PMI publishes the "Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK), which is structured around the nine knowledge areas: integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk and procurement. Professional responsibility wraps up the foundation. According to the PMP Handbook by PMI, PMBOK is the authoritative project management standard from which the test content is derived. Purchase this guide in addition to, not in lieu of, other prep books.
"PMP Exam Prep" by Rita Mulcahy is the best-selling exam prep book according to Amazon's sales rankings. It is 500 pages with 400 hundred sample questions and dozens of project scenarios to engage the reader in the application of the process groups. Features include Tricks of the Trade (best practices for project managers), cross references to the PMBOK and test-taking strategies.
"The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" by Andy Crowe presents the material logically and in the same order as the PMBOK. Don Kim, PMP and business consultant, cites this guide as a thorough presentation of the exam material, but recommends using it in conjuction with the PMBOK for optimal understanding. Diagrams, flow charts and formula shortcuts abound in this 500-page volume. Sample tests are included at the end of each chapter, as well as a final exam at the end of the book.
"PMP Exam Prep Questions, Answers, & Explanations: 800+ PMP Practice Questions with Detailed Solutions" by Christopher Scordo varies significantly from other prep books; the author focuses on sample tests with thorough explanations of the answer sets. Testing correlates to the nine knowledge areas of the PMBOK, with full-length exams simulating the real test. There is no section on professional responsibility. This is the shortest of the listed books, at just over 300 pages.
"Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam" by Jennifer Greene and Andrew Stellman also tops the list. Deep Fried Brain, about all things PMP, indicates that Head First is a visually stimulating presentation of what is otherwise extremely dry material. Written with humor and quirk, it delivers an organized, thorough presentation of the knowledge areas. Chapters are organized around the nine areas of knowledge and professional responsibility, with additional chapters providing an overview, review and a full-length practice exam. This study guide contains over 800 pages of content, puzzles, games and practice questions.