[.ca] Excel 2000 For Windows For Dummies (ISBN 0764504460)

From Amazon.co.uk:
You may not be a dummy but that doesn't mean you were born knowing how to use spreadsheets. Excel 2000 for Windows for Dummies will bring you up to speed on Microsoft's pre-millennial package, even if you've never used anything like it before. A great reference for the beginner and the pressed-for-time, this book is organised in a series of chapters that build from the basics of pointing and clicking and figuring out the different parts of the spreadsheet to more advanced topics like Web-based data entry and macros. Visual learners will find much to love as well--there are screen shots galore and plenty of icons to point you to the most salient items quickly. Written in characteristic Dummies-style--laid-back and humorous--the text is as non-threatening as can be; even the most diehard computer-phobes will find themselves chuckling as they (gulp) learn how to enter data. The techno-geeks of the office might snigger at the bright yellow book on your desk but you can snigger right back because you know you have better weekends. --Rob Lightner

Gentle intro but no depth:
This is a good book for a non stressfull introduction, but there are few good hands on examples. I've found that by doing complex detailed step by step examples you can learn more faster. The learnkey.com website has a good excel class

Useless:
I foudn the book compleely useless and a waste of money. It explains nothing. After studying this book for two hours I was unable to do anything whatsoever in Excel. Look elsewhere.

Outstanding "jump" start for those new or familari w/ Excel:
I used this book in lieu of sending a large group of our people to training classes. After doing so, the "help" requests for Excel went to absolute zero. Heck, I'm VP of IT and been working in spreadsheets since VisiCalc, and I picked up a couple of things.

Good for Just Basics:
This book is fine if all you want to do is basic spreadsheets. If cutting, pasting, basic formatting, or creating VERY simple formulas is all you need to do then this book is fine. However, if you are trying to do anything more complicated forget using this book. For instance, the section on creating Macros wasn't very detailed. In addition, the book is completely missing any explanation of how to use the more complicated formula functions (there is no mention of how to do any of the statistical functions). Probably 80% of what an average user needs is in this book. But for anything beyond the basics, forget it; you'll need another reference.

Excel made easy...:
This book not only took the mystery out of spreadsheets, but made me a spreadsheet junkie. I keep it by my desk for reference. A definite for people who want a quick start into the world of spreadsheets.