When I think about this book, I inevitably end up thinking about where I'd be without it: Lost. Last year when I first got FCP I tried to read the revised, but still cumbersome 1000+ page compellation of instruction booklets. Needless to say, I got about 20 pages into: What's new in FCP? Before I made the conclusion that I'd need help. First, I tried going on forums (2pop.com amongst others) with minimal success. Finally, I came across this book, after a last ditch effort to try another instruction book. When the book came in about a week later, I was extremely surprised about how easy it was to read. It was like he was a mind reader, every question I had he answered.

In a nutshell: I'd probably still be trying to figure out how to overwrite a clip or, at best, be learning the transitions if not for this book. If you're a beginner and you're looking for the right book to guide you along the narrow path that is FCP, seek no longer; this is the solution you've been waiting for.

Wow! I can't say enough good things about this book. It's maybe the best instructional book I've ever read. I'm relatively new to video and editing and I needed a lot of basic information, a lot of explanations of the terminology, and I really liked the little tips and sidebars that gave in-depth background information on a subject, like timecode and why people like me (using consumer cameras) should prestripe their tapes before shooting. That alone probably was worth the price of the book! I also liked the way he tells you why you should or should not do it one way or the other. That really helps to keep the beginner from being overwhelmed it-all. And the way the book is laid out, it's like taking a good course, the information just flows at exactly the right pace. The included CD with the tutorial media and projects was very helpful to me, to learn some of the trickier stuff, like using the trim edit window and the best way to create titles in Photoshop and bring them in. I even tried the "Brady Bunch open" and now I can animate and set keyframes. I noticed that all the other reviewers seemed to be professionals or instructors and I just wanted to say that from the perspective of someone just starting out, without a lot of previous video editing experience (just iMovie) this is definitely the book to get. And, you can even ask the author questions on several of the FCP forums and he personally answers them! Amazing.

I'm a working professional editor. I read Tom's first edition. I was blown away to and why edits work which can only come from a veteran master editor who is also a teacher. This is the book that gives you everything needed to learn the application and the principles of editing form, structure, pacing, music-- wisdom you don't get from a dry software-only book. Tom layers in all the FCP operations-- appearing just where they should! It's an exceedingly robust work. You can spend well-structured time with it, as I did, practice the designed edit exercises with the supplied CD along with your keyboard chops from the included KeyGuideâ„¢. Both editing skill and software know-how come together here in a dawning experience. In my view, it's either this, or a semester in film school containing separate classes on editing theory, editing practice, and a solid FCP course to boot!