Head First PMP: A Learner's Companion to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam

I purchased 2 books to help me prepare for the PMP Exam, this being one and Rita's being the other. I tried to read Rita's first and did not get very far without falling asleep. I'm not the type of person who can normally just read a book/manual and properly process the information, retain it, and truly understand the concepts being presented. It usually takes a multitude of presentation styles for me to absorb new concepts. I'm a visual learner (primarily) who learns best by graphics and other visual presentation methods. I also learn by "doing," so sometimes I don't really absorb new information until I can apply it myself. I found that this book was the PERFECT solution for someone like me! Before purchasing this book, I sat through a grueling PM Practitioner class that stretched out over 3 months and 9 days - 72 total hours of stand-up instruction. At the end of that class, I still struggled with many of the concepts that I knew I would be tested on in the PMP Exam. I couldn't process the more difficult math formulas and concepts, even with a human instructor right in front of me. What I love about this book is that it takes a single concept and presents it in about 3 different ways.... ensuring that at least one of those ways will "click" with the reader. It also ensures the concepts are drilled into your brain by using repetitive (yet different) presentation methods to convey the information. So, if you don't understand the way it's presented in the first explanation, you're sure to understand it by the time they use a 2nd or 3rd presentation method. They use real-life examples and stories that are easy to follow along with. The book is very graphic intensive, which allows me to process complicated concepts using a visual/graphic presentation method; this helps me understand the high-level concept before digging down into the details. The book has plenty of quiz and sample tests inside of it. Throughout each chapter, there will be small quizzes to help test you and emphasize the most critical concepts. There's a sample test at the end of each chapter, along with an answer key that provides detailed reasons why it's the right answer and why the other options wouldn't be the "best" answer. At the end of the book, there's one large sample test that combines all of the concepts/knowledge areas together. I believe they also provide a website link to an additional test you can access online if you need more practice. Although I'm a huge Kindle fan and am trying to eliminate all of my "hard copy" books and transition to e-books only, this is one of those books that I recommend you purchase in hard-copy. There's something to be said about having the ability to physically highlight pertinent material and write in the book while filling in the practice quizzes and tests. I just found that it really helped me a lot to have the physical book in front of me, so that I could mark it up and flip it back and forth easily. The only semi-negative thing I can possibly say about this book is that it probably doesn't spend enough time focusing on the mathematical formulas. Don't get me wrong... it beautifully outlines all the formulas you will need to know, but I still had a little trouble in this area. You will need to know all of the math formulas backwards, forwards, and inside-out. Don't go into the test unless you can quote them in your sleep! The same applies to understanding critical path calculation and also the 3-point estimation formula. You MUST also memorize all 47 processes and the order in which they occur. You will even be required to answer questions about inputs and outputs. This is very difficult and requires a substantial amount of memorization. No matter how much you read prep books, a lot of PMP Exam prep comes down to pure memorization.

Yesterday I passed the PMP Exam on the first try, yipppeee! Now that I have recovered and am no longer a basket case, time for some comments and a review. First, I have never been a full-time project manager but until after taking some PMP courses and preparing for the exam, realized that I have been applying PM principles during my whole life and career. My career has consisted of being an Air Force Officer and mainly sales and am now looking to going into a new phase. As I completed my last PMP class and started to prepare for the exam, I started to read the PMBOK as my only study source. After reading a chapters and seeing that I was doomed to fail, it was time to find other resources that could help me better understand Project Management and go back and read the PMBOK with a "new set of eyes". Now, my comments about Head First PMP: 1. In my humble opinion, Head First PMP is the best resource to use for exam prep for someone like me. The authors' philosophy of learning by visuals, examples (wedding, baking cookies, etc.), exercises, repetitively describing key concepts (although in different words), etc. really work. I consider myself a visual learner and the Head First fits the bill. 2. Really like the exercises, crossword puzzles, and exams - the questions were somewhat challenging. Like I said earlier, repetition works. 3. Really like the way the Head First is organized - the first 3 chapters serve as an introduction to Project Management and chapters 4 - 10 correspond with the knowledge area in the same chapter in the PMBOK Guide. 4. Good practical pointers throughout the book. For example, the Head First mentions practical tips on preparing for the exam, red herring questions (have to say, I did not find too many in the PMP exam version I took) and so on. Very helpful. 5. Very good layout - eye catching, logical order, etc. For what it's worth, here's the strategy I implemented for passing the PMP exam: 1. No boot camp for me - (don't do well with trying to cram in too much information too quickly, I prefer to pace myself. Some impatient folks may disagree with me, but I believe taking your time and pacing yourself, when possible, is a better way to learn). Instead, I took 4 courses at a local community college whenever my schedule allowed me. Earned plenty of credits to qualify for taking the exam. 2. Studied the Head First quickly to get an idea of how the book is laid out and its content. 3. Next, I read through the book several times for more in depth knowledge of PMP principles. DO NOT skip the exercises, puzzles, and mini exams, they really help! 4. After reading the Head First a few times, I then started to read the PMBOK - really helped me look at the PMBOK in a new way. 5. Studied the PMBOK Guide glossary after reading Head First. One of instructors strongly recommended this and I do too. However, I would say the glossary was easier to understand after reading the Head First. 6. While the Head First did have several math problems, I wanted to supplement learning the formulas with the McGraw-Hill PMP Certification Mathematics title. The title is a good aid and I recommend it. Will probably do an Amazon review on that title soon. 7. Pray like crazy and get a great night's sleep! I tried to keep things in perspective - the worst thing that could have happened to me if I failed was to take the exam again. Compared to the difficulties that millions of people around the world are experiencing, that helped me see things in a different light. I can say, that praise the Lord, I am relieved that I don't have to take the exam again! 8. Finally, do some online exams - Gary Lehman has a great site with several exam examples. In summary, I highly recommend the Head First PMP. Buy the book, study, pray, and pass the exam! Go get'em!

