It got the job done, (I passed) but it was extremely bland. Believe it or not, there *are* ways to make technical books like this easier to read, but this writer didn't use any of them.
Just the facts, no insight, and grueling step by step examples that will get you certified, but also put you to sleep.
This book sets out to teach the reader the fundamentals of networking, teach basic operation of Cisco IOS routers and switches, and prepare the reader for the CCENT/CCNA exams. It annihilates those goals.
I never thought I would be this enthusiastic about a certification book, but this one really surprised me. It is incredibly well written, technically sound, and has outstanding exam preparation resources.
I have been in IT in one form or another for eight years and found this to be a useful and enjoyable read. I haven't run into any material that teaches this subject matter as succinctly or thoroughly.
While the book has great merit as an exam preparation tool, it would be immensely beneficial to anyone who deals with networking on a regular basis - you'll close the book with an understanding of the networking magic that happens between computers.
Together with the ICND2 Official Cert Guide, it helped me pass my exam. There were a number of networking concepts that were explained more clearly in this book than in the official Network Academy curriculum or in the classroom, such as the meaning of the front LEDs on Cisco Catalyst switches.