5 comments about Egyptian Grammar (Egyptology: Griffith Institute).

1. I think this is the ultimate textbook for any beginning, intermediate, or advanced Egyptologist because it is so detailed and thorough. I couldn't possibly wish for anything more in an Egyptian textbook. I've only read up to page 190. I have been studying Egyptian since 1996 when I first borrowed Mercer's handbook, but since I got this book just over ten weeks ago I have learned more about the Egyptian language than I ever learned before. I can't wait to finish the book.



2. Formerly I was mainly familiar with Hieroglyph of the Ptolemic Period and needed more information for a project. Sir Alan H. Gardiner's Text Book not only filled this needed, but increased my interest in pursuing the subject even more comprehensively than I have had before. At my age (74) this keeps my mind active and gives another purpose to my life.
   I feel this volumn is well worth the cost of acquirement and is an excellent addition to my library.



3. I found this book to be more for those with some level of linguistics background as well as a good grasp of English grammar. Have a thesaurus and dictionary handy as some archaic terms are used (this book was written in mid-20th century by a Brit).
   This book is a good resource for those wanting to study the Mdr-Ntr. It should be in your library if you are serious about learning this ancient language. It can also be a primer for learning Arabic and Hebrew. The only thing this book lacks is an answer key to help you if you get stuck in some of the many exercises included within.



4. Egyptian Grammar: Being an Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs (Egyptology: Griffith Institute) In the effort to teach myself to read Egyptian Hieroglphs I have bought quite a few books. Subsequent to this purchase I soon realised this should have been the first book to buy. It particular it suits my inquiring mind and my need to get it right when dealing with Middle Egyptian gramma. As I have learnt Egyptian gramma applied incorrectly can totally alter the meaning of the text. I would recommend this book to all who are seroius about translating Egyptian Hieroglphs.



5. This book is an easy 4.5 stars! This is an excellent book for someone serious about learning the Egyptian language through hieroglyphics. It is laid out like one large text book. By that, it has a lesson and then it has exercises where you are transliterating and translating hieroglyphics as well as taking English sentences and turning them into hieroglyphic. It is very thorough and no small undertaking. It will take someone already somewhat familiar with hieroglyphics countless hours to get through 400+ pages of text and exercises. It will work just as well for someone that has never dealt with hieroglyphics before as it starts at the beginning and works you into it. It does not assume that you know anything relating to the material. This is exactly what I was looking for as I truly want to get a working knowledge of hieroglyphics.
   
   The only reason that I am not giving this book a full 5-stars is that there are no answers for the exercises at the end of each lesson. Therefore, anytime you are left completing an exercise that you are not 100% sure on there is no way to know for sure if you are right or should have done something slightly or completely different. It has led to me spending much time going back over the previous lesson/lessons to try and determine the accuracy of my work. This method probably just forces me to learn more than flipping to the answers and moving on but I would still appreciate the knowledge that what I have done is accurate.
   
   This book also contains a very thorough sign-list, a lengthy Egyptian-English dictionary, and a smaller, but handy at times, English-Egyptian dictionary. This is a must have for anyone wanting to learn Egyptian hieroglyphics. It provides you with tons of information and the exercises to help you learn it.

5 comments about An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary : With an Index of English Words, King List, and Geographical List with Indexes, List of Hieroglyphic Characters, Coptic and Semitic Alphabets (Vol 1).

1. If your reading the Heiroglyphics you will need this book so don't even kid your self if you think you won't because it's worth it's weight in gold.
   Get your own copy because I'm not lending mine!



2. Budge is the best way to go if you are serious about becoming fluent in this beautiful language. The fact is that Budge puts the symbol, the transliteration, and the translation all together so you can know exactly what word you are reading and you can learn the syntax by reading his texts. You can pronounce it as you are learning it while reading the symbol all at the same time. The other wonderful thing about Budge is that he has loads of works out there. If you study one book, then you can easily move into other books and get the same reinforcement without having to learn some different author's other pronunciation key.
   
