If you are a user of MindManager X5 or X5 Pro, you will find the new book, MindManager for Dummies by Hugh Cameron and Roger Voight Ph.D., to be a welcome addition to your library. It not only contains clear, concise, step-by-step instructions on how to use the program’s most popular features, but also numerous tips and tricks to help you take your mind mapping productivity to the next level.

MindManager is the first mind mapping program ever to be featured in a “Dummies” book, a sign that this powerful visual diagramming application has reached a critical mass of popularity among business and individual users.

How the book is structured

Part One: Discovering Visual Organization: In this opening section, the authors provide an overview of the most common applications for which you can use MindManager, including recording your brainstorms, analyzing problems, taking meeting notes and outlining projects and tasks. This section also outlines the types of information you can include in your maps using the program’s new XML-enabled Smart Map Parts, and the ways in which you can share your maps with others. Finally, this section of the book familiarizes you with the MindManager user interface and helps you to create your first map.

Part Two: The Path Takes You There: In this section of the book, you will learn how to embellish your maps and visually represent your thought processes. It also tells you how to include images in your maps, how to group and relate topics, and how to add comments and notes to your maps. You will also learn how to use MindManager’s powerful brainstorming mode.

Part Three: Maps and Buried Treasure: This section of MindManager for Dummies teaches you how to effectively utilize the program’s more advanced features — hence the “buried treasure” moniker. It explains how to record task information in MindManager, how to filter topics in your map, and how to manage large maps. It also teaches you how to create links to files, web pages and other resources in your maps, how to use templates and styles, and how to use MindManager’s built-in wizards to streamline common tasks. It also provides a brief overview of the scripting language that is built into MindManager. But, in keeping with the theme of this book (a beginner’s guide to using MindManager), it doesn’t go into much detail on this capability.

Part Four: Maps Through Webs and Windows: Chances are, when you create a map in MindManager, it will not be a self-contained collection of thoughts and ideas. Rather, you will want to share it with others or move information from your map to other applications, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Project. This section of the book shows you how to make these connections.

Part Five: The Part of Tens: This mysterious, whimsical title refers to the fact that this section of the book is a loosely grouped assortment of some of the best add-ins to MindManager, plus where to go to find advice from other users of the program.

Conclusion

If you are a user of MindManager and you are looking for ways to get more out of this powerful program, then you should definitely purchase MindManager for Dummies. Even advanced users of earlier versions of this popular mind mapping program can benefit from this book, because MindManager X5 and X5 Pro contain many new features, and the authors do a good job of explaining them. As you might expect, the book is filled with example maps from the authors’ own work and leisure time activities, which adds relevance and increases understanding for the reader. Even though I consider myself an experienced MindManager user, I learned at least a dozen new tips and techniques that I didn’t even realize the program supported!

Here’s a tip: At nearly $300, MindManager X5 Pro is hardly an impulse purchase. If you think you may be able to benefit from this powerful program but aren’t sure about what it can do for you, why not buy the book first? MindManager for Dummies does a great job of teaching the program’s features, functionality and potential applications. At $24.99, the book is a wonderful investment that will help you make a more informed decision on how MindManager might benefit you.

MindManager for Dummies is a clear, concise, fun guide to the most important features and functionality of MindManager X5 and X5 Pro. If you use MindManager in your work, you’ll want to keep this volume next to your computer as a handy reference guide.