Tracks Books

Books are easy reads for a number of reason, the primary ones are you are engrossed in the material or the writing is straightforward and to the point. This book is a combination of the two, I enjoyed the personal reflections of Mr. Burfoot (i.e. I enjoy biographies) and so the stories were quite enjoyable. I also liked the fact that it was written to be read by the everyman, straight with no chaser. Good read and a book I will pass on to others.

I probably won't read the book, as I don't run. The birthday gift will be given June 14, so I won't hear about it until after then. I am giving 5 stars for the good delivery servicde.

Amby Burfoot may be more known as the long-time editor for Runner's World magazine than for his 1968 victory in the searing heat at the Boston Marathon.

Burfoot merges his skill of a journalist with his many years in the sport to deliver wonderful essays on the peaks, valleys and rugged terrain of life. Though the starting line is his running, the course that is mapped out is accessible to those who never laced up a pair of shoes for a marathon or a jaunt around the block.

This is a gold medal performance by Burfoot, that comes straight from the heart.

Running has always been one of my favorite things to do. It relaxes me, clears my head, and gets me ready for the day. This is a classic about the world of running. If you run occasionally, or obsessively this is a must-have.

Burfoot's "The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life" is so simple yet so thorough. It's such a quick read, but the depth and variety of each short, powerful chapter is incredible. I literally could not put it down.

I particularly connected with the chapter on traditions (the need for anchors in this fast-paced world). Amby talks about the draw of Manchester and it's annual Thanksgiving day Road Race, which he has done 37 consecutive times. This fall will be my 17th straight. Like Amby, I make the pilgrimage back to Connecticut (despite now living in Chicago) because of the opportunity to re-connect with family and friends for this one "magic" day.

As a father of three daughters, I also appreciated his perspectives on his children and how he came to the realization that they must choose their own paths. While I would love for my daughters to share my passion for running, I have learned through Amby that it is OK if they don't. Finally, the chapter titled "Materialism - what you really need you already have" is right on and should be "must read" for our entire society.

This is a book much like "Tuesday's With Morrie" that I will refer back to from time to time to put life - and running - in perspective.

Thanks Amby and see you in Manchester!

Todd Gothberg
Gurnee Il.<

If you own only one animal track field guide - own this one.

This is what a field guide should be, clear, concise, and easy to use. My wife who is just starting to tune in to nature loves it. She was up to speed in 10 minutes and loving it from then on.

It is a good and comprehensive guide, it has a lot of animal tracks, I found it a good and complete guide, but honestly sometimes I had a lot of difficult tryng to find some kind of tracks that I found.

In my personal opinion I think that this is a very good book for experts on the field but not so good for beginners in animal tracks. And by the way it doesnt have any color illustration, and altough they are not needed I was very familiar with peterson guides and this one is a little different.

My wife and I have found this guide to be very useful in interpreting the sign left behind by the creatures resident in our northeastern woods, not only tracks but scat as well (with hundreds of detailed drawings of scat it is as much a guide to those leavings as tracks). The extensive behavioral descriptions are equally useful. I am not clear on the basis for the criticisms contained in the other review concerning animal harassment. Dr. Murie was a dedicated conservationist and President of The Wilderness Society after his retirement from the Fish and Wildlife Service and his respect for the creatures he is describing is evident on every page. While he acknowledges that some tracks were obtained from live-trapped animals, it is clear from the book that the overwhelming mass of the data is from direct field observation from a life spent in the outdoors.

When I was a kid running a trapline in northern Michigan, this was the book I carried in my rucksack. Today, more than 35 years later, I've written 2 books of my own on the subject of tracking wildlife, but this book is still on my bookshelf. Olas Murie was a true American pioneer who led the way into an area where no one else had gone before him. He established the first standards, and while modern genetic and other scientific techniques have increased our knowledge of wildlife manifold over what was known in Murie's day, it was he who laid the foundation on which the rest of us build. This book is a must-have for every tracker's library.

What a good idea - a mystery peopled by Bob Dylan characters uttering the occasional Dylan pearl. However, when the mystery sort of parallels Dylan's life - sort of! - and the non-Dylan dialogue is pedestrian, wading through this gets pretty boring. I don't give up on many books, but after about 125 pages, I just wasn't interested any more. I've got too many great books waiting for me!

This is a cool read. This juicy "who done it" turns into an in depth look at genius, celebrity and the crowd they attract.

