I am a controller (CPA) and my opinion is totally independent. I am very good at Excel but not in Access. The book shows me how to use Access to generate report with setting complex criteria which will take a lot of time to set filter if I use Excel. The CD Rom interactive program is very useful. I am sure as a beginner you will love this CD ROM very much. This is a very good investiment. In fact, I am on the net to search more of IDG MS related books.