The Everything Essential Latin Book: All You Need to Learn Latin in No Time (Everything® Series)

It appears the author was just trying to get something published. The lessons on Latin use and grammar are rushed, incomplete, and confusing. For examples, on page 174, when discussing the present, indicative, passive, the author instructs the reader to "read down the paradigm for 'ago'", but then gives no paradigm for "ago". On page 190, we're told "the supine/perfect passive participle is made by adding -tus to the base of the verb"; the examples the book then gives adds -tum to the base.Further, the book has multiple typos and errors, has eliminated excerpts from Latin writers, and, in the exercises, uses words not given in the vocabulary. You'll need a good Latin dictionary to do the exercises, for the meager "Latin-English Vocabulary" in the appendix is woeful.The cursory explanations on how Latin works leave the student much to figure out on his or her own. Don't waste your time or money on this. If you want a comprehensive, clearly-written and complete explanation on Latin, go with Wheelock's. Better yet is the Lingua Latina series by Hans Orberg. Both are much more clear, solid, and professional.

This book has a no nonsense uncomplicated approach to Latin language studies. I'm a returning Latin speaker, long away from my adolescent studies I endeavored to refresh my skills. The Everything Essential Latin Book has made my Latin refresher a breeze, breaking down a complex and intimidating language making it accessible to all. Highly recommend to first time learners or those returning.

The book has an interesting presentation style with translations in more modern language than is often found in Latin textbooks. The connections to Proto-Indo European are intriguing and I found helpful. However, there are some misprints. For example, Chap 7 practicing adverb chart, bene and facile should be in the adverb column; English to Latin exercise Chapter 9, "by ship" should be nave. There are some errors in the conjugation chart for the perfect forms of eo. There may be others. Overall there is good information presented in an engaging way. Just be on the lookout for misprints.

If you want to learn Latin outside of a classroom get this book. It really works on grammer, word endings,declensions, tenses, etc. Not like a Cambridge reader with stories. But I feel I am finally learning the mechanics of the language. So eventually I can read Ovid in Latin. Or Julius Caeser, or whatever Latin author. Not just textbook stuff. So if you want a thorugh grounding get it. You can get the Cambridge books to read stories but now you'll understand them better.

Interesting enough to keep your attention but informative enough to teach you alot.

This book is good for people who have taken Latin and have a basic understanding. The title is misleading. You won't learn Latin in no time, but be frustrated in no time.

I took a year of Latin in high school and I just wanted a refresher. This book did the trick. Even if you have no previous knowledge of Latin, it is a great resource for learning the basics.

I first found this book at my local library when trying to decide if I wanted to get into Latin. After checking it out twice, I decided to just buy it. It is easy to understand and follow. There are even exercises in the book with answers to help you master Latin. I'm still far from mastering the language but this has been a big help on grammar.

Trying to self-teach in Latin, so this is on the list. Tough going, but this book is well written to assist.

This is a text-book & as such, I'll be reading it for months & so am totally unqualified to offer a review. I bought this book to aid in the learning of French & (mostly!) to facilitate the learning of Biology, other life-sciences & verbal communication with Life-Sciences experts. So, I need to understand the structure of the language (some help with that here) & greatly enhance my Latin vocabulary (Author cops out, referring reader to other, non-specified English<->Latin dictionaries) so as to relate better & retain the hitherto arcane Linnean, Binomial names, Biologists insist on hanging on plants, critters & other assorted life-forms...'Prior's book doesn't quite deliver: it's basically focussed on teaching classical Latin, the section on pronunciation is perfunctory & confusing--English speakers have a whole different way of pronouncing Latin, than do native Italian speakers. Ecclesiastical Latin users, Biological Latin users & Academic Latin users all have slightly different ways of pronouncing some vowels & even some consonants. This is a problem & one that Prior, for all his detailed breakdown of grammar, does little to elucidate, or resolve...

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