   I know it is possible to use these books and become fluent. I am in the process of studying this language and a friend who is already fluent recommended these books for me (actually he reviewed Rosemary Clark's book The Sacred Tradition)--but another key point is to understand the essence behind the language. One who follows the Faith of the Gods of Ancient Egypt will be able to relate more to these texts because in order to understand a language such as this one, one must understand the spirit behind the language. Anyone can pick up a hieroglyphics book and learn to write people's names in hieroglyphics. To really understand the deeper aspect of the language, one must study it from the inside and not just as an observer. It is impossible to truly become fluent in a language by being just an observer.
   
   I would recommend reading The Search for Omm Sety about a woman who was a famous Egyptologist and also practiced the Faith of the Gods. She was one of the few people who learned Ancient Egyptian language fluently and was able to understand and communicate its essence. Omm Sety was a personal friend of Budge and actually helped Budge to edit his work and pronunciation. You also may want to read The Sacred Tradition by Rosemary Clark. She was another author who became fluent in this language and she discussses the use of this language in her writings.
   
   I highly recommend this book. Budge has the very best to offer for anyone serious about learning this language.



3. This work, volumes one and two, constitutes an indispensible reference work for the Anglophone Egyptologist, amateur and professional. Sure, the transliteration system is old, there are errors here and there, but the vast amount of information is too valuable to pass by. Other "dictionaries" and "glossaries" are so small as to be useless for serious work. In the case of the excellent Faulkner dictionary, it's never been typeset and struggling to read handwritten manuscript pages will quickly give you a headache. Whenever possible,check anything you read in Budge against other sources; but when there are no other sources, which is usually the case, you're better off with Budge than with nothing. Both volumes must be bought together; Amazon's presentation doesn't make that clear.



4. - I wanted to know if it was sold in one or two volumes.
   I was suprised it was n° 1 out of 2
   I ordered the next one.
   In between I cosidered this work extremy well done, but I reserve more compliments for the review of part n° 2



5. In the movie _Stargate_, Daniel Jackson is standing beside a chalkboard on which is written Egyptian hieroglyphs. He looks at the translation and says, "No. This is wrong." Upon which, he starts crossing out words and writing new ones. "Somebody used Budge to translate," he said, shaking his head, "I don't know why they're still publishing his stuff."
   
   Back in the late 19th century, Budge was as good as you could get. However, in the 50' through today, there have been many Egyptologists studying the language of the Ancient Egyptians, and Budge was supplanted about 40 to 50 years ago. The works of two men have come to the fore: R.O. Falkner who created an entirely new _Dictionary of Middle Egyptian_ (i.e., the dialect spoken during the Middle Kingdom), and Alan J. Gardner, with his _Grammar of Egyptian_. When I studied Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics in college, these were the two that were used (and later amazed some folks at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago by doing an on-the-fly translation of the writing on a tomb wall that's there)
   
   Nowadays, places like the Oriental Institute of Chicago (one of the foremost institutions dedicated to the study of ancient Egypt not longer even carry Budge's dictionaries (and most of his other works) because they are so out-of date.
   
   Therefore, if you are really serious about learning how to read heiroglyphics because you're going to Egypt, buy Garndner and Faulkner, but keep your money in your pocket instead of purchasing these, even if it means buying them elsewhere (sorry, Amazon -- I don't go anywhere else.

5 comments about Teach Yourself Afrikaans Complete Course Package (Book+ 2CDs) (TY: Complete Courses).

1. Nice product.
   
   The CD's help you learn the appropriate pronunciation and text teaches you a lot of useful every-day phrases. For "speed" and hearing tunning, visit the Radio Sonder Grense web-site, it is a South Africa Internet Radio Station, its is very helpful and they have great programs: www.rsg.co.za/luister.asp



2. It's especially nice that the CD came with this book. It is almost impossible to larn a new language, without being able to hear it.



3. Considering that there aren't many products out there for learning Afrikaans on your own, Teach Yourself does pretty well. The book is full of vocabulary and interesting cultural tidbits, and the CDs are essential for getting the pronunciation down. Only thing I dislike is that I think there's too much spoken English on the CD tracks, and it's more like learning in school rather than conversation practice. I've used the Pimsleur method too for languages, and I think it's the best method (although I haven't used Rosetta Stone and friends rave about that). I'd feel comfortable walking out into Italy after using Pimsleur Italian, and speaking with people. TY, not so much--you really need a native speaker to practice with for the best results. Also this isn't a method for tourists, it's for actually learning Afrikaans, so if tourism is your plan, this isn't the book for you. Good luck and geniet dit!



