If you're intent on learning how to play Mah Jongg, this book is a great help. Yes, you can learn from other players, but if you still need remedial help (I did!), get this book. Author Elaine Sandberg writes plainly, in uncomplicated sentences. She has organized the chapters in the best possible way for learning. Each chapter has a summary and then a small quiz at the end. You need to do them, as they recap what you've learned and you can determine where you need to go back and re-read. Take her advice and set-up the hands. It will familiarize you with the various possibilities. I took it a step further. I set-up hands using this year's card (not the dated one she supplies at the back of her book). Then using the method she recommends (position tiles on rack by suits and numbers first, in ascending order; then look at the card, finding which section is the most opportune one with which to play your hand), choose the hand you want to play. I did this, but with a variation. I asked a knowledgeable Mah Jongg friend to come over and look at the four racks I'd set-up. I then explained to her why I chose to play the hands I'd selected. She listened, and then either agreed, or pointed out different ways to look at the tiles and play a different hand. Sometimes, it was within the same section, sometimes not. Using the book and a friend's help makes the lessons even more meaningful. The most important lessons I gleaned are: how to set-up the rack (to better select the hands); familiarize yourself with the 50 different possible hands; and (for a beginner) do not change hands mid-game. Allowing yourself to lose only strengthens your play, by seeing a hand through to its end. After you have gained confidence, try to switch hands if your original choice isn't working for you. Aside from Ms. Sandberg's book, the next best advice I can give you for learning is to play with kind, non-threatening players. Seasoned, no-nonsense, cutthroat players will not be patient and you will quickly become a Mah Jongg drop-out. My group is patient, willing to teach, and helps me to re-hash each hand I play at the end of every game. They are encouraging, supportive, and kind. Without them--and the book, I would have given up months ago. Really. So, get A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg.

This book explains Mah Jongg is a very easy to understand way. The author's style is relaxed and informative and not at all stuffy or formal. Each chapter has a nice review of concepts and Q &A to test your comprehension. I knew little about the game when started the book, but followed all the exercises and felt more and more confident. I was fortunate to have a game a week with friends to reinforce my learning, but after each game, I'd return to my own set and the book and work through more practice rounds. The suggestion to create all of the lines on the mah jongg card seemed unnecessary at first, but once I finished I realized what a good concept it gave me to each of the hands. Learning those line patterns is truly key and playing them is the best way to grasp that. By week three I won a game!

Great book for learning to play Mahjong. It was highly recommended by the other students in my Mahjong class.

My SIL just discovered Mahjong and roped me in. This is a great book for learning the rules of the game and the mechanics of the Charleston. Very insightful. We tried Googling all of our questions but this is so much easier and right at our fingertips.

Reader friendly, very helpful

Well-written and organized. Covers what you need to know for starting to play mahjong

Great book for learning how to play mahjong. Instructions are great. Learning a lot. Soon I should be able to play with experience mahjong players

I’d already played twice when I started reading the book. It’s easy to understand & has a quiz after each chapter. I’ve been using it as a reference now especially since I highlighted the important points. Only disappointment is that it comes with an old card from @2004 too bad they don’t give you a current year card.