I bought this book to supplement the Teaching Company’s lecture series by the same author. The book is 275 pages and is copyright 2006. I am about halfway through it and find the information very dense requiring much intensive review, of which there are an adequate number of helpful work sheets with complete computations. It is my impression that the methodology marketed as “tricks,” requires a trained retentive memory and is above the abilities of the average person. In this regard, the ubiquitous availability of computers is a significant disincentive to learning these different mathematical methods. Where possible practical applications are provided. However, unless these methods are used on regular basis, practicality must be qualified. To follow through, achieving the program’s objectives requires a definite study commitment. What I found most interesting were different and potentially better ways for dealing with number problems involving basic mathematical operations. As a supplement to the Teaching Company’s course of basically the same name, I found the book extremely helpful.