Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful resource for new or returning students
Review: I purchased this book because my eighth grader will be taking Algebra I this year and I knew that my rusty algebra skills would be of no help to her when it came time to slog through homework. The first thing I've got to say about this book is that I wish I had Josh Rappaport as a teacher all those years ago when I took Algebra I and II! With his book he takes you step-by-step through everything you'll need to know about basic algebra by using a very easy to read Q and A format. Best of all he does it with a delightful sense of humor and absolutely no suggestion that any question is too basic to cover. Everything is in here from basic number properties right through to quadratic equations and coordinate planes. For the cost of taking your kids out for a fast food lunch, you can purchase this great book that will save you (and your child) so much grief as you learn algebra.
Rating:
Summary: It will solve all of your problems!!!
Review: I purchased this book last spring in order to prepare myself to take college algebra this fall. In high school I failed algebra and I was beyond confused or befuddled. I put off going to college for 10 YEARS simply because I didn't want to do the math. I was dreading the idea of having to spend the summer studying it. I've always had a fear of math and algebra, and over time I began to hate it. Now when I say I hate it, the term hate may not be enough; my loathing was beyond measure; but from working through this book something amazing happened; I don't hate or fear algebra anymore! Seriously!!! And I understand it! And not only do I understand it; I enjoy it! If the idea of enjoying algebra makes little or no sense to you, if you have spent your time and your money struggling through books or classes that are boring, uninformative, over your head, and/or just plain stupid, then really, this book is for you! Please don't pass this book up; it will change your life. And if you could understand how much I hated algebra, you would understand how good this book really is.
Josh, you changed my life! Thanks!!!
Rating:
Summary: This should be the standard for all math textbooks.
Review: I returned to college recently after a long hiatus brought on largely by my poor math skills. I was determined to return to school and finish my degree, but that would mean learning algebra so I could complete the higher level courses that I would need to graduate. I purchased several other books, and while they were good in their own right, my algebra skills were below even what *those* books required.Almost ready to give up again, I found this book and worked my way through it in about two weeks. All the complexity of algebra was completely taken away and I was able to work with concepts that I had never truly understood before then. Since returning to college, I've maintained a high A average in each math class I've taken and have encountered no difficulty in each course. Math begins at the basics and this book explains those basics like nothing else I've seen. 5 stars all the way, no reservations.
Rating:
Summary: This should be the standard for all math textbooks.
Review: I returned to college recently after a long hiatus brought on largely by my poor math skills. I was determined to return to school and finish my degree, but that would mean learning algebra so I could complete the higher level courses that I would need to graduate. I purchased several other books, and while they were good in their own right, my algebra skills were below even what *those* books required. Almost ready to give up again, I found this book and worked my way through it in about two weeks. All the complexity of algebra was completely taken away and I was able to work with concepts that I had never truly understood before then. Since returning to college, I've maintained a high A average in each math class I've taken and have encountered no difficulty in each course. Math begins at the basics and this book explains those basics like nothing else I've seen. 5 stars all the way, no reservations.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide
Review: It has been over 20 years since I took my college algebra course. I pulled out my old college algebra book and it was just as confusing to me now as it was then. I purchased the Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide for the Thoroughly Befuddled and the questions I had from studying my college algebra book were being answered as I studied the Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide for the Thoroughly Befuddled. This book is very informative and easy to understand and read. There are step by step instructions which I think is a blessing. It is as if Josh knew what was going through my mind as I studied my college algebra book and wrote the book for me. This book is so informative and well written that it makes learning algebra easy. Algebra is not the big bad wolf to me anymore. I am passing this book down to my 16-year-old and my 11-year-old. I wish I had had it for my 20-year-old when she took algebra in high school.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide
Review: It has been over 20 years since I took my college algebra course. I pulled out my old college algebra book and it was just as confusing to me now as it was then. I purchased the Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide for the Thoroughly Befuddled and the questions I had from studying my college algebra book were being answered as I studied the Algebra Survival Guide: a Conversational Guide for the Thoroughly Befuddled. This book is very informative and easy to understand and read. There are step by step instructions which I think is a blessing. It is as if Josh knew what was going through my mind as I studied my college algebra book and wrote the book for me. This book is so informative and well written that it makes learning algebra easy. Algebra is not the big bad wolf to me anymore. I am passing this book down to my 16-year-old and my 11-year-old. I wish I had had it for my 20-year-old when she took algebra in high school.
Rating:
Summary: The Fundamentals Made Easy
Review: Let me start by saying that in High School, I felt like a mathmatical retard. I failed math horribly. I never got the basics. It didn't help that I was a bit lazy, but nevermind that! At age 30, and a liberal arts degree later, I decided it was time to learn Algebra properly, once and for all. This book, and the workbook that goes with it was a balanced and enlightening start that truly was painless. I have just about finished the book and will be moving on to harder algebra. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking to simply the fog that surrounds the word "ALGEBRA".
Rating:
Summary: The Fundamentals Made Easy
Review: Let me start by saying that in High School, I felt like a mathmatical retard. I failed math horribly. I never got the basics. It didn't help that I was a bit lazy, but nevermind that! At age 30, and a liberal arts degree later, I decided it was time to learn Algebra properly, once and for all. This book, and the workbook that goes with it was a balanced and enlightening start that truly was painless. I have just about finished the book and will be moving on to harder algebra. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking to simply the fog that surrounds the word "ALGEBRA".
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Survive without it!
Review: This book is a "Must-have" resource for anyone teaching or studing Algebra. Fun enough to keep the math "demons" away, and detailed enough for the math-Challenged to finally "get it".
I went from "Hate math" to "Hey, I can do this!" in two weeks.
Mr. Rappaport needs to write more math book.
Rating:
Summary: A great choice for anyone!
Review: This book is excellent. I took all the math offered in high school and college algebra (20 years ago!) My 7th grade
daughter is struggling with pre-algebra and I couldn't remember a thing to help her. I ordered the Survival Guide and workbook and they are both fun! My 12 year old works out of this book on her own. It really is self-teaching. Each section takes you step by step through the concepts explaining in simple terms how to do the problems. I am learning all the Algebra concepts and love the way the book is laid out. Very direct, simple, engaging & great to look at visually. I am an artist by profession and give you kudos on the graphics. I also substitute teach in our public schools and this is a great book to learn how to teach basic algebra. I work with a lot of special needs students and knowing how to explain the algebra in fun and practical ways is a blessing. I recommend this book to teachers, parents and students.
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