Learn Excel 2010 Essential Skills with The Smart Method: Courseware Tutorial for Self-Instruction to Beginner and Intermediate Level Paperback – July 14, 2011

Like a lot of other people, I picked up Excel on the fly at work, with one or two of those day-long seminars that flies out of your head the moment you leave the room.I was doubtful that I needed to start at the beginning of this book, like many of Mike Smart's students. I thought the first chapter was too basic - I have used Excel for years. Thinking I could breeze through it, I started at the beginning, instead of cherry-picking chapters. I quickly discovered that the introduction was correct - even experienced users can learn something in Lesson One.The lessons take you through basic and early-intermediate Excel skills and build on those skills. There is something new and useful in every mini-lesson. Mike quickly eliminates anxiety about little-used Excel features with simple, clear explanations and repetition. His method drives the concepts home and makes them stick in your memory.There were enough surprises to keep me hooked and on the path laid out by the book. When I went to download the free spreadsheets at the website, I discovered another pleasant surprise - Mike provides on-line mini-lessons. After three, free sessions in one day, the user is invited to subscribe at a small fee for a year. The on-line lessons track with the books exactly. The lessons really sink in through a combination of book study, practice with the free download spreadsheets, and watching Mike demonstrate the lesson concepts on-line. Mike is extremely diligent about answering questions and resolving technical issues.His Excel 2013 is already available. I hope he applies his wonderful teaching method to other programs in the future.

I just started a new job that requires extremely heavy usage of Excel.I used Excel at my old job and all throughout college, so I was familiar with the program, but I realized that my knowledge was fragmented and that I could really use a quick run-through and get myself up-to-date and ready before the work really piled on.What I like most about this book is that each lesson is on two pages facing each other, so the entire lesson is visible in one scan.- Each lesson is short and concise --> I can fit in a lesson in 5-10 minutes ( Because I'm in training stage at work, I find that I have these short pockets of time where I don't have much else to do after I've finished a task and my supervisor can't be bothered, so it's perfect to take out the book at go through a lesson)- The author assumes the reader is a complete beginner and starts from "how to open the program," which is obviously a lesson I don't need. Because the lessons are so compact, I am able to immediately identify which lessons I can skip over, so as not to waste my time. The entire first section is pretty much 'Excel Kindergarten' so I jumped over it, but I did skim over it very quickly and was still able to pick up a few tips that I hadn't known before.- I am able to jump all over the book, looking for the lessons I need at that exact moment.I generally like to go through a book in order, but there are times when I am given a task that requires knowledge of a specific function that I know would be a more efficient way to get things done ( and impress my boss at the same time ;)), so I can quickly go through the table of contents, identify the lesson I need, and in 10 minutes, I've mastered that function :)- I like to CHECK! things off my list, that this layout is perfect for that! Helps me gauge my accomplishment and also to know how much I've got left to go :)I'm almost done with the Essentials book, and can't wait to go on to the Expert book!

I bought the 2010 version online after seeing an earlier version (2007) at the bookstore. I am teaching a short term class (Lunch and Learn at work) in Excel 2010 and this book provides a great wealth of practice lessons for the class. I recommended the online version to many of the students so they could continue to learn at their own pace. The full color version online e-book version is even nicer than the book itself (only gray scale). Great content and easy to follow. Highly recommend it!

When asked if I could use Excel, I was one of those people who would always say, "Sure, I use it every day." Well, after using this book, I found out I really wasn't using Excel. I can now do things with Excel, that a couple of weeks ago, I didn't even know this program could do.I especially like the way the book is broken down, each session covering a particular topic, and even breaking down those topics, going step by step. Lots of hands on learning which is best for me, as opposed to just reading a book and looking at examples.Then at the end of each session, there is an exercise to do which covers what you have just gone through, but also adds in some things from previous sessions.Overall, an outstanding book. I would highly recommend it for those that think they know their way around Excel. You'll probably find you didn't know as much as you thought.I just ordered the Expert Essentials book. I'm looking forward to getting started on it.Another thing. I had apparently downloaded the 2007 example files by mistake. I couldn't find some of the example spreadsheets I needed that the book was asking me to use. I sent an e-mail asking for assistance. The next morning, I had in my inbox an e-mail directly from Mr. Smart telling me that I had downloaded the wrong files. Not just some form letter, or a cut and paste job, but actually from Mr. Smart. Fantastic customer support. Buy this book!