Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for a beginner
Review: As a beginner in engineering, really this book helped too much in Software usage with the reasons from manufacturing environment.
Instead of a thick manual, a starter should read this book as a completely real practice to understand the features of Solidworks better.
Of course you will need a thick manual for an instant help about the commands, too.
Rating:
Summary: Truly great book for beginners...
Review: Fortunately, I didn't read the negative reviews here before purchasing this book. I'm very excited at the way this book sets about teaching me an amazing new skill... to be able to design physical objects from scratch to the point of producing drawings for a machine shop or injection molder. I just came here to order another copy for my son... I have 4 other Solidworks books also - but I'm a complete beginner and I'm not touching them until I finish this one. It's absolutely focused on teaching Solidworks in a systematic - "bs free" method. For those who complain about the pizza cutter - please - get a life. Also, the book points you to it's website to download a detailed update (18 pages) covering mostly cosmetic differences (dialog boxes) in the latest Solidworks version ... Highly recommended 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Look for 2003 Edition
Review: I actually studied under Professor Leuptow for a couple semesters and was able to work with him on the latest edition. The new manual is based primarily on the same concepts, the production of the pizza cutter, but has been updated so that the little frustrating incompatibilites should be eliminated. I learned a good deal from his book and several months later was able to use my SolidWorks skills to help at a summer internship in a Biomechanics laboratory that was primarily using AutoCAD. All in all, a good book for those starting out who want a working knowledge of the program. If you are looking for higher level instruction, you might want to turn to someplace else.
Rating:
Summary: Look for 2003 Edition
Review: I actually studied under Professor Leuptow for a couple semesters and was able to work with him on the latest edition. The new manual is based primarily on the same concepts, the production of the pizza cutter, but has been updated so that the little frustrating incompatibilites should be eliminated. I learned a good deal from his book and several months later was able to use my SolidWorks skills to help at a summer internship in a Biomechanics laboratory that was primarily using AutoCAD. All in all, a good book for those starting out who want a working knowledge of the program. If you are looking for higher level instruction, you might want to turn to someplace else.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Worth the 40 dollars
Review: I do not believe that Richard Lueptow is selling this book. Did he ever use it? Do not waste your time with the book. Use the
SolidWorks on-line help instead!!
Rating: 
Summary: High author reputation
Review: Micheal Minbiole was an engineering legend at northwestern.
He won the mccormick design competition on a team of one, an unheard of accomplishment. His artistic and technical talents make him the ideal person to coauthor this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Book for Beginning SolidWorks
Review: The namne of the book says it all, ...Learning SolidWorks. This book is for people who wish to learn SolidWorks, it is not a book on 3D solid modeling, nor is it a book for people experienced with SolidWorks who want advanced assembly training, IT"S FOR BEGINNERS!!!! that's what the title says. right?
I have over 10 years of AutoCAD experience and I found this book to be an excellent introduction to SolidWorks. I should point out though that I had previously done the tutorial that comes with 2001 Plus. Maybe the combination of my AutoCAD (all 2D, my 3D experience with AutoCAD was 1997 and earlier, I don't even consider those versions of AutoCAD as legitimate 3D solid modeling) experience and doing the SolidWOrks supplied tutorial made this book easier to follow than the other reviewers who found it lacking.
This book is written for 2001 which is what I used, I found there to be no errors in the instructions, the few times that things weren't working right for me I went back a few steps and tried it again, everything then worked as it was supposed to.
Having taken 3 classes in SolidWorks from a VAR (Essentials, Sheet Metal, Drawing & Dimensioning) I'd say this book is the low cost way of learning SolidWorks, an excellent introduction to the power of SolidWorks. A wise choice for a person unfamiliar or just starting out with SolidWorks.
Rating:
Summary: Out of Date Book.....
Review: This is an out of date book. If Michael Minbiole is an engineering legend at Northwestern, he should be able to write a book that you can use. The text does a very poor job in providing information on modeling, assembly, and drawings with SolidWorks. There are some good screen captures and sample drawing information. I expected a lot more. NOT HAPPY WITH THE BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Pizza Cutter?
Review: This is the first book that I ever wrote a review on. I saw the last review stating that, "Michael Minbiole is an engineering legend at Northwestern.". I was impressed with his background. I bought the book and realized that you can have great knowledge of design, but not be able to put it down in print. Next time, I will be aware of Legends! The book bases its instruction on the design of a pizza cutter. The text tries to walk you through techniques in modeling, assembly, and creation of working drawings. This is great if you want to make something simple like a pizza cutter. Where are the real parts? Michael and Richard states that the " text is heavily illustrated with screen captures and sample drawings." I do agree with this statement. But, Michael should have more substance in the text and additional detail problems in the book. This is not a book for anyone that knows SolidWorks.
Rating:
Summary: Pizza Cutter?
Review: This is the first book that I ever wrote a review on. I saw the last review stating that, "Michael Minbiole is an engineering legend at Northwestern.". I was impressed with his background. I bought the book and realized that you can have great knowledge of design, but not be able to put it down in print. Next time, I will be aware of Legends! The book bases its instruction on the design of a pizza cutter. The text tries to walk you through techniques in modeling, assembly, and creation of working drawings. This is great if you want to make something simple like a pizza cutter. Where are the real parts? Michael and Richard states that the " text is heavily illustrated with screen captures and sample drawings." I do agree with this statement. But, Michael should have more substance in the text and additional detail problems in the book. This is not a book for anyone that knows SolidWorks.
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