Editorial Review

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. ... Read more

Reviews

The book is very good reading material.
As the title of the book implies, Covey describes the seven habits of highly effective people and techniques for adopting the seven habits. Covey makes clear that an individual must make a paradigm shift before incorporating these habits into his/her own personal life. A paradigm is essentially the way an individual perceives something. Covey emphasizes that if we want to make a change in our lives, we should probably first focus on our personal attitudes and behaviors. He applies different examples via family, business, and society in general.

This book's focal point is on an approach to obtain personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Covey points out that private victories precede public victories. He makes the example that making and keeping promises to ourselves comes before making and keeping promises to others.

Habits 1, 2, and 3 deal with self-mastery. They move an individual from dependency on others to independence. Habits 4, 5, and 6 deal with teamwork, cooperation, and communication. These habits deal with transforming a person from dependency to independence to interdependence. Interdependence simply means mutual dependence. Habit 7 embodies all of the other habits to help an individual work toward continuous improvement.

Habit 1 discusses the importance of being proactive. Covey states that we are responsible for our own lives; therefore, we possess the initiative to make things happen. He also points out that proactive people so not blame various circumstances for their behaviors but they realize behavior comes from one's conscious. Covey also explains that the other type of person is reactive. Reactive people are affected by their social as well as physical surroundings. This means that if the weather is bad, then it affects their behavior such as their attitude and performance.

He also explains that all problems that are experienced by individuals fall into one of three categories, which are direct control, indirect control, or no control. The problems that are classified under direct control are the problems that involve our own behavior. The problems classified as indirect control encompasses problems that we can do nothing about. The problems classified as no control are those that we can do nothing about.

Habit 2 focuses on beginning with the end in mind. Covey wants the reader to envision his/her funeral. This may sound disheartening but his goal is to help you think about the words that you wish to be said about you; it can help the individual visualize what you value the most. To begin with the end simply means to start with your destination in mind. That gives an individual a sense of where he/she presently is in their life. One has to know where they are going to make sure that they are headed in the right direction. Covey also mentions that the most effective way to begin with the end is by developing a personal mission statement. After doing that, you should identify your center of attention. Are you spouse centered, money centered, family centered, etc. The he tells you depending on you core of interest, your foundation for security, guidance, and power.

Habit 3 is the practical fulfillment of Habits 1 and 2. Covey accentuates that Habits 1 and 2 are prerequisite to Habit 3. He states that an individual cannot become principle centered developing their own proactive nature; or without being aware of your paradigms; or the capability of envisioning the contribution that is yours to make. One must have an independent will. This is the ability to make decisions and to act in accordance with them.

Habit 4 deals with the six paradigms of interaction, which are win/win, win/lose, lose/win, lose/lose, win, and win/win or no deal. Win/win is a situation in which everyone benefits something. It is not your way or my way; it is a better way. Win/lose declares that if I win then you lose. Simply put, I get my way; you don't get yours. Win/lose people usually use position, power, possessions, or personality to get their way. The win/lose type of person is the person that feels that if I lose; you win. People who feel this way are usually easy to please and find the strength of others intimidating. When two win/lose people get together both will lose resulting in a lose/lose situation. Both will try to get the upper end of the stick but in the end, neither gets anything. The person that simply thinks to win secures their own ends and leaves it up to others to secure theirs. The win/win or no deal person means that if there is not a suitable solution met that satisfies both parties then there is no agreement.

Habit 5 deals with seeking means of effective communication. This habit deals with seeking first to understand. However, we usually seek first to be understood. Most people to not listen with the intent to understand but with the intent to reply. The act of listening to understand is referred to as empathic listening. That means you try to get into the person's frame of mind and think as they are thinking.

Habit 6 discuses combining all of the other habits to prepare us for the habit of synergy. Synergy means that the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Possessing all of the habits will benefit an individual more than possessing one or two of them. Synergism in communication allows you to open your mind to new possibilities or new options.

Habit 7 involves surrounds the other habits because it is the habit that makes all of the others possible. It is amplifying the greatest asset you have which is yourself. It is renewing your physical, emotional, mental, and social nature. The physical scope involves caring for yourself effectively. Spiritual renewal will take more time. Our mental development comes through formal education. Quality literature in our field of study as well as other fields help to broaden our paradigms. Renewing the social dimension is not as time consuming as the others. We can start by our everyday interactions with people.

Moving along the upward spiral requires us to continuously learn, commit, and do on higher planes. This is essential to keep progressing. At the end of each habit, there are application suggestions or exercises that help you become a more effective person. This is definitely not a quick fix it book. The concepts should be studied in order to be fully achieved. I think if you learn to use these 7 habits, it will change your life.

This is a must-have book.

A OUTSTANDING BOOK!
Stephen Covey has written one of the best works ever in personal development and a refreshing change from so much verbage out there in other works. I have been an avid student of personal development since the 70's and learned a lot from this excellent work. I also highly recommend "SUPERSELF" by Charles Givens, another extraordinary work by an equally extraordinary man. I have read & reread Seven Habits and SuperSelf several times over the last few years and always get something new out of each every time. Excellent books to help you succeed in any area of endeavor.

This is a SUPER BOOK
Although I have read many personal development books, 7 Habits is by far the best. No hype, hoopla, pyscho-babble that is so prevalent today, however, I submit that 7 Habits will be around long after the hypsters are gone. I work in a 1,500 staff facility and 7 Habits is required reading for all management staff. I also recommend Superself, possibly one of the most underrated books out there and Financial Self Defense which in my opinion, is the financial book version of 7 Habits.

Strategies for Effectiveness
Knowledge is the quickest and safest path to success in any area of life. Stephen Covey has encapsulated the strategies used by all those who are highly effective. Success can be learned and this book is an excellent way to learn how to do that.I also highly recommend Turner, Turner, Turner: The King of Network Marketing to learn strategies from another highly spirited man who has learned how to achieve maximum effectiveness and keep balance in all aspects of life.

Restores character to our culture.
Stephen Covey has written an excellent book which should be read by everyone. This great work restores character, or at least underscores the need for character ethic in our society.

Must reading for all value driven people.

A MASTER PIECE IN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT!
Dr Covey has put together one of the best works ever. The key word in the title is "habits", no thinking about, setting goals to do something, swishing or anchoring yourself, but actually developing habits and actually doing it.

I've read this book several times and I get something new out of it every time. The only other self development book that helped me this much (I've read them all) is "THINK & GROW RICH" by Napolean Hill I also highly recommend "BUSINESS BUY THE BIBLE" and "DON'T SET GOALS" by Wade Cook. These books are very much in the tradition of "SEVEN HABITS".

To me, this book is not only "not over rated" as one reader indicated, I believe that it is grossly under rated and arguably is the best self development book on the book racks right now!

Sensible and pramatic
I found this great book by Dr. Covey to be both sensible and pragmatic. This is an outstanding book that really delivers. Follow the 7 habits and you will become a success.

Other books I recommend include The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and Super Self (if you can find a copy) by the late Charles Givens.

"Habits" is the Operative Word
If you've ever truly mastered anything, you know there's a "zone" where your efforts start to produce disproportionate results. This is absolutely true for at least six of the seven habits (I haven't seen any quantum leaps with Sharpen the Saw, but that's not surprising).

I, too, found the book obvious on first reading, so I ignored the contents for several months. Then, on a long road trip, I worked hard at perfecting "empathic listening" with my wife, almost as an escape from boredom. The results were unexpected, so I spent an entire vacation trying to strictly practice -- and perfect -- as many of the Seven Habits as applied. As we drove home, she mentioned how much our relationship had improved and how happy she felt. Years forward in our closeness in a single long weekend.

Out of habit, I started using these habits at work, especially workign with my boss; within days, she couldn't wait for me to call her every day -- and I have since had to quietly put a time limit on our conversations, and she is constantly asking me to "delegate upward."

Word spread, and pretty soon my boss' boss was calling to spend an hour at a time telling me all kinds of things that most VP's wouldn't share with a first-line manager. He also started giving me all sorts of opportunities, saying "I know you will be able to handle them."

The real surprise came when the CEO of our company asked me to deal with a particularly difficult customer because she'd heard that I had a "knack" for getting along. This was a shock, because until 7 Habits, I was pretty much an antisocial loner who just happened to be good at what I did. BTW, that customer ended up doubling their order, but more important, ended up increasing their own effectiveness as a result of my sharing just bits and pieces of the Habits.

Since then, I've worked hard at polishing my technique, and found that 1-6 all produce the same effect. After really working on them, I've found myself to be healthier, happier and ... oddly enough ... much richer, both in money and in relationships.

Obvious is one thing; obvious results are something else altogether. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A review guide for the GMAT, prepared by the creators of standardized exams, features previously administered exams for practice tests and more. ... Read more

Reviews

A Must Have
The secret for the GMAT is practice and stamina.

For my own preparation, I used The Princeton Review, Kaplan's Book and ETS' The Official Guide for GMAT Review.

I will go through the advantages and disadvantages of each, and explain why The Official Guide for GMAT Review was the best of the three and why you should give it more time than the others.

Princeton:
Plus
- Good review sections (both quantitative and verbal)
- Practice tests similar to the GMAT
- Online tests are easy to review
- Provides you with a test strategy on how to crack the questions
- Explicitly advises you to practice also with The Official Guide for GMAT Review
Disadvantages
- Does not explain why a choice is wrong
- Not enough practice questions

Kaplan:
Plus
- Good quantitative review sections (appendix was great)
- Interactive software for reviewing the Kaplan GMAT strategies
- Practice tests similar to the GMAT
- Practice tests and sections are difficult, this creates in you a sense of urgency
- Plenty of practice questions
Disadvantages
- The software interface is old and slow, you are left to work with a little box on the screen
- Practice tests and sections' answer choices are not very well explained
- The questions are far fetched and do not fall in the spirit of the GMAT, this might lead you the wrong path

The Official Guide for GMAT Review:
Plus
- More than plenty of practice questions
- You might get the same or similar questions on the GMAT (like I did)
- The practice questions are organized by level of difficulty, the last ones are the most difficult
- Free PowerPrep software that has two practice tests exactly similar to the GMAT in look and feel (free online tests at the mba dot com website http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/PowerprepSoftware.htm)
- The practice questions reveal actual GMAT test patterns
Disadvantages
- Absence of test taking techniques
- The skills review sections are poor
- Only the last 200 questions in every practice section will be like the ones you will see on the GMAT (unless you perform poorly)

This Official Guide from GMAC should be the cornerstone of your preparation, simply because the questions are from past tests and are very thoroughly researched. This will allow you to develop insight into the test mentality.

Equally important the correct and the wrong answer choices for each question are explained in detail. You will learn the various ways used to lead you in error and consequently, you will develop the feel to spot and eliminate wrong answers.

The rules of grammar on which the GMAT Sentence Correction questions are based are best outlined in this guide. I had a lot of difficulty with the Verbal section until I read through the explanations here.

Overall, this book shows you all the tricks of the GMAT. I did not have bad surprises when I took the actual test; it seemed that I had seen all the questions before.

12 Edition Review: Not a Guidebook but an excellent source of Real GMAT Questions
This book, coupled with the Official GMAT Verbal and Quant Review Guides (by the same company, GMAC) is enough to give you a thorough understanding, of the type of questions that can be expected in the GMAT and the reasoning needed to answer them correctly. I found the reasoning provided with each answer, especially useful. Another nice thing about these books is that the questions are arranged in increasing order of difficulty. So, if you find some questions very easy, just jump a few questions forward. The only setback with these books is that they do not give detailed explanations in the 'concepts review sections'.

You will need to turn to other books/websites to get tips and tricks for the exam. I recommend Princeton for this purpose: The Princeton guide gave me very clear and effective test taking strategies that helped me a lot. I highly recommend NOT USING Kaplan, especially to take practice tests. The scoring is very tough, and you are tested in areas that are absolutely unnecessary for the GMAT. Also, very low scores on these tests are discouraging. I highly recommend taking the two Powerprep practice tests available for download from the GMAC website. These tests consist of 'retired' GMAT questions, and are very much identical to the actual GMAT. Your scoring on these tests would be identical to your actual GMAT score.

My practice scores are as below (in chronological order):
Powerprep Test 1: 630 (35 days before my GMAT)
Princeton Test 1: 650
Kaplan Test 1: 600
Princeton Test 2: 670
Princeton Test 3: 700
Princeton Test 4: 720
Kaplan Test 2: 530 (One day before my GMAT - Very, very discouraging!!)
Powerprep Test 2: 750 (One day before my GMAT)
Powerprep Test 3 (Reinstalled): 760 (with some repetitions from Powerprep Test 2)
GMAT: 750 (Verbal 40, Quant 50)

My GMAT Prep consisted of lots and lots of practice, analysis of my practice test results, and noting down where I erred, and making sure that I did not repeat my mistakes.

770 - Essential Resource
After 3 months of study, I just took the GMAT last week. This is my first and only attempt at the GMAT-CAT. In fact this is the first standardized test I have taken in 12 years. Overall I am happy with my score (770 Q51 V44).

The only study materials I used were:

- Official 11th Edition
- Official Verbal Review Guide
- Official Quant Review Guide
- Official GMATPrep Software (sent to you once you schedule your test)
- Manhattan GMAT Guides (reviewed for techniques only)

The three official books are the absolute bible for sample problems. I am a firm believer in quality over quantity. I NEVER did any problem that was not provided by the real GMAT company...NONE. Using problems written by other vendors is not needed, and could be counter productive. I would rather fully understand 200 official problems, than slog through 1000 non-official problems.


STUDY TIPS:

- First master all the problems in the printed official guides (11th, Verbal Guide, Quant Guide). NOTE: Getting the correct answer is not the same as "mastering" a question.

- Any problem you miss or find changing, repeat many times (even after you may have memorized the answer). Keep repeating the problems, until the basic skill is fully understood.

- Keep accurate records every time you do a problem (correct / incorrect, easy / challenging / stuck).

- Focus on core concepts. In truth, the GMAT tests very few concepts, but will use these simple building blocks to construct an unlimited number of tricky problems. Know the core concepts, become aware of the tricks, and the rest is timing.

- Only once the printed materials are exhausted (took me about 2 months), then you should "graduate" to the GMATPrep software. This should be used mostly for developing timing skills. In the end, you need to gain the confidence to flex your time during the actual test. You should be able to answer simple questions quickly, so you can invest more time in higher value problems.


This book is not a problem solving technique book. You will not find tips and tricks. Basically this is book should be considered a "question bank". In the quantitative section it will provide the questions and an answer key...period. For the verbal section, it will provide very useful detailed explanations of the correct answers. If you are you looking for a book on techniques, I would recommend the well organized Manhattan book set.

Bottom-line: you need this book for any serious attempt at the GMAT.

GMAT Books Comparison
Here's how one old geezer (47 y/o) prepped for the GMAT. I started in late June 07 and first bought the Princeton Cracking the GMAT and Math Workout books. I worked through all the quantitative sections in those books and skimmed the verbal (I am far weaker in math than verbal). That took about a month. Then I bought the GMAT Official Guide and again worked through the quantitative areas and skimmed the verbal. That took another 4 weeks. In the meantime I had signed up for the test and received the GMAT prep software. I took the first practice test in mid-July and scored 560. That was fine with me because I only needed to score 500 or better to get into the grad program I wanted. When I completed the Official Guide (about three weeks later) I took the second practice test and scored 680. I reviewed certain math topics for another two weeks and took the test Sept 6. My official score was 670, not Harvard-worthy but plenty good for someone who took their last math class twenty years ago. So my advice in a nutshell is use the Princeton books, the Official Guide and take both tests on the GMATprep software. The practice tests are great for acclimating yourself to the actual test taking environment and learning how to pace yourself. And don't be afraid to guess on math questions- a wild guess is better than taking 5 minutes to work out one problem. Good Luck- believe me, if I can do it you can too.

Good first start and last review, too few questions & tests
I just took the GMAT and used this book and the Kaplan 2007 book (and CD) to study. I would definitely recommend starting and ending with this book (and use the Kaplan one in between for its larger qty of questions and tests). I started with the diagnostic test and then worked through the sample questions. I found the practice tests to be excellent at reproducing the actual GMAT, both in the type of questions and the scores (I got a 760 on the GMAT and a 770 and 720 on the practice tests). Unfortunately, there are only two tests, which is why I used the Kaplan book for more practice. Kaplan was good for practicing your speed, but it's not very good at teaching you the concepts you need to know. It completely missed some math topics, and tested you extensively on things you didn't need to know. Also, the verbal section of Kaplan is crap...the sentences are poorly worded (and sometimes just wrong) and it's frustrating if you're trying to figure out what good english should be like (since I wasn't educated in an ivy league, my spoken english can be rather...bush-like). It's also very frustrating/discouraging because my scores on the practice tests were between 550 and 650. My recommendation is to start with this book to get a feel for things, then use Kaplan for mass quantities of stuyding, and then finish up your studying with this book again so everything that you actually need to know is fresh on your mind for the test. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Business writing that packs a punch: Make the most of your message to get what you want!

• The truth about supercharging your business writing
• The truth about writing directly, clearly, and convincingly
• The truth about writing in today’s varied business formats

Simply the best thinking

THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

This book reveals 52 proven, bite-size, easy-to-use business writing techniques that work.

