Preparing for a business office course often comes down to one practical question: which Microsoft Office book belongs on your desk? The listings here span two very different generations of Office-the current Excel 2019 world and the older Office 2003 classroom era-and their prices sit far apart. That spread can make the choice seem harder than it is. The right book depends on the version your course uses, how much depth you need, and whether a used copy with signs of wear is acceptable to you.
Quick take
If your class is built around Excel 2019, the New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive title is flexible because it is available both as a new copy and as a used copy. If you are studying a broader Office 2003 curriculum, the New Perspectives first course covers the whole suite. If your focus is advanced Excel 2003, the Wermers Illustrated Course Guide is the dedicated advanced choice.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Condition | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive (Very Good) | USD 6.74 | Very Good | Trade Paperback | |
| New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive (Brand New) | USD 19.57 | Brand New | Trade Paperback | |
| New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2003, First Course, Second Edition | USD 25.27 | Good | Spiral | |
| Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) | USD 28.05 | Acceptable | Spiral |
Decision matrix
- Current Excel 2019 course, want a clean copy: choose the new New Perspectives Excel 2019 Comprehensive.
- Current Excel 2019 course, want to minimize spending: choose the used copy of the same Excel 2019 Comprehensive title.
- General Office 2003 introductory course: choose the New Perspectives Office 2003 First Course.
- Advanced legacy Excel 2003 course: choose the Wermers Illustrated Course Guide, the only advanced Excel-specific title in this set.
Product notes
New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2003, First Course, Second Edition
This spiral-bound first course is the broadest pick here because it covers Office 2003 across a full introductory sequence rather than isolating one application. It is written by Patrick Carey, Ann Shaffer, June Jamnich Parsons, and Dan Oja, which makes it a team-authored classroom text. At $25.27, it costs more than the used Excel 2019 copy but offers a full overview of an older Office generation. The trade-off is condition: rated Good, it may show light writing, highlighting, or library markings, but the pages should be intact and readable. Choose it when your syllabus is built around Office 2003 and you want one book for the whole first course.
New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive (Brand New)
This brand-new copy of the current Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 text is clean and unmarked. It is also marked as a New Edition, which is useful if your course expects that edition. At $19.57, it is the least expensive new title in this comparison, but the comprehensive scope means it is designed for a full Excel 2019 course rather than a quick overview. If your business office course also covers Word, PowerPoint, or Access, this Excel-focused book may be more specialized than your syllabus requires. For a learner who wants a fresh copy of a current comprehensive text, this is the straightforward choice.
New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive (Very Good)
At $6.74, this is the lowest listed price in the group and the same New Edition version of the Excel 2019 comprehensive text as the brand-new copy. The condition is Very Good, meaning the book is solid and readable, but you may find minimal underlining, highlighting, or a previous owner's library label. That is the main limitation: you get the same educational content in a used package. If you are comfortable with that trade-off and want the cheapest entry into a current Excel 2019 course book, this copy stretches your budget further. The title and ISBN match the brand-new listing, so the content itself is equivalent.
Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides)
This spiral-bound guide from Lynn Wermers and Elizabeth Eiser Reding is the only advanced Excel title in the set, and it targets Excel 2003 specifically. At $28.05, it is the highest listed price, yet the book is rated Acceptable, so expect visible wear such as creased covers, folded page corners, or minor stains. All pages and the cover are intact, so it remains usable for a legacy advanced course. Choose it only if your coursework genuinely requires advanced Excel 2003 techniques; otherwise, the edition gap and the wear make it a harder sell compared with the current Excel 2019 options.
Final recommendation by use case
For a current Excel 2019 class, the new New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive is the easy choice if you want an unmarked copy, while the used copy is the lowest-cost way into the same content. For a general Office 2003 first course, the New Perspectives Office 2003 First Course gives you the full suite in one book. For an advanced legacy Excel 2003 course, the Wermers Illustrated Course Guide is the targeted option, even though you will be paying the most for a used copy. Match the edition to your syllabus first, then decide how much condition matters.
