Mike's Trainer Thread Forum

[sublime]

..

[Dr. Dre]

That whole "find the core" concept in the MLSAT LR has definitely improved my LR skills.

However, I still have areas I could improve. I am tempted to buy the LSAT Trainer, but I need a final "push."

Someone, anyone, please give me that push to purchase the LSAT Trainer (so I could be 180 on LR).

I am just finishing up the LR portions, and LR is clearly the book's strength imo.

I'm sold.

[objection_your_honor]

I have had this for a couple of weeks. Since I'm taking the test Monday, I didn't go through the whole thing. I did go through a good amount of the LR material (especially conditionals and assumption family), including the drills. I can tell you it is at least on par with MLSAT and Powerscore.

In many ways it's like a combination of the two. The content is dense like PS, but approachable and clear like MLSAT. There are endless drills, endless marginalia and tips that follow along the main thread of the chapter. It's hard to really appreciate how much info is packed into this book until you open it up.

I also like the presentation and typeface.

If for some reason I have to retake, I'll be hitting this cover to cover.

[Dr. Dre]

I have had this for a couple of weeks. Since I'm taking the test Monday, I didn't go through the whole thing. I did go through a good amount of the LR material (especially conditionals and assumption family), including the drills. I can tell you it is at least on par with MLSAT and Powerscore.

In many ways it's like a combination of the two. The content is dense like PS, but approachable and clear like MLSAT. There are endless drills, endless marginalia and tips that follow along the main thread of the chapter. It's hard to really appreciate how much info is packed into this book until you open it up.

I also like the presentation and typeface.

If for some reason I have to retake, I'll be hitting this cover to cover.

I'm double sold.

Buying one for me and my cousin.

[sublime]

..

[DEO3029]

Just purchased...looking forward to going through it

[The LSAT Trainer]

Happy father's day --

Three quick announcements --

1) The kindle book is out of my hands and in process and should be released by the end of this month.

2) I have finished proofreading the book again, and a cleaned up version will be available on Amazon starting some time the beginning of next week (the book is currently unavailable while they make the changeover). Many thanks to those of you who pointed out small things that needed to be fixed -- I really appreciate it.

3) Here's my main point -- those of you who have already purchased the book -- I'd love to send you a list of the edits that you should be aware of -- please pm me if you'd like one.

Thanks again everyone for all of the support thus far -- the initial reaction has been much greater than I could have hoped for -- as always, please let me know if anyone needs anything --

Mike

[mvonh001]

Do any of these errors affect the context of the book or are they all superficial errors (such as spelling, grammer,etc)

[The LSAT Trainer]

Do any of these errors affect the context of the book or are they all superficial errors (such as spelling, grammer,etc)

Mostly superficial errors --

There are no errors that impact real LSAT questions / solutions.
There are a few errors that impact some of the minor drill questions -- mostly having to do with wording changes between the original version and the solution (not quite sure how that happened) -- I'll pm with the list (it's very short) just in case you are interested in it --

Mike

[gelato]

Hi Mike,

I am very interested in getting hold of your new book! (I truly enjoyed the Manhattan guides, but I need to keep working to boost my score above the 170 mark.) Amazon seems to be out of stock, and despite my digging around on the internet, I have been unable to find it anywhere else. Do you know when it will be back on Amazon, or do you know where else I can buy a copy?

Thanks!

[The LSAT Trainer]

Hi Mike,

I am very interested in getting hold of your new book! (I truly enjoyed the Manhattan guides, but I need to keep working to boost my score above the 170 mark.) Amazon seems to be out of stock, and despite my digging around on the internet, I have been unable to find it anywhere else. Do you know when it will be back on Amazon, or do you know where else I can buy a copy?

Thanks!

Hey Gelato --

So happy you are going to try out the book!

Amazon is currently listing it as unavailable while it is changing over to a newly edited version -- it should be listed as being available again by tomorrow night at the latest --

Look forward to hearing what you think of it, and I hope it helps you get over that 170 hump -- please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need any further advice --

Mike

[Nicolena.]

I am currently reading the MLSAT books. How long would you space apart reading MLSAT from the LSAT Trainer? Should I take a break once I've completed the MLSAT series to go over concepts and drill for a while, like a month, and then purchase your book?

[The LSAT Trainer]

Hi Nicolena --

Thanks for your interest in my book! --

Here are my thoughts, but with one caveat -- I don't think any of these products are really used in the ways that the creators intended -- I think students may ultimately be better judges of how to best utilize them -- all that is to say you can definitely feel free to ignore my advice if you think you know better what you ought to do --

1) I don't see any benefit to holding off on starting the trainer materials --

Ideally, what you want to do during your LSAT prep is to work on developing the right skills first, then work on firming up effective habits. If you pick up my book later in your process it can still help, but I think it will have a bigger impact the earlier you start utilizing it.

