I must admit it, I love the "For Dummies" books. I was put off the dumb title for a long time - who wants to admit being a dummy? Then I bought "Managing for Dummies" and I discovered that, although the title may be dumb, the book is not.

Basically the book is worth a bookshelf worth of management manuals, presenting the information in a clear, concise manner - but without cutting corners.

If you will read only one book on management, you could easily just read this one.

So, if you are either a busy manager who needs to refresh his/her skills or just an aspiring manager who wants to learn how to get there, that's just the book you need.

Amazon.com Synopsis
Managing For Dummies is a down-to-earth, hands-on guide for effectively managing people and projects in the '90s and beyond. Includes tips and techniques on how to set goals and objectives, how to measure and monitor an employee's performance, how to establish a team environment, and more. Line drawings & cartoons.

The publisher, IDG Books
Whether you've been a manager for years, or you were just recently promoted, the world of management can be frustrating, confusing, and intimidating. Don't stress! With Managing For Dummies™ by your side, you'll have the tools you need to effectively manage people, projects, and teams in today's fast-paced world.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Utilize basic management principles and the latest cutting-edge concepts
• Get organized and prioritize your time
• Delegate tasks and projects for efficiency
• Hire, inspire, and coach your employees to perform better
• Measure and monitor employee performance, establish a team environment, and deal with change
• Keep your employees motivated through recognition and rewards (not always with money)
• Achieve results by setting attainable goals and objectives
• Forecast, plan, and budget with confidence
• Develop your employees through training and mentoring
• Use technology to keep in touch with changing management trends
• Communicate, communicate, communicate!

If you are successful and become a manager (or a better manager, if you are one already), you may be able to afford the time to read and, why not, buy some of the objects described in Art for Dummies.

But it does not need, necessarily, to be a pain the neck. I promised to help a friend write a business plan - but I had never done it before. Business Plans For Dummies was a good choice - it gave me an understanding of the whole process, then a step by step guide.

The result? Ask my friend - it's his business, not mine.

Amazon.com Synopsis
This fun and easy reference for entrepreneurs, managers, executives, and small business owners covers all the components needed to develop a successful business plan--from creating a mission statement to developing goals and objectives to executing and managing the plan.

Bob Nelson and Peter Economy (co-authors of Managing for Dummies), management and business consultants, know the business well.

Besides the obvious subjects which will help you get started, you will find chapters like "Image, Reputation and Ethics", "Manage Your Time and get Organized", "Communicate, Communicate, Communicate", etc.

I am not a consultant, but I deal with quite a few. They are not (quite) as bad as Dilbert claims.

Amazon.com Synopsis
From the authors of the bestselling Managing For Dummies comes a handy guide which shows anyone how to turn business expertise into a profitable and rewarding consulting career. Nelson and Economy identify the key skills needed by consultants and give advice on how to get the best results for clients. Handy checklists outline the consulting process from diagnosis to collecting data analysis to giving quality feedback.

The author, Peter Economy (bizzwriter@alumni.stanford.org) , July 6, 1997
"Refreshingly irreverent and lucidly written..."
In his endorsement of Consulting For Dummies, James H. Kennedy -- the father of modern consulting -- had this to say: "Refreshingly irreverent and lucidly written...go for it whether you're a wannabe or an old pro!" When Bob Nelson and I wrote this book, we started with the idea that <anyone> can be a consultant. Everyone has a skill or talent that can be turned into a fun (and lucrative) part-time or even full-time career. You can be your own boss and write your own paycheck. You simply have to believe in yourself -- and apply the skills that we describe in our book. Consulting is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative professions today. Whether the reason is corporate downsizing, uncertain employment futures, or a desire to run their own companies, millions of people are now making a living as consultants. Whether you're new to consulting, or you're a seasoned veteran, Consulting For Dummies is loaded with tips for building client lists, making presentations, obtaining referrals, developing a marketing strategy, running your consulting business, and much, much more. Without a doubt, Consulting For Dummies is the most comprehensive guide to consulting on the market today! Bob and I really enjoyed writing Consulting For Dummies. We hope you enjoy reading it just as much

Not much - unless you are in the art business.

But I believe that, if it's important to make a buck, what are you going to do with all that money, once you've taken care of the bills?

Well, you may not be able to buy a Dührer or a Picasso, but you may learn how to enjoy one.

This book is smart, although somewhat short on the illustration side (but it would take a colossal volume to show, in full colour, all the objects of art Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, speaks about). Well, get off your couch and go see them in person, or search the internet, if you can't go.

My opinion: Well, I find this book hard to swallow. I am not saying that the author is wrong - I just don't like the inspirational bit - it's overdone as far as I am concerned.

But if you like preachers, you will just love it. For fairness' sake, here is the author's comment:

The author, Zig Ziglar , June 9, 1998
This book will bring balance into your lilfe.
Success For Dummies is a quick reference guide that covers all the bases for balanced success. It helps you identify exactly what you want in life, provides a plan of action to get there, teaches you how to maintain the right mental attitude, and how to build winning relationships. This book will also help you get more of the things money will buy and all of the things it won't.

Research conclusively proves that people who get along well with others are happier and more likely to succeed in their careers. Winning relationships bring progress and stability in life and help you to be happier, healthier, more prosperous, and more secure. Because Success For Dummies is built on principles that the reader can easily incorporate in everyday life, it will serve as a resource for many years to come. The things I encourage the reader to do in Success For Dummies are exactly the same things I have been doing for many years. As a result, I enjoy a balanced success in my personal, family, and business life.

I bought The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management, because I have a fair amount of PM to do, although not necessarily in a formal manner - I just need to keep track of a lot of projects at the same time, with tight deadlines.

The presentation is not as good as the For Dummies one - they try, but it's just too cute. They try too hard, probably.

Beside the cuteness, the book is well written and useful.

From Amazon.com:

The author, Sunny (and Kim) Baker sunnybaker@aol.com , September 29, 1999
Thanks for reading our introduction to PM!
Thanks to all of you for buying this book and for all the comments, here at Amazon and to us directly via email. The book was indeed intended as a light-hearted but serious introduction to Project Management. If you want a serious title with similar information you might want to try "On Time/On Budget" as well--although it's more expensive and we think you'll enjoy this title more (for the humor and quotes if nothing else). After you buy the book, write us directly to tell us what you think. If you have your own project management stories to add, let us know--it may help us when the publisher asks us to do an update. And who knows? You might get mentioned if you want to be.

Regarding the content of the book, we know it can't be everything to everyone. It is an introduction to project management as a discipline--not a detailed examination of every issue or technical aspect of the field (thank heavens--as that might turn everyone off to the important concepts of PM). There are many good books on project management available through Amazon--and we're pleased you've made ours a bestseller in the topic area. We really do care what you think.