4. So far so good with teaching myself the basics of Afrikaans as I prepare for my trip to South Africa in February.



5. The fun of learning a new language is seen in this series the book follows the CD's well and id quite clear and well explained. My challenge is to remember what I have learned. Value for money is first class and the service from Amazon excellent to Australia.

5 comments about Egyptian Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write Them.

1. This book does not really teach you how to read and write heiroglyphs very well but it does show many words and how they were used on tombs and ancient manuscripts. This book is probably not the best book for someone who is a beginner and trying to learn how to learn hieroglyphs.



2. This would also make a great book for a child who is interested in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Like I was during a part of my gradeschool years. The book's layout is simple, and would not be overwhelming, like a university level text book on actual Hieroglyphic usage would be. The book is loaded with pictures and guides to how to draw them. Some very basic understanding to the meaning of actual Hieroglyphics are also given.



3. book was ok, if maybe a little old. feels like it was written in the 70's, just hope all its info is current



4. This is an excellent text for upper grade elementry school (4th through 6th grade) who might be preparing their classes for a trip to a local museum, or perhaps, for an artist/craftsperson who wants to design a cartouche. Also, any Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts working on their archeology merit badges might find it useful.



5. Pictures, pronunciation, and small details to make this book a great resource. Approx. 2-3 hieroglyphics per page in large script. Great for a novice egyptologist or interested person of egypt's past. Must have!

3 comments about Swahili (Spoken World).

1. If you could judge a book by its cover, choose this one. The cover picture is delicious, and so is the book! The book will be like a mother to you - it guides you through each step as if no one had ever taught you carefully, sensitively enough, how to learn a language on your own. I say this book is not tedious because it doesn't ask you to simply figure that part (the self-teaching part) out all on your own. On the other hand, if you already know how to teach yourself, that's not a problem - just skim through those parts.
   
   I have used Teach Yourself: Swahili by Joan Russell, Kiswahili Kwa Kitendo, and Swahili: A Foundation... by Hinnebusch, and I have already basically gone through two semester's worth of Swahili, but this one put together by native East Africans is my favorite and still has a lot to teach me after all that. It starts you out with a friendly introduction to each lesson, gives you a warm-up, and the dialogues are longer than in other courses, especially the non-audio ones. Dialogues also come with translations. As usual, there's a list of vocab and, like Teach Yourself, there's a list of key phrases, but unlike Teach yourself, they are more than just translations from the dialogue. Culture notes are a lot of fun and quite elaborate and practical:
   
   "When you get to your table, you won't find napkins (tishu) waiting there for you. Napkins are generally available at the restaurant counter, and customers help themselves. Don't be surprised if you see other customers eating with their hands; this is acceptable table manners in many parts of the world. If you choose to eat with your hand, be sure to use your right hand, as eating with the left hand is considered to be at least odd, if not downright rude and unhygienic, especially in Muslim communities... When you're ready to pay the bill, simply ask naomba kulipa (can I pay?)..."
   
   There are also readings which come in Swahili with English translation. These readings are simpler than in other courses, which makes them less tedious - I'm not sure if that means you get less out of it. Then there are grammar notes. There are the exercises, which are plentiful and simple; answer key at the end of the lesson. Finally, there's an independent study box in each lesson which just suggests how you can enhance your learning experience, but it's a good reminder if you are bad about keeping up with journals and the like, or if you've never studied a language before.
   
   The audio is much better than Teach Yourself: the voices are clearer, with better enunciation. Also, Teach Yourself fills up half of the recordings with annoying English-speakers who are just telling you about the dialogue, which Living Language doesn't do. You end up with about 12 times more audio than Teach Yourself. There are two sections to the audio: one you listen to along with the lesson, the other is supplemental and can be listened to any time.
   
   Another great thing about this course is that it's brand new and very modern! Each lesson has a salient theme, which is drilled into you by its recurrence in each part of the lesson. And there are a lot of parts to each lesson - it's very elaborate! Unique to this book is its inclusion of a lesson on internet language. This course doesn't look very long, and although I have only glanced at most of it, it seems unlikely to be quite as thorough as Hinnebusch. If you are very intent on learning the language, it couldn't hurt to have both Hinnebusch and this book, but this one would be my first recommendation for the independent learner.