You may have some valid reasons for holding off that I am failing to consider, and if you want to discuss them, I'd be happy to do so --

2) I think you'd be fine looking at the manhattan materials and the trainer materials at the same time. I do think you'll be better off reading corresponding parts in the trainer first, and then in the manhattan materials.

Hope that answers your questions -- good luck, and reach out if you need anything -- Mike

[The LSAT Trainer]

Hi everyone -- for those of you who were asking, just wanted to let you know that the cleaned up version is now available on amazon -- Mike

[Dynasty091]

After reading a couple of pages of this thread, I caved and ordered the book on Amazon. Going through the Manhattan LSAT books helped a lot so I'm pretty sure this will do the same. And Mike, how many hours a day do you recommend each day studying with the Trainer?

[The LSAT Trainer]

After reading a couple of pages of this thread, I caved and ordered the book on Amazon. Going through the Manhattan LSAT books helped a lot so I'm pretty sure this will do the same. And Mike, how many hours a day do you recommend each day studying with the Trainer?

Great to hear -- thanks so much for giving it a shot and don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any extra help or have any questions about the book --

I think studying is very much like working out - the best thing is a steady routine with plenty of breaks in between. Some students who prepared for the June exam went through the trainer very quickly, and I think they still got some good use out of it. However, I think for maximum benefit it's best to spread your work out a bit -- the free schedules on my website can help you organize that, if you'd like -- ideally, I'd love for you to keep it down to one or two, or at most three, lessons a day (each lesson should take, on average, roughly an hour) preferably with a break in between them.

Since you are already deep into your studies, you may want to utilize the trainer in a different sort of way -- if you want any specific advice relative to what it is you want to work on, please feel free to pm -- good luck --

Mike

[lijun]

So is the one on amazon now the new edited edition?

[The LSAT Trainer]

hi -- yes, the version on sale now on amazon is the latest version -- mike.

[kiyoku]

I am feeling so giddy right now.

The last time I checked this book was out of stock. I checked just now and it's in stock.
I just bought it.

And now... i just have to wait.
Oh damn.

[The LSAT Trainer]

I am feeling so giddy right now.

The last time I checked this book was out of stock. I checked just now and it's in stock.
I just bought it.

And now... i just have to wait.
Oh damn.

Thank you! Since you're so excited about the book (I am too, obviously), I thought I'd share some nerdy thoughts about how it gets to you --

From what I understand, the book is literally printed just for you. When you hit the "buy" button is right when your version goes into the printer -- it comes out bound and packaged, and headed right to your door. I think it's very likely that your hands are the first (or maybe just the second) to touch your copy of it. Again, totally nerdy, but I really find that to be neat -- it's like receiving a freshly baked donut, as opposed to one that's been sitting in a warehouse for months (yes, I do realize it's a book, and not food, and the analogy is not a great one, but that is how I feel) --

And here's a riddle -- I'll try to be careful with my wording --

You have nine balls (ha). They all look and feel exactly the same, and eight of them are exactly the same, but one is just slightly heavier, and the difference is small enough so that you can't tell, on your own, which one it is.

You have a two-sided scale -- a balance. You can take two measurements on this balance to try and figure out which ball is the heavier one. A measurement is exactly what you think it is -- things put on either side of the scale -- if you add or subtract things, then measure again, that of course counts as a second measurement.

Again, no play on words here -- just logic -- how can you use the scale, and two measurements, to figure out which ball is heavier?

Can't wait to see what you think of the book -- as always, get in touch if you need anything -- Mike

[Daily_Double]

From what I understand, the book is literally printed just for you. When you hit the "buy" button is right when your version goes into the printer -- it comes out bound and packaged, and headed right to your door. I think it's very likely that your hands are the first (or maybe just the second) to touch your copy of it. Again, totally nerdy, but I really find that to be neat -- it's like receiving a freshly baked donut, as opposed to one that's been sitting in a warehouse for months (yes, I do realize it's a book, and not food, and the analogy is not a great one, but that is how I feel) --

Sounds like that RC passage about the paradigm shift from old to new and the pressures of literary agents to transform the literary industry from one of pre-printed books, being bound and sold, to books being printed and sold in that fashion.

[The LSAT Trainer]

From what I understand, the book is literally printed just for you. When you hit the "buy" button is right when your version goes into the printer -- it comes out bound and packaged, and headed right to your door. I think it's very likely that your hands are the first (or maybe just the second) to touch your copy of it. Again, totally nerdy, but I really find that to be neat -- it's like receiving a freshly baked donut, as opposed to one that's been sitting in a warehouse for months (yes, I do realize it's a book, and not food, and the analogy is not a great one, but that is how I feel) --

Sounds like that RC passage about the paradigm shift from old to new and the pressures of literary agents to transform the literary industry from one of pre-printed books, being bound and sold, to books being printed and sold in that fashion.