Reviews

This Book is Universally Useful Right from Chapter One

Lots of choices in this field of writing: choosing this one is flat out smart!

Valuable Guide

Great Reference Book for all Business Writing

Blink and you miss the chance to make your point

Beats Expectations

If everyone read this book, it would make the workplace so much better!

For business writing and effective communication, the book is fantastic.

Editorial Review

Amazon.com ReviewProduct Description
The only official quantitative review for the GMAT from the creators of the test.  Anyone preparing for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) knows it's important to study with the experts. With The Official Guide for the GMAT Quantitative Review, Second Edition, you'll get questions, answers, and explanations straight from the source. The only official quantitative review for the GMAT Exam, this book targets your study and helps you improve your quantitative skills by focusing on your ability to solve equations, interpret data, coordinate geometry, and determine probability with assurance and ease. Inside, you'll find

• 300 actual questions from past GMAT tests, including 75 questions new to this edition
• Sections on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Problem Solving, and Data Sufficiency
• Questions organized in order of difficulty to save study time

The Graduate Management Admission Council certifies all content so you can trust that you're getting expert guidance as you prepare for the GMAT Exam.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is the association of leading graduate business schools around the world. GMAC's mission is to meet the needs of business schools and students through a wide array of products, services, and programs. It is the owner and administrator of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), the first and only standardized test specifically designed for graduate business and management programs. Available in nearly 100 countries, it is the global standard for entry to the MBA degree course.

Top Myths About the GMAT®

Myth – If I don’t score in the 90th percentile, I won’t get into any school I choose.

Fact – Very few people get very high scores.

Fewer than 50 of the more than 200,000 people taking the GMAT test each year get a perfect score of 800. Thus, while you may be exceptionally capable, the odds are against your achieving a perfect score. Also, the GMAT test is just one piece of your application packet. Admissions officers use GMAT scores in conjunction with undergraduate records, application essays, interviews, letters of recommendation, and other information when deciding whom to accept into their programs.

Myth – Getting an easier question means I answered the last one wrong.

Fact – Getting an easier question does not necessarily mean you got the previous question wrong.

To ensure that everyone receives the same content, the test selects a specific number of questions of each type. The test may call for your next question to be a relatively hard problem-solving item involving arithmetic operations. But, if there are no more relatively difficult problem-solving items involving arithmetic, you might be given an easier item.

Most people are not skilled at estimating item difficulty, so don’t worry when taking the test or waste valuable time trying to determine the difficulty of the questions you are answering.

Myth – You need very advanced math skills to get a high GMAT score.

Fact – The math skills questions on the GMAT test are quite basic.

The GMAT test only requires basic quantitative analytic skills. You should review the math skills (algebra, geometry, basic arithmetic) presented in both The Official Guide for GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2nd Edition, and in The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 12th Edition, but the required skill level is low. The difficulty of GMAT Quantitative questions stems from the logic and analysis used to solve the problems and not the underlying math skills.

Myth – It is more important to respond correctly to the test questions than it is to finish the test.

Fact – There is a severe penalty for not completing the GMAT test.

If you are stumped by a question, give it your best guess and move on. If you guess incorrectly, the computer program will likely give you an easier question, which you are likely to answer correctly, and the computer will rapidly return to giving you questions matched to your ability. If you don’t finish the test, your score will be reduced greatly. Failing to answer five verbal questions, for example, could reduce your score from the 91st percentile to the 77th percentile. Pacing is important.

Myth –The first 10 questions are critical and you should invest the most time on those.

Fact – All questions count.

It is true that the computer-adaptive testing algorithm uses the first 10 questions to obtain an initial estimate of your ability; however, that is only an initial estimate. As you continue to answer questions, the algorithm self-corrects by computing an updated estimate on the basis of all the questions you have answered, and then administers items that are closely matched to this new estimate of your ability. Your final score is based on all your responses and considers the difficulty of all the questions you answered. Taking additional time on the first 10 questions will not game the system and can hurt your ability to finish the test.

Myth – I need to speak US English in order to do well on the GMAT.

Fact- Essay grading is not affected by dialect of English. Questions on the GMAT are evaluated to ensure they are fair for all examinees, whether in the US or around the world.

... Read more

Reviews

Review for GMAT OG Quant
I bought this book in addition to the Official Guide and the Verbal Guide. While it does have additional math problems, they are lacking in complexity and not representative of what you will see if you're scoring much above 600. I found the problems in the Official Guide much more representative of what I faced on the GMAT. So, if you're scoring at a high level, skip this book and concentrate on the last 50 problems of each math section in the Official Guide.

I found this to be VERY helpful
While I did not compare this with other guide books, like some reviewers have, I did use it to prepare for the GMAT. There are hundreds of sample problems and the solutions and HOW the solution was arrived at.

When I took the exam, there were no problems that were in a format I had not seen. Naturally, they were different, but the TYPES of problems had all been explained in the book.

If - for some insane reason - I were to have to take the GMAT again, I would buy this book again.

PS: I scored 90% on the quantitative (woohoo!)

Good Additional Book for Math Problems
I bought this book with the understanding that it was not a study guide. This book should be only used as an additional aid for the math section of the GMAT. This book has really great sample questions that are very similar to the questions that you will see when you take the GMAT. This booked coupled with a GMAT Review study guide, such as the books offered by the Princeton Review makes an awesome combo.

Required reading
If you are serious about taking the Gmat and getting a good score, you absolutely must buy this book along with the other two official supplements. Between the three books, you will have access to over 1,000 problems that have been retired from the Gmat and are 100% representative of what you are going to see come test day.

My scores:

Powerprep 1 (Official software) - 700 - no studying
Princeton 1 - 630
Kaplan 1 - 560
Kaplan 2 - 600
Kaplan 3 - 580
Powerprep 2 - 730
Actual Gmat - 750

I am 100% certain that using all three books is what raised my score those last 50 points. On test day I was the only one at the center and I got to know the receptionist pretty well. She told me that she sees hundreds of these scores a year and the ones who get 700+ all have one thing in common - they have all done every problem in all three books.

My advice: spend the money on all three. Work every problem, noting which ones are hard and which you get wrong. When you are done, go back and work the hard/incorrect problems again. Then, when you are done, start over from page one. You effort will be rewarded on test day. ... Read more

Editorial Review

As more and more students prepare to take the GMAT, Kaplan is there with a ground-breaking prep program unlike any other. With the latest uses in technology and advanced Internet tools to maximize scores, Kaplan GMAT 2011 Premier with CD-ROM is an invaluable guide that provides proven score-raising strategies and essential practice needed to succeed. Offering exclusive free access to an interactive online companion, this unique guide enables one to achieve a top score by utilizing:

• Live Online Seminar: A state-of-the-art online classroom in real time, complete with audio, video, instant chat, whiteboards, and screen sharing
• Fast Fact Videos in which Kaplan’s top instructors review the most important concepts from each chapter
• Diagnostic quiz to target areas for score improvement
• Practice quizzes
• Customizable study plan and progress report

This comprehensive preparation program also provides:

• Valuable insider advice from our top instructors 
• 5 full-length practice tests plus hundreds of additional practice questions
• Answers fully explained in detail

Reviews

I wouldn't have been able to do it without Kaplan's book
Kaplan GMAT Premier is an essential resource in GMAT study. I started out with GMAC's official guide, but it only seemed to be good for practice, not learning. GMAC's book only teaches the simple math that most of us already know, but Kaplan's book goes into methods of solving difficult questions. Before I went through the reading comp section in the book I generally missed about half of reading comp questions. Kaplan got me up to missing only about 20%.

The book helped in every area tested on the GMAT. It taught great tricks to solving math problems. I was always good at math, but GMAT math is a completely different world. I didn't use the software and online companion much, but they seemed to be good. My only warning is with there "scores". I took one of the CAT practice exams from Kaplan and scored quite low--a 570. The next day I took the real GMAT and scored a 720. Granted, my GMAC practice test scores were 700 and 640, so most would call me "lucky." But 570 is a pretty unrealistic estimate. So use it for practice and don't trust the score. Download GMATPrep if you want a real estimate of your score.

Yes, there are a couple of minor (unimportant) errors in the book, but so what. It just means that if you can find them you are even better prepared for the GMAT.

I'd say that with this book, GMAC's Official Guide, and about 50-100 hours of study, you should be good to go. No need to take an expensive course or hire a tutor unless you particularly struggle. I was going to take a $500 course offered by a local University, but I talked to someone at the MBA school where I'm applying and he recommended I study with a study buddy.

Great Source for GMAT Review
This study guide has been a great source for me as I prepared for the GMAT. I learned techniques from just reading the first few pages of the book. It also provides on-line test, videos with techniques on how to solve problems and recommendations on how to mentally prepare. The on-line portion is the best part for me because I obtain a test score and it shows the areas where improvement is needed.

Kaplan is truly the best study guide available for individuals to prepare for the GMAT. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The greatest managers in the world seem to have little in common. They differ in sex, age, and race. They employ vastly different styles and focus on different goals. Yet despite their differences, great managers share one common trait: They do not hesitate to break virtually every rule held sacred by conventional wisdom. They do not believe that, with enough training, a person can achieve anything he sets his mind to. They do not try to help people overcome their weaknesses. They consistently disregard the golden rule. And, yes, they even play favorites. This amazing book explains why.

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman of the Gallup Organization present the remarkable findings of their massive in-depth study of great managers across a wide variety of situations. Some were in leadership positions. Others were front-line supervisors. Some were in Fortune 500 companies; others were key players in small, entrepreneurial companies. Whatever their situations, the managers who ultimately became the focus of Gallup's research were invariably those who excelled at turning each employee's talent into performance.

In today's tight labor markets, companies compete to find and keep the best employees, using pay, benefits, promotions, and training. But these well-intentioned efforts often miss the mark. The front-line manager is the key to attracting and retaining talented employees. No matter how generous its pay or how renowned its training, the company that lacks great front-line managers will suffer. Buckingham and Coffman explain how the best managers select an employee for talent rather than for skills or experience; how they set expectations for him or her -- they define the right outcomes rather than the right steps; how they motivate people -- they build on each person's unique strengths rather than trying to fix his weaknesses; and, finally, how great managers develop people -- they find the right fit for each person, not the next rung on the ladder. And perhaps most important, this research -- which initially generated thousands of different survey questions on the subject of employee opinion -- finally produced the twelve simple questions that work to distinguish the strongest departments of a company from all the rest. This book is the first to present this essential measuring stick and to prove the link between employee opinions and productivity, profit, customer satisfaction, and the rate of turnover.

There are vital performance and career lessons here for managers at every level, and, best of all, the book shows you how to apply them to your own situation. ... Read more

Reviews

Well researched and well presented. All managers must read this book.
(email: shashi-kant@usa.net )

"First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently" is an excellent book, which will help not only the managers, but all other talented employees as well, who have the potential and will eventually become great managers. This book extols the wonders and potential of human resource development in organizations of all sizes.

The authors, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, based on Gallup's interviews over a period of 25 years with about 1 million staff and 80,000 managers from over 400 companies pinpoint "four keys" to evaluate the performance of an organization in general. This reflects the competence of the managers to get the best in terms of:

-Selecting the staff for talent (not just for experience, which can be acquired and updated with rapid change in technology), -defining the right results expected (and should be clearly understood by the individual), -focusing on strength of employees (leaving scope for their professional growth), and -finding the right fit for all of them.

How much successful the manager is with respect to these four keys, will be reflected in terms of performance in assignments or projects the company has undertaken.

I am a firm believer that employees will do what you pay them to do (in terms of responsibility and recognition, scope for professional growth, appreciation and salary).

The authors reach the conclusion that a company that lacks great frontline managers will bleed talent (or, will produce `talented deadwoods'), no matter how attractive the compensation packages are! Why should a highly motivated employee waste his or her time if a weak employee gets the recognition?

First-line supervisors and managers are the key to our success. They are the vital link between the top management and the staff. What separates the great manager from the mediocre manager is the ability to recognize and develop talented individuals right from the initial point of employment, and the key to finding the right supervisor and manager is in this book!

The book also describes: `The Art of Interviewing for Talent' - 'Which are the right questions to ask?' 'Past performance is indicative of future performance'. But it is a must that assessors are more talented than the candidates are. If you promote or favor an employee mainly for his talents, let everyone else know about his capabilities and achievements over the others. Because it is possible that a group of some mediocre or manipulative managers, for their personal gains, form a cabal and help promoting "pseudo talents" and/or mask actual talents. They may do it by passing incorrect or "selective" information about their subordinates to the top management (or "by dragging and dropping" credits from deserving candidates to the `favored ones'). The book, however, does not explicitly describe how the organization can be saved from such managers. "Favoritism" or "First, Break All the Rules", as advocated in this book, can be even detrimental, and may lead the organization to a vertical collapse. Here top management's role becomes crucial, as the staff may not come out openly due to some apprehension or someone's bad experience in the past. Also, while responding to any survey conducted, based on this book, it may not be suitable to reply those 12 questions just in `yes' or `no'.

Gallup's ideal symbolic manager `Michael' says that a true manager is always in the process of learning new techniques. When asked about his best team, he gives credit to the entire team. This is the crux of success! He says, "A manager has got to remember that he is on stage every day. His people are watching him. Everything he does, everything he says, and the way he says it, sends off clues to his employees. These clues affect performance - never pass the buck, make few promises and keep them all."

This book, written in plain English, tells us how to make our workplace great. I strongly recommend you to read and absorb it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Amazon.com Review

Product Description

The only official verbal review for the GMAT from the creators of the test.  Anyone preparing for the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT) knows it's important to study with the experts. With The Official GMAT Verbal Review, 2nd Edition, you'll get questions, answers, and explanations straight from the source. The only official verbal review for the GMAT Exam, this book targets your study and helps you improve your verbal skills by focusing on your ability to read and comprehend written material, to reason and evaluate arguments, and to correct written material to conform to standard English. Inside, you'll find

• 300 actual questions from past GMAT tests, including 75 questions new to this edition
• Sections on Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction, and Analytical Writing Assessment
• Questions organized in order of difficulty to save study time

The Graduate Management Admission Council certifies all content so you can trust that you're getting expert guidance as you prepare for the GMAT Exam.

The Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC) is the association of leading graduate business schools around the world. GMAC's mission is to meet the needs of business schools and students through a wide array of products, services, and programs. It is the owner and administrator of the Graduate Management Admissions Test® (GMAT), the first and only standardized test specifically designed for graduate business and management programs. Available in nearly 100 countries, it is the global standard for entry to the MBA degree course.

Top Myths About the GMAT®

Myth – If I don’t score in the 90th percentile, I won’t get into any school I choose.

Fact – Very few people get very high scores.

Fewer than 50 of the more than 200,000 people taking the GMAT test each year get a perfect score of 800. Thus, while you may be exceptionally capable, the odds are against your achieving a perfect score. Also, the GMAT test is just one piece of your application packet. Admissions officers use GMAT scores in conjunction with undergraduate records, application essays, interviews, letters of recommendation, and other information when deciding whom to accept into their programs.

Myth – Getting an easier question means I answered the last one wrong.

Fact – Getting an easier question does not necessarily mean you got the previous question wrong.

To ensure that everyone receives the same content, the test selects a specific number of questions of each type. The test may call for your next question to be a relatively hard problem-solving item involving arithmetic operations. But, if there are no more relatively difficult problem-solving items involving arithmetic, you might be given an easier item.

Most people are not skilled at estimating item difficulty, so don’t worry when taking the test or waste valuable time trying to determine the difficulty of the questions you are answering.

Myth – You need very advanced math skills to get a high GMAT score.

Fact – The math skills questions on the GMAT test are quite basic.

The GMAT test only requires basic quantitative analytic skills. You should review the math skills (algebra, geometry, basic arithmetic) presented in both The Official Guide for GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2nd Edition, and in The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 12th Edition, but the required skill level is low. The difficulty of GMAT Quantitative questions stems from the logic and analysis used to solve the problems and not the underlying math skills.

Myth – It is more important to respond correctly to the test questions than it is to finish the test.

Fact – There is a severe penalty for not completing the GMAT test.

If you are stumped by a question, give it your best guess and move on. If you guess incorrectly, the computer program will likely give you an easier question, which you are likely to answer correctly, and the computer will rapidly return to giving you questions matched to your ability. If you don’t finish the test, your score will be reduced greatly. Failing to answer five verbal questions, for example, could reduce your score from the 91st percentile to the 77th percentile. Pacing is important.

Myth –The first 10 questions are critical and you should invest the most time on those.

Fact – All questions count.

It is true that the computer-adaptive testing algorithm uses the first 10 questions to obtain an initial estimate of your ability; however, that is only an initial estimate. As you continue to answer questions, the algorithm self-corrects by computing an updated estimate on the basis of all the questions you have answered, and then administers items that are closely matched to this new estimate of your ability. Your final score is based on all your responses and considers the difficulty of all the questions you answered. Taking additional time on the first 10 questions will not game the system and can hurt your ability to finish the test.

Myth – I need to speak US English in order to do well on the GMAT.

Fact- Essay grading is not affected by dialect of English. Questions on the GMAT are evaluated to ensure they are fair for all examinees, whether in the US or around the world.

... Read more

Reviews

Required reading
If you are serious about taking the Gmat and getting a good score, you absolutely must buy this book along with the other two official supplements. Between the three books, you will have access to over 1,000 problems that have been retired from the Gmat and are 100% representative of what you are going to see come test day.

