is preparing to take the SAT. It arrived on time and in great condition. The material is easy to navigate through. We would recommend this. ... Read more