Anyone who likes Bob D. will want to take a ride to this alternate universe. At the same time, Grasty is able to spin a tale that will keep non-Bobophiles turning pages to try to figure out what happens next and, ultimately, who spilled the "Blood on the Tracks." Great for fans of rock and roll, the 60s, and mysteries.

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS is a real 'who dun it' with all the expected twists and turns expected in a murder-mystery. And while there's a murder, it turns out in the end that truth is the biggest casualty of all. It is a fun read, which I recommend to fans of murder-mysteries and music alike.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3Q7PYA1PIUFXH For those interested in learning more about my new novel, "Blood on the Tracks," before you buy it, this should be a great place to start.

The author takes the effort to filter out the technical junks that might confuse new bowlers or people who are interested to take up the sports. All you need to know to get started is there. But it's a little pricey for a thin paperback.

This is what every non-fiction book should be. Brief, to-the-point, and effective. And this book is very brief. You may probably be able to read it in a half hour and then head straight to the alley and practice. This book is very clear and provides easy-to-follow pictures, too. I understand everything the author is trying to say. Lastly, this book is effective because I followed its exact instructions and I'm able to bowl with a nice hook, something I always wanted to know how to do. Although you won't be able to learn more advanced skills or more fancier hooks, this is not suppose to be a comprehensive guide to bowling.

I have always enjoyed bowling, but never had any training. I am joining a league, and want to bowl better. This book taught me a lot. I practiced the "shadow bowling" technique at home, and on my next outing to the lanes - I improved my average by 40! (from a 150 to a 194)

This book lived up to its promise. I am brand new to the 'real' way to bowl, and I found this book very helpful. The format is great. I think that the book would do any newcomer some good. There is a style to Werner's writing that can only be termed 'relaxed.' I am trying to develop what I have learned from this book. It is a great springboard into the sport.

Too simple, too brief and quite out-dated figues and pictures illustration. Anyone buy this book and hopping to learn something out from it will be quite disappointed.

In addition to being a fantastic story,it should also be recognized as a great diet book. Imagine, you tub-of-lard, how svelte you would be if you ran from L.A. to New York averaging more than the distance of a marathon every day.

Seriously, if you want to understand what it was like to accomplish such a feat, this is THE book.

Everything old really IS new again. The "reality series" of today have nothing on the bizarre endurance contests of the 1920s and early 1930s, which frequently provoked massive media coverage. This book describes one of the unjustly forgotten peaks of this esoteric genre: the International Transcontinental Foot Race of 1928, popularly known as the "Bunion Derby." 199 runners started from California with the goal of reaching Yankee Stadium (later, Madison Square Garden) in New York. Only 50 or so ultimately got there. The event, somewhat haphazardly organized by sports promoter C.C. Pyle, best known as Red Grange's manager, attracted plenty of flakes but also featured some seriously committed long-distance runners. Williams' narrative lays the whole story out for you in gory, blistered, benumbed detail. I could have asked for slightly better writing in a technical sense, but the tale is quite fascinating and will keep your attention till the end.

Mr. Williams has captured an outlandish event for all it was worth- the notion of a coast-to-coast foot race covering 30-60 miles daily with out a break through all sorts of weather is a terrific read. Predictably, many who started the race were ill-equipped and ill-trained and fell out early. Those who remained in the race paint a heroic picture of those 1920s vintage marathon personalities. Mr. William's book is also quite valuable as it documents the towns along the route the race took in the late 1920s. "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race" also traces the original alignment of Route 66 between Los Angeles and Chicago as it was envisioned in 1926, and gives the reader a feel for both the condition of the great American highway, and what the runners faced up to each day as they ran eastward towards New York. All in all, a fine book, well researched and well presented.

In C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race, Geoff Williams breathes new life into an old, but true, coast-to-coast adventure that pitted runners from around the world in a grit-filled journey of survival from Los Angeles to New York. Readers are transported back to an era when the technology of telephones and radios, not to mention athletic gear, were still in their infancy and Vaudeville performers entertained the masses.

Cast against this backdrop, Williams tells us the story of sports promoter C.C. "Cash & Carry" Pyle, the Galloping Ghost Red Grange, and a multitude of runners and supporting characters that carved their own niche in the history of America during the spring of 1928.

