Rating: 
Summary: For Beginners
Review: First of all, if you visit Internet game sites often, don't buy it. You'll find more here for free than in the book. However, if you can't be online much, read on.This book is for beginners and intermediate players still finding their way around. It contains nothing that isn't in the manual but the layout is more logical (the tables are in the subject areas and not the appendix) and the prose is more accessible. Although there are no real secrets or brilliant strategies in it, the tips are helpful. In short, if you want a nice quick reference, get it. Otherwise, save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Good Information
Review: Gives you a lot of information in tables and charts. Well orgainzed and easy to reference. Has some helpful hints and clues to make the game easier to learn. It is NOT going to help you WIN. You have to think and reason on your own to accomplish this on your own ability. Use the brain GOD gave you and say thanks. Great Game and Great Information Book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for novices and begginers!
Review: I bought this manual hoping to quickly get up to speed with the new game. I knew enough to play at the more basic levels but wanted tips on how to improve my playing level. What I found in this book was a nicely complete instruction manual, and very little in the way of strategies, tips, etc. While I did read the book cover to cover and learned a few rules and features that I was unaware of beforehand, it did little to improve my level of play. This is a very complex game, and knowing a few basic tips/tricks can be immensely helpful. Most of the tricks I've learned came from extensive playing (it's easy to get [pulled] into this game) and message boards online - Yahoo groups, civfanatics, etc. If you have money to burn and want a comprehensive instruction manual buy this book. If you are looking to improve your level of play, you won't find it here.
Rating: 
Summary: Expanded Instruction Manual - Little Strategy
Review: I bought this manual hoping to quickly get up to speed with the new game. I knew enough to play at the more basic levels but wanted tips on how to improve my playing level. What I found in this book was a nicely complete instruction manual, and very little in the way of strategies, tips, etc. While I did read the book cover to cover and learned a few rules and features that I was unaware of beforehand, it did little to improve my level of play. This is a very complex game, and knowing a few basic tips/tricks can be immensely helpful. Most of the tricks I've learned came from extensive playing (it's easy to get [pulled] into this game) and message boards online - Yahoo groups, civfanatics, etc. If you have money to burn and want a comprehensive instruction manual buy this book. If you are looking to improve your level of play, you won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: I brought it online without taking a look at it before. It is useless, save you money.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing you wouldnt find on the Internet
Review: I have previously bought guides about other games (AOK, Conquerors) and they were somewhat helpful. This is different. It tells more or less the same than the manual itself and gives you a hint of what technology research according to your playing style (Warmonger, Peaceful, etc).
I regret buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read but not very useful
Review: I used to think this book could tell me some "Strategy" of how to win this game in different difficulty levels, while this book is not such a book, although to read it is quite relaxable.
Almost all the content of this book can be found in the cyclopedia of the game which is very convenient to check when you are playing the game. This is just another vesion of the cyclopedia. The begining part may not be in the cyclopedia, but can mostly be found in the Instruction Manual.
SO if you want to know the game but not play it, just buy this book; while if you wanna play it, no need to buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read but not very useful
Review: I used to think this book could tell me some "Strategy" of how to win this game in different difficulty levels, while this book is not such a book, although to read it is quite relaxable.
Almost all the content of this book can be found in the cyclopedia of the game which is very convenient to check when you are playing the game. This is just another vesion of the cyclopedia. The begining part may not be in the cyclopedia, but can mostly be found in the Instruction Manual.
SO if you want to know the game but not play it, just buy this book; while if you wanna play it, no need to buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: What the Manual Should Have Been
Review: Once again Prima sets the standard for what a strategy guide should be. It's well-written, well-illustrated and well-organized, which are three things that are lacking in the hefty manual that is provided with the game. And unlike the manual, the Prima strategy guide endeavors to answer the cause-and-effect question of why something happens, instead of leaving the secrets of the game to a frustrating series of trial and error. If you read this book you'll still stay up half the night playing Civ III, but you'll be in a better mood when you finally do reach that ever-elusive stopping point and go to bed.
Rating: 
Summary: complete waste of time
Review: Some of the earlier guides offered usefull stratagies for the rooky and experienced gamer, this is less usefull that the game maual. Don't waste your money. This has the feel of a book rushed to publication, and plagiarized (not really, it just has that feel) from the rule book. There isn't anything in the way of truly creative strategy to this book and the game deserves a much better guide, especailly since this is the most complex game to date (*****).
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