The Rita Mulcahy book and the Head First PMP book were my two main study materials for the PMP exam. I picked up this book after the laborious read of the Rita book that would put me to sleep in minutes. I am very happy I did. Unlike the Rita book, the Head First is MUCH easier to read. It is graphic and not text-intensive which leads to a better understanding of the material (in my opinion). More that that, the book builds confidence and gives you a sense of accomplishment that the material is actually sticking. The questions are exactly what you will find on the PMP exam (unlike the Rita book which are harder / more confusing). As a matter of fact, I swear that some questions were almost verbatim to what I was presented with today on the actual exam. This is important, as I don't need to fail lifting 1,000 lbs if the requirement is only to lift 100 lbs. I'm not a huge fan of reading, however this book makes it much less painful. There is a lot of white space, pictures, diagrams and games which makes it much more interactive - unlike a text book. As others have mentioned, there are some typos / mistakes (references to answer pages are incorrect for example) which is why it gets the 4 star rating. I'm no scholar so if I can find typos the editors should have found them first. Even with that, I found this book invaluable and which I had only read it rather than wasting my time on the Rita book. Today I passed the PMP exam with a "Proficient" rating in all the knowledge areas and I feel I owe most of that to this book. As a bonus, it is 1/2 the price of the Rita book. Worth price paid.

I was originally supposed to take the PMP exam Jan 6th, which was too early to purchase the new edition of Head First PMP so I opted for Rita's PMP book instead. Unfortunately I was not impressed with Rita's style and found it difficult to stay focuses for long study periods. I really wanted the Head First book so I rescheduled my exam date to Mar 1 and waited for this book to release. Well, I was also taking a graduate course and therefore didn't have much time to study for the PMP, thus rescheduling made sense. Now for my review of the Head First PMP book. I have not finished the book nor taken the PMP exam yet, so please understand this is only my impression of the book as a study guide prior to taking the test. I will update my review after the exam. Thus far the material is sticking in my brain just like the authors imply. Something about the method of teaching they use really does work. There are a lot of pictures with words inside or next to them and a lot of redundancy. I was not doing so well with Rita's on the end of chapter practice tests, whereas with Head First I am nearly acing the review questions and quizzes. It's not that the questions are easier in my opinion, the instruction is simply much better. Also, I find myself enjoying the content, which was not at all the case with Rita's. My study method from here out is to read a chapter in Head First and complete the study questions and quiz, then read the corresponding chapter in the PMBOK, followed by the corresponding chapter from PMI's Q&As for the PMBOK. The Q&As book came highly recommended from a coworker who passed the PMP last year. I think most people would find Head First to be a great study guid for the exam and therefore I highly recommend it. I will not be using Rita's from here on so as not to get confused from the different teaching styles. That does not mean Rita's is not a good book, just that I prefer HF.

As an overall visual learner this book is perfect. I learn so much by analogies allowing concepts to sink in much faster. With the PMBOK on hand, the process of grasping the understanding over just memorization is key for me. Head First PMP (HF), adds logic relating to everyday life, utilizing project examples which both professional and new project managers can relate to. We seldom remember how often we use the processes of PM in everyday life. The examples covered in most prep material can be so ever overwhelmingly extensive and in many cases unimaginable that reaching the level of "Oh yeah, now I got it!" takes longer to achieve; in many cases leads to simply memorizing instead. For example, how many of us can relate to the processes required to build a spaceship? While the project is undoubtedly a project, the complexity of building a spaceship clouds the minds of most of learning the basic understanding of PM concepts. The cost, time, scheduling, and etc are so large that I give up before getting started. Now, planning a company trip or relocating an office space? I got it, have done it, and can totally relate. So, now when the concepts of PM are introduced, the "Oh yeah, now I got it!" factor comes sooner, and I can move on to the next lesson. I really get it, understand it, and can visualize the logic of how it works; which is added to my memory bank. Ah haaaa... Thanks Head First! Hopes this helps... Oh yeah, I initially got the book from the library and purchased it because I had to give it back! It is truly a keeper!