Williams captures the heart and soul of the 1920s in his narrative, giving us a flavor of a less complicated time when people could turn over their whims to such feats as marathon dancing, eating contests, and flagpole sitting. Yet, under the current of these fanciful pursuits, the story also reveals to us life's realities: the desire to win the heart of your true love, the want for fame and fortune, or, more simply, the fear of losing one's home.

In March 1928, 199 men - each with their own motivations - set off from Los Angeles on a 3,421-mile race of a lifetime. During the journey, we come to know the men of the Bunion Derby like the simple, but pure-hearted Oklahoman Andy Payne, his talented, British rival Pete Gavuzzi, and the loveable laggard Paul "Hardrock" Simpson.

Williams has crafted a masterful story that is richly detailed, yet fast-paced and filled with tender and dramatic moments. While it is clear that the book was meticulously researched from newspaper accounts of the race, archival materials, old letters, and interviews with family members, Williams never overwhelms the reader with too many details at once. Rather, he weaves facts, stories, and curiosities throughout the narrative.

C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race is an engaging book from start to finish that will satisfy history buffs, runners, and anyone seeking out a great human-interest story. Even reality TV fans might be tempted to put down their remotes to read about a real reality contest far more interesting than shows like The Amazing Race or The Apprentice.

I really enjoyed CC Pyle's Amazing Footrace. Right away, Geoff Williams presents the reader with a fascinating cast of characters, including the race's promoter: the PT Barnum-esque CC Pyle. The runners included men like the small-bodied, cigarette-smoking Pete Gavuzzi, the wholesome love-struck Andy Payne, and the ambitious go-getter, Paul "Hardrock" Simpson.

The race kicks off in Los Angeles, and Geoff Williams takes us along as the runners move eastward, at first mostly sprightly, healthy, and well-fed. As the race moves eastward, we get to know these runners more intimately, and can appreciate the friendships and rivalries that develop. The structure of the book lets the reader enjoy the cumulative effect of time, hardship, and hope on these brave participants of the bunion derby. Because Williams paints his scenes and characters so well, I could not help seeing this book as a movie.

Williams also peppers his prose with a lot of humor, which is a wonderfully unexpected thing in a book that is so well researched. I got lost in his narrative voice and finished this book very quickly. Whether you like to run or hate to run, you will love this book that shows humanity at its wackiest, most exhausted and most stubborn.

I found this book to be full of very useful information about the commercial side of the music business. It's well written and covers a wide range of important topics. It also divulges a lot of information that I have not seen anywhere else.

If you're interested in this aspect of the music biz this book is a must-have. Well done.

Has some insight about how to get put on, but not much more than I already knew about.

"Cash Tracks..." in an indepensable guide about how to get on with the business side of being creative within the music scoring world (a side which is sorely overlooked).

It presents no end of ideas, tried and tested successfully, which can imrove your music business strategy and start you making MONEY from music. Please don't be put off by the "life is great!!!" american-ness of it all, this guy-heck, this book-is a full on money making machine. Practical, down-to-earth.

Invaluable.

Just letting you know that all reviews posted before October 10, 2005 refer to a previous (now out of print) edition of this title. The new edition is completely new and updated!

I'm pretty disappointed with this book.
It is a very good practical approach to business and marketing, but you could easily replace every instance of "music" or "jingle" with "widget," and have essentially the same book!

The author makes the assumption that every musician who can compose music already knows the construction of a jingle. He assumes that we all write jingles, we just need to know how to sell them. He in no way addresses the format, form, or content of advertising jingles.

These were the reasons I purchased this book, so I ended up getting nothing but a meandering discussion of how to promote myself.

While not designed to be a reference tool, the book repeatedly offered just enough information to be nearly useless. To me the title "Fast Track" assumes its a "quick start" book for beginners. While I wouldn't expect it to teach you something as simple as an if statement, it assumes a higher level of programming knowledge than is common to newbies. If you have zero knolwedge of ASP.net don't start here.

The index in the book is less than satisfying.

Explanations of many items are weak and uninformative. If your apps don't fit their molds you will have to difficulty adapting your code.

The only pros were the number of examples and the low price.

First let me say this book fully met my expectations from what I know of Wrox press and the Fast Track series. It was a big help on the little things I was hanging up on. I'm a very experienced programmer with a lot of languages under my belt, and so my biggest hurdle in learning a new technology is the "translation" of certain concepts from one platform to another. This book is good for that "I know how to do X in ASP classic...how does that fit into .NET" state of mind. It probably would help to already be familiar with C# or another OO language though...pure VBScripters may have more trouble with the syntactical elements.

