The book is in a good condition, although it was folded in a few of its corners. A bit of an annoyance to me. If it was wrapped properly, this would'nt happen. I suggest that, the book being a soft cover, be properly wrapped before shipment. Other than that, I have no complaints, the item is what I expected only the service of packaging is a bit of disappointment, but all and all Im satisfied say 65%.

If you're a home bartender, this is the book for you! It has has everything for people who want to impress friends or just enjoy the craft of mixology. Has a large recipe section.

I am a bartender and it was recommended to me from a friend and I am dissapointed. Having been a bartender for a while, I already knew most of the information included in this book and actually disagreed with a thing or two. But, like all things in life, take it for what it is. If you are a home bartender or a commercial one starting out this is for you! Carefully explains everything from different types of glassware to different types f liquor and mixes. LEARN WHAT SOUR MIX REALLY IS! It will help you greatly. For experienced bartenders, I would recommend instead the Joy of Mixology (attacks the subject from a history-evolution standpoint) and the Bartender's Black book (great recipe book) instead.

My first experience of the For Dummies books was Chess For Dummies and Wine For Dummies. Bartending For Dummies does not measure up. This book has decreased my faith in the For Dummies brand.

This book has a ton of recipes. Most interestingly, though, it has history and information on how various alcohol products (e.g., brandy, whisky, vodka, gin, etc.) are made. You can read the book for pleasure!

This book has a ton of recipes. Most interestingly, though, it has history and information on how various alcohol products (e.g., brandy, whisky, vodka, gin, etc.) are made. You can read the book for pleasure!

I was aware that I was buying a miniature edition of the book, and I expected it to be small. Maybe not this small (3"x3.5"), but small. But inside there isn't a whole lot of useful information unless you've never drank alcohol before. There are only about 50 recipies, including stuff like Gin and Tonic, which is like a cookbook containing directions for making broccoli. I give it a 2 because it has some interesting information on alcohols, and it has some good recipies. However, the Internet Webtender is a great place for much, much more of both of the above.

When I built my home bar, and stocked it the brim with liquor, mixers, and various essential glassware, I knew I needed a little bit more advice and expertise to tighten up the collection and get it ready for a party. I was always a fan of the dummies books, and while they may be looked upon as lowbrow material for the martini connoisseur, or bar expert, I was neither, and I believe that for people like me, most do-it-yourselfers, the book suffices quite nicely.

When I throw a party, and our college parties are usually big with 65 or more people, we go all out and things get hectic behind the bar with dozens of people all clamoring for something different. Bartending for Dummies really comes in handy time after time, with many of the most popular drink recipes available at a moment's glace, in logical, alphabetized order. The look-up is fast and quick, and the instructions are quite easy to follow. This is especially useful for when you have dozens of people throughout the night who, when asked what they want, simply reply with, "I don't know," or, "Make me something that tastes good." While these responses are aggravating, and totally unproductive, this book serves as a great reference of on-the-fly drinks to make for these indecisive individuals.

For pre-party preparations, the front of the book is filled with information on everything from cutting limes the proper way to buying enough rum, or vodka for a predetermined number of guests. The numbers, math, and money tabulations I have found to be accurate enough to swear by, and often helpful in a myriad of party-planning adventures. The book also has a number of charts depicting types of alcoholic volumes, what some of the terminology means, and even an informative list of calories per kind of alcoholic beverage.

The book has a couple drawbacks, as almost everything does. For one thing, the author tends to use a few lower-quality alcohols in certain popular drinks that should never be used. Using these lower qualities, and sub-par products detract from the eminence of an otherwise first-rate beverage. A second criticism is that some of the drink recipes are not what the vast majority of the world believes them to be. Slight variations in amount, sequence of mixing, and kinds of alcohol used within these drinks I find suspect.

However, the information on the main categories of alcohols, their history, production methods, place of origin, and most popular nomenclature I found to be quite fascinating. The research seemed impeccable, with well-documented and respectable sources. The chapter on kinds of glassware and their uses provided a layman with tons of useful facts to help them make informed decisions on what kinds of glasses to stock your bar with and serve different drinks within.

While Bartending for Dummies may be considered light reading, inconsequential, and contrived to experts in the field, this demographic is hardly this book's intended audience. I, a nonprofessional and do-it-myselfer, have found the book to be a boon time and again, at party after party. Its setup is easy to follow, coherent and consistent, with humor at times, and an all-round indispensable tool for any home-bartender.