M Is for (Data) Monkey: A Guide to the M Language in Excel Power Query

by Ken Puls, Miguel Escobar

Power Query is one component of the Power BI (Business Intelligence) product from Microsoft, and "M" is the name of the programming language created by it. As more business intelligence pros begin using Power Pivot, they find that they do not have the Excel skills to clean the data in Excel; Power Query solves this problem. This book shows how to use the Power Query tool to get difficult data sets into both Excel and Power Pivot, and is solely devoted to Power Query dashboarding and reporting.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Programming, Technical

429 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2015

Reviews

[Bill Jelen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was amazed at what I learned in this book. I have been using Excel Power Query for a year and I had missed so many features. After reading the first 7 chapters of this book, I was doing a seminar for a client. They had a horrible-looking file being produced by Oracle. It took an intern almost a whole day to clean the file so it was usable. In less than 10 minutes with Power Query and my new-found tools, we had cleaned the entire file. The monthly process will now take 2 clicks instead of eight hours. If there was ever a book that would revolutionize white-collar productivity with Excel, this is the book.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to advanced data querying using Excel's Power Query for ETL or further analysis in Excel. I'm an commercial accountant who has used Microsoft Query to extract data from ERP systems for the past eight years. I recently moved into a BI role with an SME so am trying to come to grips with a MS Power BI and Powerpivot. As a beanie rather than an IT person, Power Query and Powerpivot are the best tools I've ever used for extracting data and I look forward to continuing to get better with them.

This book is a great how-to guide and made far more sense than the MS guide online. The author throws in some helpful code which replicates Excel functions in M language which I found helpful coming from an Excel background.

[Stefan Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the most powerful "how-to" guide out there. I'm not an expert in excel but know enough to be dangerous. When I learned about Power Query (Power Pivot), I was blown away. This book helps users at all levels understand the basics of PQ and how to implement the ideas with relative ease. The authors provide working data as well. This isn't just a step-by-step guide but a tool to help users think 2nd and 3rd order impacts of data mining. Kudos Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar for providing such a great tool!

[JeremyDanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion this highly practical book is a must read for anyone using Excel in 2021, not just Data Monkeys. For anyone using Excel the move to Power Query is as significant as moving from a candle to the light bulb.

[Christoph Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good for beginners, power query changed a lot since this book came out, so it was good that I knew which parts I could skip. But it was also kinda bad because there was not much in there that I didn't know (if not in detail maybe).

[Mark Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific and informative read

Terrific and informative read with great incentives and encourages you more beyond the book itself
Look forward to learning more

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant resource for a novice like me

So much valuable information and well structured to taste the needs of both novices and power users alike. Well worth the read

[Genadiy Tsvetkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful

Very easy to follow, good structure, good content. Very useful! I really recommend this book to people who are new to data extraction topic with the Power Query.

[En · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing really new about M.

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buena guía para familiarizarse con power query en general y un poco del syntax detras de lo que ocurre para cambios más complejos

[Asim Javed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Till this moment, the one, only and relevant book on topic. Although less part of the book actually covers what its name specifies, however still best for beginners.

[Hendrick Mcdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Start, Good End

The first 2/3 of chapters about power query functions and fairly basic, but from the M Language chapter on is quiet good and informative.

[Jozef Melichár · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some outdated stuff but generally it was useful practical book. Especially last few chapters focused on code in advanced editor.

[Omisile Kehinde Olugbenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches you the basics of the M Language and how to interact with the various objects. I recommend for anyone that seeks to understand how the M Language works.

[Jonathan Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Work

Taking examples from concept to working model. Your work and contribution to “our” group is tremendous. Thank you to everyone involved!

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, rubbish BI environment. Could benefit from the M language section being longer, but that's probably worth a book of its own.

[Glenn Burnside · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was difficult to apply this in a power BI environment. I'd have preferred less screen-shot-based walkthrough and better introduction to the theory of the M language, which really only gets about a chapter of treatment. For me, the M language is where the real power is - the UI in Excel is just window dressing.

[Tom Huguelet · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best Power Query resources currently available

Definitely a worth-while read. The book is well organized and the writing is full of rich examples that include both the technical components as well as the scenarios in which a particular approach would be useful or necessary.

[Kathy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on my third time through this book, this time in conjunction with the 3-day webinar hosted by the authors. Every time there is more to learn about this fascinating new tool in Excel.

[Paul C Powell Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

Learned so much about Power Query that I've already been putting to use - thank you for writing this book!!!

[Rastko Veriš · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo for Microsoft for making it default in Excel 2016.
It will beome essential soon!

[Amanda Mathis Wells]

One of the few books out there on Power Query (“PQ”). Not easy for a new user. Assumes you are already using PQ. Provides tips for navigating through issues identified while using PQ.

No star rating given because I’m was not at the intended audience level when I read this.