My only problem with this book is the very cursory examination of custom user controls. When I started writing ASP.NET, one of the first things I wanted to do was translate my old SSI libraries into the .NET framework, and one of the best ways to do so is with custom user controls...but the book barely spent two pages on it, and what they did discuss was hardly worth mentioning to begin with.

Aside from that one gripe however, great book.

If you have some experience with server-side development such as ASP or Java Servlets, this book is a perfect fit. The authors did an excellent job in explaining the essence of this new technology with just enough information to give you a thorough understanding of all its core features. The samples are short and to the point and I liked the fact that it showed both how to handcode and what you gain if you use VS.NET. Unlike other introductions to ASP.NET this book is a very quick read. It feels a bit like a good discussion with a fellow developer who had years of ASP.NET experience. It told me what I need to know to get productive fast. Very impressive. I look forward reading more from these authors.

I've partecipated to a number of Microsoft briefing on .net the past year. The evangelists i meet where doing all to make .net impossible to understand and this made me look at .net with a certain suspect. Then i got this book and.. tadah! I've seen the light. If you understand nothing on how asp.net works this is the book for you. You'll see that there is nothing magic, nothing hidden behind ,that your knowledge of asp and ado still worth (despite the propaganda) and that .net could become a improuvement of your old style of work, not his destruction. The book covers shortly but effectively all the aspects of asp.net development. Is a great point to start from.

I purchased this book and Fast Track C# together and I was not disappointed with either book.

Pros:

The Fast Track C# book is targeted to Java and C++ developers making the transition to C# and the Fast Track ASP.Net C# Edition is targeted to ASP 3.0 programmers making the transition to ASP.Net. Even though I have limited ASP 3.0 experience, the book was easy to follow and I did not feel lost. When you have multiple authors, the difference in writing styles can sometimes be very obvious but that is not the case with Bellinaso, Gaster, and Hoffman. Their writing styles blend together. It was hard to distinguish where 1 author finished up and another started. Each chapter in this book builts upon the knowledge of the previous chapters. If you have some ASP and/or .Net skills you might want to skip the 1st (What is ASP.Net?) chapter. The authors show the results of the source code. If you do the examples, you can compare your results to the authors. A lot of books show you the source code but never show you the results. How can you know if you are doing it right, if you do not have the results to compare it with? Wrox recommends that this book or the "Beginning ASP.Net using C#" be followed with more advanced or specialized books. This book will give the basic skills to successfully write ASP.Net using C#. I would follow Wrox's advice and supplement this book with more advanced books. This is an excellent starting book and will get you up to speed with ASP.Net using C# in a hurry! I highly recommend this book.

Cons:

If you use a highligher, it may "bleed" through several pages before or after the page that you highlighted. This really makes a messy book. Did anyone else experience this?

It came in a very timely manner and was in great condition, as described...thank you!

This tiny little book/CD pack was my introduction to the FastTrack product line. I liked this title so much that I promptly ordered the same book in the larger format so that I could study it more easily on my music stand. Within about two weeks I had ordered the Level Two book and all of the song books, as well as the keyboard and vocal books. I even ordered the two bass books for my friend's birthday.
These books are VERY easy to use and the examples are fun to play.
Highly recommended by a connoisseur of instructional books and videos!
:) Sarah

I really liked this book. Its written in a very interesting way. Very contemporary language. There are all kinds of exercises with many different types of beats. You are going to be able to play Reaggae, Funk, Bossa Nova, Country, Hip-hop, etc. Just sit down, get your sticks and don't stop practicing. You are gonna love the exercises. The CD is very helpfull too. If you never played drums before, maybe you wanna buy the first edition but if you have some knoledge, this is the book for you.

It's easy to learn playing well when you get this book and CD. Good stuff

This is the book used in my Beginning Drums course, and it is a very good tool to use in a teacher/student environment. It's not a lot of fun if you want to learn by yourself. If you want to learn by yourself, I suggest you start with "Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums, 2nd Edition". Otherwise, a very fine deal.

I am the mother of two children and I found Wolke's book to be a great book, with the information presented in systematic, but clearly understandable way. It is filled with practical ideas to on how to implement long term dietary habits for the whole family.

