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Which book is better?

de Rejsi, 2013-majo-28

Mesaĝoj: 18

Lingvo: English

Rejsi (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 20:11:59

Hi everyone. I'm getting tired of staring at a computer screen when I try to learn Esperanto. I want to purchase a book and I am down to two choices.

1. Esperanto: Learning and Using the International Language by David Richardson
2. Teach Yourself Esperanto (3rd edition) by John Cresswell, John Hartley, and J.H. Sullivan

I've heard great things from both, but it should be noted that there is a significant price difference between the two. The first is roughly $15-$20, but the second is out of print with the lowest price I can find around $40.

On Amazon.com, there is a significantly larger amount of reviews for the second book and I don't know if I'll be missing out if I get the first one instead.

Can anyone with both explain the difference to me and which one they feel works better? Thanks.

RiotNrrd (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 20:39:13

I learned Esperanto with #2 (TYE), and can attest that it is an excellent resource. It's still the first place I look when trying to answer some question or another. $40 seems a little steep, though (I've heard a pdf of the book is available for free somewhere on the web, although I don't have a link - that doesn't solve the problem of reading on a computer screen, though).

I am unfamiliar with #1, although I've seen it recommended before.

Another book to consider might be Step By Step In Esperanto (Butler), which is excellent as well, although very dense in comparison to TYE.

Kazimir (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 21:49:45

I would also recommend your # 2 choice, I have it, got it used off of Amazon for very little (go for the older hardbound copies), and it's excellent. As well, Step By Step In Esperanto is also excellent. Another older classic is Ivy Kellermans' "Esperanto: A Complete Grammer", and of course there is the best old classic, "Fundamento De Esperanto" by Zamenhof himself. I'm like you, I like learning from a book much better.

kultivisto (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 23:02:24

I also recommend Kellermans book. I would also recommend reading Being Colloquial in Esperanto by david jordan.

I personally did not like David Richardsons book. It somewhat reminds me of a highschool french or spanish textbook. It is a slow start and at the end of the book I still had trouble deciding how to say X in esperanto. However it is a good introduction if you are not sure how far you might take your esperanto.

Rejsi (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 23:02:50

Kazimir:I would also recommend your # 2 choice, I have it, got it used off of Amazon for very little (go for the older hardbound copies), and it's excellent. As well, Step By Step In Esperanto is also excellent. Another older classic is Ivy Kellermans' "Esperanto: A Complete Grammer", and of course there is the best old classic, "Fundamento De Esperanto" by Zamenhof himself. I'm like you, I like learning from a book much better.
Sadly, I am looking at the used prices. If I want it new, I would be paying over $140. It's ridiculous. malgajo.gif

I am only looking at Amazon prices, though, because I want to use my gift card money.

robbkvasnak (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 23:21:45

ebay has BOTH Teach Yourself Esperanto AND the TYS dictionary for Esperanto for just $25 - I found it and I am a lousy online-searcher, believe me!

Rejsi (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-28 23:43:52

robbkvasnak:ebay has BOTH Teach Yourself Esperanto AND the TYS dictionary for Esperanto for just $25 - I found it and I am a lousy online-searcher, believe me!
Yes, I did see that, and it is very tempting. I was just hoping to get something on Amazon.

Would you say that the dictionary portion is necessary? I was thinking of just buying the one book and not the dictionary. Lernu already has a great dictionary and there are loads of apps for phones and such that are much more up to date. Sadly, many in-print Esperanto dictionaries do not have more modern terms in them (things related to computers), but I don't mind having to use electronics to look words up.

Moosader (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-29 00:31:21

Rejsi:Hi everyone. I'm getting tired of staring at a computer screen when I try to learn Esperanto. I want to purchase a book and I am down to two choices.

1. Esperanto: Learning and Using the International Language by David Richardson
2. Teach Yourself Esperanto (3rd edition) by John Cresswell, John Hartley, and J.H. Sullivan

I've heard great things from both, but it should be noted that there is a significant price difference between the two. The first is roughly $15-$20, but the second is out of print with the lowest price I can find around $40.

On Amazon.com, there is a significantly larger amount of reviews for the second book and I don't know if I'll be missing out if I get the first one instead.

Can anyone with both explain the difference to me and which one they feel works better? Thanks.
Hey there Pajama Sam. ridulo.gif

As far as reading books on (or in) Esperanto, I've found my Nook pretty handy for this since you can download .pdfs of public domain books and read them on that. It's still an electronic screen, though, since the one I have is essentially a locked-down Android tablet. But, it is quite a bit nicer than sitting at a computer.

Rejsi (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-29 00:36:07

Moosader:Hey there Pajama Sam. ridulo.gif

As far as reading books on (or in) Esperanto, I've found my Nook pretty handy for this since you can download .pdfs of public domain books and read them on that. It's still an electronic screen, though, since the one I have is essentially a locked-down Android tablet. But, it is quite a bit nicer than sitting at a computer.
I've been recognized. ridulo.gif

I'm actually a fan of the eReaders that are in black and white and without a lighted screen. They are much easier on the eyes for long term viewing, but unfortunately I don't have any of these.

The good news is that I just found the Teach Yourself Esperanto book for cheaper than I thought on Amazon. I just had to look up the older editions. Yes! ridego.gif

Merkuro (Montri la profilon) 2013-majo-29 00:40:42

I don't know where you live, but in my city, (and it's not a very big one at that), both the public library and my school's library have copies of Teach Yourself Esperanto that I've checked out and used.
I know that owning something is more useful, but it could help if you're trying to decide between the two titles.

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