When I received this dictionary, I really didn't know what I should expect from it. The only other German dictionaries I'd ever used were the ones my teacher kept in her classroom. I took a course on German over the summer and I soon discovered that I really needed a vocabulary source more extensive than the glossary my textbook (Unsere Welt, © 1991 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.) had provided. Upon using the dictionary I was pleasantly surprised. Its small size is very convenient for transport to and from class. It takes up less space than a soda can and thus was no extra burden on my book load. Even more impressive, though, is the vast information this little book contains. I found all of the vocabulary words I needed in addition to many less common words that one doesn't expect find in an abridged dictionary. Another convenience is the "key word" feature that points out important words. Over all, it is a user-friendly reference, which I would recommend to any one who needs a comprehensive, portable dictionary--especially novice, intermediate, and advanced German students.