My scores:

Powerprep 1 (Official software) - 700 - no studying
Princeton 1 - 630
Kaplan 1 - 560
Kaplan 2 - 600
Kaplan 3 - 580
Powerprep 2 - 730
Actual Gmat - 750

I am 100% certain that using all three books is what raised my score those last 50 points. On test day I was the only one at the center and I got to know the receptionist pretty well. She told me that she sees hundreds of these scores a year and the ones who get 700+ all have one thing in common - they have all done every problem in all three books.

My advice: spend the money on all three. Work every problem, noting which ones are hard and which you get wrong. When you are done, go back and work the hard/incorrect problems again. Then, when you are done, start over from page one. You effort will be rewarded on test day. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Napoleon Hill was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time. Hill called his success teachings "The Philosophy of Achievement" and he considered freedom, democracy, capitalism, and harmony to be important contributing elements. For without these, Hill demonstrated throughout his writings, personal beliefs are not possible. ... Read more

Reviews

Truly inspirational. The single best book I have ever read.
If you asked me to recommend to you the single best book I have ever read, my answer would be a very definite "Think and Grow Rich".
First published in 1937, this is the end product of two decades of research conducted by Napoleon Hill. His research started when Andrew Carnegie (the steel tycoon who was then the richest man on earth) gave him the assignment of organizing a Philosophy of Personal Achievement. Hill, who was a poor journalist, armed with just an introductory letter from Carnegie, set out to interview over five hundred successful people including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, John D. Rockefeller, George Eastman, William Wrigley Jr. and Charles M. Schwab. Hill then revealed the priceless wisdom of his research in the form of the thirteen steps to success (in Think and Grow Rich) and the seventeen principles of success (in courses and lectures he conducted).
The concepts taught by Napoleon Hill transformed my life. Some of these include developing a definite purpose, building a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), channeling the power of the sub-conscious mind and dealing with adversity. Everything he wrote about or talked about is thought provoking. He was wise, humble and funny. His philosophy is universal; he did not mix it with religion. The riches he referred to were more than money, for the Philosophy of Personal Achievement can be applied to anything in life.
Hill was well ahead of his time. This book has a chapter dedicated to some of today's most important issues - Specialized Knowledge, Decision Making, Imagination and Organized Planning (in which he deals with Leadership). He also has principles for Teamwork, Creative Vision, Health, etc.
This is a classic, and hence the examples are old (not to be confused with outdated). But they are as relevant today as they were in the early twentieth century. Here is an example from T&GR in the chapter on Desire:
On the morning after the Great Fire of Chicago (1871), a group of merchants on Chicago's State Street went into a conference to decide whether to rebuild their stores or leave Chicago. All but one decided to leave. The merchant who decided to stay pointed a finger to the remains of his store and said "Gentlemen, on that very spot I will build the world's greatest store, no matter how many times it may burn down." His name was Marshall Field and his store still exists, and in Hill's words is "a towering monument to that state of mind known as a burning desire." I lived in Chicago from 2002 through 2004 and worked three blocks away from this impressive store on State Street. Sometimes I would visit it or stand outside it to derive inspiration and be reminded of the power of desire. It is amazing that Hill describes "burning desire" with a story based on the Chicago Fire.
There are thousands of self-help books out in the market and hundreds of self proclaimed "gurus" who have made a living by copying the wisdom in Hill's books. As I went through some of those books I realized that there was not much in them that Hill had not already written about. I recommend quality over quantity. Instead of reading through many books, I recommend that you study the following works of Hill and internalize his wisdom:
1. The Think and Grow Rich Action Pack (1937) - I recommend the Action Pack edition,
2. Napoleon Hill's Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement - this is an excellent guide to his principles,
3. Your Right To Be Rich [Unabridged] - this consists of 12 hours of live lectures covering the 17 principles, that Hill conducted in Chicago in 1954.
By internalizing, I mean studying in depth - analyzing the ideas, making notes and summaries. I own more CDs by Hill, but I believe that these 3 items make the perfect study plan on the Philosophy of Personal Achievement.
I am greatly indebted to Napoleon Hill. The purpose of my writing this is to spread awareness of his work so that more people can benefit from it. This, I believe is the best way in which Hill would have liked to have been repaid.

Best personal development book ever!
Although this book has been around since the 30's, it is still head and shoulders above the others.

The title can be misleading. You do need to think and by reprogamming your mind with these time tested and proven techniques, you will become rich.

The most beneficial part of the book to me was the exercise of holding a mental picture of myself for 30 minutes per day along with affirmations.

All I can say, is that it works, it really works.

Read yourself into a fortune
I was introduced to Think and Grow Rich over 25 years ago. WOW! What an outstanding book. This book contains money making secrets that have changed my life.

"Think and Grow Rich" is based on Napolean Hill's famed "Law of Success", a 16 lesson, 2 volume course on personal development and success. "Think and Grow Rich" represents the distilled wisdom of distinquished men of great wealth and achievement.

Andrew Carnegies magic formula for success was the direct inspiration for this book. Carnegie demonstrtaed it's soundness when his coaching brought fortunes to those young men to whom he had disclosed his secret.

This book will teach you that secret. And the secrets of other great men like him. It will show you not only what to do but how to do it.

If you learn and apply the simple basic techniques revealed here, you will have mastered the secret of true and lasting success.

And you my have whatever you want in life. As Napolean Hill says; "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. I also recommend "The Law of Success" on which this book is based

A very well researched book that gets results
Napolean Hill spent over 20 years interviewing the most successful men of his time and then put the findings of his study; the characteristics of the most successful people in Think & Grow Rich.The fact is that successful people think differently. This is why a multi-millionaire can lose his entire net worth and have it all back in five years or less while unsuccessful people plod along and never amass any real level of wealth or success.Hill states that when the secret appears to you, whether it be in the first ten pages or on the 200th page, that is when your life will change.This is when you are ready for it.I have known people who read the book and never got it. Not surprisingly, these people have never achieved very much in life either. If you don't get it...you don't get it.Think & Grow Rich is a must read for all those who want success and are ready for it.I wish you the best of succe$$, happiness and wealth.

The handbook on personal development
This book teaches what we never learn in school---the principles of success.I own book the book (Action Pack) and the cassette tapes which I play in my car. I never fail to pick up a new idea everytime I read the book or listen to the tapes. I recommend Success through a Postive PMA by Hill and Turner, Turner, Turner: The King of Network Marketing.

This book turned my life around
In 1990, I returned home (Orlando,Fl) after a crashing business failure in Hawaii. I had read Think & Grow Rich many years before along with other mind books including "You can if you Think you can" by Norman Vincent Peale. Frustrated, I decided to go back to my "roots" and dug out the old dog eared copy of "Think and Grow Rich" that I had packed away and began to read and most importantly apply the techniques. Within weeks, I found a new opportunity and within months, my income had grown to a personal high. I really can't say enough about Think and Grow Rich, except read it and apply the principles. The other book that came into my life at the same time I began to reread Think and Grow Rich was "More Wealth without Risk" by Charles Givens and oh yes, I also reread You can if you Think you can by Dr. Peale. I highly endorse all three books for anyone serious about success.

Still the best!
I have read over 400 books on personal development. Think and Grow Rich is the best.It's not just positive thinking, but also strategies and techniques to reach your goals.It's great to see Napolean Hills great book has such a high rating here at Amazon and is still one of the best selling books.If you want just one book, this should be it.If you are in business or want to be or in a leadership role, I also suggest Direct From Dell by Michael Dell. If Napoleon Hill were alive today and interiewing the most successful people of the times, surely Michael Dell would be at the top of his list.I am also sure that Mike Dell has read and applying the strategies from Think and Grow Rich.Read and apply the techniques from both books and you can't help but be successful.

A LIFE SAVING BOOK
In 1992, I suffered three major crisis; loss of my job, marital seperation and loss of a loved one. These elements put me into a tailspin financially and emotionally. THINK & GROW RICH was one of two books that I read at that time and significantly turned my life around! I found myself with no money, huge debts, no friends and no job. I had lost my self esteem and felt powerless. The principles in Think & Grow Rich gave me the how to turn mylife around. After applying the technique descibed on page 36, opportunities began to come to me. Within two weeks, I found new employment actually at a higher income than before. I started a very successful part time home based business, within two months, all bills were caught up and within six months all debts were paid off! With a better attitude I started to attract new people into my life. I went from a extreme negative attitude to a positive attitude, from a negative cash flow to a positive cash flow and from a life of emptiness to a life of aliveness. I believe that THINK & GROW RICH is the very best self developent book of all time! I also own the 8-cassette tape program/course and highly recommend it to everyone. I mentioned that THINK & GROW RICH was one of two books that turned my life around, the other book was More Wealth Without Risk by Charles Givens which is to personal finance what Think & Grow Rich is to Personal Success. I make it a habit to review both books and their tape programs continously and get continued results and ideas.

The bible of Personal Development!
While there may be many "how to" books out there, this is the best. Principlesnever change. And while this book was written over 60 years ago, the technique's are still in vogue. In fact, most of the newer books are "peppered" with Napolean Hill, perhaps the best testiment to the effectiveness of Mr Hill's techniques. This is a extraordinary book. I alsorecommend "Life Strategies" by McGraw and "Superself" by Givens. Two more great books.

The all time classic that still delivers
It's hard to believe that Think and Grow Rich has been aroud now for over 70 years!When I first heard of this book in the early 70's, I thought it was a new book at that time. Then when I heard it was nearly 40 years old (at that time) I, being a college grad and highly sophisticated figured that Hill's work was outdated.About that time I met a young businessman with a harelip and a severe speech impediment. This guy was an 8th grade dropout and was extrolling the merits of Think & Grow Rich and network marketing. This guy didn't look like much. He was pretty ordinary looking. Average, maybe even below average and he wasn't rich. In fact he had to borrow money from his uncle to get into business because he had worked on a farm all his life and came from a poor family.I figured this guy was insane and had gotten sucked in by some city slickers.Many years later I noticed a big limo coming through town. Curious I waited to see who would come out. In this little southern town, newer cars were rare and seeing a limo was like the president was coming to town.Much to my surprise the man that walked out was the harelip! I walked up to him and started to introduce myself but amaziingly to me, he remembered me even though we had only met once.I asked him what the occasion was and was actually belligerent enought to suggest that perhaps his uncle had paid for the limo. He then told me he owned the limo..in fact a whole fleet of limo's. He had moved to Orlando, Fl and created a cosmetic/personal development company that extrapulated into over 78 companies. His net worth, he said, was over $350 million ($1.5 billion in todays money)Stunned, I asked him how he did it.He attributed his success to Think and Grow Rich and some other books like How To Win Friends and Influence People and he said the most important book, The Bible.I went ahead and bought a copy of Think and Grow Rich. I didn't get into his motivational or mlm company or any mlm or direct sales company, buut I did use what I learned from Think and Grow Rich to achieve success that was extraordinary for me.Surprisingly to me, I also became a better parent, a better spouse, a better friend, a better coworker, a better manager and became better in everything I did with more balance all the way around.This book may have been around for along time, but the principles are timeless. Since the 70's I have not met a single person who has achieved any level of success who has not at least read Think & Grow Rich.Napolean Hill's book is a classic because it delivers...but ony if you read it and use it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This book can save you over $100,000

These days, most people assume you need to pay a boatload of money for a quality college education. As a result, students and their parents are willing to go into years of debt and potentially sabotage their entire financial futures just to get a fancy name on their diploma.

But Zac Bissonnette is walking proof that this assumption is not only false, but dangerous-a class con game designed to rip you off and doom your student to a post-graduation life of near poverty . From his unique double perspective-he's a personal finance expert (at Daily Finance) AND a current senior at the University of Massachusetts-Zac figured out how to get an outstanding education at a public college, without bankrupting his parents or taking on massive loans.

Armed with his personal knowledge, the latest data, and smart analysis, Zac takes on the sacred cows of the higher education establishment. He reveals why a lot of the conventional wisdom about choosing and financing college is not only wrong but hazardous to you and your child's financial future.You'll discover, for instance, that:

* Student loans are NOT a necessary evil.Ordinary middle class families can- and must-find ways to avoid them, even without scholarships.

* College "rankings" are useless-designed to sell magazines and generate hype. If you trust one of the major guides when picking a college, you face a potential financial disaster.

* The elite graduate programs accept lots of people with non-elite bachelors degrees.So do America's most selective employers. The name on a diploma ultimately won't help your child have a more successful career or earn more money.

Zac can prove every one of those bold assertions - and more.No matter what your current financial situation, he has a simple message for parents: "RELAX! Your kid will be able to get a champagne education on a beer budget!" ... Read more

Reviews

Changing your worldview about financing college education
This is an excellent book. I cannot recommend enough that all parents with pre-college children read this book and use the valuable information provided to take ownership of the college decision process together as a family by considering what this book has to say.

I am a CPA and a financial planner in the Boston, MA area. I see exactly what Zac describes with many families whose financial plans are dominated by education financing at the expense of other goals. I'm blown away by a 22-year old college student being able to accurately identify all of these issues, cut through all the BS spewed by the higher education and college financing industries, and support his assertions and analysis with compelling facts, data and research. I would urge anyone reading this book to not hold Zac's age against his analysis. His analysis is spot-on accurate. In fact, his age is useful for lending credibility to the anecdotes he does mention in the book about campus life and his experiences. He knows what he's talking about because he's living it.

For years, I've struggled with the question of whether you need to attend an expensive college to get a quality college education. It didn't seem right to me, but I didn't have the information to assess this one way or the other. As Zac clearly shows, there are huge industries with tons of money at stake to make people believe that an expensive college is a must for your child's education. As Louis Brandeis said, "sunshine is the best disinfectant". This is one book that is the sunshine that exposes these industries for what they are.

Being in Massachusetts, I would feel very comfortable guiding my children to a Massachusetts public college armed with the information that Zac provides. I would know that I am giving my child every opportunity to have a terrific college experience and a wonderful opportunity for a successful and fulfilling life. UMass should be extremely proud of having Zac as a recent graduate.

Debt-Free U: How I paid for an outstanding college education without Loans scholarships, or mooching off my parents
Wow, I couldn't put the book down, with every page I could see all the ways to save money. This book is worth its weight in gold. Words cannot describe what this book has down for me, I really feel I have an insider in college and it has greatly reduced my stress of having my first child go off to college next year. This book contains more than finacial tips, it covers every aspect of college, from course tips to professor information, I can't say enough, you definately won't be dissapointed.
It was a fun read and will share with other college bound students. I have five teens and if I can do this anybody can. take care enjoy the journey. Debbie
PS I wrote this at 6a getting five kids off to school please excuse the typos.

Excellent
Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, orMooching off My Parents

The author reveals many ways to get a top flight education without getting yourself and your parents needlessly in debt. He backs up his assertions with hard facts, data, and research. For over-priced universities, it is an "Emperor has no clothes" moment. Highly recommended.

a new way of looking at college
Zac Bissonette has a revolutionary idea here -- It's nothing short of a new way of looking at college education as a value-driven purchase. He forces parents to examine whether they are really doing right by their kids to laden themselves with debt. He's totally on the money when he says college financial aid officers aren't there to help you -- they exist to sell you loans so you can pay for their salaries. Bissonette is changing the way America sees college. We are emerging from this recession as a nation schooled in living within our means. College educations are part of that equation. Great book for everyone with a child -- even ones in pre-school.Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, orMooching off My Parents

must read
Loved, loved, loved this book! This book is an easy read and may just change your life. As one who left 8 years of higher ed at private Universities with 6 figure student loans (thankfully now paid off) I may have done things differently if I had the benefit of this book 20 years ago. I'm thankful to be armed with this information before navigating the college selection process with my own kids. So much great research and information - this book has turned my assumptions and perceptions upside down about the benefits of shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for a prestigious school's name on your diploma. I am recommending this book to all my friends with teenagers!

AVOID COLLEGE DEBT!!! Thanks for explaining it all Zac.
I just heard on CNN that college debt passed credit card debt. That statistic alone should make anyone who will be paying for a college education read this compelling book. Zac tells it like it is and challenges a lot of conventional wisdom along the way. He is wise beyond his years and I expect we'll be hearing a great deal more from him in the future.

Debt-Free U- The Best Book You'll Ever Actually Want To Finish
The book was amazing. I could go on and on for days but this by far was a book I wanted to read word for word.

Zac Bissonnette author of "Debt-Free U" is a college senior with a jumpstart on life.
He's created a book which will clearly explain to you the in's-and-out of the financial aid and college tuition systems.

Colleges try to get you to come to their school.
Financial Aid can't pay for your tuition.
Loans are extremely risky.

What do you do when scholarships can't pay for college, and you're basically poor.

Zac outlines it in black and white.

A+++++++

Living Debt Filled U
I am here to say that Zac's book is a very true and college debt should be avoided. I know personally after financing my college education through student loans. I was 22 years old, without a job and 80,000 in debt. I personally except responsibility for debt accumulated and will pay them off and not look for a handout. I just wish I read a book in 2004 and had the information. I could have made better choices then the cliques most hear about going to college. This books shows the other side and it will allow people the best choices for each situation. Obliviously this book is not gold but should be used and I believe followed.

Now a little more on my story...

