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		List Price: $97.95		Publisher: Course Technology Salesrank: 835
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Achieving “Application Specialist” Excel Know-How
Three cheers for this book and the other Thomson/Course Technology “Comprehensive” books addressing various applications in Microsoft Office 2007 (and, earlier, in Office 2003, etc.). The books are designed for successful use (either on a self-study basis, or in formal courses) on the part of those who, starting with no prior knowledge, want to bring themselves up to a skill level corresponding to what Microsoft terms “Microsoft Certified Application Specialist.” Here are some of the distinguishing features of this Excel 2007 book:

(1) The book makes effective use of color, including frequent and well annotated screen shots.

(2) The book presents material in a highly readable, step by step way. (This might be a disadvantage for fast-track users of the book who do not need or want that much “hand holding,” but it does mean that just about any motivated person who works conscientiously with the book can achieve success.)

(3) Each of the 12 chapters is set in the context of a “case” providing meaningful settings within which the application potential of Excel is brought into focus, usually in a “business-related” way. (This contrasts with some books that describe “how to do this” and “how to do that,” but might lack motivation for WHY it might be of interest to be able to do this or do that.) Peripheral benefit: the book provides an informal introduction to some aspects of business, in the sense of extracting information from data to provide insights and perhaps support fundamental decision making.

(4) Each chapter concludes with a set of five exercises or “cases,” starting with an exercise in which the reader is asked to extend the material developed in the body of the chapter. Starting-point workbooks for these exercises (and for the case presented in the body of the chapter itself) can be downloaded from the publisher’s website. Workbook “solutions” for the cases can be downloaded by instructors using the book in a course setting. (Although some of the exercises include “explore” steps, the exercises do largely tend to take a “follow the bouncing ball” approach, which helps the user ease into the material but probably falls short for fast-track users who might want to be challenged to be more creative in applying the material, i.e., “Here’s a situation, and here’s the information that is to be developed in this situation. Starting from scratch and using your own wits entirely, develop the information. No step by step approach is provided for your use. You’re on your own. Go to it!”

(5) The book is certified by Microsoft as containing the Excel material that, when mastered, puts the user in a position to pass Microsoft’s “Certified Application Specialist” exam. This certification, in turn, can be a valuable resume’ entry for some people in the workforce. (Ditto for similar certifications for Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, and so on.)

(6) There is a companion book (”Casegrader,” by Crews and Murphy, ISBN 978-1-4239-9823-5) consisting of twelve “cases” integrated with the Excel material presented in the corresponding chapters in the Parsons, Oja, Auer, and Carey book. After developing the workbook for a Crews and Murphy case, the workbook can be uploaded to a website for automatic scoring, with a step by step analysis and report produced as a result. (The Crews and Murphy cases fall into the “follow the bouncing ball” category, but have the virtue of forcing use of the Parsons et al. material after the material has been studied. In my opinion, Parsons et al. and Crews and Murphy are best used together in this sequence: (a) Study a Parsons et al. chapter. (b) Do the corresponding Crews and Murphy case, keeping at it until you score 100% on it. (c) Do at least two of the Parsons et al. exercises at the end of the chapter. (d) Proceed to the next Parsons et al. chapter, etc.)

All best wishes for success to users of Parsons et al.

Great Learning and Teaching Tool!
This product is great for anyone wanting to increase their working knowledge of Excel and especially for those who do not have time to go to a class. Being a trainer, I will use this book to teach others in my profession. Being able to download the ready-made files for tutorial reviews and case problems helps the student to progressive try all the techniques taught. I highly recommend it!

MS Office Excel 2007
I needed this book for a class. It was good at showing me step-by-step how to do various tasks in Excel 2007. Glad I bought the book.

		List Price: $199.99		Publisher: V7 Salesrank: 387915
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		List Price: $13.95		Publisher: HarperCollins e-books Salesrank: 318 Released: 2007-10-16
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Only good for skinny girls.
If you’re fat like me, stay far away from this book. The advice in here only applies to skinny girls. From the “little black dress” to “you can’t have too many high heels.” Only skinny girls can pull these looks off. And of course she tells the usual like that it’s “all about confidence.” No it’s not. We live in a world that only cares about physical appearence, not personality or confidence. Trust me, if you’re fat like me, the only thing this book is good for is starting fires.

A boring book!
If you like InStyle magazine, then you will be disappointed with this book - there aren’t any style photos!

Instead, buy the book “Harper’s Bazaar Great Style: Best Ways to Update Your Look”, a wonderful book to learn how to dress well and have style!