I hate to say it DD, but I've seen the symptoms before -- comparing real life to RC passages is one of the surest signs of LSAT-addiction -- you may need to seek professional help.

[Daily_Double]

From what I understand, the book is literally printed just for you. When you hit the "buy" button is right when your version goes into the printer -- it comes out bound and packaged, and headed right to your door. I think it's very likely that your hands are the first (or maybe just the second) to touch your copy of it. Again, totally nerdy, but I really find that to be neat -- it's like receiving a freshly baked donut, as opposed to one that's been sitting in a warehouse for months (yes, I do realize it's a book, and not food, and the analogy is not a great one, but that is how I feel) --

Sounds like that RC passage about the paradigm shift from old to new and the pressures of literary agents to transform the literary industry from one of pre-printed books, being bound and sold, to books being printed and sold in that fashion.

I hate to say it DD, but I've seen the symptoms before -- comparing real life to RC passages is one of the surest signs of LSAT-addiction -- you may need to seek professional help.

Haha, I'm not so sure it's treatable, or that I want it to be. If I end up retaking, I'll definitely pick up your book and post a review somewhere about it. Good luck with it, sounds like everything is going well.

[Dynasty091]

After reading a couple of pages of this thread, I caved and ordered the book on Amazon. Going through the Manhattan LSAT books helped a lot so I'm pretty sure this will do the same. And Mike, how many hours a day do you recommend each day studying with the Trainer?

Great to hear -- thanks so much for giving it a shot and don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any extra help or have any questions about the book --

I think studying is very much like working out - the best thing is a steady routine with plenty of breaks in between. Some students who prepared for the June exam went through the trainer very quickly, and I think they still got some good use out of it. However, I think for maximum benefit it's best to spread your work out a bit -- the free schedules on my website can help you organize that, if you'd like -- ideally, I'd love for you to keep it down to one or two, or at most three, lessons a day (each lesson should take, on average, roughly an hour) preferably with a break in between them.

Since you are already deep into your studies, you may want to utilize the trainer in a different sort of way -- if you want any specific advice relative to what it is you want to work on, please feel free to pm -- good luck --

Mike

The book got delivered earlier today and although I only went through the first two chapters, I'm impressed on what I read so far. I like how there's a good amount of information on each page but yet at the same time it's easy to read. And thanks for the advice, I printed the 16 week schedule on your website and going to stick to around 2 lessons a day.

[arcanecircle]

I am feeling so giddy right now.

The last time I checked this book was out of stock. I checked just now and it's in stock.
I just bought it.

And now... i just have to wait.
Oh damn.

Thank you! Since you're so excited about the book (I am too, obviously), I thought I'd share some nerdy thoughts about how it gets to you --

From what I understand, the book is literally printed just for you. When you hit the "buy" button is right when your version goes into the printer -- it comes out bound and packaged, and headed right to your door. I think it's very likely that your hands are the first (or maybe just the second) to touch your copy of it. Again, totally nerdy, but I really find that to be neat -- it's like receiving a freshly baked donut, as opposed to one that's been sitting in a warehouse for months (yes, I do realize it's a book, and not food, and the analogy is not a great one, but that is how I feel) --

And here's a riddle -- I'll try to be careful with my wording --

You have nine balls (ha). They all look and feel exactly the same, and eight of them are exactly the same, but one is just slightly heavier, and the difference is small enough so that you can't tell, on your own, which one it is.

You have a two-sided scale -- a balance. You can take two measurements on this balance to try and figure out which ball is the heavier one. A measurement is exactly what you think it is -- things put on either side of the scale -- if you add or subtract things, then measure again, that of course counts as a second measurement.

Again, no play on words here -- just logic -- how can you use the scale, and two measurements, to figure out which ball is heavier?

Can't wait to see what you think of the book -- as always, get in touch if you need anything -- Mike

You need to do Mikes weekly riddles, I love these posts!

For the ball its 3 sets each to arrive at the correct ball.

Measurement 1 has 2 possibilities

Scenario 1 is scales tip: you know which 3 has the irregular ball.
Scenario 2 is scales balance: you know the 3 you didn't weigh has the irregular ball.

Measurement 2 has 2 possibilities

Split the group of 3 up so one of them is on either side, and last one is off to the side.
Scenario 1: scales tip, found the irregular ball!
Scenario 2:scales balance, the irregular ball is the one off to the side!

Took me a bit, was thinking of it in 4s, but the idea I guess is to use the unweighted balls to your advantage.