I am a firm believer that its not where you go its who you know. I took my great private diploma and got told it would open doors. The only jobs that I got call backs from were where I knew people and had an in. Networking anyone? I graduated and instead of being happy and looking forward to my life and career I was TERRIFIED and SCARED that I could not make my minimum payments. I will say that my debt did make me more determined to get a job to pay for the debt. I was extremely lucky and had an in and got a teaching job at a great place because of my networking and personal characteristics not much because of my "school." I have been working extremely hard to get out of my debt I teach, coach 3 teams, and bar tend. I am currently 25 and have paid over half of my loan off. The same student loan company that never alerted me of interest being accumulated but now that I am paying off in advance they tell me I do not have to make a payment until March 15, 2014. (If they ever call me I feel bad for the person who talks to me) I have put off my personal life goals (i.e. home ownership, family, investing) to pay off the debt. I CANNOT WAIT TO BE DEBT FREE!!! GO ON DAVE RAMSEY AND YELL I'M DEBT FREE!!!

It really comes down to this everyone and I really wish Zac hit on it in his book a little more. Maybe without being on the debt side of the college life he may have not felt this. Would you rather enjoy a four, five, six... years of college paying for with debt then having to work the rest of your life to get out of the debt hole you dug OR worked hard while you have the energy to and pay for school as you go, live within your means and then graduate college debt free and able to start your life at age 22? I wish I would have had the information in this book so that I could have chose the latter. I will use your book to help my classroom seniors to make the best choices for them!

Bought it for my son - read it myself...
The rules have changed since I attended college. The #1 change is that college debt has gone from close to ZERO to a $600 billion industry. Admissions officers may be more debt salesmen than academic advisors - be warned! Get informed. A well educated consumer [even of education] is best prepared. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Overrated, extremely light on content, January 22, 2009
I rarely review books, but this one was such a waste that I'd feel guilty if I didn't at least TRY to persuade you not to buy. The main problem with the book, as other reviewers have alluded to, is that it sort of tries to BE a design masterpiece rather than teach you. The design is interesting, but it is to the point that the content is subordinated to the design. There are maybe 5 pages worth of useful content.

Another irritant to me is that this is by far the most commercial book I've ever seen (more ads than a magazine). It seemed that every few pages I was being told to buy this book, or buy all of some other guys books. There is a two page section that is taken from Guy Kawasaki's blog. The whole thing is incredibly derivative (but shallow).

Finally, and this I can take responsibility for, it didn't meet my needs because I am not Al Gore, nor am I the CEO of a company. If I gave a presentation in the style of this book I'd be laughed out of the office. I'm an analyst, and the warm and fuzzy slides would not be good. Duarte's advice on data intensive slides? "Both [of Stephen Few's] books should be on your shelf along with everything Edward Tufte has written."
I have two Tufte books and they are virtually identical, I don't see myself buying his others (and they suffer from the same lack of relevance to corporate analysts). Disappointing.

Yet another designer's book, September 12, 2008
I have to rain on the parade of this book and Garr Reynold's book (and other ones).

The message is "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world (which is true) and I'm going to show you WHY."

The message should be "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world and I'm going to show you HOW."

You'll see plenty to interest you, but unless you're a full-fledged graphic designer you'll never recreate these slides. Imagine putting this book (and the Reynold's book) into a room with some of your worst slide creators, or even yourself. Would you see an improvement in their skills? I doubt it.

You might as well become a painter by reading books that have the world's greatest pictures in them. Even though there is explanatory text here it isn't enough to bridge the gap.

To see a book written for its audience, try the "Before and After" books by Jon McWade which deal with desktop publishing. Unfortunately John has not yet tackled slides, but you can see an page layout idea and make it yourself in minutes.

So, sorry about this, because both this and Reynold's book are "nice" books. The energy has gone into the book's design and production rather than the content. But that makes them coffee-table books, and unless you have a coffee table in your office I'd advise that you give both of them a miss.

Emperor's New Old Clothes, November 25, 2008
I had high hopes for this book. It looks very nice. It has the right nods to Tufte early on. But...

But the true content is very thin, includes a load of chart junk (the anti-Tufte - I guess the true cue is in the title, this is a PowerPoint book) and page after page of abstract diagrams demonstrating "flow" - much like the woeful second half of "Say it with Charts" which is about 50 pages of arrows.

Very very disappointing indeed.

don't buy this book, October 27, 2008
Don't buy this book. The text is maddeningly small and poorly contrasted. With postage stamp size visuals it's like reading a telphone book.
Get The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams and check out the website of the author of The Craft of Scientific Presentations, Michael Alley for templates and research based design tips.
With these two resources you'll have everything you need without having to wade through the padding in Duarte's book.

AMAZING--not about slides, about mind to mind communication, August 26, 2008
I just destroyed this book with folded pages and ink annotations, so the perfectionists out there may want to order two copies, one for eating and one for sharing. The price is phenomenally reasonable, especially for something that is all color and totally elegant.

This is not about powerpoint slides. If anything, it is a very subtle but explicit critique of how retarded they still are (e.g. no separation between bullet groups). This is an utterly inspiring combination of wisdom, education, visual excitement, and plain fun that "lives" what it preaches.

When I get back to the office I am going to read this book again while I create a briefing on the Earth Intelligence Network and educating the poor one cell call at a time that respects the deep knowledge being imparted by this author and her team. Mills Davis, visualization and semantic genius (Project10X) called my presentation "dense" yesterday, and I needed this book to understand just how polite he was being.

Bottom line mechanically: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30 font size MINIMJM. For the advanced audiences, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, 6 minutes and 20 seconds total.

I read and reread sections, and the recurring thought in my head was that this book may well be all one needs to run a semester long course on the communication of important complex ideas. The author does not just show a correct slide, the author breaks down every aspect (e.g. fonts, color, grid layouts, use of images, creating your own art) into separate chapters with very ably-illustrated palettes covering all the options. I have a note on this, "nuances are unpackaged and illustrated."

I note the author's admonition that change across the presentation is a distraction, that animation should support the message and the continuity of understanding.

For large organizations, the author covers templates as a means of harnessing the diversity of knowledge of varied functions and employees, while maintaining a consistency of brand. BRAND is huge within this book, and in this book BRAND is not a legal term, it is a philosophical term. I am hugely impressed by a chart showing UK companies that treat BRAND as a design imperative being so much more competitive and profitable than those that do not. This book is not just asserttions and demonstrations, it is fact and case based and eminently authoritative.

I learn for the first time that powerpoint slides can be instantly made to be black and white to focus audience on the speaker, or made all white, by pressing B or W. Why didn't I learn that from Microsoft? Because their tool bar is not designed to teach....perhaps?

Special pages for me:

10-11 The Presentation Ecosystem (Message, Story, Delivery)
12-13 Time Estimate for world-class presentations (36-90 hours)
18-19 Rick Justice and 27 slides on eight topics (organization)
58-59 Making Diagtrams Work Together
64-65 Following the Five Data Slide Rules (Tell the Truth is Rule 1)
82-83 The (Financial) Value of Good Design
116-117 Lose the logo on every slide....
142-143 Dissecting a font (this section alone was HUGE eye-opener)
148-149 Typesetting a block of text (what powerpoint does not do)

The references are phenomenal, and comprise an instant library for any person, firm, or school of design. I only have ten links allowed, so below I list the reference categories, and link to a single book from the multiples identified--no disrespect intended for the others!

DESIGN
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

BRANDING
The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design

VISUAL THINKING
Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands

INFORMATION GRAPHICS
Nigel Holmes On Information Design (Working Biographies)

DATA DISPLAY
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data

CONTENT
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

BUSINESS BOOKS
The E-Myth Manager: Why Most Managers Don't Work and What to Do About It

The index is very good, another manifestation of the utter devotion to quality of the publisher, O'Reilly (I dislike most of their book sets, this one very properly rose to a proper high level).

Lots of white space. There isn't an ounce of fat or irrelevance in this book. It is world-class in every respect, and most publishers are so crummy about price and color that I want to end with a tip of the hat to o'Reilly for getting this one "just right."

Thoughtless design, November 17, 2009
This book is amazing in that it is a book on presentation and is simultaneously a fine example of how NOT to present something. The print is far too small and is a faded grey. How in all the world could someone who put this much effort and care into a book - I did manage to read some of it - fail to notice that it is nearly unreadable?

A must have for any presentation developer, September 15, 2010
I read some of the other reviews and I think some of the people who gave low ratings missed the point of this book. This is not a "How to" PowerPoint book. This is a "How to" effective presentation book. And if you read the introduction you should see the intent of Slide"ology.

Slide:ology provides theory behind visual communication using presentation media. The message is well, focus on the message of the presentation and provides basic design concepts that should help anyone in understanding what are the components of a well designed presentation. Key word here being design. I think some people struggle to understand that design means function and purpose instead of just making things pretty.

Some people mentioned small type and the book being hard to read. I thought the book was well designed and didn't have a problem with reading it. The pages provide ample room for taking notes.

It's a good reference, January 29, 2009
This was my first PowerPoint book so when I first read it, I thought it was fantastic.

What it is:
A reference that offers great design ideas, guidance on presenting information, layout, content, PowerPoint and storytelling. Sure, applying all of her principles will take a lot of time, focus, and clients/higher ups that are willing to try her method. But applying just one of her principles is easy to do. Either way, formatting your slides the slide:ology way will shift your presentation from good to better.

What is isn't:
This is not really a how-to book meaning it shows you the principles to follow but not necessarily how to achieve it. While I don't have a recommendation on which book to get, if you are a PowerPoint beginner, it would be wise to invest in a step-by-step guide as well.

A Must-Have for Seminar Presenters, August 20, 2008
I'm a trainer, offering live seminars which we convert to video presentations for our distance learners. I'm comfortable with creating good video, but not so with creating strong slide presentations. For years, we've felt the need for dynamic slide presentations that would heighten the excitement we work to build in our seminars. The slide presentations we created or had created for us, relayed information but they seemed flat to me, not what we were going for.

If you're hoping to create a great slide presentation or a great visual presentation of any sort, you will find that this book shows you how to do so. You will learn how to avoid kicking the audience into the yawn zone by creating presentations that have power and impact.

If you are even considering the possibility of creating a slide presentation, please consider picking up this book sooner than later. The author will help you to put together a strong presentation that will get your message across to your audience in a powerful and interesting way. This book is highly recommended.

Great ideas, great design! Just a very great book., August 12, 2008
Nancy Duarte has designed a winner with her first book - and it's an instant classic on presentation design. Not only will anyone be able to make MUCH better presentations, they will have fun learning how. Whether beginner or expert, Nancy helps anyone get to the top of their game in making a impact through presenting their ideas visually.

It's also interesting and inspiring reading as well, and goes far beyond presentations. The success of Duarte Design is well deserved, and you'll see why in reading this book.

Bert Decker ... Read more

Editorial Review

A Better Way to Better Behavior

Karen Pryor's clear and entertaining explanation of behavioral training methods made Don't Shoot the Dog! a bestselling classic. Now this revised edition presents more of her insights into animal—and human—behavior.

A groundbreaking behavioral scientist and dynamic animal trainer, Karen Pryor is a powerful proponent of the principles and practical uses of positive reinforcement in teaching new behaviors. Here are the secrets of changing behavior in pets, kids—even yourself—without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips...or shooting the dog:

•The principles of the revolutionary "clicker training" method, which owes its phenomenal success to its immediacy of response—so there is no question what action you are rewarding
•8 methods of ending undesirable habits—from furniture-clawing cats to sloppy roommates
•The 10 laws of "shaping" behavior–for results without strain or pain through "affection training"
•Tips for house-training the dog, improving your tennis game, or dealing with an impossible teen
•Explorations of exciting new uses for reinforcement training

Learn why pet owners rave, "This book changed our lives!" and how these pioneering techniques can work for you too. ... Read more

Reviews

not just for the dogs, January 29, 2004
I've read quite a few dog behavior, training and intelligence books and always had this on the to read list because of its reputation of being the "bible" of dog training. But I didn't really want to read it because of the title, and hey, the cover isn't too imaginitive either. I know don't judge a book by a cover, but to be honest, reading has a sensual side too -- good clean lines, fits nice in the hands, smooth paper. You bookaholics know what I'm saying.

So, I finally got around to reading this and I can see why people say this book is life-changing. Pryor spent very little time talking about dogs specifically but showed many examples on how these methods could be used with people with disabilities, your own kids, spouse, cat etc.

I'm a trainer's assistant at a dog obedience school, and as I read this, it all looked familiar. It is basically the foundation philosophy of our school. It's a method of communication. A way to build a relationship and communicate what you want from your dog in a positive, punishment-free manner. Reading this book helped me clarify why we at the school do things as we do. And as I finished the book, I was thinking of one of the comments a woman made at a trainer's funeral. The gist was that she had learned from his gentle approach to the dogs, and this had spread to the way she approached people as well.

It's true. "Clicker training" as some people call this training philosophy will spill outside of your doggy life and into other areas... if you come to this as a dog trainer. As a dog trainer, your dog doesn't sit when you say sit. Instead of getting mad and saying sit sit sit! jerking on the collar or pushing on the butt, first you think "does my dog understand 'sit?'" Then you'd break it down into it's components -- sit is an action (head goes up, butt goes down) and responding to the command requires that 1. the dog knows the action 2. the dog knows the word is connected to the action. Then you'd find a way to get your dog past whatever is hanging him up. So, if this is your habitual style of response to other's "mistakes," you will start to develop patience, compassion and clear communication. And those skills will take you far in life.

And extra bonus -- besides learning training methods, you'll read alot of funny anecdotes about frisbee-playing elephants and bell-ringing hermit crabs too.

I've just read most of the new version., August 6, 1999
All of the reader reviews currently on the page deal with the first edition. I just received the new edition.

First, for those who are looking for a cook book to solve specific problems, this may not be it -- as a response to people who felt mislead by the title.

This ISN'T a dog training book, what it is, is a manual and a philosophy for solving the problems in your life caused by other's behavior, whether it is your husband, your children, your pets, or your co-workers.

The new edition brings in our new research and our ideas. Anecodotes are more relative and talk about people we all know and have met through the click-l list and other internet interactions.

This is definately the definitive book on behavior modification, and it is infinitely readable.

Fascinating, intellectually stimulating and fun to read, March 3, 2000
I recently bought this book on the advice of a doggy foster "parent", as a prelude to adopting from a local rescue organization. While this is not a how-to or step by step guide for training your dog, it is an excellent and clear book about behavior and how to shape it in a positive way. I was surprised at how much information I found useful for understanding my own relationship with my parents and how to be a better manager. The anecdotes help clarify the concepts, as well as making for very entertaining reading, and I especially appreciated the series of charts comparing different training methods and showing what can work best for a slew of different behavior problems. My next purchase will be a clicker training instruction manual, and I think it will be all the more valuable because Pryor's book has helped me understand WHY positive reinforcement works. Her book really explains the philosophy behind the methodology. Kudos.

Kudos for Karen Pryor's Honesty, November 24, 2000
"Don't Shoot the Dog" is the best comprehensive guide I know of that encourages the use of Positive Reinforcement. There is no question that PR goes a long way and should always be used as a first option (with both animals and people). Karen Pryor's honesty in this book is to be applauded. While she champions using PR as far as it works to produce the desired result, she realistically acknowledges that PR does not always work. As a dog trainer and author using a balanced approach, I find her candor and her desire to make the world a better place for dogs and people quite noble. If all we needed in our relationships with dogs and people was to find the right reward, this would be the only book we would need.

The structure of the book is easy to follow, and along with emphasizing PR, also gives excellent advice about the crucial element of timing in training. I also find this book useful as a tool to help people decide NOT to use muzzle restraining devices. If a dog training student of mine is thinking of using a muzzle restraining device on a dog, I have the student read Karen's comments about restraint as the bottom of page 101. Her clearly stated explanation hits the nail right on the head. Restraining has its place, but it isn't training.

Karen's comments about rewarding the wrong behavior also makes a lot of sense. Our leaders in government would benefit from her political applications of her principles.

Every animal owner needs to read this book, December 5, 1996
This is my favorite training book (and isn't just about dog training- it's about operant conditioning for the average Joe). It humorously and thoroughly explains how to influence and shape behavior using well-timed reinforcement. This book will be especially helpful to people trying to train animals to do unusual behaviors (such as disabled people who are self-training their own assistance dog). When you're done reading this, you'll understand how to break literally any behavior down into small manageable pieces that you can train for. But don't assume it's just for animal trainers. I know an excellent manager who read this book when he was first promoted to management. It's a quick-read, it's fun, and the info is very valuable. Certainly a "must read".

