Rating: 
Summary: A Must Have
Review: This book is definitely a must have for any AP World History class. I hate my normal text, but can easily understand concepts and events with the Barron's Guide. It is straight to the point and delivers most of the essential information in a few paragraphs or pages. Great for finding info on a specific topic and very thorough. Don't take AP World History without this book!
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT AP MODEL TESTS
Review: This book is one of the few review books that actually provided a relavant summary of all the dates and events that have occured that you should know for the test. If you are running low on time, there are a section reviews to at least show you possible questions and topic areas that will be covered on the test. This is the only book I used to study for the world history, and it was the only book i needed to score high on the AP test. The model essays and practice questions tended to be a little more challenging, but it only prepared me more in the end. Usually, I tend to buy Barron's books becuase they have a full review that can explain aspects of the class in great detail ( details that often get left off by the teachers). Becuase I bought this book moderately early I read through the intensive and long review. Sometimes i was overwhelmed by all the material. For the practice tests, and model questions and just an over all accurate look at the AP test, you're money spent will be spent wisely.
If you are looking for a last minute cram, I think the only thing that the book will be useful for is the questions and unit reviews.If you are looking for a guide to truly study out of, this is the book to get. Also, if you are looking for practice questions that closely model the questions on the AP test ( I remember one in particular actually testing over the same material) then this book has several that will be beneficial for your time.
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful review!
Review: This book saved me from almost inevitable failure on the AP exam. My teacher was not very helpful, and the text book was confusing, but this book laid everything out in an organized, helpful, interesting, and informative way. I recommend that every APWH student buy this book. It would, though, be most useful if used the entire length of the course--don't make the mistake I made of cramming before the exam!
Rating:
Summary: Overall a good book
Review: This book was a very helpful book in that it reviewed all of the big concepts needed for the AP World History Exam. It is a very lengthy look so I suggest many to get a head start on reading this book. I did manage to get a 5 on the exam using the book as a study guide. I would have given it 5 stars if Barron's did a better job of cutting out all of the unnecessary details that is not essential for the exam. However, I do recommend this book for people who want to get a good grade on the AP exam in May.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Study Guide!
Review: This book was an excellent resource. I didn't really crack this book open until about 2-3 months before the AP exam. The book is broken down into sections based on the AP Test and time periods. The first unit was very helpful, in a few chapters one encountered the different types of multiple choice questions, as well as the criteria and answering strategies for the three essays that were expected to be on the AP test. World history was conveniently divided by time periods, the chapter and unit quizes were great for reviewing. I used these quizes to find my weak and strong points. My history book was very long, and the Barron's summaries were very short and to-the-point. The two sample AP tests in the back of the book were excellent preperations! Some say that this book is not good for cramming, that is true if you're try to cram a year's worth of history in a couple of days, but I spent the entire morning before my exam cramming and reviewing chapters that were hazy, and it made a significant difference when I began the test. I can honestly say that I encountered questions dealing with topics that I had read about within an hour before. I recommend the Barron's book for use as a review, practice, a supplement to confusing history books, and even for cramming. BTW-- I was a sophomore in high school (15 yrs old) when I took this course.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This is the ONLY book (If it was published earlier, I'd even use it to study for my test during the regular year) you will need to score well on your AP Exam. If you read this book and i mean reading not skimming you will know everything there is possibly to know about world history (start atleast 2 weeks pior to the AP; it's quite lengthy 500+ pages of world history). The first section of each chapter is broken into the 7 themes that will appear on the AP (only one is chosen each year). The rest is very simplified/generalized date by date account of 2000 years. My primary study tool for the '02 AP was this book. Although the M/C are a lot easier than the ones I experience on the actual test, this was still a great book and gave me a lot knowldege for my essays and my m/c's. I barely touched my textbook,other outlines that i received, and my own outlines and study terms. So good luck to the incoming '03, you'll need it! Trust me, 2000 years of history from every aspect of the globe is not fun.
Rating:
Summary: A resource to use with others
Review: This resource is well organized, has some terrific quizes, and does a very good job of explaining causation and effects. The unit overviews are splendid. Unfortunately, it also contains some factual errors, so be sure to use other resources as well. The information is sometimes too thin, such as the explanation of the Protestant Reformation (not even a mention of Luther's 95 Theses). at other times, the book has more info than most, such as the effect of the printing press or the contributions of Issac Newton.
It has a very slight European viewpoint, but is fair in its presentations. One of the best things about this prep book, which allows anyone to use it for world history review of any type, is the way it weaves together events and their causes & effects, making the continuity of history and the reason for studying it clear. If not for the factual errors, I'd give it a 5.
Also check out Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT II World History, which is very thorough and contains detail that is glossed over in other books. It excels at comparing ideas, peoples, and cultures, and is more accurate, though it lacks the excellent unit overviews. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't seem to carry Barron's SAT II World History. I used a 2001 edition.
Rating:
Summary: Essentially superb, but has flaws...
Review: This test-prep book was paramount in my scoring a '5' on the AP World History examination; however, it does have its flaws. Firstly, it is an immense book, and it will do you absolutely no good trying to read it all the night before the AP exam. There also exists a lot of information I thought was useless, so I highlighted concepts that I thought were most important. Basically, this book was the sole reason I scored a 5. I had an abysmal WH teacher (yea, you Ms. S---e M----n!) who taught us absolutely nothing, so I was screwed until my other AP prep teacher (thanks Mr. R!!!) found this book for our class. The multiple choice questions in the book are at par with the AP exam questions, and the essay we had to write this May for the exam was actually one of the practice essays (w/the answer) found in the beginning of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Bother Reading the Textbook
Review: With the help of this book, I was able to get a 5 on the AP test with only one semester of practice. Our AP history teacher assigned this book instead of the textbook for our class. Everyday we read 20 or so pages and we did about three essays a week. If you follow this same schedule, you will most likely pass the test just reading this book and doing the practice essays. If your goal is to get a high grade on the AP test, read this book. Be warned that it is a fairly long book, so you will have to read about 10-20 pages a day. Reread it if possible. "If you read this book three times, I guarantee you will pass the test." -My Ol' Wise History Teacher
Rating:
Summary: The Best Prep for the Newest Test
Review: World History is the newest AP subject and teachers have very few practice tests and questions to teach from. This book was awesome. It divides history into time periods identical to those used on the test in essays, etc. Within each period, it gives a good overview of the social, political, cultural, religious, etc. background of each major region of the world. The first chapter is an overview of geography and prehistory. There are 2 full-length practice tests with tough multiple choice questions and example essays with answers. Each individual section also has practice questions. This book helped me get a 5 on my exam.
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