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suspendedinair's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a gem. Really useful visual images that help you remember the kanji.
You need self-discipline though, and about a third in Heisig decides to stop babying you. At that point you have to start coming up with your own stories for the kanji, but he's trained you so well it shouldn't be an issue, just takes persistence.
I'm lazy and I quit, but I recommend this to anyone serious about learning to read, write and recognize Japanese.
You need self-discipline though, and about a third in Heisig decides to stop babying you. At that point you have to start coming up with your own stories for the kanji, but he's trained you so well it shouldn't be an issue, just takes persistence.
I'm lazy and I quit, but I recommend this to anyone serious about learning to read, write and recognize Japanese.
ladydewinter's review
5.0
I DID IT. Right on.
Phew! I started working with this book at the end of July/the beginning of August. Heisig himself says in the preface that it should be possible to finish it all in six weeks if you're dedicated and have the time - I laughed at that and thought to myself that it would take me years.
It took me four months. Four months of sitting down every evening to learn about 15-20 new kanji each day. (And I would've been done even sooner if some dickwads hadn't broken into my apartment and stolen my laptop with the data on it, but that's another story.)
Sure, I "only" recognize the kanji and know their basic meaning, but. Well. Considering that five months ago I didn't know any kanji, let alone their meaning, that's pretty awesome. I still have a lot of revising to do, and more studying, but I have to say I found this book incredibly helpful and fun.
It may not be for everyone, and it may seem like double the work because you don't learn everything in one go, but that's kind of the point. And I have to say that in combination with my Japanese language course and my attempts in reading manga in Japanese, I've already learned some of the readings without making much of an effort, so that helps, too.
I think what it did was take away my fear of the kanji. I mean, they and especially their number are really overwhelming, but I'm now confident enough to be able to count the strokes and just, well, look it up. (Also, I try not to think about how many there are and how overwhelming it is. It also helps that I've only been doing this for such a short amount of time, so I can always tell myself, it's okay, you don't have to know this yet!)
And at the end of the day? I'm just really, really, REALLY proud of myself for sticking to it and accomplishing all this.
Also, six months ago? I would never have imagined that I would be this intend on learning Japanese, but there you go. Now I'm in love <3
Phew! I started working with this book at the end of July/the beginning of August. Heisig himself says in the preface that it should be possible to finish it all in six weeks if you're dedicated and have the time - I laughed at that and thought to myself that it would take me years.
It took me four months. Four months of sitting down every evening to learn about 15-20 new kanji each day. (And I would've been done even sooner if some dickwads hadn't broken into my apartment and stolen my laptop with the data on it, but that's another story.)
Sure, I "only" recognize the kanji and know their basic meaning, but. Well. Considering that five months ago I didn't know any kanji, let alone their meaning, that's pretty awesome. I still have a lot of revising to do, and more studying, but I have to say I found this book incredibly helpful and fun.
It may not be for everyone, and it may seem like double the work because you don't learn everything in one go, but that's kind of the point. And I have to say that in combination with my Japanese language course and my attempts in reading manga in Japanese, I've already learned some of the readings without making much of an effort, so that helps, too.
I think what it did was take away my fear of the kanji. I mean, they and especially their number are really overwhelming, but I'm now confident enough to be able to count the strokes and just, well, look it up. (Also, I try not to think about how many there are and how overwhelming it is. It also helps that I've only been doing this for such a short amount of time, so I can always tell myself, it's okay, you don't have to know this yet!)
And at the end of the day? I'm just really, really, REALLY proud of myself for sticking to it and accomplishing all this.
Also, six months ago? I would never have imagined that I would be this intend on learning Japanese, but there you go. Now I'm in love <3
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