6 Beginner-Friendly Microsoft Excel 2019 Books That Build Your Skills

Explore Microsoft Excel 2019 books authored by leading experts, offering accessible and practical guidance for newcomers eager to master the essentials.

Updated on June 29, 2025
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Every expert in Microsoft Excel 2019 started exactly where you are now—facing the vast world of spreadsheets with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. The beauty of Excel 2019 is its accessibility: whether you're organizing data for work, managing personal finances, or analyzing numbers for a project, anyone can begin learning and improving step by step.

The books featured here are authored by professionals who understand the challenges beginners face. Leonard J. Ledger, Nathan George, Mary Poatsy, and others have crafted guides that emphasize clear explanations, manageable lessons, and practical exercises. Their combined experience in education, programming, and real-world applications ensures you start strong with Microsoft Excel 2019.

While these beginner-friendly books provide excellent foundations, readers seeking content tailored to their specific learning pace and goals might consider creating a personalized Microsoft Excel 2019 book that meets them exactly where they are. Such a custom approach can complement these expert resources and enhance your learning journey.

Best for daily step-by-step beginners
Leonard J. Ledger, a computer science graduate from MIT and a seasoned professor at Oakridge University, brings his passion for technology and teaching into this beginner-focused Excel guide. His academic background and years of classroom experience helped him craft lessons that break down complex Excel features into clear, manageable steps. Motivated by a need for accessible Excel resources, Leonard designed this book to ease your learning curve and build your confidence with practical tutorials and time-saving techniques.
2023·146 pages·Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel 2019, Microsoft Excel, Formulas, Pivot Tables

Leonard J. Ledger's experience as a college professor at Oakridge University shines through in this highly approachable guide designed specifically for Excel beginners. You’ll find practical lessons on fundamental Excel features, including formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization, broken down into manageable daily segments under seven minutes. The book also covers time-saving shortcuts and introduces macros and VBA automation, helping you move beyond basics once you're ready. Whether you want to reduce spreadsheet anxiety or boost productivity at work, this book offers clear explanations and hands-on exercises that make learning Excel less daunting and more doable for you.

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Best for productivity-focused beginners
Nathan George brings his computer science expertise and years of IT and digital entrepreneurship to this beginner-friendly Excel guide. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, he presents Excel 2019 in a clear, accessible way that helps you build skills from the ground up, making complex features approachable for newcomers.
2021·241 pages·Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel 2019, Spreadsheet Management, Data Analysis, Formulas

Nathan George's background in computer science and extensive experience as an analyst, programmer, and digital entrepreneur shape this approachable guide to Excel 2019. You’ll learn foundational skills like worksheet management, data formatting, and formula creation, progressing to more advanced features such as pivot tables and the dynamic XLOOKUP function introduced in recent updates. The book’s straightforward instructions and visual aids make it especially useful if spreadsheets feel overwhelming or if you're aiming to boost your productivity quickly. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some Excel familiarity, this guide offers a clear path to mastering essential tools without unnecessary jargon or filler.

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Best for custom learning pace
This AI-created book on Microsoft Excel 2019 is tailored to your skill level and learning goals. It focuses on providing a gentle introduction that matches your background and avoids overwhelming you with complexity. By concentrating on foundational concepts at a pace comfortable for you, this personalized guide helps turn beginner uncertainty into confident usage. It’s designed for those who want a clear, step-by-step path to mastering Excel’s essentials without frustration.
2025·50-300 pages·Microsoft Excel 2019, Microsoft Excel, Excel Fundamentals, Spreadsheet Basics, Formulas

This tailored book presents a gradual and approachable introduction to Microsoft Excel 2019, crafted to match your current experience and learning preferences. It explores fundamental features and core functions through lessons designed to build your confidence at a comfortable pace. By focusing on your interests and skill level, the content removes common overwhelm and clarifies essential concepts with clear explanations and examples. The personalized approach ensures you engage with material that suits your needs, allowing you to develop practical skills step by step. This book would examine basic spreadsheet operations, formulas, formatting, and navigation, all tailored to support beginners as they progress toward becoming confident Excel users.

