Recommended Books: Microsoft Excel

author: John Walkenbach
publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 0-7645-4072-6
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If you were to buy just one book on Excel programming then this is it! John Walkenbach is a well-known and respected Excel guru. His web site The Spreadsheet Page is often the first port of call when I'm looking for the answer to an Excel VBA problem. This book covers most of the topics you are ever likely to encounter working with Excel VBA and contains a wealth of sample code. The author's writing style makes this book is suitable for both novice and experienced Excel programmers. If you work with earlier versions of Excel you might save money by seeking out one of the previous editions, either new or used. These links will take you to the details:

Microsoft Excel 2000 Power Programming With VBA
ISBN: 0-7645-3263-4
Find it at: Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

Microsoft Excel 2002 Power Programming With VBA
ISBN: 0-7645-4799-2
Find it at: Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

author: Joseph Rubin
publisher: Limelight Media Inc.
ISBN: 0-9746-3685-1
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Joseph Rubin really knows about using Excel. He has worked in the accounting industry for many years and runs his own CPA practice. He's also a great teacher and shares his wisdom through his web site ExcelTip.com. This book contains hundreds of answers to practical questions about Excel formulas and functions. Each topic is explained concisely, outlining the problem, providing the solution and then supplying a clear and understandable explanation of how it works. Each item is also illustrated with a screenshot. The topics are arranged in categories including Text, Date & Time, Counting and Summing so if you are looking for a specific solution to a problem you can search the contents or index pages. If you are in need of inspiration, whether you are an experienced Excel user or a novice, you will find this book great for browsing and getting ideas.

author: John Walkenbach
publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 0-7645-3967-1
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I'm often asked "I need a book on Excel. What should I get?" and my response is always the same - to buy the Excel Bible. I bought my first copy after being told by the people at Microsoft that this is what they referred to when they needed help! The book is a comprehensive guide to using Excel, from creating your first worksheet to advanced data analysis. There is also a useful introduction to programming Excel with VBA. As you would expect from this author, the information is clearly presented and profusely illustrated with examples and screenshots. Every Excel user needs this book on their shelf. If you work with earlier versions of Excel you might save money by seeking out one of the previous editions, either new or used. These links will take you to the details:

Microsoft Excel 2002 Bible
ISBN: 0-7645-3583-8
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

Microsoft Excel 2000 Bible
ISBN: 0-7645-3259-6
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

Microsoft Excel 97 Bible
ISBN: 0-7645-3036-4
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

author: Reed Jacobson
publisher: Microsoft
ISBN: 0-7356-1359-1

I have great affection for this book (or rather for the Excel 97 edition) since it was with this book in hand I took my first faltering steps into the world of VBA programming. In Microsoft's classic step-by-step tutorial style it takes you through the first stages of programming Excel with VBA. I had for a long time been reluctant to embark on VBA programming, thinking that it was too difficult and that I wouldn't be able to understand, but the author's comfortable writing style and well-explained step-by-step exercises soon showed me that I really was going to be able to do this! This is an excellent book for the beginner. The earlier edition is still available:

Microsoft Excel 97 Visual Basic Step by Step
ISBN: 1-5723-1318-8
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

author: John Walkenbach
publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 0764540734

It's hard to avoid recommending any book by this prolific author. Most Excel users use only a small proportion of the tools available. Basic formula writing is easy but knowing what's available, when to use it, and how to create more ingenious and complex calculations is another matter. This book is well-organised and filled with clear, relevant examples (the accompanying CD is with the cover price alone!). I particularly liked the section on array formulas which, until JW explained them, were a mystery to me. If you use Excel you need this book!

You might prefer to look for an earlier edition if you work with an older version of Excel:

Excel 2002 Formulas
ISBN: 0-7645-4800-X
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

Excel 2000 Formulas
ISBN: 0-7645-4609-0
Find it at Amazon.com (USA) or at Amazon.co.uk (UK)

author: Patrick O'Beirne
publisher: Systems Publishing
ISBN: 190540400X

I hate proofreading my work. I know what's supposed to be there so that's what I see. But if a typo slips through the net there's no real harm done and someone else usually spots it and lets me know. But auditing a spreadsheet is a different matter. A simple error could easily go unnoticed and its consequences might cascade through the workbook without ever being discovered. So this book is a Godsend! It explains, clearly and with illustrated examples, how to design and build reliable, error-free spreadsheets and how to use the tools that Excel provides for auditing and error-checking. Each section concludes with a self-test and there is a support website.

I though I knew my way around Excel pretty well, but reading this book I found myself saying "I didn't know you could do that!". If you build spreadsheets you should read this book.