I really like the fact that Wolke discusses a healthy eating plan and is able to explain her reasoning from a professional point of view as well via personal reflections and anecdotes.

Her comments on the eating habits of school camps, children's sports and school food alone are worth the read.

This books educates the parent and explains how to convey knowledge to children in ways they will grasp, which is ultimately what we want as parents. We hope that children will understand and value healthy eating, so they no longer have to swing from one extreme to the other.

The seven steps tie everything together in a concrete way and Wolke keeps her style warm, encouraging, yet uncompromising all the way through.

This is no fad to follow, it is a flexible, professionally crafted plan that will encourage and empower parents to implement life long healthy eating, exercising and communication around these issues. If all families could follow a basic plan such as FitKid7 from the start, they would be taking positive steps in navigating such issues as eat

If you are new to the world of nutrition/lifestyle and you seriously want to get your kids' health issues straightened out, then Fitkid7 is a good place to start. Sirkka Wolke offers information and advice on nutrition in combination with lifestyle suggestions specifically aimed and kids and families. Wolke combines her knowledge and enthusiasm in a conversational writing style which will most appeal to those who find textbook approaches to nutrition daunting.

Personally, while reading the book I felt encouraged to tidy up my own eating habits. Inevitably my kids benefitted from my choice to change my diet! However, though Wolke is passionate about her subject, I found the overuse of exclamation marks irritating. I also found myself wishing Wolke had sited more research when making claims. In any case, if you are fervently searching for help in getting your kids to make better diet and fitness choices, Fitkid7 might be for you.

Let me preface this review by stating that I do not have children. However, I was one (weren't we all?), and I did babysit for many, many years. Take my opinion about "FitKid7: 7 Simple Steps for a Fit & Healthy Child" as you will with this knowledge. A how-to book of any sort requires two basic things. First, it must be written so that the reader, any reader, can understand it. Second, it must have clear directions and advice to follow. Given these criteria, does Sirkka Wolke's book qualify as a great investment of your money?

The book is divided into three basic parts. The first part lays out the steps to take. The 7 basic steps are easy to understand, because Wolke writes in an approachable, conversational tone. Frankly, her advice isn't all that new. The only truly new thing I saw was the idea that you should not keep anything that isn't healthy in your house. The rest, ranging from water as your primary liquid to a positive attitude, is very common in discussions of good health.

My biggest complaint in this first part is that there are a lot of how-to directions and advice that seem missing. I think many of these steps would be easy to put into place at the beginning of your family from the moment you get married or paired up or buy a house, and certainly before you have children. However, I can see many people buying this book who have older kids or teenagers, and I think much more practical advice is called for, such as how you convince your spouse or partner to get on board and how you deal with the stronger peer pressures and school access at the junior high and high school level.

In the second part of the book, Wolke looks at several factors that contribute to unhealthy behavior and eating patterns. Much of this is social, from the role of business to the pressure to succeed and passive entertainment. Again, there are several factors that are not deeply enough addressed, such as the American idea that dinner or supper should be the biggest meal of the day. Outside of the social factors, Wolke only pays brief attention to biology, and I'm not talking genes that make you fat. What about the fact that fats and sugars taste good to us? She mentions repeatedly the idea that our bodies can easily think we are starving, but how do you counter that long-standing biology in a world where we do not need to move as much and food production is incredible?

Of course, there are no easy answers for these issues, but I remember that my old private nutritionist looked at my ethnic background when she came up with a food plan for me. She considered not just my environment but my genetic background, and in her wise words she doubted I'd ever look like a supermodel because I came from "strong peasant stock," where big, strong women were a plus. Wolke focuses on health, not weight, though she does raise the weight issue a few times. I was very happy that she did not promote those height/weight/age charts that are generic. I also was very glad that she emphasized that stress and mental health are just as important or more important than the shape and size of your body.

The third part of Wolke's book looks at the various measures you can take to make these changes. Again, I think more could be said here, and the general advice consists of things I've heard and read repeatedly. She does list a few references for her advice, but more would also please the scholar in me. Of course, you can learn all you want but you have to make the actions match the information. As a person who has slowly added more fiber and leaner meats to her adult family's diet, let me tell you that it can be emotionally draining to stay the course in the face of opposition. Yes, even adults can be picky eaters, and I'm no exception.

