Very Good place to start, but don't stop here., October 20, 2001

Very good if you just want to spell out Arabic signs, know a "little something" about Arabic (for those with an amateur interest in philology or linguistics), or you just think the script looks cool. Also very good as a companion to "Teach Yourself Arabic Script". I've had to put my study of Arabic on hold (unfortunately, but I'm going back to college for linguistics classes). I used both, and think this one should come first. It has some information on ligatures (I think it was one page) and bare minimal information on handwriting (two pages) and grammar (scattered about). However, it fulfils its goal in very little time and space with some good side information. You learn the alphabet, and most importantly, vowels and other markers (the no-vowel and double-consonant markers). Some other books don't bother with these markers since they are not used in normal print or handwriting. I found that I was able to remember pronunciations of vocabulary much more easily if I could add the vowels. There is also a respectable amount of vocabulary. It is mostly geared towards reading the Koran or newspaper. However, since there is almost no grammar, and therefore no grammatical exercises, one must resort to rote memorization (which I found rather difficult) if one wishes to retain any vocabulary.
So, definitely start with this book. However, don't stop here if you want to know more than the basic script. "Teach Yourself Arabic Script" has more information on handwriting forms (some are a bit different), ligatures (common in handwriting), and enough basic grammar to make sense of signs and newspaper headlines.

Great guide to the Arabic alphabet, January 16, 2004

I bought this book so that I could learn the Arabic alphabet, and eventually learn a little Arabic. I thought learning the Arabic alphabet would be very difficult since it nearly looks like the random scribbles of my four year old daughter. I was amazed at how quickly this book allowed me to transform those scribbles into their corresponding letters and sounds. I read the entire book in one night, and now have a basic understanding of the Arabic alphabet. With a little more practice, I'll be ready to start learning words and grammar.

Taking away the mystery, April 30, 2004

I have learned some other semitic languages and was always interested in learning Arabic. I considered the alphabet/script to be too big a stumbling block. This book is simply very well done - elegantly laid out and intelligently arranged. It made it very easy for me to learn the alphabet as a gateway to learning Arabic. It is much better to get a book like this and learn the alphabet before actually trying to learn the language than to jump into a teach yourself book. I recommend it for everyone who wants to learn Arabic - master the alphabet first!

For those wanting to begin learning Arabic, January 7, 2004

I bought this book, in addition to "Beginner's Arabic Script" from Amazon.com for a friend who had absolutely no Arabic knowledge before we met, and as far as I know, it was a good beginning for her, simple and well explained book. I therefore recommend it.

the BEST!, December 10, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
For those struggling to learn Arabic letters and pronunciation, this is the best. This book has the best pronunciation guide for Arabic I've read, and I have a good collection of beginner's books. I would also recommend "Easy Steps in Arabic Handwriting" Workbooks 1 and II. If you can't get them here, try your local Islamic bookstore/grocery (about $4.25 each). After these 3 small books, my handwriting in Arabic is better than most educated native speakers. Khan's book on Arabic Scripts is also valuable if you want to learn calligraphy.

Great for Self-Starters, November 26, 2003

I purchased this book 12 years ago, and have used it in courses ever since. I was able to teach myself how to read and write Arabic in less than 6 weeks. I highly recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in learning this fascinating language.

The book well-organized, easy to read and understand and there is space to practice writing the Arabic script in all forms: initial, medial, final. It even includes the 12 most common ligatures, a topic frequently overlooked by such texts. Finally, it includes just enough vocabulary to whet your appetite to learn more.