I just began taking private lessons. This book is invaluable and very easy to navigate your way through it. It's informative and I carry it with me all the time.I had taken a course in 1998 at an Adult Center and did not have a book, just hand outs. This book makes you want to keep at it even when you feel frustrated withthe grammar. I highly recommend this publication to anyone who wants a knowledge of the language or want to eventually be fluent.I purchased it on Amazon in the "used books" section. It arrived as a new book.