2. During a recent visit to Tanzania I became fascinated with the people there and with Swahili. In my enthusiasm and desire to learn Swahili in the most elegant way possible, I purchased about 8 books and 3 audio programs. When I happened upon this book listing in Amazon.com I almost didn't buy it thinking that I already had more books than I needed. However, I was intrigued by the first reader's review and decided to take a chance on it. I was not dissapointed!!! I totally agree with the first review. This book and set of tapes is the clearest and most "user-friendly" program to date. I am very pleased with the style and extremely well-integrated teaching process. If, unlike me, you want to buy only ONE book - I would recommnend this one.



3. This book and the CDs are great if you have already studied Swahili but are not suitable for somone who is just starting to learn the language.

5 comments about Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book (Picture Puffin Books).

1. This Swahili alphabet books presents a Swahili word for each letter of the alphabet representing important aspects of East African life and culture, from the grand (e.g., "ibada means worship" or "uzuri means beauty") to the more commonplace (e.g., "embe is a mango" or "punda is a donkey"). The illustrations are in warm shades of black and gray and represent the diverse peoples and landscapes of the wide region of Africa where Swahili is spoken. The introduction describes where Swahili is spoken, including a map.
   
   This book is clearly written for outsiders and, as such, may be best described as a kind of social conscience book. Too often people in the United States speak of Africa as if it is a monolithic culture and this book may help to counteract that narrow perspective by honoring a variety of aspects of African culture. I especially like the scenes and activities portrayed in this book, from rural to urban, traditional to contemporary. My favorite page is "uzuri means beauty," with its description and illustration of two women, one with a crown of braided hair and the other with a shaved head and multiple pierced ears and its explanation that "Beauty means different things in different parts of Africa." The nicely written introduction reinforces this concept.



2. Words alone will not serve this book justice. This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. My soon to be 2 yr old daughter borrowed this book from our first trip to the library when she was only 14 months old. Of the 5 or 6 "children's books" we borrowed, this was the ONLY book she wanted to read. So, we read it over and over until we had to renew our borrowing time, then finally after a little searching over this last summer, we bought it used from an old library. It is now in our collection forever. The illustrations of course are the most exquisite, and the representations of the alphabet give any reader a taste of Swahili culture and pride. My daughter knows every word in this book, because it is part of her culture and the book is so enticing, she egged to learn more from this pair of author/illustrator. Needless to say, if my 2 yr old loves it, I'm sure it'll please other readers as well.



3. jambo means hello is an informational book that teaches basic Swahili words that correspond to each letter in the alphabet.The Swahili words listed are defined in English and presented with a pronunciation key. A passage describing African culture pertaining to that particular word is also on the same page.Muriel Feelings uses a double-page layout to provide the reader a chance to think about that Swahili word before the next one is presented. The black and white illustrations, that expand upon the text, are composed with white tempura paint, black ink and linseed oil. An author and illustrator biography as well as an introduction to Africa are other parts of the book worth reading.
   
   This Caldecott Honor book is fun and informative. It gives a good introduction to Swahili and some east African culture.This book provides the reader with detailed descriptions that influence further investigations of this foreign culture and language.



4. I am an American citizen, but my fiance is Kenyan. I was thrilled to find this book, since when we have children I want them to know as much about his culture as they do mine. I really like the idea of this book - introducing young children to Kiswahili words, and I love the pronunciation guides that are provided. I only have one complaint with this book. Its focus is completely on rural life, rural traditions, and rural culture. There is nothing about the larger African cities (my fiance grew up in Nairobi... not a tiny village). So if your goal is to learn a few Kiswahili words (although many of the words themselves are related to rural life), then this is a great book. But do not expect to get any idea of modern aspects of African life or city life. Even so, the book is cute, and worth it just for the Kiswahili it does contain.



5. Jambo Means Hello is an alphabet book that has a Swahili word on each page starting with the corresponding letter. The word will be "baba" for mother, or "jambo" for hello, for instance. Then, there is the English translation of the word, and a short paragraph about the cultural meaning of the word. The book is accompanied by detailed black and white pencil drawings illustrating the cultural concept of the word in a typical small village in Africa. The drawings are very realistic and convey a strong sense of family, from the youngest children to the eldest grandparents. The lack of color in the pencil drawings makes the illustrations very realistic, but not as visually interesting. Children would probably prefer a more colorfully-illustrated book for this reason, even though the drawings are very skilled. The target audience for this group would be an early reader or someone learning their ABCs, to learn the different letters of the alphabet as receiving exposure to a different culture.

