The content of Blanchard (3rd edition) may be all very well, but the layout and typography are such a hodgepodge as to be quite distracting and intimidating. The CD is only Windows-compatible, and judging from the description strikes me as rather more a nuisance than an asset (it might have been put in a pocket iside the cover, but no such luck). For a clearer and altogether more pleasant presentation, take a look at Gregory Mankiw's Macroeconomics, 5th edition. A quick check indicated it was perhaps a bit less thorough (Mankiw doesn't mention the problems with non-performing loans in the Japanese banking system; Blanchard does), but one has to draw the line somewhere, and there is something to be said for allowing the instructor a bit more flexibility to introduce examples.

This publication is obviously a quite thought-out textbook and is well-organized in its content. However, I do _not_ recommend it as a review text for those somewhat weak in mathematics. The book is loaded with graphs and equations that might thwart those former students wishing to review their macroeconomics or just desiring a good home reference for same.

For neophytes or those long out of college (30-years-plus in my case), I suggest a good basic "principles of economics" text (and maybe some remedial algebra books and/or classes) before taking on more (relatively) advanced works such as this.

However, the book is nevertheless interesting and actually has quite a few graphs, etc easily understandable by any reasonably intelligent person.

(Note: I own the first edition.) Blanchard has done a great job on his introductory macro book. It is accessible to anyone with basic high school math and no economic prerequisites, yet it manages to develop a consistent macro theory from IS/LM to AS/AD, and much more (basic dynamics, basic expectations, basic international macroeconomics). Indeed there's enough content in it to cover three one-term courses with it, if you do it thoroughly. Of course there are also some weak points: The chapters on growth theory are a bit half-hearted in my opinion (supposedly extended in the second edition!), and I also believe that he should have spent more time on 'the pathologies' (i.e. unemployment and inflation). The historical notes should have better been incorporated into the respective chapters rather than be put in an own chapter on the end. Finally, you should keep in mind that this book only covers the Neoclassical-Keynesian Synthesis (short-run demand-determined, long-run supply-determined, without any microfoundations), but as this is usual macro belief, this really isn't a mistake. If you want to go on, you should refer to David Romer's 'Advanced Macroeconomics' or 'Lectures on Macroeconomics' by Olivier Blanchard and Stanley Fischer. As a first book on macroeconomics, this one is simply great, despite its minor shortcomings. This book has introduced me into the fascinating science of economics.