The MLA Pocket Handbook: Rules for Format & Documentation [Conforms to 7th Edition MLA]

It's OK. I have a better piece of literature that is a little bigger than this and much more handy. Buy this if you need it for 1 or 2 classes - not if your an every day writer.

This very small book is certainly a help in interpreting the new 7th edition of the MLA guide, but the reader has to thumb through the book to find each entry type. It needs a table of contents that indicates what page the database entry or book entry is on. This pocket guide is good in a pinch but not as thorough as Diana Hacker's pocket handbooks. Unfortunately, Hacker revised her book just before the 7th edition came out.

I just received this book and it is no where near worth the money spent. It seems like a good deal and then you get it only to realize it sucks. It is very cheap and poorly made, looks like it wouldn't last very long at all. The text in it is faded and slanted on almost every page. I don't know why anyone would think the content of it is helpful either. It gives barely any information compared to the real MLA Handbook. I knew when I bought it I wasn't going to get all the information as the real handbook but I never expected it to be only like 5% of the information, maybe not even that. The description says it was "organized for speed and brevity" but I found the organization extremely annoying and hard to find what I was looking for quickly. Overall, it was just a horrible disappointment! I will be returning it!

This item fell apart the first time I opened it. All I did was hold it open with one hand. Then a page fell halfway out. OK.

This extremely thin paperback fits in the pocket of you jeans or binder. It is just a gloss over some items, but it covers a wide variety which is helpful for a quick reference. Only one example is usually given for each type of reference, but it's simplistic and extrememly easy to understand, so only one is really needed.

Personly opinions: I wish to goodness I had this in college ten years ago when I had to buy the twenty dollar MLA handbook for my English writing class. Rather than having to lug it around all over campus and such, this little gem would have been my greatest companion. Honestly, it would have been a great companion to the MLA handbook. But it's good on it's own too.

It's eight bucks, which is way too pricey, but in the long run, it should make your money's worth. Well, as long as you treat it really well. I ended up clear-taping the one I got for my friend's high-schooler because she is so rough on her books, and this flimsy little thing is really just yellow paper on white paper. No gloss finish. No water protectant.

I would buy it for myself, even knowing I won't look at it and feel I'd gotten my money's worth. However, I know I'd be quite happy with it in the long run. After all, you can't judge this little book by its cover.