Customer Reviews

Robert's Rules of Order

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Typically, if you're looking specifically for Roberts Rules, you'll pick up one of these three:
1.) The most recent "authoritative" version - Robert's Rules of Order: Newly Revised, 10th Edition (2000). This is the version often referenced by the National Association of Parliamentarians. If an organization's bylaws state that the latest version of Robert's Rules is their parliamentary authority, this is the authoritative one that you'll have to reference. It's definitely a good revision. I saw notice somewhere that a newer edition is coming out in 2011, which would then make this one outdated.
2.) A "classic" version, such as this one, which is usually based on the last editions published during Henry Robert's life time (copyright has expired and they're in the public domain). You can even find online copies of these versions. Usually these have little to no editorial or extra explanatory information. I think of them more as a historic document.
3.) A condensed/easy to read/"common language" version or discussion of the rules. Some of these are more like "companion books" which are adequate for many but don't have the complete rules.

So, if you're buying this copy, it's probably for historical purposes, although I had a different reason for buying it. The current versions are very verbose. True, they have modern information, including how to resolve new issues such as meetings by conference call, etc., but I wanted something terse and to-the-point because that's my learning style, I didn't need to refer back to it as "the authority", and I already have a copy of the 10th edition. I suspect most people won't take or need the "classic" approach.

If you do need to get a "classic" version, I like this one (ISBN 1420922521) because it fits more content onto the pages, making it easier to read than other "classic" versions (such as ISBN 1599869411) which suffer from too little content on the page, resulting in way, way too much page flipping. It's easier in this version to follow short sequences of ideas because they are not needlessly spread over multiple pages.

While there certainly are other options to understanding parliamentary procedure, "Robert's Rules of Order" is a traditional key to knowing the ways things are done. This is the book, with a leather binding. The leather is its strength and weakness.

True, true: this isn't exactly the sort of book you bring to a coffeehouse on a Saturday. However, it is also true that if you are part of an organization that has organized meetings, 'Robert's Rules' is a great place to start. The liturgy of meeting procedure starts and finishes with the rules set forth in 'Robert's Rules.'

The leather looks and feels great. For use in an ordinary meeting context, it is likely too much. As a gift to your favorite politician (or as a editorial comment to your least favorite politician), the leather is a nice touch.

Get this book, but consider getting one of the plain English versions as well. If you are new to parliamentary procedure, you'll find both books in tandem quite helpful.

I fully recommend, "Robert's Rules of Order" by Henry M. Robert III.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com