Choosing a business office course book often comes down to one question: do you need current Word 2019 comprehensive training, or is your next class built around an older Excel title? These four illustrated guides offer two distinct paths. The three Word 2019 paperbacks share the same New Edition feature, so the real choice among them is condition and price. The Excel 2003 Advanced guide takes you in a different direction entirely.
Quick take
The price spread runs from $14.07 to $28.07, and the books split by focus. Three options are trade paperback versions of Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive; the fourth is Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides), priced at $28.05. If your syllabus centers on Word 2019, any of the three paperbacks covers that ground. If you need Excel 2003 material, the Advanced guide is the direct match.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Price | Price bar | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrated Microsoft Office - Paperback (Duffy/Cram) | $28.07 | Trade paperback | |
| Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive | $14.07 | Trade paperback | |
| Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive | $14.85 | Trade paperback | |
| Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) | $28.05 | Spiral-bound |
The table shows two price clusters: the Word 2019 guides sit at $14.07, $14.85, and $28.07, while the Excel 2003 guide sits near the high end at $28.05.
Decision matrix
- Follow a current Word 2019 curriculum: pick one of the three Word 2019 copies.
- Keep upfront cost low: the Good-condition Word 2019 copy at the bottom of the price range is the least expensive entry point.
- Tolerate wear to save a little: the Acceptable Word 2019 copy adds a small step up in price but accepts heavier condition issues.
- Need a classic Excel workbook: the Excel 2003 Advanced guide is the title built for that version.
- Want a cleaner printed book: the Duffy/Cram copy is presented as having all pages included, but it is the highest-priced option here.
Product notes
Illustrated Microsoft Office - Paperback (Duffy/Cram)
At the top of the price range, this copy costs the most of the four options. Its strength is that it is presented as a well-cared-for item with all pages included, so it suits a learner who wants the full Word 2019 Comprehensive content without hunting through a heavy-wear copy. The tradeoff is the price and the condition caveats: it may show slight markings and highlighting, so it is not pitched as a pristine book. If a complete, readable study copy matters more than the lowest cost, this is the one to start with.
Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive (Good-condition copy)
This Good-condition copy is the least expensive route into the Word 2019 Comprehensive curriculum. You get the same illustrated approach, but the wear is covered honestly: underlining, highlighting, minimal wear, and possibly a library label may be present, and extras such as discs or small accessories may not be included. For a learner who wants the content at the smallest cash outlay, this copy does the job without pretending to be new.
Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive (Acceptable copy)
Only 78 cents separates this copy from the lowest-priced one, so the content-to-cost ratio is nearly identical. The tradeoff is visible in the wear: the cover may have curled corners, corner dings, or stains, and the pages may show heavy highlighting, handwriting, or yellowing. The spine may even be cracked, though the book is still intact and readable. This is a sensible pick for someone who cares more about having the Word 2019 lessons at a low cost than about how the cover looks on a shelf.
Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides)
If your training target is Excel 2003 rather than the newer Word/Office 365 material, this spiral-bound guide is the one that matches. Priced near the top of the group, it pairs the Illustrated Course Guides format with the advanced Excel 2003 curriculum from Lynn Wermers and Elizabeth Eiser Reding. The limitation is condition and scope: the Acceptable copy may show heavy wear, may lack a dust cover, and may not include discs or access codes. It also does not cover Word 2019, so this is a legacy-focused choice for a specific class or refresher.
Final recommendation by use case
For a current Word 2019 class, start with the Good-condition copy at the lower end of the price range; the content matches the more expensive paperbacks, and the wear is made clear. For a learner who wants a cleaner copy and is willing to pay the upper end of the range, the Duffy/Cram option is the top-priced choice. For an Excel 2003 course, the Advanced guide is the straightforward match - just accept the heavy wear described for this copy.
