Deciding which PMP study guide to buy often comes down to a trade-off between the updated revision and the cost. If you're in exam certification prep, here you're comparing two editions of Rita Mulcahy's familiar 'Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam': the seventh edition at USD 8.99 and the updated eighth edition at USD 39.99. The $31.00 gap between them is significant, so the right choice depends on how you weigh the updated content against the lower listed price.
Quick Verdict
If you want the lowest listed price, the seventh edition is the practical start, giving you Rita Mulcahy's course-in-a-book framework with Laurie Diethelm listed as co-author. If you'd rather have the updated eighth edition, the higher price buys the newer edition. The trade-off is simple: pay the lower price for the older edition, or pay the higher price for the newer revision.
Comparison at a Glance
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep (7th Edition) | USD 8.99 | Good condition; ISBN 9781932735413 | |
| PMP Exam Prep, Eighth Edition - Updated | USD 39.99 | Like New; ISBN 9781932735659 |
Where Each Product Wins
- The 7th edition wins on listed price: it's the lower-priced entry point, and it brings both Rita Mulcahy and Laurie Diethelm as listed authors.
- The 8th edition wins on edition and condition: the title says 'Updated,' the description confirms a revised edition with 624 pages, and the listed condition is Like New.
Product Notes
Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam (7th Edition)
The seventh edition is the lower-priced choice in this pairing, with a trade paperback format. It lists Rita Mulcahy and Laurie Diethelm as authors, so you get the familiar 'Rita's Course in a Book' structure with two names on the cover. The main limitation is the edition age: this is the older seventh edition, so the content won't match the updated eighth edition. If your study plan doesn't depend on having the updated eighth edition and you want to keep upfront costs low, this is the one to start with. The 7th edition covers the same course-based approach at a noticeably lower listed price than the eighth.
PMP Exam Prep, Eighth Edition - Updated
The higher-priced option, the updated eighth edition, presents the revised text in the same trade paperback format. Rita Mulcahy remains the listed author, keeping the course-based approach consistent across editions. The main advantage is having the updated revision when you're ready to study. The limitation is the price premium relative to the seventh edition, so this is the choice when the updated content matters more than the lower outlay. If you plan to spend significant time with the book and want the version that supersedes the seventh edition in this comparison, this is the more serious commitment.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the seventh edition if you want to spend the least and don't mind an older edition with the same course-based structure. Choose the updated eighth edition if you prefer the newer edition and are willing to pay more for it. For a first-time overview on a tight budget, the 7th edition is the safer spend. For detailed prep with the updated revision in hand, the eighth edition is the one to commit to.