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Confidence Building
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Best for practical everyday Excel users
M.L. Humphrey is a recognized author specializing in Excel training. With a focus on practical applications, she has written several guides that help users navigate and utilize Excel effectively. Her expertise in the field makes her a trusted resource for beginners and intermediate users alike. This book reflects her commitment to making Excel approachable by covering the key skills you need to use Microsoft Excel 2019 confidently in everyday scenarios.
Excel 2019 Beginner (Excel Essentials 2019) book cover

by M L Humphrey··You?

2021·112 pages·Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel 2019, Spreadsheet Basics, Data Entry, Formatting

The breakthrough moment came when M.L. Humphrey crafted this guide specifically for Excel 2019 users who feel overwhelmed by the program’s complexity. She draws on her extensive experience training beginners and intermediate users to focus on the essential skills you need daily—like navigating spreadsheets, entering and formatting data, and basic manipulation. For instance, she dedicates chapters to practical tasks such as printing results properly and customizing views, which many newcomers struggle with. This book suits you if you want a straightforward introduction without getting lost in advanced features you don’t yet need.

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Best for structured learning newcomers
Mary Poatsy is a renowned author in Microsoft Office education with over twenty years of experience creating engaging learning materials. Her expertise ensures this book is especially beginner-friendly, designed to help you grasp Excel's core functions without overwhelm. Poatsy's background in teaching shines through the book's structured exercises and clear explanations, making it a solid starting point for anyone new to Microsoft Excel 2019.
Exploring Microsoft Office Excel 2019 Comprehensive book cover

by Mary Poatsy, Keith Mulbery, Jason Davidson··You?

2019·816 pages·Microsoft Excel 2019, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Formulas

Mary Poatsy's decades of experience in Microsoft Office education shaped this book into a clear, accessible guide perfect for newcomers to Excel. It walks you through fundamental skills like creating spreadsheets, using formulas, and generating charts, emphasizing understanding over memorization. The chapters include hands-on exercises that build your confidence step-by-step, such as critical thinking assignments tailored to Microsoft Excel 2019's features. If you're starting fresh or need a structured path to learn Excel with practical examples, this book fits well; advanced users seeking deep customization might find it basic.

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Best for beginners mastering essential tricks
Josh McKenzie's book offers a straightforward pathway into Microsoft Excel 2019 for newcomers. Its stepwise approach starts with fundamental concepts and gradually introduces advanced tools like VBA formulas and data filtering. This guide is crafted to help you develop proficiency quickly, making it ideal if you want to improve your spreadsheet skills without getting bogged down in technical jargon. Whether you're a student or a business professional, this book provides the essentials to boost your productivity and handle Excel tasks with greater ease.
2020·51 pages·Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel 2019, Data Analysis, Formulas, Shortcuts

What started as a simple desire to demystify Microsoft Excel evolved into a resource tailored for beginners eager to go beyond the basics. Josh McKenzie breaks down Excel 2019’s essential functions and formulas, showing you how to efficiently analyze data, spot grammatical errors, and optimize your spreadsheets with shortcuts and VBA insights. You’ll gain practical skills like filtering large datasets and formatting cells conditionally, equipping you to tackle common office tasks more confidently. This book suits university students and entry-level professionals in finance, business, and marketing who want a reliable, approachable guide without the overwhelm.

