Business office courses today live in two worlds: one built around modern subscriptions like Office 365 and Word 2019, and one still tied to the classic Office 2000 era. The four Microsoft Office textbooks in this guide reflect that split, with a listed-price spread from USD 14.50 to USD 64.98. Your first move is to decide which software version you actually need to learn.
Quick Take
If you need current Office 365/Word 2019 coverage on a small budget, the Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 trade paperback is the only current-version title under $20. For intermediate Word 2016 in a durable ring-bound layout, the Shelly Cashman looseleaf is the top-priced pick. On the Office 2000 side, the Tutorial Series offers a thorough 736-page introductory course at the lowest price, while the Quick Course with CD-ROM gives a fast, sealed self-study option.
Listed-Price Comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly Cashman Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2016 (Looseleaf) | USD 64.98 | Ringbound, Looseleaf | |
| Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 (Trade Paperback) | USD 14.85 | Trade Paperback | |
| Tutorial Ser.: Microsoft Office 2000 : Introductory Course | USD 14.50 | Trade Paperback | |
| Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000 Fast-Track w/ CD-ROM | USD 19.99 | Paperback with CD-ROM |
Decision Matrix
| Your Training Goal | Best Match | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Current Office 365/Word 2019 content on a small budget | Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 | New Edition trade paperback; broad Word 2019 coverage among the current titles |
| Intermediate Word 2016 study in a durable format | Shelly Cashman Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2016 | Ringbound looseleaf format; focused on intermediate Word 2016 skills |
| Complete introductory course for legacy Office 2000 | Tutorial Ser.: Microsoft Office 2000 | 736-page textbook; comprehensive basic desktop application training |
| Fast, self-paced Office 2000 refresher with CD materials | Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000 | Sealed copy with CD-ROM; numbered steps and quick reference pointers |
Product Notes
Shelly Cashman Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2016 (Looseleaf)
At $64.98, this is the most costly of the four titles. Its Very Good condition, ringbound looseleaf format, and dimensions (10.6 in x 0.8 in, 32.9 oz) point to a physical reference you can keep open on a desk. For someone who has already learned beginner Word skills and wants an intermediate-level workbook, this is the only one of the four that focuses specifically on Word 2016 intermediate topics. The loose-leaf binding is the main advantage if you need to add your own notes or remove pages. The biggest limitation is scope: it concentrates on Word 2016 intermediate, so it won't serve as a general Office 365 suite tutorial.
Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 (Trade Paperback)
At USD 14.85, this is the least expensive way to get current Office 365 and Word 2019 content. It's a New Edition trade paperback by Carol Cram, with item height 4.3 in and length 0.2 in, so it's a compact volume. The "Comprehensive" word in the title signals broad coverage, but the condition is Acceptable: expect some highlighting, annotations, or minor stains, and no discs or access codes are included. That trade-off explains the low price. If you are comfortable with a used study copy and want the most up-to-date Word 2019 lesson material, this one gets you there on a tight budget.
Tutorial Ser.: Microsoft Office 2000 : Introductory Course
This 736-page textbook by William P. Pasewark is listed at USD 14.50, the lowest of the four. It's a Very Good single-volume introductory course for Microsoft Office 2000, published in 1999 by Cengage South-Western. If you need to learn the fundamentals of Office 2000 - or want a historical manual for a legacy machine - the length and condition make it a solid study copy. The dimensions (8.3 in length, 1.2 in height) show a thick reference. The main limitation: its content stops at Office 2000. It won't cover the Ribbon interface or cloud-based Office 365 features that dominate current business office courses, so modern learners will outgrow it quickly.
Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000 Fast-Track Training Book w/ CD-ROM
This sealed copy is $19.99, a middle option, and it is Brand New. The book covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, FrontPage, and Publisher 2000 in a fast-track style, with numbered instructions, screen shots, and quick reference pointers. The included CD-ROM is a trial CD, with the back cover mentioning additional trial items and a rebate coupon. For someone who wants a concise, guided tour of Office 2000 rather than a 700-page textbook, this is the better match. The limitation is that the CD is trial software, not the full suite, so you still need your own Office 2000 installation to practice. The paperback format is compact (9.25 in x 7.25 in, 1.3 lbs), but the content is era-specific.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- Best for current Office 365 + Word 2019 on a budget: the Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019. The Acceptable condition is the trade-off, but the content is the most up-to-date of the four.
- Best for intermediate Word 2016 study: the Shelly Cashman Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2016 looseleaf. It's the highest-priced item, but it's the only one centered on Word 2016 intermediate skills in a page-friendly ringbound format.
- Best for a complete legacy Office 2000 course: the Tutorial Series Microsoft Office 2000 Introductory Course. It's the least expensive and gives you a full introductory course.
- Best for a fast Office 2000 refresher: the Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000. It's sealed, brand new, and built around numbered steps and quick pointers.
