Customer Reviews

Bookkeeping Made Simple

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I looked long and hard for a book to teach me the basics of bookkeeping. The author's premise is that even if you're going to use computer software to do your bookkeeping, you should at least know how it's done manually, and I completely agree. This book gets straight to the point, teaching all the essentials in a clear and concise manner. I have no background in accounting, and have previously found it very difficult to understand the concept of debits and credits. For some reason everything clicked as I worked through this book. This is not for accountants or MBAs, it's for the person who wants to learn basic bookkeeping principles, enduring as little pain as possible in the process.

This book was puchased to teach a teenager the basic principles of bookkeeping prior to learning a computerized bookkeeping system. I have been "keeping the books" for businesses for 30+ years and feel it is important to know what the computer is doing behind the scenes. This book will help you to understand that. Both the teenager and I are very pleased with the logical and simple to understand explanations of bookkeeping. We especially like the worksheets which accompany the lessons. These give the student a feeling of accomplishment and help to reinforce the lessons.

When I read this book, I found it was so easy to understand. It is written very well and has many illustrations to give you a good visual. The book makes you understand the concept in a simple way. Some of the accounting text books that are out there have so much information it intimidates first time accounting students. Thank you David Flannery for making accounting a little easier to grasp!

I was a little intimidated by the topic. I used this book to help me get ready to take an accounting class in college. Wow! It really helped me. I took a accounting class in high school but did not do very good. I used this book and started to understand it. I could answer my professors questions in class. I got an A for the class! This book also showed me how to set up a excel spreadsheet which helped with my computer class. Cool book!

John

This books title reveals exactly what it says- Bookkeeping Made Simple. I understand accounting principles more easily now than I did during my unedgraduate degree, which I majored in International Business Administration-Accounting. I sit with my 4 year old daughter and she can comprehend the terms and principles throughout the book. I think I just created another generation of CPA's because of this book. He has great examples and nothing is confusing. If you purchase this book, read it cover to cover and then attend an accounting meeting you will know exactly what they are discussing. You will also know if your bookkeeper actually knows bookkeeping or has been leading you on. This book has definitely assisted me with becoming a more proficent bookkeeper!

I reviewed several basic bookkeeping and accounting books for teaching a recent course to small business owners. I selected this book because it is overall, straight forward and easy to understand. The exercises at the end of the chapters proved helpful to students. Recommend this for beginners.

What a great book! It starts with the basics and builds from there. The exercises at the end of each chapter hammer home the information you just read. Even though I'm going to use a CPA for my business, this book will help me be a better business owner.

This is an easy to use instructional manual with practical assignments to help you retain the information given. Highly recommended.

I bought this book because of the reviews. I was also baffled by the 'balance' sheet that doesn't balance on page 14. (See review by 'adm')

More explanations are needed for some items, like 'sundry' accounts. They are introduced in chapter 5 on page 33, but only a brief explanation is given several pages later (page 36) that says basically: 'Sundry accounts are used to record infrequent or unusual transactions'. BUT in figure 5.1 on page 33, the items posted in the sundry account include: 'phone co., internet, and electricity' NONE of which seem infrequent or unusual. No explanation.

Also: after going to such length to make sure we know that 'debits go on the left, and credits on the right', there is no explanation why some special accounts put them backwards (credits on the left, debits on the right) but others do not. (See examples 5.2, 5.6, 5.9, 5.10 all in chapter 5)

On page 27, the author says we need to be 'perfect' when we practice his lessons, ('perfect practice makes perfect') yet his lessons are not perfect. If I were to write a book on this subject, I would edit it extremely carefully. Typos would be understandable in any work, but these are big mistakes.

The book is still pretty good so far, because I've already learned more than I did in a whole semester of high school accounting.

I'm only up to chapter 5, so I may be adding to this review.

It is written very simple so everyone can understand it.
Gives you all the basics.
Has many excercise and answers so you can practise.
If you have a small business and want to know the basics you will like this book.