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Best for paced skill building
This AI-created book on Microsoft Excel 2019 is tailored to your skill level and learning preferences. You share your background, the features you want to focus on, and your goals. Then the book is created to match your pace and build your confidence without overwhelming you. By concentrating on what matters to you, this custom Excel guide makes learning enjoyable and efficient.
2025·50-300 pages·Microsoft Excel 2019, Excel Basics, Data Entry, Formulas, Shortcuts

This tailored book explores essential Microsoft Excel 2019 features, focusing on your individual learning pace to build confidence and mastery. It covers foundational skills progressively, ensuring newcomers avoid overwhelm by addressing your specific background and goals. You’ll discover key shortcuts and productivity tips designed to streamline your workflow and deepen your understanding step by step. The content matches your interests to help you grasp Excel’s capabilities effectively and comfortably. By concentrating on your unique learning journey, this personalized guide reveals practical techniques and core functions that empower you to navigate spreadsheets with ease and precision.

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Learning Pace Focus
1,000+ Happy Readers
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Best for hands-on Excel 2019 learners
Exploring: Microsoft Excel 2019 Comprehensive is designed as a friendly guide for newcomers aiming to grasp Microsoft Excel’s extensive capabilities within the Office 365 suite. The authors’ method moves beyond simple point-and-click tasks to emphasize understanding how and why to use Excel’s features, supported by exercises that engage you in applying skills practically. This book suits anyone starting their journey with Excel, especially students or professionals looking to build a solid foundation through interactive learning and critical thinking development.
2019·Microsoft Excel 2019, Software, Productivity, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office 365

This book clears the fog for anyone just starting out with Microsoft Excel 2019, offering a well-structured path through the software’s complexities. Mary Anne Poatsy, Keith Mulbery, and Jason Davidson bring years of teaching experience to the table, focusing on how to build practical skills, from navigating basic spreadsheets to mastering critical thinking assignments that prepare you for real-world tasks. You’ll find chapters packed with exercises ranging from multiple-choice questions to open-ended projects, all designed to make the learning process engaging and effective. This resource suits beginners eager to move beyond clicking around and truly understand when and why to apply Excel features, especially in a Microsoft Office 365 environment.

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Conclusion

This collection of six books offers a solid path for anyone new to Microsoft Excel 2019. If you're completely new, starting with Leonard J. Ledger’s Excel or Nathan George’s Excel 2019 Basics will introduce you to essential concepts without overwhelming detail. For a more structured approach, Mary Poatsy’s Exploring Microsoft Office Excel 2019 Comprehensive and Exploring provide step-by-step skill-building exercises.

As you grow more confident, Josh McKenzie’s Excel 2019 reveals practical tricks that elevate your efficiency and understanding. M.L. Humphrey’s Excel 2019 Beginner keeps the focus on everyday usability, helping you apply what you learn immediately.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Microsoft Excel 2019 book that fits your exact needs, interests, and goals to create your own personalized learning journey. Remember, building a strong foundation early sets you up for success in mastering Excel and unlocking its powerful capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Leonard J. Ledger’s Excel or Nathan George’s Excel 2019 Basics. Both break down fundamentals into manageable lessons, making them ideal for newcomers without prior experience.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Microsoft Excel 2019?

No, the selected books focus on beginner-friendly explanations and step-by-step guidance. For example, M.L. Humphrey’s Excel 2019 Beginner is designed specifically to ease beginners into Excel’s core skills.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational guides like Excel or Excel 2019 Basics, then progress to more structured works such as Exploring Microsoft Office Excel 2019 Comprehensive. Later, you can explore practical tips in Excel 2019 by Josh McKenzie.

Should I start with the newest book or a classic?

Focus on books that match your learning style rather than just the release date. Newer books like Leonard J. Ledger’s Excel offer fresh insights, while comprehensive guides like Mary Poatsy’s work provide solid, time-tested instruction.

Do I really need any background knowledge before starting?

No background is necessary. These books assume no prior knowledge and build your skills progressively, helping you gain confidence as you learn Microsoft Excel 2019 from scratch.

Can personalized Microsoft Excel 2019 books complement these expert guides?

Yes! Personalized books tailor lessons to your pace and goals, complementing expert guides by focusing on the exact skills you need. Learn more here.

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