The book ends with several sections that offer further information, such as an ideal shopping list, recipes, meal ideas, and resources you can use. I think the resources and bibliography need to be much longer. I also want to know where Wolke received her degrees in nutrition and whom/how she consults? I think knowing that would add more authority to her words.

"FitKid7" is a simple, fast read with good steps to take to help your children become more health-conscious and active people. It is really too short, though, at just over 100 pages, to give a lot of strong practical suggestions. Perhaps Wolke hopes you will consult with your own health care professional, but I would have liked more ideas for making this all work. The book is a good first step, but it won't answer all your questions.

Sirkka Wolke, drawing on her extensive expertise, addresses a growing health crisis in the world concerning our children in a forthright way that underscores the importance of raising healthy, fit kids and outlines how to execute this easily. Although many adults attempt to get fit themselves, they tend to ignore their kids. This book accomplishes what the author set out to do--to make us take notice of what we are feeding our children for the sake of their future. This should be a standard read for all parents and those who work with children.

...Teacher, mother of 2....

No, plus my kids enjoyed the many ways on eating healthy from this book. We all want our children to be fit and healthy, but the current invasion of fast food, sugary snacks, and oversize portions are creating an epidemic of overweight, inactive, and unhealthy kids. The powerful influences of the fast-food industry, omnipresent junk food advertising, and the vicious cycle of TV, computer games, and Internet addictions only make our children more susceptible to a sedentary lifestyle and a lifetime of bad habits and obesity. Dedicated mom and Nutritional Consultant Sirkka Wolke says it's time to say good-bye to sugarcoated cereals, artificially colored cheese puffs, oceans of sugary soft drinks, nutritionally deficient school lunches, and fast-food super meals!

This book is not a diet which will make the transition even better for not only for yourself but for your child. In "FitKid 7" she shows you how to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle for your kids and how to make the transition from dairy-, fat-, sugar-, and chemical-laden foods to the vibrant, natural, nourishing foods we were all meant to eat.

You'll find general dietary guidelines for healthy eating for active kids, as well as tips on pre- and post-exercise nutrition, staying hydrated while exercising, and healthy snacks. This book offers a proven plan to help parents and kids alike learn to eat healthier and feel better, it features:

The Fitkid 7 Steps
Why is it happening?
The Tools We need
Harmful Foo Additives List
Great Ideas for Meals and Snacks
List of Extra Tips

Fit and Healthy foods does equal Healthy Children. "FitKid 7" provides the essential information on creating a lifetime of nutritional eating habits for your children. Highly recommended to those who care.

As advertised this series is very good test review material for an experienced network professional. Will it be enough for a novice to pass the tests? Probably not.

Each book had several typos, one in particular in the TCP/IP book gave a wrong answer. The IIS 4.0 book listed two different set of specs for the min. requirements to run IIS 4.0 on. (I went with the MS information of course).

All in all a good buy. They did me well for all but the IIS 4.0: I coupled the book with the test from Transcender and passed with flying colors on my first try.

The author also writes a column for Windows NT Magazine and has a web site.

His column gives insight into many of the MS tests. He was dead on the money for the ones I took.

So far I have used the Networking essentials and Server 4.0 from the 6 book set. Though I found an error or two in the Server book, I appreciate the fact that the book addresses topics not even mentioned in other books. I tend to like this series better than the exam cram.

If you think Microsoft makes certification easy because to create a proliferation of MCSEs, then you're dead wrong. You can't pass the exams without good study material telling you what minutia Microsoft wants to hammer in on.

I've tried a lot of study guides, exam guides, cram guides, training guides, blah blah blah. Except for the name change and a few dollars, they are all the same.

Of those I tried, I thought this set was very different (as in good), well done, and the best I've come across.

There are a whole lot of box sets out there - Exam Cram, Training Guide, Study Guide, etc. I work with a bunch of guys and we bought several of them.

This is the one that did it for us, though. While the others were rehashes of the same training material - this was was focused on the exams (BIG difference!).

This series is one phenomenal set of books. I bought Alan Carter's MCSE Training Guide (IDG) and I was very impressed with it as well. I have passed all my exams with flying colors. I had already passed my Wks/Server core exams and IIS before I bought this set, so I just bought it for NetEssentials and TCP/IP.

I was having a hard time with subnets until I found a bunch of tables in the TCP/IP book. There are lots of tables like it, so if one doesn't do the concept for you, another one will. I sold all of my other study books, and now maintain this book for reference.