Now: Someone that actually read the book, January 31, 2004
Believe me when I tell you that those that criticized this book never read it and integrated its principles. Instead, these are people that might have vast experience with different systems that give them good results. The techniques they use have become second nature to them. They conclude: my system is different, my system works, therefore every thing else is crap. One reviewer rambled about how it mainly applies to dolphins because they are confined to a tank. The kindest thing I can say about him is that he never read DON'T SHOOT THE DOG. If he did, I would have to insult his reading comprehension. Little of what he rants about is even in the book. Instead of ranting about hearsay on the somewhat different topic of clicker training, allow me to tell you about "Don't Shoot the Dog". This book teaches far reaching techniques with universal application. I have trained dogs, horses, and wild caught birds of prey (which were flown free daily not confined to pools or tanks). Though I understand alpha dog training, use negative reinforcement, and have employed many successful techniques, this is one of my all time top 10 books on any subject and it is a MUST READ even for those that will never own a pet. Karen Pryor was in fact a trainer at Sea World but contrary to the title this book is not about the specifics of animal training. It is instead a handbook on behavioral modification complete with an introduction written by B.F. Skinner, the father of behavioral psychology. While he was not a man without faults, he was a huge contributor to some profoundly simplified techniques for modifying behavior. While an easy read (one long afternoon) the power of this book lies in studying the principles and then training yourself to modify behavior. In an entraining and practical manner Karen explains a principle, explains its applications and LIMITATIONS and then gives a scenario that illustrates how to apply this principle with an animal, an adult, and a child. A lay person soon learns that most instinctive responses to unwanted behavior are non productive. We have many roles in life and it is a rare person in which some of these roles don't require us to influence behavior. While people are not animals, behavior modification is behavior modification and we all use it. Unfortunately, more often than not we make critical mistakes that result in the opposite result we want and expect. I read this book 10 years ago. As soon as I did I wished I had read it about 25 years sooner. It brought greater success to training at opposite ends of the animal kingdom. It worked on free flying wild birds of prey that are not social creatures and interpret any negative reinforcement as a death threat. These wild animals can easily leave the trainer and return to the wild to fend for themselves. They get this chance every day. In fact it is nothing but unnatural that they will return from being a tiny speck in the sky just from operant conditioning and positive reinforcement. More amazing, they can be properly trained to do this within 10 days of being trapped from the wild, so much for the hilarious comment about it won't work on things that can run loose like dogs. Speaking of dogs, I have used it on Setters and Springer's not to mention a very strong willed, male Jack Russell Terrier, with a well developed alpha dog mentality. Karen never implies that negative reinforcement is not a legitimate tool. She simply fine tunes its use, timing, and consistency to give you an even more powerful tool. The principles in this book have greatly enhanced what was decades of successful training. Finally, don't under estimate these principles when it comes to inter- personal relationships. If you do, you missed a great part of what makes this a must read.

clear, witty and filled with practical information--a gem, November 30, 1999
As a social worker specializing in child abuse and neglect, I have relied on Don't Shoot the Dog for years to teach harsh and punitive parents benign and positive behavioral alternatives. Parents learn more readily, and even enjoy learning, from the anecdotes about animal behavior, and don't feel criticized themselves because they have not had prior bad or abusive experiences with a chicken or a cat. They begin to see that all small creatures do some annoying things, and that their child is not singularly persecuting them. They feel less victimized by their child and suddenly become empowered to bring about change. The revised edition is especially welcome because of its expanded discussion of punishment, primarily why it doesn't work and what would be safer, kinder and more effective in its place, and for the information about clicker training, an enormous aid to angry or ineffective parents. Don't Shoot the Dog! is a must for all social workers, and for anyone interested in more enjoyable and productive dealings with other living creatures.

wonderful and informative book, February 21, 2001
"Don't Shoot the Dog" is only marginally about dog training, (although the dog was reccomened to me by noted dog trainer Sarah Wilson, a fine dog training book author in her own right). What it is about is using postive reinforcement for all training purposes. Postive reinforcement does not mean NEVER correcting the subject, but doing so in a postive way, mostly by rewarding correct behavior. Ms. Pryor shows, by using certain common situations, (kids making too much noise in the car on long trips, dog barking in the back yard all night, etc) how different methods would work or not work, and further adds other examples, with animals that are not usually thought of as "trainable", how certain behaviors were be easily taught. The author is a big advocate of "clicker training" (as is Sarah Wilson, who I mentioned earlier) but even after reading the book, I really don't understand the "why and how it works" aspect of it, which is why only 4 stars, her explantion just doesn't seem clear enough for someone who is new to the concept. (If half star ratings were allowed, this book would have 4 and a half, since I consider this a minor flaw...) This is a wonderful book which should be on the bookshelf of everyone who does animal training, or for that matter, parents as well...

Its simplicity is what makes it brilliant!, April 29, 2000
What I found so valuable about this book was that it didn't spend endless pages discussing fashionable theories about the harm of being spanked in public, or how to get in touch with your little inner brat. It's a straightforward plan on how to help people do what they want to do. It's not a charade. It's not tricking people. It's giving feedback about what are better and worse behaviors.

I wish the book wasn't so closely associated with animal training because most of its discussion concerns human relationships. It seems like most people who know about this book are animal people. In my case, I obtained a rottweiler who wouldn't let anyone touch him. Instead of trying to *force* him to let me touch him, or *try* to touch him and back away when he recoiled (thereby rewarding the bad behavior), I used Pryor's clicker training. The closer he came to me, the more I clicked. If he brushed by me, I clicked. In one day he was diving into my chest, twisting his head into my chest, and looking for the click. And leading up to this, as he was preoccupied with touching me, he lost any concern that I was touching him.

There's *no* other training method that builds the kind of secure enviornment where things move only as fast as the trainee wants it to, that rewards exploration and where nothing's really the "wrong answer," and everything is learning.

This should be required reading in school.

If you have a submissive dog, GET THIS BOOK, though..., June 5, 2002
it is about behavior modification and not dog training per se.
Don't Shoot the Dog! is the best fundamental description of behaviorism I have ever read. My husband and I have used its principles in training our extremely submissive and abused by a former owner Jack Russell terrier to develop some mental health. This is not a cookbook, it is a philosophy. Pryor does not endorse pure behaviorism; in her work with dolphins described in Lads Before the Wind, she writes extensively about her philosophy falling between that of Konrad Lorenz, the ethologist, and B.F. Skinner. There are hard wired behavior traits present in all species and using operant conditioning via a method like clicker training actually uses those traits to the trainer's advantage, never forgetting that there are some instincts that are so hard wired that they are impossible to overcome. This training is not necessarily an easy to do BECAUSE IT REQUIRES REAL INSIGHT, PATIENCE AND SENSITIVITY ON THE PART OF THE TRAINER! Our dog had been beaten for being a submissive urinator which -- gues what!! -- made her more of a submissive urinator. Three months of hard work following the philosophy of this book have helped immensely. This book has applications in all of our dealings with other sensient beings. ... Read more

Editorial Review

No managerial or administrative task is as universally dreaded as the performance review. Supervisors may know the points they need to get across, but putting them on paper is another matter. This book puts the the right words at their fingertips, with ready-to-use phrases and words, action items, and descriptions that managers, supervisors, and HR professionals can use to evaluate performance, prepare development plans, and address performance problems.

2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Appraisals covers the 25 most commonly rated factors, including productivity, time management, decision making, and teamwork, as well as specific roles such as customer service, finance, sales, and more. The book provides hundreds of phrases to use in performance improvement plans, plus an appendix of helpful individual words. ... Read more

Reviews

Great Book! Just what I needed., July 13, 2005
As soon as my book arrived, I started flipping through the pages reading a few of the phrases on each when I realized this book is exactly what I need. I've been putting off my own performance review for several months now (yeah, I work for a manager - the CEO - who is very bad at completing performance reviews). As if writing an effective performance review isn't a daunting enough task, for me at least, it's ten times more difficult when it's my own performance I have to rate. I'm my own worst critic and this book is going to help me be more objective. Every page contains relevant phrases that I know I'll use over and over again. This will become an integral part of my HR Toolset! P.S. - I stayed up past midnight & completed my performance review. It was a breeze!

A great tool, January 3, 2006
I think this book is just great. It really helps you think about the performance of your direct reports and to articulate it clearly. I appreciate the way the book is laid out too - very helpful "goals" section helps you give constructive feedback to your employees. This book literally sits open on my desk as I write each review.

2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews, January 15, 2007
I would definitely recommend this book. I am presently involved in developing a template for a new Performance Appraisal for my company. The performance phrases in this book helped me define the guidlines for how to rate a performance in our work environment. Good reference book to have around.

Specific, actionable and measurable reviews., March 1, 2007
This is definitely a practical and usable book. A very good starting point for designing and writing performance reviews, especially with its wide scope of job types, and generous lists of example phrases for providing feedback and setting goals. I won't say it's perfect (despite rating it with 5 stars), because I think users of the book need to be aware that no off-the-shelf solution can work in every situation. Using this book shouldn't be about "copy and paste" but about conscious selection, finetuning and design.

That said, the majority of the phrases provided are very specific, actionable and measurable (very importantly). Paul provides a great model and great direction in an area that way too often is fraught with subjectivity, bias, poor judgement and fear.

2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews, January 13, 2008
Excellent tool for assisting managers with written comments on the performance reviews they are required to do on their employees. It especially helps managers with new phrases for employees they have been reviewing for years.

'2600 Phrases' great resource for Performance Reviews, October 10, 2008
Reviewing this book2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews: Ready-to-Use Words and Phrases That Really Get Results, I found it to be a useful resource for ideas when writing performance reviews. I have twenty reviews to write every quarter! Guess what? Sometimes I run out of ideas and ways to state something intriguing about each team member. If you are the type of person that gets 'blocked' when under pressure to get a report out, try this book. It will prompt you with phrases and catchy words that will jumpstart your brain. If you need support in writing an effective review, I think you will find that this is the book to try; I know I found it helpufl and will keep it for a resource on my shelf.

Extremely Helpful, November 9, 2008
Looking for a key word or phrase and/or having writers block? "2600 Phrases for Effective Writing" really comes in handy. Being in the military and writing performance reports on a daily basis, this book has helped me out all the time. Not only does it help for the good reports, it also does for the bad.

Great phrases found, February 12, 2008
This product was a quick way to finalize a review. It has great phrases that are very useful. Ever have one of those days where you just can't think of the greatest way of putting a sentence together? These phrases help put everything together in a well written manner.

A Must For Anybody in Management, March 9, 2008
This is a great little book. It covers just about very situation. It gives, on the money, phrases. It also provide phrases to use for recommended improvements. I'm the newest member of management in my corporation. When my boss read first reviews, he was totally impressed. It is definitely worth the money. I highly recommend this book.

Meets/Exceeds Expectations, October 24, 2008
Communication & Cooperation
* Regularly displays constructive information
* Asks well thought out questions
* Explains complicated issues clearly
... Read more

Editorial Review

This is one of the bestselling books ever published on the topic of project management. Now in a revised new third edition, it presents you with a wealth of proven techniques for managing projects—from establishing project objectives to building schedules to projecting costs. It includes all the basics on defining, planning, and tracking a project, as well as building stronger project teams. This new edition includes new chapters on Agile Project Management, PMI exam prep, and more. ... Read more

Reviews

The first Project Management book that makes sense., July 24, 1999
I've purchased a number of books on Project Management. They run the gamut from dry, cryptic self-congratulatory works of academic vanity to the disorganized and insultingly simplistic (including anything with the word "idiot's" in the title).

This is the first book I've read that I would consider appropriate for both seasoned PM's and those new to the discipline.

The format is great. For someone new to Project Management it has a logical, step by step flow backed up with relevant visuals and great case studies. For the more seasoned PM it is a treasure trove of problem-solving techniques, examples and formulas. It's not a book you'll be willing to loan to your friends (my copy looks to become one of the more "dog-eared" in my collection).

I run a small company but many of my clients are quite large (the companies, not the... nevermind). The concepts in "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management" are adaptable to any size business and any size project; the case studies range from the development of the Boeing 767-400 to how Seattle's Safeco Field keeps their grass green. If the rest of "The Fast Forward MBA" series are as strong and results-oriented as this book, I may end up getting the collection.

All PM Professionals & Students Should Have a Personal Copy, June 9, 2000
Verzuh's book is at the top of its class. We just recently concluded a Project Management Seminar here in Barbados and this was the text used throughout the seminar. In addition, it's one of the standard texts on our Project Management Professional Diploma Program.

What most heady and highly theoretical writers on project management tend to do in over 500 pages, Verzuh achieved in 300 pages. He was able to demystify Project Management and present it in such a way that everyone out there with an interest in the subject area could follow. It would therefore be totally incongruous to review this book in academic jargon. By the same token, it perfectly compliments some of the more abstract academic texts that are out there.

We particularly found the chapter on the Work Breakdown Structure to be very useful since most amateurs will probably just buy a software package and command it intuitively without fully understanding the logic and problem solving behind the it. Verzuh's text will definitely help you to better understand the logic behind the software.

The text is highly recommended and our students love it.

Andre Barrow & Ian Walcott

Grey's Consulting Inc. greysconsulting@sunbeach.net

Short, sweet and to the point, just like Eric's book., November 22, 1999
I teach Project Management to Fortune 100 companies and I'm a principal in an internet based project management enterprise, 'ProjectOasis.com'.

I tell my students: 'If you want 1 book that covers it all in a way you can quickly access and put to practical use then get Eric's book. The material in the book is well proven and can be applied in all industries and on all projects.'

I've seen this book stolen from conference rooms! I recommend you buy your copy... from Amazon of course.

PM's Best Friend, December 8, 2000
While my favorite text on project management is Visualizing Project Management, this handly treasure chest of PM knowledge and techniques is my constant companion. It is much more than a quick reference quide - it contains a lot of information that I haven't stumbled across in any other project management book, such as metrics, estimating techniques and sound advice on a number of PM topics that are presented concisely. In other words, this book has a lot of meat and no fluff.

If you are starting out as a project manager I recommend Visualizing Project Management as your first book. However, if you are a practicing and experienced project manager this is "must-have". And the price is right! When was the last time you found a decent book on project management (or any other technical or business subject) priced below $15.00? Price aside, the value of this book is the content and the fact that it covers project management the way it should be covered: work breakdown structures, risk management, earned value and other controls. I strongly recommend this book.

New Project Managment Student, September 17, 2000
I work for a major airline in NY and I am presently involved in the certification program to become a Project Manager. I am studying with the PMBOK Group and have just completed the Project Management Module of courses including the simulation exam. I have purchased several books on the subject of Project Managment however I have found the: Fast Forward MBA in Project Management to be the most useful.

Each chapter is broken down into key areas which can adapt to any skill level of a Project Manager. The one chapter which was especially informative and helpful to me was in regards to the: Work Breakdown Structure (Chapter 6). Once a new student understands the concept of the WBS you have a strong foundation for what Project Management stands for.

I consistently reference this book as I continue my studies and learn each new area of Project Management. This is a definite MUST HAVE book for a Project Manager's library.

Gives theoretical knowledge only, May 1, 2003
I ordered two project management books - this one by Verzuh and one called "Fundamentals of Project Management: Developing Core Competencies to Help Outperform the Competition" 2nd edition by James Lewis.

This one by Verzuh described core project managment procedures but lacked many real-world examples of these procedures in action, other than cursory remarks about how some process helped some company.

The book by Lewis was much more practical and seemed to be written from a person who had actually done lots of PM work rather than learned the theory and then wrote a book on it.

Outstanding and Comprehensive Introduction to Project Management, January 22, 2006
As someone who has performed a bit of project management in the Aerospace industry I can honestly say how much I wished I had read this book BEFORE I started doing PM. Without it I got by, through hard work, trying to apply common sense, and the luck of having great bosses. But it was painful nonetheless and often felt like I was walking an icy tightrope in pitch-black.

I did about a year of PM on a small project and the moved onto more design related work on a larger effort. This book cleared up everything that didn't quite click about PM while I was doing it, and it would have absolutely helped out if I had read it before hand. It also helps you understand how any work you do fits into the big picture, wheter it is PM or not, and will help you do it better with an eye towards continuous improvement and learning from history.

Also having recently gotten a Master's degree in engineering yet never having been exposed to project management at school I can say what a dis-service that is to college students (particularly engineers and other knowledge workers.) There really should be a project management requirement class built around this book for any good engineering school.

The book is broken into steps and chapters that guide you sequentially through the project management process. It is written in a very easy to understand, poignant, and concise manner. There is a little repetition but only to make sure the most important ideas sink in, and to show you they are important by showing how often they arise in doing project management. The book is also very hands-on, and can be used as a how-to guide. You don't even have to read the entire book to begin applying it. You can apply it as you learn, and at 12 chapters long you can read it quickly if you commit to a chapter a day.

An excellent book that will introduce you to all the basics of project management in an applied manner. Extremely useful and a MUST read for anyone not only doing project management, but working on projects!

PMP Instructor Recommendation, October 1, 2005
I have been teaching a PMP preparation class for several years now and I recommend this book to every one of my students because it fits and supports the strategy which I stress: concepts, concepts, concepts - if you get the concepts, the rest (processes, formulas, techniques, etc.) comes easier. I recommend this book because it nails the concepts consistent with PMI's PMBOK guide plus it provides an approach to the application of these concepts in the workplace. If you're preparing for the PMP exam or just need a guide to help improve your project management skills, I highly recommend "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, Second Edition."

Good Grounding in Project Management Skills, September 22, 2000

This is an very good book for a beginning or intermediate Project Manager. The author lays out the concepts of project management in a structured, well-though through pattern. The chapters are well-ordered and concepts build nicely as you move throught the chapters.

In many ways it is a good idea to read this book before working with a Project Management software package. One will move much faster along the learning curve on a project management application, like Microsoft Project, by reading this book prior to touching the program.

