not good for preparing for PMP exam, try something else
this book is very confusing and hard to understand. It is written from a scientific point of view. I used an exam simulation program at pmsimulation.com and passed the PMP exam. This worked so much better than studying from a book.

Buy this but also get Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Rita does a great job with this book. But it is apparent she is not a teacher. Her many arrogant statements will have you putting the book down for a while, so you can cool off and then get back to trying to learn the material.

Her exam samples are great, but her explanations leave you wondering where the logic came from.

Buy this but also get Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam (Head First). Head First is a much better teaching guide an facilitates the learning process much better.

Good luck...

Passed exam on first try.
Passed PMP exam on my first try (yesterday) with help of this book.
[My friend had recommended me Rita's book]

How did I prepare:
> Did three readings of this book. Two through readings and on the third reading I focused only on the areas I market earlier for review.
> Referred to PMBOK (page numbers as indicated in Rita's book).
> Did test questions at the end of each chapter and spend time studying those areas where I got answers wrong.
> Memorized Mapping of project management processes to the project management process groups and the knowledge areas. (Table 3-45, Page 70 PMBOK 3rd edition).
> Memorized formulas suggested by this Book.

Well worth every penny!
I purchased this book on the advice of a colleague when they head I was taking a PMP Bootcamp class in prep for taking the exam. Rita strongly suggests you read the book at least twice (which I did) and used again as a study guide after I completed the 40 hour PMP Bootcamp Class. If you want to understand 'context' and where/how process and knowledge areas fit together together THIS is the book to read!!!

Confusing and contradictory
I just passed the PMP exam, but little credit goes to this book. I found the book's questions & answers to be confusing, contradictory, and plagued with personal opinions vs. objective references to the PMBOK. For example, questions 15 & 20 in the HR chapter are plain wrong when describing PM's "referent" power.

I'm glad I took a 4-day PMP exam prep class and used PMBOK's Q&A book with 200 practice questions. For the best use of your time, learn the PMBOK content by taking a reputable exam prep class. The hardest part of the exam is answering 200 questions in a row - make sure you practice that aspect before the real thing. An exam prep class followed by 3 or 4 days of practice questions is the quickest way to get your PMP.