Rating: 
Summary: OUTDATED AND WRONG APPROACH
Review: Sorry folks...but save your money and buy a different book. The Joy of Signing was first written waaaaay back in the late seventies (around 25 years ago), and there's been better books that have come along since then, along with a far better approach to learning how to sign. (Signing Naturally, Learning American Sign Language, etc.) The people who continue to use this book are likely those who have never taken a recent training course on teaching ASL, but who are using the fact they know sign language as their qualifying criteria. There's more to teaching sign language or ASL than just being Deaf or knowing the language. This book might teach you SIGNS, but it won't teach you HOW to sign, and it definitely won't help you when it comes time to actually try and communicate with a culturally Deaf person. Instructors of sign language today are taking a more linguistical approach, that teaches ASL as a language in its own right - not just a manual-visual form of English. This book doesn't teach you the language, it merely teaches you the vocabulary. If you just want to learn a couple of signs to communicate with your Deaf neighbor or co-worker, then fine...get this book. But if you are truly desiring to learn to communicate effectively with the Deaf Community, work with Deaf people, become an interpreter, or the like...there are better books out there that may cost more money, but in the long run, be more effective for your purpose. I'm Deaf, a graduate of Gallaudet, and nationally Certifed Deaf Interpreter (CDI) and certified Sign Language Instructor who works in an Interpreter Training Program. I haven't used this book in years, and I have yet to find an Interpreter Training Program that does!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for a Start, but Need to Move On
Review: The Joy of Signing is a fine book for starting to learn the signs used in the Deaf community. But, one must realize that there are a number of signs presented that are not used in ASL (the language of the Deaf community). If you are looking to learn Signed English, then you'll do fine; but if you want to learn ASL, you may just want to go to another book since this one is based on English, not ASL. If you're interested in ASL, consider "A Basic Course in American Sign Language" (O'Rourke). If you just want to learn some signs to get by, "The Joy of Signing" will be okay.
Rating: 
Summary: A comprehensive and well-developed reference on sign lang.
Review: The Joy of Signing is a valuable reference for all who wish to learn to sign. Although it is quite complete for the time it was written, a great deal has changed in 12 years. An updated version would be wonderful and having it in paperback would make it easier to use. Describing the origins of the signs, ie; male and female, helps learners make sense of the signs and makes it easier to use as a teaching tool for new students. An updated version would definitely rank five stars!
Rating:
Summary: My first signing dictionary...
Review: The Joy of Signing was in use in 1990 at the University of Pittsburgh when I started my studies there. When I was told I had to take a foreign language, and I started laughing because I am totally deaf...the advisors/university 'allowed' me to take ASL to fulfill those requirements. This book continued to be used until the mid '90s, because it was accessible to everyone and had the best drawings of any book on the market. As with most dictionaries of a 3-dimensional language, this one is inadequate in that it cannot give a full representation of the sign. It was also insufficient in that it based its format on that of the English dictionary, which is a totally different language than ASL. Rather than basing it on the structural components of ASL, the dictionary brought up words in alphabetical order. Since so many words have multiple meanings and so many signs are used for multiple words, this format is very difficult to look through to find an accurate sign. It is also not as useful as other books for Deaf people who are looking for specific English words to their signs.The use of videos and video streaming photography on the computer has allowed the introduction of ASL as a 3-D language. Even though other books (usually with videos) have replaced The Joy of Signing at Pitt and I am sure at other universities, the book holds a fond place in my heart and on my shelves. The authors are commended for the introduction of ASL to a generation of people and for helping in promoting ASL as a true language in its own right. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: The Joy of Signing
Review: This book has many accurate signs, and I recommend it to anyone who is currently taking a Sign Language course. However, if you plan to just buy the book and hope to be fluent, it won't work. The signs are there, but the grammar is not. Sign Language does not follow English grammar, it has a sophisticated grammar of it's own, and you must also learn that to be understood. If you are interested in communicating with the Deaf, take a class, if you are in a class and want to enhance your vocabulary...the book is great!
Rating:
Summary: A Definite addition for any signing library!
Review: This book is a good tool for the beginning signer, and serves as a handy reference tool. The illustrations are okay, but I agree with an earlier reviewer that an alphabetical presentation of the vocabulary would make this a superior volume.
Rating: 
Summary: Not based on deaf culture
Review: This book was used in my first asl class, which was offered by a community college. It's easy and I loved it. However, when I got into more advanced, for-credit classes, I realized that much of what I had learned was obsolete or just plain unusual. I had to stop using it as a refrence because I was doing poorly on tests and my new teacher (who was deaf) had trouble understanding me. Even the number signs in this book are not the common ones used. I was frustrated that I had spent so much time memorizing these signs, and now had to not only learn new ones, but unlearn the old ones. I actually had a harder time in 101 than people who had never signed. I showed the book to my deaf teacher and she signed back "Not deaf culture." Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: Not based on deaf culture
Review: This book was used in my first asl class, which was offered by a community college. It's easy and I loved it. However, when I got into more advanced, for-credit classes, I realized that much of what I had learned was obsolete or just plain unusual. I had to stop using it as a refrence because I was doing poorly on tests and my new teacher (who was deaf) had trouble understanding me. Even the number signs in this book are not the common ones used. I was frustrated that I had spent so much time memorizing these signs, and now had to not only learn new ones, but unlearn the old ones. I actually had a harder time in 101 than people who had never signed. I showed the book to my deaf teacher and she signed back "Not deaf culture." Enough said.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy to Use and Clearly Illustrated
Review: This is the book to have if you want to learn sign language. Clear illustrations and and categorized word-signs make it very easy to use and signs are learned in a snap.
Rating:
Summary: The Only Book You'll Need
Review: This is the original sign language book, and is really all you'll need to be able to communicate with the deaf. Very good illustrations, and well organized.
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