Others say...

"Essential"
Very readable. Great reference. Includes explanations of Why you do things, not just How to do them. This book also takes a broad view of Risk, and when it is about 'Risk' it relates the planning and controlling to the other PMBOK processes and knowledge areas. Risk management as a comprehensive concept. Wow, who'da thunk. Kendrick impresses; I own and use his PM Toolkit almost daily.

"A "Must Have" for Your Library"
As the other reviewers have indicated, this book is an excellent addition to your library.

It is well-written, well-organized, and supported by real-life data from his PERIL database (compiled from hundreds of projects, world-wide, over the past decade). The book makes good use of bullets and diagrams to emphasize and/or explain important points.

I particularly liked the way he correlated his material with the Project Management Institute (PMI)'s PMBOK.

Further, I appreciated his discussion of some of the most difficult issues that arise when implementing a formalized project management methodology (including some that are seldom addressed in books), e.g.:

o Tips for persuading senior level management of the necessity of a formalized project management methodology

o Recognizing the power shift that occurs within a company when formalized project management/portfolio management processes are implemented and followed

o Metrics, derived from the PERIL database, relating to things such as the impact of the permanent (or temporary) loss of a project team member. (I'm always looking for metrics to support some business case, or other request to senior management, for additional ... time ... resources ... budget, etc.)

o The Appendix, which listed some of the Schedule, Resource and Scope risks from the PERIL database

o The sample Risk Questionnaire, and the many other tools, tip and procedures included in the book

Overall, I give it five stars and expect that it will become "dog-eared" very quickly, from heavy use, as I refer to it often in my work.

"I Got What I Needed From This Book"
I found the book well written, easy to read and follow and packed with a lot of good information. I used the book to help respond to a proposal for IT risk management. I used a lot of information from the book to help write our response to the proposal. The author does a good job of explaining the process and procedures for a sound organizational risk management program. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to start a risk management program at their company.

"Required reading for all project managers and sponsors"
This volume may be the best one I have ever read on the subject of risk in the project arena. Kendrick has captured the best of current practical thinking on project risk and how to identify and manage it. And the author has carefully linked theory and practice to the Project Management Institute's "Project Mangement Body of Knowledge." In addition this book is exceedingly well written and very readable (a rarity in this genre).
Kendrick approaches risk identification from the perspective of the project manager in the areas of scope (project deliverables and product), resources (people, materials, and money), and schedule (time). He addresses each area in a separate chapter with practical advice on how to identify and document potential risks. An aspect of these three chapters I particularly appreciate is the depth of information that allows the reader to address each area of risk at different levels. Kendrick does this by providing an array of analytical tools. For example in Chapter 4, "Identifying Project Schedule Risks," the reader could use the list of common schedule risks and probably account for 80% of the schedule risks for their project, or move to a deeper analysis of risks associated with delays, dependencies, and errors in estimation. In the area of estimation the reader is presented with an array of estimating techniques that can be used as appropriate to detect potential risks in estimation.
Chapter seven on "Quantifying and Analyzing Activity Risk" appears just in time. After reading the first six chapters the reader may throw up their hands and declare "I can't manage all of this!" As an experienced project manager, Kendrick gives us tools to help select the risks to manage. All potential risks on a project are not manageable or worth the time and effort to manage. This chapter gives sage advice on how to select the vital few.
A key element in Kendrick's approach is distinguishing what he calls "activity risk" from "project risk." It is easy for the project manager to focus on risks associated with various activities and forget the larger picture. In fact there may be times when the risks associated with each activity seem minor but when the project is viewed as a whole the project is very risky. Kendrick provides tools for quantifying and analyzing risk at the project level as well as a chapter on managing project level risk.
I end this review with three overall comments. First, pages 17-24 should be required reading for all senior managers and anyone who sponsors a project and there should be a test at the end. The biggest risk for too many projects is unknowing, unthinking, or uncaring managers who are driven by near term profits and stock prices. Second, readers should not be put off by Kendrick's inclusion of statistical and mathematical information. Such information comprises less than 5% of this book and it would be a shame to miss the other 95% due to a fear and loathing of numbers. Finally, if you can't find any other reason to read this gem, read it for the intriguing history of the building of the Panama Canal. If Kendrick ever decides to stop managing projects, he has a bright future as a writer of interesting history.

"Project Risks"
This book is very useful - - the combination of practical examples and user-friendly tools make application of the concepts possible. I like the High-Level Risk Assessment tool and appreciate the real-life examples that help illustrate the key points. Mr. Kendrick's book is a must read for anyone serious about project managment.