Rating: 
Summary: Not of much use to intermediate-level players
Review: I got this book about 10 years ago when I was desperately trying to learn how to play be-bop (a la Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, etc.). Unfortunately, this book was little help, despite the author's bona fide jazz credentials. This book might be helpful for a seasoned pro who needs a new perspective on scales/harmony, but, in my case, I needed a little more focused guidance.
For anyone who's learned the fundamentals (scales, arpeggios, etc) and is ready to move on to soloing over chord changes, I'd recommend carefully studying the Charlie Parker Omnibook. Analyzing Parker's approach to common chord progressions will open up your playing immensely.
This same approach can be used with any other transcribed solos; Hal Leonard Publishing has a lot of good transcription books. I'd recommend The Jazz Style of Tal Farlow, and The Motivic Basis for Jazz Guitar Improvisation, both by Steve Rochinski. These books give good insight into the classic jazz idiom.
However, like I said, if you are an advanced player, Goodrick's book might be worth checking out; if you're an intermediate player, you'll just get frustrated.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent kick in the pants
Review: I must admit that I was a little skeptical when I stumbled onto this book. I was searching for Dream Theaters new album when Amazon showed that others who had bought the album also bought this book. Hmmmm...I said to myself. I'll check it out. It was only [item price] so might as well. I must say, after browsing through the book, I must say that it is an excellent kick in the pants musically. If you are a proficient guitarist with some knowledge of music theory and feel that your playing is somewhat stagnant this WILL get you out of the rut. Now, it is not a book about some sort of technique ie. speed, riffs, arpeggios, etc. But what you read will cause you to develop new techniques right off the bat. Ever tried soloing just on one string for 10 minutes? Come on, its only 10 minutes...I challenge you to try it and then see if you don't play something you have never played before. This is the sort of thing that the book challenges you in. good luck
Rating: 
Summary: Unquestionably the best guitar manual I've ever worked with.
Review: I've been an active guitarist for over 30 years now and nothing I've come across is as simple, as comprehensive and so univesally applicable (no matter what style of music you play) than "The Advancing Guitarist". It written so well that you'll find yourself going back to it year after year. If you could only buy one book to learn the guitar in your lifetime, this would be it.
Rating:
Summary: BEST GUITAR BOOK EVER - THE REAL DEAL
Review: It's all here. Re previous reviews: of course it takes a lot of work - music is work.Hard work. This book cuts thru all of the crap and gets to the heart of the instrument, allowing the player to find his OWN heart. I return to it often. There is a lifetime of learning in this great book.
Rating:
Summary: Writing Info.
Review: Loved sections on Melodic and Harmonic minor which are hard to find with examples. Drawback (for me at least) - Everything is written in standard notation (no tab). Slowed me down. Other than that I liked it......
Rating:
Summary: Insights Per Page
Review: Mick Goodrick's book was recommended to me by a guitar teacher some years back, and I am glad I took him up on his recommendation. The book is continually expanding my mind as a guitarist and musician. Mick is very thorough and sticks to what is important. He is also very philosophical. His philosophical tidbits are alone almost worth the price of the book. If I could only reccommend one book to intermediate and advanced players, it would be this one. There is a lifetime of learning in these pages. I am a professional guitar teacher myself and am in awe of Goodrick's knowledge. Anyone who could master the contents of this book would be a stellar musician indeed. I doubt I will ever exhaust the possibilities hinted at here.I love how he begins with a linear approach first - what he calls "the science of the unitar." This not only develops single string playing, but helps the student better visualize what is happening more like a pianist. His wholistic approach where anything goes is quite appealing.
Rating:
Summary: best book ever written
Review: only for advanced guitar players who really wants to know how the fretboard works
Rating:
Summary: A Vast Resource
Review: People in the guitar community appear to have mixed views about the musical, theoretical and philosophical value of his book. To an extent this is understandable as the presentation and approach of the book is quite different from a typical guitar 'method' book, however I would not say the book is 'radical'. This book is a VAST resource of ideas and approaches. This is the sort of book that one 'comes back to' periodically, while simultaneously working on other material. "A book on its own is a dead thing..." Mr Goodrick states at the outset that to use the material with profit requires the active participation of the individual. Although the book is directed towards the intermediate to advanced guitarist, I have seen at least one teacher apply the 'playing on a single string' idea with beginning guitarist with significant results. A player with only 12 months playing experience could use *some* of the concepts with the aid of a competent teacher. For the more experienced guitarist this book provides no short cuts or any "holy grail" solutions, but does provide significant insights into the nature of the guitar, music and life. Some approaches and ideas for exercises are provided in the book but variations and other application are needed outside the context of the book to make best use of it. In fact Mr Goodrick actively encourages the extension and application of the presented ideas. I first saw this book in 1993, I finally purchased my own copy in 1998, and have found it a continual source of inspiration ever since. This book is compulsory component for any serious guitarist's library.
Rating:
Summary: A great "bathroom book" for guitar
Review: Some books are great to read in the bathroom... you just open them to any random page, and brilliance pours out. This book is like that. Now, this book is NOT for the vast majority of guitarists out there, the ones trying to figure out how to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughn with a $50 fuzz box. But if you're one of those determined to find *your* voice on the guitar, i have not seen a better book. Mick Goodrick's approach is to smash your preconceptions, and help you to keep yourself fresh. It's not something he does for you, because NO ONE can do that for you. This isn't education from the professor at the head of the classroom. This is wisdom from the old man on the mountain, who will answer all your questions with a single question of his own, and send you away to contemplate. Thank you, Mick.
Rating:
Summary: Some nice ideas, but not helpful enough on exercizes
Review: The introduction in the book makes a big deal about how this is a book where YOU do all the work. He really means it. There are some really great concepts here and some great exercizes, but they take too long to figure out. Before you buy this book, you need to know how to read music for a piano and apply it to the neck of the guitar. It would be a much better book if he at least suggested some fingerings for the chords he wants you to play.
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