Robert's Rules of Order in Brief: The Simple Outline of the Rules Most Often Needed at a Meeting, According to the Standard Authoritative Parliamentary Manual, Revised Edition

Even though I have both the "in Brief" and the unabridged editions, it is only the "in Brief" edition that I take with me to my meetings. I recommend that you buy and read the "in Brief" edition first.

... but let's be realistic about it; most people won't. For the 95% of us who just want our PTA, Condo Association, or other group to run an efficient meeting, this is the book to read. It tells you the most important parts about Robert's Rules -- the stuff that comes up regularly at meetings. I'm on several non-profit boards, and this is the most useful book on running meetings I have found.

I was really impressed by the simple and concise manner in which Roberts' Rules of Order was explained. Perfect tool for the person newly responsible for running a meeting.

A nice, concise, well-written summary which should be useful for all members of organizations which hold meetings.

This has to be the most user-friendly book I've seen, starting with the inside of the front cover. It says, "If you only have 30 minutes" then read certain chapters.

Somehow these experts figured out what the rest of us would need to know and how we would be looking for it. Maybe they had a panel of non-experts to critique.

There are chapters detailing what the words are that you use to make something happen and how to use those words. Best of all, everywhere you look there are copious examples.

In the back are succinct tables of those same words and there is also a chapter on how to find the completely complete information on the topic in the big "Robert's" book

Most of the book is concerned with what you need to know as a member of the group. There are separate chapters for an officer of the group, which contain the things that most of us don't need to know.

This is not a book you'd save for a winter evening curled up in front of the fireplace. It's to tell you all sorts of things you'd really rather not have to know, but that you really need to know. I've already decided that mine is mine alone. Nobody is going to borrow it because it would never come back to me.