Rating: 
Summary: Not for beginners
Review: This book as mentioned was good as a reference, but as a beginner to the software, it was hard to follow and use. I did get a little out of it, and the book may be more of use to me in the future after i find a book that will really show me how to use the product. If you are new, dont waste your money on this book.
Rating: 
Summary: 3d Studio Max R3 Bible
Review: This book is excellent at describing all of the functions and abilities of Max R3 and providing numerous tutorials on how to use them. It also provides scenerios/descriptions of how and where in your animation these various abilities might be used.I have at least a dozen Max books (releases 1-3) that each have their strong points, but overall I am most pleased with 3d Studio Max R3 Bible, because it has something for beginners, intermediate and advanced users. Many books will tell you in detail about the features or functions in Max, but may not give you any real scenerio of how you can use them in your work, But because of the numerous tutorials, this book sparks ideas of "hey, I can use that to do......" A definite bargain.
Rating: 
Summary: Promises, promises
Review: This book was pretty good overall. Good explanation on animating with controllers. Decent overview of R3's new features. No mention of Character Studio, except on the cover. Weak IK chapter. More of a 1200 page "quick ref" than a bible.
Rating:
Summary: a bunch of real short tutorials laid out sloppy
Review: while the book is a good referance. i wanted to know everything as i learned instead of reading 200 pages before i got to turn the computer on. the info is good but the structure is bad i found it fact filled not fun and easy flowing not the first book i should have bought on the subject far to much time spent on the layout and what things do weeks before i was ready to use them so i had to re-read the same pages again
Rating: 
Summary: Will help a walker to sprint, but cant make a newbie walk
Review: You've got to walk before you learn to sprint. A baby should crawl before it walks. This book is NOT for those who dont know how to crawl their way around max or dont have a basic knowledge of the programs interface. ITS for people like me who have been through all the other tutorial type books (like inside 3dsmax) and now just want a COMPREHESIVE description of the actions that max can and cannot perform. If that is what you need then this is what you should buy. if THATS NOT what you need, buy it anyway because you'll need it when you've finished the other "tutorial type" books.
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