"In order to get through the Project Management Professional (PMP(r)) Certification Exam with flying colors, you need a truly superior test preparation tool. Completely updated to reflect the most recent version of the test, the new third edition of Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP(r)) Certification Exam leaves no stone unturned in getting you ready for every competency area covered on the exam. Long respected as a "project manager's lifesaver," the book is an essential desk reference as well as a superior guide to taking the exam. The book reveals how best to answer exam questions on defining, budgeting, assigning, and executing projects of all types and scopes, and includes sample questions in situational format, numerous case studies, and other valuable practice tools. In addition, you'll find new material on subjects including: * program management * portfolio management * project environment * organizational environment * project management offices * process groups * and more With all the latest changes in project management, the PMP(r) exam is tougher than ever. Hard work and careful preparation can make the critical difference between achieving certification...and having to start over. Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP(r)) Certification Exam, now completely updated and revised, contains the latest and most complete test-preparation material available anywhere. It is still the ultimate go-to guide for anyone studying for the exam."

I used this book plus the '96 PMBOK to study for the exam. Neither book is adequate preparation alone. Newell seems to have taken a strategy of complementing the PMBOK rather than replacing it. After some experimenting, my study approach was:
1. Read a chapter of Newell to understand the topic
2. Read the corresponding chapter in the PMBOK for the data in sparse form
3. Do Newell's practice questions for the chapter

I bought the book for the practice questions (he provides two sets), and that turned out to be an important part of my study. To me, it was a bonus that I could understand Newell's discussions better than the overly terse PMBOK. Make no mistake, the PMBOK is about laying out a systematic organization in 37 "knowledge areas," 5 "process groups," etc. It is neat and highly structured, but not intuitive. I needed the insights I got from this book.

14 of 14 found the following review helpful:


There are better study guides  Aug 23, 2001
The sample questions in this book are very badly written and not representative of what is actually on the exam. Rita Mulcahy's book is much, much better. Rita's sample questions are closer to the actual exam questions and her book is easier to read. Buy Rita Mulcahy's book and skip this one!

11 of 11 found the following review helpful:


An excellent partner  May 27, 2001 By Lesley Jane Rider
Michael Newell's book is an excellent partner to the PMBOK, from PMI, to help you in preparing to write the PMP exam. Even if you are not a candidate for the PMP you should acquire this book as a reference companion.

It explains key concepts, tools and techniques in clear english with supporting diagrams and stories. It is structured around the PMI PMBOK knowledge areas but focusses on the techniques rather than the processes. Dip into it to clarify such things as the Crawford Slip technique, for a clear explanation of Earned Value or the Precedence Diagramming Method.

This book pulls together in one place explanations of the techniques project practitioners should be using. To assist in preparing for the PMP nearly half of the book relates to sample questions to test yourself, or use in a study group, and then debate why the right answer is the best answer! The bibliography provides ideas of further specialist books that you can refer to.

Remember, a single book cannot give you everything for the PMP preparation, but this book is a MUST to help you put the techniques into perspective and to learn their method and theory.

15 of 17 found the following review helpful:


Excellent Supplement to the PMBOK  Feb 24, 2002 By Kathleen M. Flynn "KMET"
There is no doubt that you need to be thoroughly familiar with the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) in order to pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. I took the test this week and passed on the first try, responding to 85% of the questions correctly.
My experienct is that about 70% of all the test questions can be answered correctly using the PMBOK alone. However, a score of 70% is just passing. This means that you have to gain additional insight and knowledge from supplemental materials or attend courses to have a better chance of being certified on the first try.
The only learning tool that I used in my two weeks of preparation was Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification Exam by Michael W. Newell. The author's alternative presentation of the core PMBOK material made them much easier to understand. The book is especially useful for its statistics' explanations. Importantly, the book also includes many specific items that were part of the test, which do not appear in the PMBOK. The hundreds of questions contained in the book were excellent preparation for the test. In fact, many of them were actually on the test. You can't beat that!

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