Enjoyed the book and felt it was easy to follow. Head First PMP felt like I was working with a personal tutor compared to how most other books made me feel like I'm in a lecture. I started my PMP studies using Rita and decided to switch to Head First because I felt like reading Rita was the equivalent of reading the PMBOK ... long and boring. One negative about Head First was that at times I felt slightly embarrassed to study in public or while on the Metro heading to work because the characters and images in the book are reminiscent of an elementary / middle school text book. All in all I thought the resource was great! I'm so happy I switch from RIta to Head First because I felt that change is what helped me to pass the exam on my first attempt. I might have a slight advantage over others when it came to passing the PMP just because I'm a full time management consultant and have my MBA but personally I felt like Head First was a good enough resource alone to help me pass the exam. I heard about people taking $1000 boot camps, $800 online courses and even met a woman that took an 8 month intensive PMP prep class (no idea how much that cost). Not necessary in my opinion but that is just my opinion. If you're someone that is disciplined and will read through the text book and regularly do practice problems and practice test you should be good to go.

a nice, easy introduction to PMP exam concepts. It is not without issue, however. There are a number of errors with the formulas and there are occasional incorrect answers on practice tests. there are also missing formulas. If you are using a solid, detailed second resource for exam prep, this is a nice pairing. If this had been my only exam prep, I'm confident I would not have passed. I highly recommend using 2 exam prep products and the PMBOK. I used this and the PM Prepcast, and took dozens of practice tests and scored well. Hopefully they fix the errors in the next printing for PMBOK 6. the silly cartoons and their light approach make learning easier and for that reason i do recommend this, but only paired with a more detailed and formal second resource like the PM Prepcast or Ritas book.

I used Head First as part of my PMP study plan. I read Head First PMP first, then the PMBOK, then the first three chapters of Rita's. Head First is without a doubt the easier read of the three. It's entertaining and explains the concepts in a way that is both easy to understand and retain. Important concepts are reinforced with activities, and many chapters contain helpful exam tips. That being said, I don't believe it's enough to pass the PMP on it's own. Head First was excellent to read first, I felt I understood the PMBOK concepts better after reading this, but there was much more info in the PMBOK that was needed for the exam. Using the two books, the start of Rita's, and a handful of free online practice exams, I was able to pass with proficient in all five areas on my first attempt. I definitely recommend this book as a starting point, especially if you struggle with dry material, but combine it with the PMBOK or a second study guide.

I read this book after reading Andy Crowe's study guide. Andy's book was a great starting point, covering all the PMBOK concepts, plus the additional detail that isn't in the PMBOK. Head First PMP also covers the same additional material, and as a visual learner, I found that the information really did start to "sink in" and stick in my head with the Head First book. It was an easy read, using example projects that everyone can understand and relate to (planning a wedding, vacation, opening a lounge etc). The exercises and puzzles were enjoyable and made the learning fun. I passed the PMP exam this week, and do recommend this book, in combination with other material (study guides like Andy's or Rita's, and don't forget the PMBOK) to make sure you have coverage on all concepts (for instance "free float" is not covered in the Head First book).

Los dos libros de Head First que he tenido son una forma muy amena de entrar en la materia. Presentan de forma clara los conceptos y ayudan a recordarlos gracias a cómo se estructura el contenido.

J'ai trouvé cet ouvrage très intéressant. Ecrit dans un style simple, il contient des tas d'exemples pratiques qui permettent de comprendre plus facilement des notions qu'il n'est souvent pas facile de digérer en lisant le PMBOK. Je l'ai utilisé pour preparer la deuxième fois mon examen et j'ai réussi.

PMP試験を検討している方におすすめです。 本内のテストも試験と近いなにようなので素晴らしいと思います PMBOKも参考に読めば完璧です。

Ich lerne noch nicht gezielt auf die Prüfung, sondern habe mir das Buch gekauft, um mir als Projektmanager das standardisierte Vorgehen anzueignen. Das Buch ist übersichtlich und verständlich geschrieben. Auch ohne die Prüfung vor der Nase ist es motivierend zu lesen, und ich nehme doch einige Anregungen auf - prima! Den Ansatz des Buchs, die Sachverhalte zu wiederholen und dabei unkoventionell unterschiedlich darzustellen, muss man natürlich mögen, ich finde ihn super. Ich beschäftige mich dadurch intensiver damit, als wenn ich einen Fließtext durchlese. Die Übungen sind auch prima und stellen interessante Fragen, zu denen man Nachdenken muss. Eine Anmerkung noch: Auf Amazon.com werden Rechtschreibfehler etc. bemängelt - dies (gekauft Mitte Januar 2015) ist zwar die erste Auflage der 3rd Edition, aber ein späterer Druck, die Fehler scheinen weitgehend behoben, mir ist bisher nichts negatives aufgefallen (vgl. die online Errata des Buchs).