5 comments about Swahili-English, English-Swahili Practical Dictionary (Hippocrene Practical Dictionary).

1. I have been using this dictionary in working with a local family-- newcomers to the U.S-- who speak Swahili and very little English. I am not trying to use the dictionary to learn Swahili . . . just to communicate very basic ideas, like why it's important for the refrigerator door to be able to close completely ["jijidudu," anyone?] For my purposes, this dictionary is superior to other ones that I have seen. As the title suggests, it is focused on practical words, not just on words specific to travel (such as "Where is the baggage counter?") However, this dictionary is indeed missing some common words, and includes some others that seem like strange choices. . . . do I really need a translation of "Crikey!"?



2. Hodi! This book was a lifesaver for me when I was learning Kiswahili. I was always hearing words I did not know, and found myself consulting this book multiple times a day. I highly recommend you use it in combination with immersion and a structured language course. I still use this book regularly, and find that it keeps me fluent.



3. This up-to-date dictionary has helped me significantly for increasing my Swahili vocabulary very rapidly. It has many additions in the new version, and is applicable to modern usage in East African countries, as well as American and British English. The shipping was prompt and the item was received without damage.



4. This dictionary is practical, and inexpensive (relatively speaking) and in print and available. Some of its translations are not accurate, eg the entry for Post Office uses the word "Afisa" for Office. The most common swahili word would be "ofisi" which is the place (from office) A couple of other small quibbles which makes me think it has not been created by a natural born swahili speaker. But I have found it to be extremely helpful in checking words (I already speak Swahili) and its great that it has both English/Swahili and Swahili English in the one book, with a goodly cover of words.



5. There is not a lot of choice of dictionaries in this language at a low price. Also, I understand there are many dialects of this language. The dictionary that I bought had several blank pages, maybe that was the reason that it was less in price. But it was not mentioned in it's description. Overall, I don't think that I would spend the money for another one because of the dialect problem.

2 comments about Ethiopian Amharic (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks).

1. This compact guide is perfect for your purse and travel. It concisely contains enough for some basic language to get around. It is a little pricey, but gets the job done.



2. I have been studying Amharic for years and I find this book to be very useful. It not only serve as a good phrase guide but also as a great vocabulary reference book. I am using the book to study Amharic from English but I have many Ethiopian friends who are using this book to study English from the Amharic. As far as teaching Amharic grammar(sentence structuring), I didn't find the book helpful. If you're looking for a book to build your Amharic vocabulary, this book is wonderful.

5 comments about Swahili (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks).

1. Like most Lonely Planet products, this is a well-organized and handy guide to the language.



2. I brought this little book for a trip to Kenya. It was a great resource for finding commonly used phrases and words. Swahili is a simple sounding, yet complex language. Because it was easy to understand the pronunciation of words, it was easy to look them up to see what someone who didn't know English was telling me!
   
   It was easy to use in hotels, at the parks, shops and more. Made the trip much more enjoyable by being able to zero in on what I wanted with the right word(s) rather than using a point and mime system. Yes, at times I did transpose the words in the wrong order which had many of the native Swahili speakers in stitches, but they appreciated the effort to learn their language and the effor to communicate.



3. Very helpful for basic communication in Eastern AFrica; however, I would recommend also a Swahili dictionary, as this phrase book seems insufficient if one is interested in spontaneous dialogue.



4. Easy to use and a perfect size for travel, this is a top-notch learning device. It is well arranged, concise, and covers any eventuality.
   
   
   
   
   an excellent little dictionary!



5. There are many things in life I don't understand.
   
   This is one of them.
   
   On page 11, it says:
   "There are no diphthongs in Swahili (i.e. vowel sound combinations, like in English 'day'.)"
   
   Then, in chart below (paraphrasing), book instructs:
   "Symbol 'ay' will be pronounced like 'may,' so 'wewe' will be pronounced 'wayway.'"
   
   BUT WAIT, you just said there were NO DIPHTHONGS as in "day."
   
