Others say...

"Very nice book"
Bought this book for my daughter. She enjoyed the book very much. I looked through it and also found it very good being a Star Wars fan myself. Very nice pictures.

"Jedi vs Sith great read"
For the regular fan of Star Wars books, comics and games this is a compilation of years of knowledge. For somebody new to the series this a great resource of history (both Jedi and Sith). The book is very up to date, including facts of the currently running Legacy of the Force series (up to Sacrifice and a little bit of Inferno) but without revealing some spoilers. The book is written from a Jedi point of view, therefore there's a sort of "Jedi bias" in it that at some moments is enjoyable, some moments it isn't, but if you want further information (or the "truth") then you can go to the original sources (books, comics, movies, games). There is a chapter dedicated to Palpatine that I belive many people will enjoy!

"Not What I expected but Still Loved It"
Like most of the people who bought this book I thought it was as it said a guide to the Force. Really its a guide to the Force users the Sith, the Jedi, the Dark Side, the Light Side, the abilities, holograms and the Chosen One. Yet it so good that I can't be disappointed that it wasn't what I thought. I enjoyed reading the Jedi and Sith "holograms" as they left their own views on events and things. Naturally the Sith are more amusing since they won't devolge too much infomation until you prove yourself and bring them a dead body which they really encourage...and Palpatine's views on things. I couldn't help but think of thinking of Obi Wan's saying of different points of view which you defiently see in the Jedi and Sith's different interpetations of things. I liked learning of the different techniques, abilities and the Forms of the Jedi. Luke's recording on his own journey on the dark side. I also enjoyed Leia's recordings on learning about her father, mother and their marriage. I also liked the story Pooja (Padme's niece) of her two meetings of Anakin. Althought I'm still hoping for a complete book on Luke and Leia learning of their mother, Anakin and Padme's relationship and their Naboo relatives this was a nice and unexpected surprise. The pictures were beautifully done.

"Where's the Force?"
First, the book is beautiful and I love it. I certainly don't regret buying it.

Second, I am disappointed in it. I, too, was hoping for more philosophical meat.

The art is amazing - I have to constantly resist the temptation to cut out pages and frame them! I'm glad I never bought the Essential Chronology because this is enough of a chronology plus oodles of other historical details. I think it's superior to the Essential Chronology.

What this book lacks (and I know I'm not alone in thinking these are what people expected the book to contain):

This book lacks descriptions of The Force. Surprising, huh?

The book IS a great history of the Jedi and Sith. It also goes in depth into different Force powers (which, honestly, I could have done without)and construction of light sabers and schools of light saber fighting styles. So, if, when reading the novels you just can't get enough of Mace Windu discussing Vapaad, well, you'll like this book. But, again, this book is a history of people, events, and techniques.

This book IS NOT about the Force.

I thought I was just being picky when I couldn't find anything to explain the difference between the Living Force and the Unifying Force. But then another review pointed out something even more conspicuous by its abscence and I couldn't believe I didn't notice it - NO discussion of light versus dark! There are countless lists and entries about people who are on the light or dark side but very little discussion of what that means or what their motives are. Although, you do get entries "written" by Luke Skywalker and Count Dooku about their experiences with the dark side.

And THAT is, for me, the selling point of the book. It is written from a Jedi historian's point of view as if someone collected all this knowledge from all the canon and expanded universe material for the Jedi library. Me, personally, I hunger for more stuff about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and I get some - but not a lot - of that.

Many of the entries are written by certain Jedi, like Obi-Wan, which is insanely cool ... and then commented on and addended by some Jedi named Tionne Solusar. So you get it from the perspective of characters you know and love with some third-party hindsight knowledge sprinkled on top.

What I found most useful: A piece written by Obi-Wan, Tionne, and Yoda FINALLY sorting out and clearly explaining the Sifo-Dyas/Darth Tyrannus/Kaminoans situation. I have been searching the interweb for, like, 2-3 years trying to figure that crap out. Speaking of Dooku, there's a LOT on him in here - way deeper stuff than you may have read in Legacy of the Jedi by Jude Watson (good book, BTW) - including his "resignation letter" if you want to call it that.

Final verdict: Buy it, but hopefully, I've saved you from being disappointed or unpleasantly surprised.

[...]

"The overriding philosophy in Episode I - and in all the Star Wars movies, for that matter - is the balance between good and evil. The Force itself breaks into two sides: the living Force and a greater, cosmic Force. The living Force makes you sensitive to other living things, makes you intuitive, and allows you to read other people's minds, et cetera. But the greater Force has to do with destiny. In working with the Force, you can find your destiny and you can choose to either follow it, or not." - George Lucas

"My brother loved it"
I got this for my younger brother for his 14th birthday and he loves it and has read it cover to cover a few times. And I myself have thumbed through it a few times.