If you have no previous exposure to Chinese, this book/CD will make you FEEL like a Dummy! You are expected to repeat entire phrases and sentences from the start. It's better for a beginner who has already done some basic work in Chinese. However the book is wonderful for explaining Chinese culture, and the author definitely conveys her own love for China and the people and language. The cultural notes are fascinating and definitely more accessible for "dummies" than the audio section. If you are a beginner looking for a "step 2" program the CD is a great challenge and introduces a lot of new vocabulary.

this book is a good supplement IF you're already taking mandarin classes. but this book is not enough for a self-study course. it is much too simplistic for that.

A good 2nd book, October 7, 2005
　

This book suffers from two problems. One is that it throws readers directly into conversation and overwhelms them. I used the book to pick up a few cultural niceties, but my Chinese friends laughed at my failure to use the correct tones. The other problem is that it is shoehorned into the Dummies framework of organizing books rather than trying to absolute novices the basics first. This book has good appendixes and other reference material. It would be a great second book after you have mastered another approach of learning basic Chinese. I quickly ditched this approach, and bought the Pimsleur series.

Chinese for Dummies, August 21, 2005
　

I needed a good book on Chinese language to prepare for my fiance coming next month from Shanghai. I had already bought several books on Chinese language and each had different approaches to laying out the land of a somewhat difficult language.
When I received Chinese for Dummies, I skimmed through the varius chapters and saw that the format used in the book, made it easier to understand the language and the "chinese mind" that I beleive the other books lacked in scope.
I ended up using the chapters as a template for lesson plans, not only for myself, but for teaching my fiance English.
The additional CD made it easier by "hearing" the tonal structure
of the Chinese, something the other books disappointedly lacked.
I highly recommend this book.