A Lovely and Inspiring Book!
Out of all the books on fashion I have read, this is best hands down. Unlike many other books on style, the author succeeded on articulating intelligently just exactly what style is about. All the advice was clear and so true. I originally borrowed this book from a friend but I later bought this book; love it!

inspiring
I love this book. just when i was looking for ispiration, Nina said it plain and clear for me. I took some items out of my closet and turned it into something awesome. That same day I walked into a coffee joint in Seattle and immeidietly the baristas commmented on my outfit! Thanks Nina!

A Must Have in your Style Library
“The Little Black Book of Style” written by ex-Fashion Director of Elle Nina Garcia is a great straight forward read for beginners and fashion experts alike. The book is very clean, organized, straight to the point and not at all wordy. Garcia talks about everything from basic wardrobe staples (and different ways to wear them) to inspirations in music, art and the movies. It is also a small book so it’s easy to travel with as well. Love it!

		List Price: $7.99		Publisher: HarperCollins e-books Salesrank: 5403 Released: 2006-04-11
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Feist is still a great read, but the memories of the Riftwar are fading…
I’ve read and enjoyed nearly all of Raymond Feist’s books. Through his sagas, he’s created a rich and deep world, with tons of interesting characters, compelling stories, and great interactions.

In a lot of ways, the Darkwar Saga’s opening act is no exception. Finally venturing deep into Kesh for an extended story, this tale gives new life to a portion of Midkemia that maybe was not quite as fleshed out in my mind at least. And I actually admire the fact that Feist has been able to introduce yet ANOTHER “greatest threat ever to face the world” for yet ANOTHER trilogy, and do so in a way that actually seems plausible rather than just a tacked on addition to sell more books.

But I find myself in this series more than ever reminded of how Feist’s books just don’t develop new characters the way they did in the past. The strength of the book is on the interactions of characters that were introduced and fleshed out in what many would call Feist’s prime…the Serpentwar and Riftwar Sagas. Pug, Nakor, Miranda, Tomas…these are the characters that got me excited when I got to a section detailing their contributions.

The new characters in this book just don’t get the same treatment anymore, and they feel shallower for it. It makes me glad that he made several of my favorite old characters (like Pug and Tomas) effectively immortal so that I can keep enjoying them on and on and on.

All in all, I still find this a solid effort. To say it’s not as good as Magician is not a huge insult…that book was fantastic. The story was still a page-turner, and it did contribute to fleshing out the fantastic world of Midkemia. But there was still that part of me that looked back while reading this book moreso than others, and regret that at least some of the magic is fading.

Not Free SF Reader
Boys, blackguards and power armour army.

Pug and Nakor have more of a starring role here as they realise that the threat owned by the Talnoy (basically magic robot power armour battle suits) and their masters is bad news indeed. Pug’s sons, both magical and non-magical are involved, as are the couple of kids they are mentoring, enabling Feist to bring in yet another pair of young brat identification characters, if you like.

Fans of the magical types specifically may like this one more.

more midkemia goodness
Feist does it again with this one. if you liked the rest of his works then definitely get this one. otherwise, this is about 20th in the series and not much would make sence. start with Magician: Apprentice first.

More formula
Mr. Feist is a very good writer. I started out with his

modern day “Faerie Tale”, then “Shadow of a Dark Queen” and the

rest of the Serpentwar books, the went back and read the

rest of the Midkemia books in order. Mr Feist seems to follow

a typical ‘Fantasy formula’, but has an excellent talent for

making us care about the characters, much better than most

authors. I was glad to see a bit more about Kesh, too, though

it seemed to follow what one would expect from an ‘Arabian Nights’

Aladdin saga. I get attached to characters, and with Mr. Feist’s

talent for developing a rapport between reader and character, I

don’t want too see people die….but in reality they do, and maybe Mr. Feist

gets a bit too attached to his own creations.

Nakor is great, obviously one thinks of veteran actor Mako in the role.

The Talnoys make me think of the Storm troopers from “Star Wars”, though

that’s just a vague visual connection in my own mind :p

Hurray Pug’s back!
Finally, Fiest brings back Pug, one of my favorite fantasy characters, into an interesting new series that I’m looking forward to finishing. While the plot was interesting, it was a little confusing at first, but that is only a minor setback. This book also does a lot to set up for the rest, so it reveals only a little and keeps much shrouded in mystery.

Still, Fiest is a great writer, and this book, while not perfect and not nearly as good as Magician, is no exception.

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		List Price: $39.99		Publisher: Sunpentown
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