Regardless of the industry, or function in which you may be managing projects, this book will help you design and build a solid project management process.

Easily readable but full of excellent content, March 27, 2000
Rare is a book that is both easily readable but content rich. This book is one such.

Project Management is both art and science. In the art part comes all the leadership skills and people skills that you acquire through life experiences.

There is also a large "science" part to Project Management. To be effective as a Project Manager you need the right methods, the right tools and techniques. This is where the book comes in handy.

The book is a very good exposition of the methods, tools and techniques of Project Management. It is easy without being simplistic. There is good advice to be had for each phase of the project. Much of the advice presented is applicable to a wide variety of domains (e.g. Construction, Software, etc).

I find this book immensely useful in my role as Technical Manager. While the author expects you to learn the art from your own experiences, he teaches you a lot of the science.

As a welcome added bonus, the book is both thin and inexpensive. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be is a handbook of how to succeed in the world - a pocket 'bible' for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible. The world's top advertising guru, Paul Arden, offers up his wisdom on issues as diverse as problem solving, responding to a brief, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes and creativity, all notions that can be applied to aspects

of modern life. This book provides a unique insight into the world of advertising and is a quirky compilation of quotes, facts, pictures, wit and wisdom, packed into easy-to-digest, bite-sized spreads. If you want to succeed in life or business, this is a must!

Paul Arden began his career in advertising at the age of 16. For 14 years he was Executive Creative Director at Saatchi and Saatchi, where he was responsible for some of Britain's best known campaigns including British Airways, Silk Cut, Anchor Butter, InterCity and Fuji. His famous

slogans include 'The Car in front is a Toyota' and 'The Independent - It is - Are You?'. In 1993 he set up the London-based production company Arden Sutherland-Dodd where he is now a commercials director for clients such as BT, BMW, Ford, Nestle and Levis. ... Read more

Reviews

Great motivation for anyone doing anything creative, August 19, 2005
Before you get confused by the "World's best selling book" tagline, read the title of the book again. "It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be." Obviously, Arden aspires to have this be the world's best selling book.

All of the advice in this book comes out of Arden's experience in the advertising industry, but it has value for everyone doing work in creative fields. (And as many have said, business as a whole is a creative pursuit.) Even the advice that seems to be advertising-centric has wider relevance, if you open your mind a bit.

There's a lot of very good advice in this book, presented in a very easy to digest format. I come back to this book again and again whenever I need a pep talk, and every time it works. How are being unafraid of failure, having ambition, and being open to new ideas not relevant to your life?

Powerful little book, December 7, 2008
I was drawn by the bold statement on the cover and being a graphic designer, also drawn to the great type treatment! This book is a wonderful companion to motivate anyone in going for it now! Arden's experience is mainly in advertising and his writings ring true for life and for opening yourself to endless possibilities. His advice is honest and brave.

It reminded me of the work of Ariel and Shya Kane and Instantaneous Transformation. By reading their 3 principles which you can find in the book Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life and by attending their Monday night seminars and workshops in New York City, I have experienced countless creative shifts. These shifts have supported me in generating original projects effortlessly at work and in my personal life. Well-being and satisfaction are a part of my day in and day out experience, regardless of the circumstances.

I recommend both Arden and the Kanes as a must on your bookshelf for creativity that translates into productivity and a richer life.

Title says all, December 10, 2005
I knew I had to buy the book when I looked through it at the store. It's pretty and designed well. It's dimensions are pleasing, and the size perfect for one sitting. Since Arden has experience in the advertising industry, he knows how to keep my attention. And that means it's not some how-to book with lots of text. The book is meant to stimulate you, not cram you full of advice. So, it's not "fluff."

Though my copy was taken from me, I still remember many parts of the book and plan to buy another. This book is indeed for everyone, not just those in advertising. Arden merely uses his own experience in his field to make a universal point.

Highly creative book about becoming more creative, July 25, 2007
This is a highly creative book about becoming more creative. It is filled with provoking thoughts and exercises. I recommend this book very much to anyone seeking to expand, enrich, widen their personal creativity. It could easily be a supplementary textbook for many courses in high school and college.

Lots of inspiring quotes but is it worth the price?, March 31, 2004
This book is packed with wisdom and insights on how to succeed in any creative based business. It will inspire you and push you to heights you never knew you can reach However, the way it is written/presented makes it one of tthe greatest rip-offs of the year. It is basically a collection of one liners and phrases. Not that what's written are rubbish (it is very helpful) but some are obvious common sense. It is a very quick read, I managed to read the WHOLE book in a bookstore while standing. This where I balk at recommending this book for purchase. Borrow it from someone or wait when for it in the bargain bin or used books section because spending for the cover price is not worth the content.

simply hit the mark!, June 24, 2004
5 seconds holding this book is enough to make you realize you need to change. After 5 seconds.. little did you know, you'd probably already somewhere in the middle of the book.
A 'bible' for all goals specially for those who work in marketing and advertising world.

Never a dull moment., April 16, 2004
There are lessons within this book that you may have learnt. But with that busy life of yours that once the idea had popped into your head, it popped right out. This just acts out as a little guide book, a reminder perhaps to get you through to remembering what you really want and how to get it. Though it draws on advertising mainly, it can be presented in many levels. There are great examples, pictures... Nothing too boring that would make you set it aside and never touch the damn thing again. Something easy to pick up when you've lost all hope and motivation. Its language and simplistic manner is set out so that there is no "drag time." There are books that span pages to get a point across, making it hard to pinpoint their exact meaning. Others too open to analogical readings. This is not one of them. Easy to reference, inspirational quotes, a great read really. An enjoyable one too.

Please read this book!, March 8, 2007
It will take perhaps an hour. I read it about 6 times a year as a reminder of what to do and equally important, what NOT to do. Take control of your success in today's business world.

Quick but valuable read, April 6, 2007
This book was recommended to me by a co-worker on the fast track. He loved it, and so did I. It makes you think and at the end, it makes you want to start over and read it again. I already recommended it to a friend who bought it for two other friends. For the money, it's a worthy investment!

Not for the faint hearted!, January 23, 2007
The title tells it all. It's not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be. Inspiration is very hard to get these days, I think it is a great motivational book for anyone who wants to be great. To some, the book may seem short and without much to say. I would say read deeper and you will see that wisdom is not in long words, it is in the right ones!

I would recommend this book especially to young creatives and to those who got lost along the way. It is a great and easy read in which you will come back again and again for the words to sink deeper. As a very wise man said, motivation is motive in action. If your motive is greatness, you should act on it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

• Exclusive access to 4 full-length practice tests online
• More than 250 practice questions with detailed explanations
• Engaging video tutorials and admissions advice from our top instructors
• Extensive coverage of math, verbal, and the analytical writing assessment
• Practical information on the what, when, where, and how of the GMAT
• Additional sample problems and drills on the companion website
• Thorough review of data sufficiency, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, sentence correction, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and more
• Planning and organization tips to get you all the way to test day! ... Read more

Reviews

Don't waste your money., July 9, 2008
This book does a nice job of introducing the format of the GMAT, what it is, etc. If you are completely ignorant about what the GMAT is, then it may be worth your time to drive over to the local bookstore and thumb through the first couple of chapters. Beyond that there is very little useful information to be found in this book. In fact, I think that the strategies outlined for the quantitative section are simply misleading and wrong.

For example, early on the book describes a guy named "Joe Bloggs," who is essentially a complete idiot who did not prepare at all for the exam. Most every math problem explanation shows one or two answer choices that Joe would have selected because either they are intermediate solutions (solutions that are found during necessary, but preliminary steps on the way to the final solution), or they are just "too obvious." That's real cute, and perhaps makes people more comfortable with the test, but let me tell you that it will not help you on test day, and will likely hurt you.

The best thing that you can do in your preparation is learn the basics cold. Do this by frequenting some of the GMAT prep site forums, where a plethora of practice problems with expert solutions can be found. To sum up the quantitative tutorials in this book- "Make sure that you find out what the question is asking, and make sure that you do not stop short of the full solution, as they will tempt you with answer choices that they know you will encounter during your work to solve the problem." Well, that is sound advice, and much harder in practice than it sounds, but hardly worth basing an entire book upon.

If you are somebody who is really struggling with sentence correction, I would actually recommend that section, as I feel it does do a nice job of summing up the ideal approach to those questions.

In closing, I would say that if you are somebody who is simply trying to get to a 550-600 score, then this book may well be right up your alley, as the concepts are introduced in a very friendly and frankly, childish way. However, if you aspire to a 700+ score, this book is beneath you, and you really need to pass this one up. I bought this book on a whim early in my preparation, because I heard good reviews of it, but promptly closed it and set it aside for the duration of my studies and only used it once for the aforementioned reasons, and I scored a 750. I honestly believe that the reason these books sell so well is that reading them is in a way therapeutic, as it makes you feel comfortable with the test. Trust me that that is not a good thing. You have to make a realistic assessment of your weaknesses, and work to improve those, not waste your time practicing some cutesy methods that you won't have time to use on test day.

Great Book, Don't Get The DVD, July 21, 2007
The DVD is very low budget and does not give very useful information. The DVD is short, with only 2 or 3 example questions from each the verbal and quantitative sections. Not a good effort. This is the first book review I have ever written and I only wrote it because I felt so incredibly ripped off by the DVD. Get the book, but not the DVD.

Getting Most out of This book, December 4, 2004
I bought this book as my first GMAT prep guide because I had heard a lot about Princeton Review series. From the very beginning I felt that writers of this book hate ETS. They kept talking about how ETS doesn't care about real intelligence or capabilities but only about money.
That said, the book was helpful, even though a little inconsistent at times. Here are all the positives and negatives:

Positives:
1) Great Quantitative section. You will learn all high school math quickly and efficiently.
2) The tricks and tips described in this book really work. The POE and Joe Bloggs become part of your problem solving strategy.
3) Covers all aspects of preparation, from the day you buy the book, to the application strategy

Negatives:
1) Seriously flawed AWA section. Everything they said about writing a great essay goes contrary to what ETS suggests. I would rather trust ETS than Princeton.
2) Inconsistencies confuse the reader: Sometimes they talk about moving on as quickly as possible. At other times they advice spending enough time on some questions.
3) Wrong answers: A number of answers provided by them are wrong confusing the reader even further.
4) Illogical explanations are provided for some of the concepts. It seems the writers were in a hurry to finish the book.

CONCLUSION: Worth Buying but you cannot rely upon this one book alone. For top 10 schools, score of 700 is average today. This means you cannot afford to make many errors. Princeton is not sufficient to gaurantee that. You must download the free material provided by ETS at www.mba.com and buy a few other books like Kaplan's.

Best of the lot but had problems with the software, June 19, 2004
I wrote my test recently and scored 750. This book is the closest to the real test besides ETS paper tests I used.
I had issues with the software they provided as I had to upload the results to the princeton review website and I couldnt get a final score initally though I could review each question individually.
Hopefully Princeton Review has fixed these issues by now.

Useful, but there are better books, August 5, 2005
I have used books from several different companies to prepare for the GMAT: Kaplan, Princeton Review, ETS, ARCO, and Powerscore. Each has different strenghths and weaknesses, but certainly Princeton Review has been the most frustrating.

Cracking the GMAT has some very useful information. It is a great introduction to the test, and offers insightful methods for each type of question on the test. It is laid out in a very user-friendly format.

However, the practice exams are terrible. While most of the questions are of decent quality (important, since ETS is the only book allowed to use REAL questions), the explanations are lousy. Kaplan has got this part nailed down. In addition, the software that is included with this book is so primitive that you will be lucky if you get anything but frustration. It includes fewer practice features than the other books, and the practice exams do not even mirror those of the actual exam.

If you are only going to use 1 preparation guides, I would highly recommend getting Kaplan's, for its ease of use, quantity of resources, and quality of strategies. If you can get another, get your hands on "The Official Guide for GMAT Review," which is the only book that has Real GMAT questions, and contains little else.

Happy Studying!

Princeton Review - Great book, September 26, 2007
Great book if you're looking to learn how to be as efficient as possible on the GMAT. It also teaches you alternative ways to solve problems and attack the verbal section. Extremely helpful book. Once you've learned the technique needed to attack the GMAT, go ahead and buy the OFficial Guide for GMAT Review. The GMAT Review book has actual questions and you'll get a better idea of what kind of questions are asked.

Software is horrible!, July 24, 2004
Like many of the other users, I took a test using the enclosed cd. When I had finished sitting for 3 hours, I waited eagerly for my score. Unfortunately retrieving my score pinned my CPU at 100% for about 20 mintues. Multiple attempts at this throughout the day didn't help. I never did receive my score. So I went and bought Kaplan's book which has the answers included on the CD.

Good Intro to the GMAT, but inadequate for people seeking higher GMAT scores, November 10, 2009
I self studied and scored a 770 on the GMAT. Here are my thoughts on Princeton Review's Cracking the GMAT book:

===== OVERVIEW =====

The Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT book is, like the Kaplan GMAT 2010 Premier Live Online book, a general GMAT strategy guide. However, apart from the natural similarities (such as separate chapters for the 5 types of problems you will see on the GMAT plus an essay section), the two books follow markedly different "paths to knowledge".

As advertised from the beginning, The Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT is not a guide that emphasizes building subject-matter skills in the quantitative or verbal fields, but rather focuses on what the authors call "cracking the system" - tips and tricks to help you score higher with an obvious preference for process of elimination (POE) and picking numbers. Personally, I do not fully support such strategies for the GMAT (I consider them more as backup plans). Here's why: POE cannot and will never replace actually knowing the answer to a question, it will just improve your chances of getting it right. Picking numbers is also quite risky: I sometimes see this strategy discussed in online forums; people try to pick numbers, but particularly at an advanced level they pick the wrong set of numbers and everything falls apart.

The book is a pleasant read though, and I personally found the small info boxes on the sides of pages to be quite entertaining and interesting. The authors use "the average test taker" for examples of do's and don'ts. However, I didn't like the authors' tone for describing the GMAT - I felt an overall negative vibe about the test, which was not the case when I read The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible for instance. An example would come from the Reading Comprehension chapter: "No one in her right mind would ever read one of these passages of her own free will. They are almost always boring." I strongly disagree with this view, since I personally enjoyed most texts, particularly those dealing with the social sciences. My advice is to think of the GMAT as a sort of mind game you have to beat, an interesting little challenge. I assure you that feeling positive about the GMAT will make the experience a lot less painful.

===== PROS =====

* A good introduction to the GMAT, an easy read to make you understand what the test is about, how it's scored, and what to expect on test day

* If your quantitative skills are not fresh, definitely give this book a chance. It covers math basics pretty well. Again, the fact that it's an easy read will probably help you reconnect with junior high and high school math

* Questions are structured in "bins" according to difficulty, which means you can focus on your particular level when you practice

* The book comes with a registration code you can use to gain online access to four CATs (computer-adaptive practice tests). However, I felt that these practice tests were a bit easier than the actual GMAT

===== CONS =====

* If you're shooting for a higher score (above 600), this book won't help much. You will need other resources to help you reach your goal

* At just over 280 questions, this book has fewer and easier practice questions as compared to other guides (like Kaplan GMAT 2010 Premier Live Online). Also the explanations could use some more work, particularly in verbal. I personally get really upset if the best explanation for why an answer is wrong is "because it's out of scope"! This will definitely not help a test taker understand where her error in reasoning was!

* The focus on strategies such as POE and number picking means that you'll have some potentially useful tools for G-day, but such strategies might backfire. Cracking the GMAT does not provide an in-depth analysis of question types and their respective approaches

===== BOTTOM LINE =====

After going through The Princeton Review's Cracking the GMAT, all I can truly say is this: the book is good, but only for a certain level (that is, up to mid-600s). As a basic guide, it shines; as a tool for getting into that top 10 MBA, I do not think it delivers. If you do not already know your starting level, I advise you to do the following: go to [...], download the free GMATPrep software, and take practice test #1 (save #2 for the last days of your prep!). If you score significantly below 600, consider investing in this book. If you score higher than 600, you'd best search for a different resource since you'll need a more rigorous program to get to a higher percentile score.

About me: Dana Jinaru, 770 GMAT scorer, expert at Beat The GMAT - a community serving 100K+ GMAT students/month

Best of the bunch, September 1, 2005
I went through the entire book (incl. practice problems) in one week to get myself geared up for the GMAT grind (3.5 weeks total). The quant section provided a pretty thorough review of the different concepts and skills you expect to apply on the GMAT. The verbal section was also useful. The thing I liked most about this guide is how well it was organized. Each section received an adequate amount of attention and the concepts were clear enough to remember/apply. I also found the tips and techniques quite helpful. Although it was a great study guide, their "ETS bashing" starts to get a little tiring after a while. However, it made the book more interesting to read through and, therefore, more effective. I glanced through Kaplan's guide (which I bought solely for their practice tests), but didn't find it to be as well organized or as thorough in the quant department.

As for practice tests, yes, the PR tests are easier than Kaplan's and the actual GMAT. However, they help you build your confidence and ease your way into the grind. I should also add that it is important to practice a lot of easy questions since it helps you to refine the basic skills that you'll need on the more difficult questions. I purchased Kaplan's guide to try some more difficult practice tests. Although your ego may take some abuse, Kaplan's questions reflect some of the most difficult quant questions you'll see on the GMAT. Finally, I suggest using ETS's Powerprep tests to round our your routine. These tests (not surprisingly) most closely represented the level of difficulty I saw on the actual GMAT (by the way, I ended up with a 710). Even though I tried out different tests, I always went back to the PR guide for reference.

