I have used the Harbrace College Handbook for 31 years. My first was the 5th Edition, which I keep on the top in one of my desk drawers. I used it throughout college. I bought this edition for my father, who gave me the first one, and seems to have lost his own copy (he's 86!). This edition is much thicker than the 5th one -- these books are not exactly "reading material," but a reference guide; so I haven't read it from cover to cover. This book comes with a computer CD to install the entire book on your computer.

Excellent reference if it is necessary to constantly bibliograph infomation off the internet and other electronic sources

Here is a terrific reference resource for anyone who frequently composes letters, e-mails, reports, etc. That is, for just about everyone. Even with various aids provided within software (eg to correct spelling), basic mistakes of grammar go undetected...and "send the wrong message" (both literally and symbolically) to recipients of what you write. Inside the front cover, the authors provide an especially handy detailed index (for questions concerning writing, grammar, effective sentences, diction, punctuation, and mechanics as well as glossaries of usage and terms) which directs their reader to the appropriate page or pages in the Handbook; on the back inside cover of the book, they then provide an equally handy list of checklists (also with page references) followed by a list of revision symbols. There are several such reference resources which will serve you well. In my opinion, this is the most comprehensive...and the easiest to use on a regular basis. I also urge you to check out Strunk & White's The Elements of Style and Stephen King's On Writing.

This is the Revised Brief Thirteenth edition, not the full edition. The paperback version comes with a plastic ring binder that is not suitable for heavy use. In short, this is not the version that a professional editor would want, although it might be fine for students.

I found this book to be a wonderful reference when writing anything from a short paper to a forty page research paper. Neither would have been possible without this text. A great buy!

The only reference you will need for everyday professional and proper usage of the English language. Very well organized and extremely easy to use. I highly recommend this book.

This is a great text book. It has helped me GREATLY and teaches you step-by-step how to apply everything.

I had fond memories of using the 2nd edition of this book with college classes and so (carelessly, I admit) ordered the 5th for my current class. In it, under "Some Classic Arguments" is an excerpt from *Mein Kampf.* It is treated like the other essays in its section (Plato, Swift, Jefferson, etc.) An oversight? If so, it was also careless. I find this inclusion offensive, misleading and certainly not something I can cope with in the classroom, so am urging my students to return the book.

In response to oncomput@tri-town.net's review, I found the inclusion of Hitler to be very illuminating. The distinguishing factor between Plato and Hitler is the fact that Hitler used his persuasion techniques for evil. But we must not forget that no matter how heinous, THEY WORKED. Including "Mein Kampf" was not a bad judgment call, in fact it was very effective. Hitler's "success" shows the implications of persuasion in modern and post-modern society, which is a topic that must be coupled with education of argument and fallacies. Do not let moral judgments impede the merit of a reference text on the subject of argument. One would only be looking at the world through a distorted pair of glasses instead of looking critically at the world, which is what rhetoric tries to achieve.