Rating: 
Summary: Far cry of "all-in-one"
Review: I bought the original edition and didn't get through the first 100 pages before I found enough errors to cause me to return it. I waited for the lastest edition only to find there are still enough errors to make me wonder who, if anyone, reviewed the material. It is particularly frustrating when you can't even depend upon the answers to the questions being correct, let alone that many of the answers are not provided in the text. It does contain some useful information, but it is a far cry from the "all-in-one" CCIE study guide it claims to be.
Rating:
Summary: Too bad
Review: I kept hoping the author would stay focused on CCIE written materials, but time and time again, I found myself joining him on a journey into the technical details of the technical details. The fact is, if you want to pass the written, you have to study specifically for it. Why else would you be spending hours and hours reading about RIF's? There are much better topics to focus on. This book doesn't keep that in mind. It sways into territory that you just don't want to explore. I passed the Written Exam today. I can say it was hardly due to this book. I suggest the CCIE book by Swartz. I want to leave it on a good note. The text is very detailed and I will always keep it as a reference. It's obvious a lot of work was put into this book, it should just be renamed.
Rating: 
Summary: Why dig a 10,000 foot hole when you only need 10 feet?
Review: I kept hoping the author would stay focused on CCIE written materials, but time and time again, I found myself joining him on a journey into the technical details of the technical details. The fact is, if you want to pass the written, you have to study specifically for it. Why else would you be spending hours and hours reading about RIF's? There are much better topics to focus on. This book doesn't keep that in mind. It sways into territory that you just don't want to explore. I passed the Written Exam today. I can say it was hardly due to this book. I suggest the CCIE book by Swartz. I want to leave it on a good note. The text is very detailed and I will always keep it as a reference. It's obvious a lot of work was put into this book, it should just be renamed.
Rating:
Summary: Good Information, Terrible Editing
Review: I like this book from the perspective that it is very intense material and covers subjects a couple of different times to get you used to them. But, having said that: This is the driest book I have ever read. The subject matter is not organized well, sections and sub-sections have the same type, so you never know if you are in a thread, or starting a new subject. Did I mention the errors? If the study question were the exam, the author would pass, but probably get an 85%. There are literally that many mistakes in the answer key. I'm just glad I wasn't the only one to notice this (how could you not!)
Rating:
Summary: Good Information, Terrible Editing
Review: I like this book from the perspective that it is very intense material and covers subjects a couple of different times to get you used to them. But, having said that: This is the driest book I have ever read. The subject matter is not organized well, sections and sub-sections have the same type, so you never know if you are in a thread, or starting a new subject. Did I mention the errors? If the study question were the exam, the author would pass, but probably get an 85%. There are literally that many mistakes in the answer key. I'm just glad I wasn't the only one to notice this (how could you not!)
Rating: 
Summary: Details, Details, Details
Review: I love details, and they really drill down in this book. It will make great future reference. But, my goal is to pass the CCIE written right now. So I would have appreciated a focus on the written exam. There are details in here that, while very useful, are not going to assist in passing the exam. The book tries to do to much and doesn't live up to its title.
Rating:
Summary: Details, Details, Details
Review: I love details, and they really drill down in this book. It will make great future reference. But, my goal is to pass the CCIE written right now. So I would have appreciated a focus on the written exam. There are details in here that, while very useful, are not going to assist in passing the exam. The book tries to do to much and doesn't live up to its title.
Rating:
Summary: NO! As bad as original! Get "Prep" book instead.
Review: I was SHOCKED to find it looks just like the original (by Giles a couple years ago), which had bad ratings. SOOOOO much obscure THEORY that it would take 100 lifetimes to read. And it looks like it has NO Cisco commands at all (like the orig.). I can't understand why the publishers learned NOTHING from all the complaints about the original. NO WAY would I even pay $1 for this!
Rating: 
Summary: compound your knowledge
Review: I've read all the books out there that claim to get you ready to pass the ccie written and this is the only one I see that gives you enough info to pass the test the first time. Yes it is highly technical-highly informative. ccie prep kit is a joke compared to this book. Even the new Todd Lamalle book doesn't hold a candle to it. Pound for pound this book is the best on the market to get you past that very hard exam. I passed using this book. The only thing you really have to supplement heavily is is voip. I also want to state that this book will take you along way towards passing the exam. I don't care what other so called cram books you use you will still need to supplement your studing with Routing TCP/ip Doyle book and Cisco lan switching both by cisco press.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't have money to waste - don't waste it on Giles!
Review: If you don't have money to waste, don't waste it on this book. If any tech book you are considering is written by Roosevelt Giles - avoid it like the plague. I'm an ex-Cisco SE. CCIE exam material is like swallowing hard liquor - if you are able to digest it well, it should feel good. Books written (more like cut and pasted from Giles MCSE and CNE stuff) the way this one is - kinda like hitting yourself on the head with the liquor bottle. Want your head to hurt from the WORST technical writing ever? Try Giles. McGraw-Hill's good reputation in network technology books has been SEVERELY damaged.
| 