Good luck.

Practice exams the only saving grace, February 1, 2005
The strategies in this book are some of the worst I've ever seen in my life. They make stupid recommendations like, "If you think the question is difficult, you can rule out the obvious answer as being correct." The entire strategy they present is based on second-guessing what the writer of the quesiton was thinking. If you want to play psychologist during your exam this might be right up your alley, but I'd rather spend my time studying to be able to arriving at the correct answers on my own.

The questions in the book are far too easy. If you want practice questions stick to the offical GMAT guide.

As the title of my review indicates, the exams are the saving grace of this book. Why? They let you practice taking a 4 hour long test using software similar to that used for the real test. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Great Resource, January 14, 2005
I picked up this book the week before I started my first grant writing job and boy was I glad! I knew the organization relatively well, and combined with the insights this book gave me I was able to be successful, winning one major and several minor grants for the organization within my first four months. This book is perfect for grant writers, but there is certainly the bigger picture of fundraising that you ought to be aware of, especially if you are in a small organization. The book's title seemed a bit grandiose to me, but it lived up to its name.

Simply the Best, June 9, 2004
Purchased this book with a few others to get started on grant writing for a non-profit. Read the book front to back in less than a week because I enjoyed it so much. I found myself coming into my office each morning and checking out new websites from the book to help me. After reading the book, I truly understand what grantmakers are looking for in a proposal. Thank you so much!

A Handbook Way Overdue, July 30, 2003
Having pursued many grants over the years, I anguish at the number of hours I could have saved with only a bit of the wisdom offered in Karsh and Fox's book. Herein we learn not only canny methodology, but correct protocols and language to keep our proposals off the junk heap.
Most remarkably, the material is presented in a jaunty style which belies the notion that grant-writing (or -reading) has to be an onerous or dryasdust task. "Realty checks" may spare you the agony of wondering whether your proposal dropped into a black hole. You can't write a successful grant proposal without inhabiting the mind of a grantmaker, and even failed proposals can fuel you for the next, successful foray.
I wouldn't dream of attempting another grant without this book at my side. Buy it!

The Best, September 16, 2003
This really IS the only grant- writing book you'll ever need. It's an extremely helpful book that is both readable as well as comprehensive. The websites are exhaustive, the appendix material useful, the glossary of terms highly technical and inclusive, and the interviews with funders are unique. All in all - a gem.

Superb -- readable, direct, informative, September 17, 2003
These two professional grantseekers provide a very helpful perspective for both newcomers to the grants world and those with experience. The grantmakers interviews are particularly helpful, and the honest and unpretentious style of the book make it an enjoyable read.

I sought the book out as a guide for some volunteer grantwriting I was doing. It was the only guide I used, and it helped me win a $50,000 grant!

Help at Last, September 16, 2003
I found this book especially reader-friendly in spite of the complexities of the grants process. The glossary of terms and the interviews with people who give grants offered valuable insight into the world of grants.

I especially appreciated the emphasis on the need for collaboration. This was presented in a convincing manner!

What a jewel!, July 25, 2003
This is priceless - being a first time grant writer, it is the best resource I have read to help me through the process. Thank you, Ellen and Arlen!

It Just Might Be True!, November 17, 2007
I'm studying grant writing and have been picking up all these grant writing books. By far, this was the easiest for me to delve into. I thought that odd as I expected the Idiot's and Dummy's guides to be easier and quicker, but the narrative in this book is a pleasant read and the grant writing process just makes so much sense the way the authors present the information. Good job!

More for organizations than individuals, April 4, 2007
It more geared towards someone writing for grants for a non-profit as opposed to artist/business grants.

It finally makes sense!, July 23, 2003
The anecdotes and interviews made this book more than just a how-to book. It is so well written and presented that the pain of trying to understand the process is gone. It was good reading,too.

I highly recommend The Only Grant Writing Book You'll Ever Need. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A candid and indispensable primer on all aspects of advertising from the man Time has called "the most sought after wizard in the business". 223 photos. ... Read more

Reviews

The information in this book is priceless, January 21, 2002
If you're in the profession of advertising, and this book isn't on your bookshelf, dog-eared, stained and well-worn, you've been ripping off your clients.

The entire premise of Ogilvy on Advertising boils down to one simple statement (coined by Claude Hopkins nearly 80 years ago in his book Scientific Advertising): "Advertising is salesmanship."

Sadly, the advertising world has drifted from that solid mooring. And now those who profess it are considered anachronistic at best. And kooky at worst.

Ogilvy, a staunch admirer of Hopkins, firmly embraced that tenet -- and it propelled him and his agency (Ogilvy and Mather) to the Mount Olympus of the advertising world. Most importantly, it made his clients rich beyond the dreams of avarice.

Ogilvy's writing is captivating. His work, legendary. His ideas, timeless. The information in this book is easily work 10 times the cover price.

I've been in the profession of advertising for nearly 15 years. I'm also an adjunct professor at a nearby university. I wholeheartedly recommend Ogilvy On Advertising to my students. I firmly embrace its principles in my profession.

And I, without hesitation, urge you to read it as well.

For anyone who uses creativity at work, April 18, 2003
This is one of those rare books everyone ought to have to read. Like "The Elements of Style," "Writing That Works, and "Profiles in Courage." I had read this book back in 1990 when I was out of work, looking for a job in advertising. The advertising job never happened for me and I moved on to other things.

I did not realize, until I recently picked up a copy to re-read, how much it had influenced me the first time I read it. Half of the way I conduct myself at work and a lot of my thought processes and strategy is still influenced by what is in this book. I make over 6 times what I made back in 1991. I realize now I have Mr. Ogilvy to thank for a great deal of that.

Read this book. At least once.

Half of all the advertising course you need, April 11, 2002
Want to understand how to be a copywriter or an art director? You need two books, and then you need to start making ads. Ogilvy's is one of them. Although it's now 20 years old, the examples may seem out of date and some of his imperial pronoucements ("No reverse type") may seem fusty, don't be fooled. You will learn all you need to know about the classical art of making smart ads that make a strong, memorable point here. You will gain a grounding in the history and development of the profession which will serve you well. Then, when you've finished it, read "Hey Whipple, Squeeze This" by Luke Sullivan to bring your perspective a little more up to date (always important in trend-crazed ad agencies). But don't kid yourself that Ogilvy won't be the foundation of your work.

Opinionated, pithy, entertaining, informative, January 21, 2000
David Ogilvy sums up his years of experience as an advertising legend in a dozen concise and amply illustrated chapters. Critics might be inclined to attack his opinions as dogmatic, and some of the ads he uses as examples appear corny and outdated today. On the other hand, so do the clothes and hairstyles in old movies, but it doesn't make them any less valuable as historical artifacts, or any less interesting.

As for dogmatism, it's actually refreshing to get an unambiguous read on a profession that is by nature nebulous, and if anyone has a right to an opinion, he's the man.

The chapter on print advertising contains enough densely packed information to allow an intelligent novice to design and write a creditable ad, and the book concludes with a series of short profiles of advertising pioneers such as Leo Burnett that are highly engrossing.

Ogilvy's writing style is exemplary for anyone in the communications field: terse, forceful, devoid of hot air. Anyone interested in advertising, marketing, or public relations---or in David Ogilvy as a figure in his own right---will enjoy this classic.

Get Inside the Mind of A Genius! Ad Improvement Assured., November 29, 2002
You will be so glad you bought this book. You get tens of thousands of dollars worth of "genius consulting" for so little.

I suspect you are like me, and like most marketers, you're always looking for better ways to improve your ROI. I've read at least a dozen of the top marketing, ad writing, copywriting books out there. Scientific Advertising, Copywriting That Sells, and Ogilvy on Advertising are superior.

Ogilvy on Advertising is the best. Written in David Ogilvy's British sense of humour it is enjoyable. This is not a textbook. Every point of advice (and there are many) is well-founded in fact and is time-tested. The book is jam-packed with illustrations of the tips and opinions on how to write/design better ads. And even on what bad ads look/read like.

The only two chapters not useful to me were on Getting a Job in the industry and building an agency (these would certainly be profound for any individual pursuing either of these ends nonetheless.) Other than that, I'd stop reading my review and buy this book today. Within 30 minutes of reading Ogilvy on Advertising you'll be sketching out better ads - as I did.

Straightforward Advice from An Advertising Titan, March 20, 2003
As many reviewers have mentioned, this book is a classic. Ogilvy's wisdom is only matched by his wit. Some takeaways:

1) "The wrong advertising can actually reduce the sales of a product" (pg 9)

2) "If you are lucky enough to write a good advertisement, repeat it until it stops selling." (pg 19)

3) "If it does not sell, it is not creative." (pg 24)

4) Hire "gentlemen with brains." (pg 48)

5) Communicate verbally. Attend the right meetings. Remember the French saying, "He who is absent is always wrong." (pg 56)

6) "Any fool can write bad advertising, but it takes a genius to keep his hands off a good one." (pg 67)

7) People read headlines 5 times as often as they read the body. People remember ads with news 22% more than ads without news. (pg 71)

8) Ads in four colors cost 50% more, but are 100% more memorable. (pg 79)

9) In TV ads, use the name it the first 10 seconds. Show the package.

10) Learn from P&G: They are disciplined. They only enter categories they think will grow. They have multiple brands that compete against each other. They invest heavily to launch a brand. They never change a successful strategy. 60% of the ads show a demonstration. They communciate the name of the products repeatedly. The names fo the products are easy and simple. They don't use celebrities. (pg 155)

Common sense is always timeless, March 15, 2001
I've owned the same doggeared, underlined, highlighted and notated copy of Ogilvy on Advertising for 15 years and it never ceases to amaze me that while I continue to buy and read advertising and marketing books at a steady clip I keep coming back to the most pleasurable and sensible book on the subject I've ever read.

I could break the book down and give my opinion on this or that but the book is such a delightful read you should just dive in.

Granted, some may say that the book is out of date but I counter that (oops, with my opinion) Ogilvy understood people and tapped into the fact that regardless of the passage of time and all of our new mellinnium brilliance, we're all basically the same under the surface and basically the same as people 100 years ago.

Enjoy it.

Easily one of the best books ever written on advertising!, March 1, 2003
My gosh! What a book! This is, without a doubt, one of the best books ever written on advertising. And certainly the most entertaining.

You'd have to be a brain-dead advertising or marketing moron not to learn a thing or two from Ogilvy's abundant war stories.

Ogilvy's wit abounds. A few of his gems:

"There have always been noisy lunatics on the fringes of the advertising business. Their stock-in-trade includes ethnic humor, eccentric art direction, contempt for research and their self-proclaimed genius. They are seldom found out, because they gravitate to the kind of clients who, bamboozled by their rhetoric, do not hold them responsible for sales results..... I comfort myself with the reflection that I have sold more merchandise than all of them put together."

"In saying this, I run the risk of being denounced by idiots who hold that any advertising technique which has been in use for more than two years is ipso facto obsolete. They excoriate slice-of-life commercials, demonstrations and talking heads, turning a blind eye to the fact that those techniques still make the cash register ring."

"I sometimes wonder if there is a tacit conspiracy among clients, media and agencies to avoid putting advertising to such acid tests. Everyone involved has a vested interest in prolonging the myth that all advertising increases sales to some degree. It doesn't."

"Do I practice what I preach? Not always. I have created my share of fancy campaigns, but if you ask which of my advertisements has been the most successful, I will answer without hesitation that it was the first ad I wrote for industrial development in Puerto Rico. It won no awards for 'creativity', but it persuaded scores of manufacturers to start factories in that poverty-stricken island. Sad to say, an agency which produced nothing but this kind of down-to-earth advertising would never win a reputation for 'creativity', and would wither on the vine."

"On an airplane not long ago, I overheard the following conversation:

'What business are you in?'
'Engineer. You?'
'I'm an account executive in ad agency.'
'You write the ads?'
'No, copywriters do that.'
'That must be a fun job.'
'It's not easy. We do a lot of research.'
'You do the research?'
'No, we have research people for that.'
'Do you bring in the new clients?'
'That's not my job.'
'Forgive me, but what is your job?'
'Marketing.'
"You do the marketing for the clients?'
'No, they do it themselves.'
'Are you in management?'
'No, but I soon will be.'"

That's not all! There are reprints of many of David Ogilvy's classic print ads. Including some that aren't Ogilvy's (for example, Volkswagen "Think Small".) Ogilvy's Rolls Royce ad, which sold out Rolls Royce North American inventory, is also reproduced. Along with Ogilvy's print ads for Schweppes, Hathaway Shirts and Puerto Rico.

A gold mine of ideas.

As David Ogilvy writes at the end of the book's overture: "If you think this is a lousy book, you should have seen it before my partner Joel Raphaelson did his best to de-louse it. Bless you, Joel."

And bless you, David Ogilvy!

If there's only 1 book on advertising to read, this is it., November 27, 1997
No one who has anything to do with advertising should have anything to do with advertising before reading this book at least 7 times; most of all agency people. Mandatory reading sessions every 6 months should be a be a job requirement for every agency employee. Why? So they don't forget that advertising is not an artform...it is sales...just as Ogilvy says/quotes...if it doesn't sell it's not creative (this doesn't mean that advertising that does sell shouldn't be creative). The single most amazing fact of this book is its flow which provides for totally effortless reading. The wealth of information paird with the entertaining autobiographical and documentary elements and examples creates one of the most solid & comprehensive books on the topic. It is equally suitable reading material for ad-executives, students and laymen (and women). First-class writing in a first-class way.

Truly a classic - Own it for your library and Read it for your health, May 13, 2006
Buy this book. It is simple and smart. I constantly reference it for marketing advice. This book was much better than any textbook I read in college. It combines pages of classic Ogilvy & Mather print ads with crisp, honest commentary and advice. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The 8 Manhattan GMAT Strategy Guides (5 Quantitative, 3 Verbal) are the heart of our curriculum. Our 5 Quantitative Strategy Guides provide in-depth instruction in the GMAT's principal quantitative content areas: Number Properties, Fractions, Decimals, & Percents, Word Translations, Equations, Inequalities, & VIC's, and Geometry. Our 3 Verbal Strategy Guides provide in-depth instruction in the GMAT's principal verbal content areas: Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.Included in this set are: The Critical Reasoning Guide (200 pages; ISBN: 0-9824238-0-2); The Equations, Inequalities, & VICs Guide (192 pages; ISBN: 0-9824238-1-0); The Fractions, Decimals, & Percents Guide (112 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-2-9); The Geometry Guide (112 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-3-7); The Number Properties Guide (160 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-4-5); The Reading Comprehension Guide (152 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-5-3); The Sentence Correction Guide (288 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-6-1); The Word Translations Guide (176 pages; ISBN:0-9824238-7-X).[b]The content of this set is aligned to the latest Official Guides from GMAC (12th edition)[/b].[b]Special Features:[/b]Purchase of this set includes one year of access to ManhattanGMAT's online Question Banks and Exams. ... Read more

Reviews

Get this collection and an Official Guide 12ed and you are set, November 28, 2009
If you are just starting out with GMAT prep - get this bundle; it's a good deal for the Manhattan GMAT Guides (separately they cost close to $150). These books don't emphasize tricks or easy ways to 700+ score, instead they methodically cover areas tested, and should be pretty much all you will need (besides the Official Guides - see below for links). If this is above your budget, then would recommend you pick the best of the pack:
- Number Properties Guide (condensed overview of Arithmetic and strategies for saving time/solving questions more effectively)
- Word Translations Guide (includes some of the hardest topics - probability, combinations, and statistics)
- Sentence Correction (best book out there and closely followed by PowerScore SC)
- Critical Reasoning (only second to PowerScore CR but by a slim margin)
- Reading Comprehension (there are no other dedicated RC books on market really)
Between these 5 books you should have 80-90% of the GMAT covered and the rest could be picked up from the remaining books and practice with the Official Guides. You can throw in a Kaplan Premier as well - a good intro to GMAT book with 6 free GMAT Tets. It is a good starter book to get your feet wet, but definitely not a must.

To make the most use out of the MGMAT guides, you will need the Official Guide 12th and also OG Verbal 2ed and OG Quant 2nd are recommended. The guides refer to these 3 books for additional practice questions. If you own previous versions of the Official Guide books, you can use those too with a translation table available from MGMAT's website.
*** Each book comes with access to 6 online gmat tests and additional question banks. Don't spend money on these as they are pricey ($45 for 6 tests on the MGMAT website).

Also, if you are new to the GMAT, download 2 official practice tests from [...]and take one of them before you start prepping to get your level - very helpful to track your progress along the way but don't waste these tests - they use real retired gmat questions and though it is possible to recycle them (there are close to 900 questions in the banks), would recommend you use something less valuable for your practice such as MGMAT tests included with these books).