   Now you're going to have us pronounce EVERY "E" as an incorrect DIPHTHONG?
   
   ("Wewe" is pronounced like "e" in English "leg." It rhymes with "heh heh," not "hey-hey". Why? Because it's not a diphthong!)
   
   This might not be a big deal, except every time I read, I now have to "auto-correct" myself for the book's mistake ("ay" is pronounced "e" as in "leg"), every time.
   
   And readers who don't catch the book's error will be pronouncing with an unmistakable accent.
   
   Seems like someone there just turned off their thinking cap for a moment, and steered the whole book in a decidedly less useful direction.

5 comments about Teach Yourself Swahili Complete Course Package (Book + 2 CDs) (TY: Complete Courses).

1. I've tried to learn some swahili prior to my trip to Kenya and Tanzania. It is quite hard. But the book is hepful. Many thanks.



2. Having studied French and Italian in college, I know I can learn languages pretty quickly, and I figured this was an economical way to learn Swahili. It is economical, and it does explain Swahili grammar. However, the book is not very systematic or inspiring for the learner who has only a half hour or so daily to devote to study. After about a month, I gave up and bought Rosetta Stone, with which I've had much better success. Teach Yourself is fine if you're committed to creating flashcards and thinking of exercises for yourself, but Rosetta Stone is better for the adult learner who's trying to sandwich language learning in the midst of a busy schedule.



3. Great Package! Going to Tanzania in a week, and this has helped me get a head start on Swahili. It's easy to understand and you learn a lot!



4. I have had this set for about a week. I am amazed at how many Swahili words I already know. Mostly from TV and movies like Tarzan with Jonny Weissmuller and Lion King. You hear a word and get a general idea of what it means.
   
   I like the way the book is set up. The CDs are great to hear the language, but you really need to work with the book at the same time. I wish the set had a third CD that was basically a dictionary: English to Swahili or Swahili to English to be able to hear and memorize individual words.
   
   I am a little confused at the moment, but I think it will get easier as I go through it. Not having anyone to speak to at the moment is a drawback. I have 10 months before my church mission so I am sure I will be confident if not proficient in that time. I like to learn about the places where I am going. England has been my most difficult place to visit so far.
   
   This set is worth the time and a lot cheaper than other programs.



5. This strikes me as the case of a (probably) good teacher in desperate need of a professional writer.
   
   As someone who speaks Spanish, Japanese and French (all learned through books and CDs prior to actual cultural immersion), I've been through self-taught language courses and consider myself, while not brilliant, at least capable of the process.
   
   I've been through Teach Yourself Swahili's Unit One about 5 times now, and find myself barely able to remember anything. Now let me say, I have probably been spoiled on more intuitively designed, better thought-out language courses. So I do think, once I'm done with Pimsleur Swahili, I will probably tackle this with a pen and paper and get something out of it.
   
   There is a lot of information here, so it's not as if this course fails from lack of effort, or has no utility.
   
   BUT the information is presented in a way that's exhausting, almost torturous to sift through.
   
   Unit One Examples:
   1) "Njema" and "nzuri" are introduced with no explanation of what differentiates them
   2) Vocabulary translation are presented in sentences, rather than focusing on crucial words ("you," "me")
   2) The word "si" (meaning "no") is introduced in the form of a question where it seems to mean "yes" -- anyone with even a basic familiarity with Spanish will already be grappling with remembering "si" is negative: putting it in a sentence where it seems to be a positive just throws another monkey wrench into the process ... but this type of carelessness pervades
   3) "M/WA" class nouns are explained in two muddled paragraphs that I had to re-read multiple times to understand
   4) Most unforgivingly, we're asked to compose a sentence using "siyo," while NEVER having been introduced to the word in the lesson! (Unless I'm missing it every time I read the chapter?)
   
   In short, there's no thought put into systematizing learning, or organizing it in a fashion that makes it digestible.
   
   Can you get something out of this, with dedication and patience (and perhaps a basic familiarity with Swahili already?) Yes.
   
   Would I recommend it? No.
   
   I suggest seeing if they have this at your local library. Burn into into iTunes, then try and buy just the book used. That's what I did, so my only consolation is that I didn't lose a lot of money, and it may come in handy once I know a bit more.