Rating: 
Summary: THE standard for Project Management
Review: As a "book of knowledge" you would not expect a page-turner. However, as published professional "standards" go, this one as accessible as any. The writing style is crisp and open, with a minimum of techno-speak.I'd give it 5 stars, except that some concepts are treated partially in several different locations, rendering it less than elegant. An example is "earned value management," for which one must look in three or four locations for the full picture.
Rating:
Summary: THE standard for Project Management
Review: As a "book of knowledge" you would not expect a page-turner. However, as published professional "standards" go, this one as accessible as any. The writing style is crisp and open, with a minimum of techno-speak. I'd give it 5 stars, except that some concepts are treated partially in several different locations, rendering it less than elegant. An example is "earned value management," for which one must look in three or four locations for the full picture.
Rating:
Summary: Use it as a Syllabus Book
Review: Good book. A lexicon of PMIs terms on Project Mgmt. But do not rely on it to pass the PMP exam. Use it rather like you would a syllabus book, to list the areas that you need to study. Use other books to actually study for the test. This book does have an excellent map of the 39 project mgmt processes. Memorize it to improve your chances of passing the PMP on your first attempt (I did). A gaping hole in the book is Professional Ethics, which accounts for about 15% of the questions on the test but has zero coverage here.
Rating: 
Summary: Where is my book?
Review: I cannot write anything about this book. I have ordered it at February 21, 2003 and still waiting for delivery (April 9, 2003).
Rating:
Summary: IF YOU CAN LEARN FROM A TABLE OF CONTENTS THEN BUY THIS BOOK
Review: I enrolled in a PMP certification class at a prestigious business college and this book was used as the backbone of the class. It was like reading a Table of Contents. USELESS!
Rating: 
Summary: Necessary for PMP exam - CD ROM version is convenient
Review: I found having the PMBOK in Adobe Acrobat format to be a real convenience and prefer it to the paper version. Note: while you can download a copy of this document from PMI's web site, it's a preview version that is missing chapters 2, 4-12 and appendices A through F. Therefore, if you need a copy of the PMBOK 2000 version your options are to purchase either the CD ROM or the book. PMI has put a lot of work into this version. Compared to the 1996 version this one reads better, shows clearer relationships between knowledge areas, and has been greatly expanded in some of the knowledge areas - most notably risk management and earned value project management. The CD ROM version that I am reviewing has additional refinements that make this media easier to work with. The 1996 version in electronic format was a collection of standalone Adobe Acrobat files, this version is a single Acrobat file that makes good use of Acrobat's navigation features. If your reason for buying the PMBOK 2000 is to prepare for the Project Management Professional certification you have two choices: CD ROM or book, because this is the primary source of test questions. Heed the previous reviewer's comments that the 2001 examinations will also use the 1996 version as a basis for test questions. If you are buying this book to implement project management processes that conform to the PMBOK and work in the computer industry I recommend that you also look at Information Technology Project Management by Kathy Schwalbe. That book presents a project management approach for IT projects that is closely aligned to the PMBOK.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference for all project management
Review: I have found that the information in this book has proved invaluable in all aspects of project management. This edition updates a previous release (from 1996), and I suspect that readers of that version will find that the new material added by the Project Management Institute provides ample reasons for using the newer version. In keeping with the times, the book now devotes an entire chapter to the notion of a Project Office, an important factor in many contemporary projects since the role of project manager is no longer "just another hat" worn by someone who fills another role on the project. Chapter 11 covers Risk Management, and it contains a cogent description of the processes required for such an assessment (Risk Management Planning, Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Quantification, Risk Response Planning, and Risk Monitoring and Control). I strongly recommend this book as an essential reference that belongs in the side pocket of your notebook computer bag.
Rating: 
Summary: A Requirement for PMP exam, but not everything.
Review: I'm a a certified PMP and purchased this book because PMI says it is the basis for the exam. The problem is that it's incredibly boring and does not include all the information on the test! Although all the project management processes are detailed and the terms are defined, it does not really teach you on how to apply and understand project management. There are also no practice questions included in the PMBOK and this is an absolute requirement before you sit for the test. You must also purchase an independant study guide book. I recommend PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy. It is well written, an enjoyable read, and includes many topics that appear on the exam that are not included in the PMBOK (i.e. Professional Responsibility etc.).
Rating:
Summary: De riguer reading for the PMI certification
Review: I'm glad to be able to purchase an ANSI spec from Amazon. It is an ANSI spec, but I give it about a 65, as it has an average beat and it isn't to difficult to dance to.
Rating:
Summary: A necessary [thing] to pass the PMP.
Review: If you are planning on taking the PMP exam, you absolutely NEED to purchase this book. PMI uses this book as a syllabus for the PMP exam. Hence, this book is literally a table of contents of everything that can be tested on the PMP. In addition to being a table of contents, it does have a brief description of each topic. For the longest time, almost everyone who has taken the PMP exam felt that this was a badly written book. There are two reasons for this. The first one is that typically nobody likes to read a table of contents. So, why did PMI do this? Because of the vastness of the project management knowledge out there and the difficulty of covering it all in one book, PMI has chosen to only outline what is out there. The second and more important reason is that the authors/editors did a poor job of connecting these various topics and outline the ideas in a fashion that does not make sense! Books are written so that you have to read the chapters serially from the beginning to the end of the book. Or in some unique cases, the chapters can be read independently without losing the author's train of thought. This is the only book I have ever read that follows neither principle! I believe this is the reason almost every single reader is confused when trying to read the book. I have talked to several people who have passed the PMP exam and it is clear that everyone struggles through this book a few times before finding the correct order to read the chapters in the book for the material to stick. I think it is best to use this as a reference on your bookshelf while you are reading other books on project management. Once you have sufficient experience in the project management field and feel comfortable with the various knowledge areas, it is time to read this book cover to cover and come up with your own order in which to read the different chapters. My suggestion for the order in which to read the chapters? Read the first three chapters as they are an overview to project management and it is not that confusing. The rest of the chapters are supposed to address the different knowledge areas in an independent fashion. But this isn't true! The different knowledge areas are not independent. They are connected through the five different project management process groups! If you want to make sense of this book, it is better to follow the order of the process groups. It may mean flipping back and forth between different chapters but it works. This is the only way that I have been able to retain the material long after taking the PMP exam. I hope this particular order works for you but if it doesn't, I suggest trying different ordering of the chapters to find whatever works for you. Do not assume that you have poor project management skills if the material doesn't make sense. It is not you, but the book that is the problem in understanding project management. I wish you the best of luck in overcoming this hurdle. Bottom line, you have to read this book in order to pass the PMP. By the way, if you are a PMI member, you can download an electronic copy of this book free...The print functionality on this free Adobe Acrobat file is disabled though. Personally, I have always preferred the print version for reference books like this one. Good luck!
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