One more thing, don't rush into questions and tests - you will only hurt your self confidence, instead methodically cover each math and verbal topic and only after you are done with each of the sections move on to take the tests (take math only after you are done with math and verbal only after done with verbal). Final word of advice - the main mistake (esp in verbal) is not following strategies. Whichever books or strategies you use (they are all pretty similar between MGMAT, PowerScore, and Kaplan) - follow them EXACTLY. These people are getting big bucks to develop methods to improve score and maximize performance - don't try to be smarter and change things around. Unless you are scoring 750+, I would follow each step of the strategy to the "T". If the book says to read the CR question twice, then that's what you do even though it may seem that it is faster to read it once - trust me, there is a reason why you read it twice. If you want to get 700+ and not worry about the GMAT, stick to the strategies and keep creativity low.

Hopefully this will get you started. For more details on each of the guides, see my reviews of each of the individual books
BB - Founder of GMAT Club.

P.S. Let me know if you have any questions about GMAT Books - I reply to comments and appreciate any feedback (especially negative and suggestions for improvement).
Good luck on your GMAT.

Solid prep - covers all topics of the GMAT, August 21, 2010
I self studied and scored a 770 on the GMAT. Here is my analysis of MGMAT's Set of 8 Strategy Guides:

===== OVERVIEW =====

After reviewing all of the 8 guides by Manhattan GMAT, I can safely say that this is probably the most comprehensive tool out there for GMAT hopefuls. This set of books has its deficiencies (you can check out a more detailed analysis of each of these books by searching through my reviews), but as a whole and compared to what's available on the market, you'll likely be covered on the theoretical side of your preparation for the GMAT.

However, I must warn you: as advertised on every Manhattan GMAT book, this series challenges you to do more on your preparation. While "more prep" translates into a higher score, it also means that you'll need to commit quite a bit of your time if you want to go from cover to cover and also practice all the recommended problems from the Official Guides. Just so you can get an idea of the work in front of you:

*The five quant guides have a combined "in action" problem count of over 580 ("in action" problems are largely similar to Problem Solving questions, with the difference that most of them do not contain answer choices)

*Each of the 8 guides comes with access to an online database of 25 practice problems (so add 200)

*They reference the Official Guides for practice, with a total of around 1500 problems!

A simple addition of these numbers (and I am not counting the questions you'll see in the three verbal guides) and you'll probably get a sense of the huge workload involved when prepping for the GMAT! But the rewards are worth it: I can guarantee you that even someone starting out with a 400 will easily reach a 650 by using these guides properly.

If you're just starting out, I suggest you go online and download the GMATprep free software from the website of the makers of the test. This software contains two tests: take the first one and see how you do. If you get a score that's more than 200 points below your target, then consider buying this whole bundle plus the three Official Guides. If you seem to be doing pretty well, I think it's best to invest in the guides that specifically address your problem areas. However, I would recommend you buy the Number Properties GMAT Strategy Guide, 4th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Preparation Guides), Word Translations GMAT Preparation Guide, 4th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Preparation Guides) and Sentence Correction GMAT Preparation Guide, 4th Edition (Manhattan GMAT Preparation Guides) guides no matter what. These three guides were the only ones that I awarded 5 stars to (with the rest getting largely 4 stars), simply because they are the best I've reviewed on their respective topics.

===== PROS =====

*Access to a lot of practice questions and 6 online tests (some of the best in the industry)

*Three of these guides (see above) are top notch and should be a part of any test taker's repertoire

*Handy The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition lists breaking down the problems according to the topics tested in each question

*Detailed explanations and solid theoretical review for all the problems in the boom (whether they're just examples or practice)

===== CONS =====

*Be careful on the amount of time you devote to studying from these books! Going from cover to cover will be time consuming, so these books are not recommended for someone who needs to take the test in a short period of time (at least not all of them)

*Data Sufficiency could have been better covered in the five quant guides. The lack of practice DS is a minus. However, this is not an issue exclusive to Manhattan GMAT: all the guides that I have reviewed so far have comparatively small DS sections

*Some other resources are a bit better than the corresponding book from this bundle (see the The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible: A Comprehensive System for Attacking the GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions). However, since it's cheaper to buy the whole lot that to buy each book individually, it's still a good investment

===== BOTTOM LINE =====

Thorough, comprehensive, packed with practice problems. Despite the occasional slip up, these books are well worth your time - that is, if you can afford to dedicate that much!

About me: Dana Jinaru, 770 GMAT scorer, expert at Beat The GMAT - a community serving 1.5 million+ MBA applicants each year

The only books to use for a 700+ score, June 1, 2010
I bought the Kaplan GMAT book and breezed through it and thought I was prepared for the GMAT... Luckily a friend recommended the Manhattan GMAT books to me just in time - they were orders of magnitude better than Kaplan.

These books are much, much more thorough and really break down "typical" GMAT question formats - there will be few if any surprises on the actual test. The Sentence correction strategies were useful, but if you have to cut costs/time, skip the reading comprehension stuff (assuming you're a native english speaker).

Manhattan really shines in the quantitative books - even if you're good with quant and good at taking tests, these questions can be tricky when you're under the gun. The books lay out step-by-step processes for every type of question that makes them very easy to solve.

The online practice tests are also invaluable and did a very accurate job of predicting my actual score (in fact, they were slightly harder than the actual GMAT).

[I scored a 760]

Highly Recommended for anyone serious about doing well on the GMAT, September 16, 2010
When I first started studying for the GMAT, I had not heard of Manhatten GMAT, though I was impressed with the positive feedback they received on Amazon. Only a few weeks into studying I now understand why they have received such positive feedback. I have tasted their Koolaid and highly recommend using their entire suite of tools for all things GMAT related...

Manhatten has come very close to perfecting the art of studying for the GMAT. Their strategy guides provide the most comprehensive, easy to understand GMAT roadmap on the market. I highly recommend purchasing the entire study guide if you are just beginning your studies, or purchase any of their 8 strategy guides if you need targeted practice in a specific area on the GMAT.

Who should use these guides:
Anyone who is serious about getting a good score on the GMAT AND has the time to invest in getting that great score. Manhatten GMAT's philosophy is to teach students to "do more with more" rather than to "do more with less". This is a great concept for anyone who has the time to invest in learning the test and for those with the desire to score well above average.

Who shouldn't buy these guides:
Those who don't have time to invest and just need a basic understanding of the test. Manhatten really caters to those who are trying to get above a 600 (if not above a 700) on the GMAT. If you are a last minute studier or don't have the desire to ace the test, then I would recommend going with either Kaplan or just the Official Guides provided by the test makers.

Bottom Line:
Manhatten GMAT provides the most comprehensive, in depth coverage of the GMAT. These books, which are accompanied by access to their online practice center (and 6 practice exams), are worth the premium compared to other study material.

LIke having a personal tutor in book form, June 9, 2010
I used the manhattan gmat series to improve my quant and sentence correction. It takes about 2 months to go through the math guides, but the improvement was unbelievable. I went from the 50th to the 80th percentile in quant, raising my overall GMAT score from 610 to 700. I would recommend working through this series of books before spending large sums of money on a tutor (a tutor may still be beneficial in conjunction with the books). Top class. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Sentence Correction Guide takes the guesswork out of grammar by presenting every major grammatical principle and minor grammatical point tested on the GMAT. Don't be caught relying only on your ear; master the rules for correcting every GMAT sentence.Each chapter builds comprehensive content understanding by providing rules, strategies and in-depth examples of how the GMAT tests a given topic and how you can respond accurately and quickly. The Guide contains a total of 187 'In-Action' problems of increasing difficulty with detailed answer explanations. The content of the book is aligned to the latest Official Guides from GMAC (12th edition).

Special Features:

Purchase of this book includes one year of access to Manhattan GMAT's online Sentence Correction Question Bank (accessible by inputting a unique code in the back of each book). ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent Product, February 7, 2007
I have used a ton of GMAT prep books and in general, aside from the official guides produced by the makers of the GMAT, most of the other study guides are just plain horrible. On the other hand, this book is top notch. It breaks down all of the major areas on sentence correction in an easy to read format and cross references problems in the official guide to hone your skills.

Sentence correct was my greatest weakness on the GMAT. In 2001 I took the GMAT and scored a 65% percentile on the verbal portion and this past January I scored in the 89% percentile. My only regret is that I did not get this book soon enough. I purchased this book two weeks before the test. Two weeks was enough time for me to cover everything in the book (and I am in law school with a horrid class load) but I wish I had it a few weeks earlier to practice more.

Another plus to the book is there is a link and code that gives you access to some online materials that will give you additional practice.

I do recommend you get the Official Guides to supplement this book. Every chapter has problems but the chapters also refer to real problems in the Official Guides which is a blessing to address weak points and to improve your skills.

On a negative note the price was a bit high at $30 but it was money well spent and I would pay that much again if I needed to. The price did not effect my rating - it helped my score and in the end that is what matters.

Concepts explained very well, April 8, 2006
I am surprised that this book is not as popular as it should be. I was looking for a refresher Grammar book to explain the concepts, but English Grammar is too vast. This book explains the grammatical concepts that are tested on the GMAT very well. I recommend using this book as a supplement though. You want to get practice on questions from other books. This book does refer to the Official GMAT book indicating which sentence correction questions test certain concepts.

The Kaplan book is really lousy explaining the concepts. The Princeton review explains it better but this book is even more detailed.

Very helpful!, January 24, 2006
I'd read on a GMAT blog that the Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction Guide was the most helpful book out there for S.C. problems, and I can easily see why it has gotten that reputation! Very clear and analytical, broke the problems down in a way that I haven't seen elsewhere (and I own some of the big books), I found it very useful.

This is the Best GMAT Sentence Correction Guide Available!, November 7, 2009
I self studied and scored a 770 on the GMAT. Here is my analysis of MGMAT's Sentence Correction Guide:

===== OVERVIEW =====

The Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction (SC) Guide, is one of the most popular resources on the market for mastering GMAT grammar. This is because many non-native test takers do not have access to prep courses and, in their effort to get a high score with self prep, they will often be brought down by the cruel English grammar tested on the GMAT.

As a company, Manhattan GMAT has built a very strong reputation in the test prep industry. For most of its history, the company focused exclusively on the GMAT and no other standardized test (the company began serving the LSAT market in 2008). In this respect, it has published a set of 8 GMAT guides which should cover not only the basic GMAT topics, but also the advanced issues that the GMAT test taker will face. The SC guide is by far their most popular product, often described as a "must have" in online study forums.

The book is structured in two parts: General (10 chapters) and Advanced (3 chapters). It also includes a handy Official Guide List and Matrix, where you will find a breakdown of topics tested in each of the questions found on The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition (OG) and Verbal Review 1st Edition. Note that Manhattan GMAT published this 4th edition shortly after the release of the OG 12th, in spring, before the 2nd edition of the Verbal Review was released later that summer. This is important because the current Manhattan GMAT SC edition references the OG 12th edition and OG Verbal 1st edition, so you should plan your GMAT shopping list accordingly.

===== PROS =====

* Good analysis of common error types, excellent for non-native speakers of English interested in taking the test. The book covers the Sentence Correction concepts with amazing depth

* Comes with a one-year access to 6 online computer-adaptive practice tests (CATs), which I consider to be pretty decent estimators of your score, second only to the GMATprep software from [...]. The CATs are sold at $39 on their official site, so you'd be getting these tests and the book at a fraction of the cost.

* Structured according to error types, so if you feel you're having trouble with a certain question type, you can hone in on your weak spot by reading through the corresponding section

* Even if you're an advanced test taker, this book is still worth your time. Unlike some general strategy guides, it does not neglect this advanced test taking demographic. This is one of the advantages of having a targeted book at hand

* While the book's focus is Sentence Correction, the grammar lessons will also help you in the Analytical Writing Assessment section of the GMAT. Even though the score for the AWA does not count towards your general GMAT score, feeling confident about grammar will help ease the stress of writing your essays on the test

===== CONS =====

* HUGE MINUS: not enough practice questions. Each chapter has "In Action" problem sets and you also get access to 25 questions online, but that is not nearly enough GMAT practice. You will however find an Official Guide for GMAT Review reference list at the end of each chapter as well as the matrix described above

* The book's structure could be improved, in my opinion. The writing does not "flow" as easily as in The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible, for example.

* You need to allocate significant time to review this book. The multitude of rules and tips it presents will likely form a dark cloud in your head unless you take the time to properly digest the material

===== BOTTOM LINE =====

If GMAT sentence correction is causing you nightmares, this book will surely help you get rid of some of those bad dreams. Besides the grammar improvement, access to the CATs means that you'll have decent tools to assess your progress.

Good luck on your GMAT prep!

About me: Dana Jinaru, 770 GMAT scorer, expert at Beat The GMAT - a community serving 100K+ GMAT students/month

Best SC Resource (comes with 4 GMAT tests online but without practice questions), April 24, 2009
Huge point - I did not see this mentioned anywhere: this book comes with access to 4 online Manhattan GMAT CAT Tests, which are very good quality - they are yours just for buying this book, which makes it a VERY good value!

Another important part to note right away that the book does not have ANY practice questions. There is 1 or 2 that are used to carry the point across but all the end of chapter exercises will refer you to the Official Guide (11th edition, not 12th) or the Verbal supplement for the official Guide. You should get those books anyway, but beware that they are required for practice. If you have already gone through OG's, get The PowerScore Sentence Correction Bible - it is almost as good but comes with practice questions.

Other than the practice questions, this is the best book on the market today as voted by many gmatclub members.

Strengths:
* Includes only the relevant information and grammar points. Saves a tremendous amount of time
* Excellent layout - very conducive to learning - especially helpful for visual learners (I am one). The book is actually so well laid out and published that it is enjoyable to read.
* Finally, it provides approaches and strategies that work
* Access to 4 online GMAT Tests online (mentioned above)

Weaknesses:
* No practice questions included (mentioned above)
* Poor "style" coverage, which usually are the hardest GMAT questions

It covers the main SC areas: subject-verb agreement, parallel structure, pronouns, modifiers, tenses, comparisons and idioms.

Fair Disclosure?, August 20, 2006
I bought this book to practise more and liked that there was a seperate book for each GMAT section. But, I was shocked to see that there were no practise exercises in this book. This book (and the other book I bought in the series) refers to 2 different books for practise exercises!! If there is need for fair disclosure, it is now!! I now have to go through the pains of returning the 2 books!!

Very substantial improvement over the previous version, November 6, 2008
The GMAT Sentence Correction is what massacres their most people's GMAT score. This book provides GMAT SC coverage better than any book I know.

The previous edition of MGMAT Sentence Correction was decent. But it only covered part of what is tested on the GMAT. This version has largely resolved that problem.

This book covers many areas such as "complex verbs that act as nouns" which is not covered in the previous version. The anonymous authors of this book are apparently high level experts of not only GMAT SC but also general grammar.

GMAT has changed over the years and it has become a substantially different test. The Official Guides no longer provides an accurate guidance of the type and the difficulty level of the actual GMAT questions. If you have taken GMAT Prep (provided free by providers of GMAT), then you will know what I mean.

I have purchased the previous MGMAT SC, PowerPrep SC, and this book. By a wide margin, this book provides the best coverage of both the range and the difficulty level of the real GMAT SC questions.

This is not a short book and you will need to master every inch of it to do well on the GMAT SC. I highly recommend it as the primary source for GMAT SC studies.

Deceiving, October 13, 2006
I bought the whole set based on some posts I saw at a GMAT forum along with the Princeton Review GMAT books, and the Official Guides.

After doing all three of them, I've this to be the most disappointing. There's a couple of reasons:

1) there's some typo errors, which should be fixed as this is a study book

2) there's questions and sometimes even entire passages copied STRAIGHT out of the Official Guide. I'm not sure the copywrite law on this but it was really tedious since I already went over the OG. Also, it was a waste of my money to have bought both the sets.

3) the explanations are mediocre at best. There's also little follow-up and in depth explanation.

4) The level of the questions were too easy. If you're looking to boost your 500 to a 600 this book might help. If you're looking to get a 700+, these books have almost no material dealing with that diffculty.

Either way though, if you have the official guides (11th edition), you basically have these books

No prep courses... just studying these books got me 780!, December 3, 2009
I can't believe it! I did not attend any prep courses and just by merely studying these books, I got a 780! And on a separate note, I got a 5 on AWA.
Do not get me wrong, I was never a fantastic undergraduate. My GPA was only about 3.4.
Thanks to the Manhattan GMAT books which saved me alot of money(I repeat I did not spend on prep courses), I can now apply for the top MBA programs with confidence!

*I bought all 8 books but am only writing it here because I do not want to duplicate.

Awesome, April 1, 2006
This book was pure joy. It gave the right concepts for tackling
GMAT Sentence Completion questions. Also, they order official GMAT Guide questions by category, which is really very very helpful.
I can confidently say that this book will help you quite a bit.
Very very satisfied reader.

(Also, i bought all their 7 books. They are just classics. If you dont have the money to enroll for expensive preparation courses, just buy the 7 GMAT books from these guys. They seem to know what
they are doing) ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Gregg Reference Manual is intended for anyone who writes, edits, or prepares material fordistribution or publication. For over fifty years this manual has been recognized as the beststyle manual for business professionals and for students who want to master the on-the-jobstandards of business professionals.

Features of the New Edition
The eleventh edition of The Gregg Reference Manual has been revised and enhanced to satisfy the continually evolving demands of business and academic writers. In addition, this special four-color edition of GRM pays tribute to the author Bill Sabin with personal photographs and a new biographical essay.

Other Components of the Eleventh Edition
A number of supplementary components are available online for trainers, instructors and students including: