This book is excellent in preparation for the core exams, but not without some other study guide. Like it says, it's "in a nutshell" and it leaves much of the detail that the exams demand. I found it most useful with the Transcender exams (no MCSE-hopeful should go without them) and additional reading from SAMS' Teach Yourself series. So far I've taken 3 core exams and passed them all with flying colors, in part due to this book (my 4th core exam is scheduled this week). I plan on checking out the Electives in a Nutshell in the hopes of achieving the same success my elective exams.