Since I own and used the book my first instinct is to think it unreasonable to attempt RTK without it.

But I thought about it some more, and now that the RvTK site exists, maybe the book isn't as necessary as it once was:
1. General advice on how to use the methodology.
   The RvTK site offers forums with personalized advice and support.
2. One story, outline, or primitive list for each of 2,042 kanji.
   The RvTK site offers dozens of stories, in various languages, for each kanji.
3. Lessons, broken down (mostly) by primitives.
   The RvTK site offers the same lesson order, but without explicit primitive descriptions or lesson instructions.
I bet many people are working without a copy of the book, and succeeding.

Learning the kanji will take hundreds of hours of hard work. If spending $26 at Amazon for a copy of RTK1 will make the job even a tiny fraction easier, the book could save hours, maybe days, of review time. $26 for hours, maybe days, of a person's lifetime? It's a no-brainer. Buy the book.

Professor Heisig spent a lot of time breaking the kanji down and sequencing them in an order that makes learning efficient. He's added so much to my studies. If I hadn't bought the book out of necessity, I certainly would have bought it out of a sense of 義理.

Last edited by ziggr (2007 November 12, 11:34 pm)

Well, if people would know better what they are missing out on, when not using the book, I don't think it'd cannibalize the book sales, but rather improving sales.

I like to use a combination of the book together with this site. If I wouldn't have found this website I'd have given up already as soon as the 3 part of the book started. For some of those kanji I had no idea how to create a decent story with the given primitives without just repeating those primitives in my head. Creating stories is getting better, but I still have a long way to go...

Some things that are another plus for the book are:

1. It's a book written on paper, so you can take it with you - on the train, the bus, etc. - and have everything with you that you need to create a story, without needing the internet.

2. It gives the stroke order of the primitives, with you'd have to otherwise research for yourself. If the Kanji are learned only with the RvTK-site one learns one meaning for the kanji but no stroke oder ... so in fact learns with about the same amount of effort less than with the book.

3. The Appendixes in the book are very, very, very helpful when creating stories etc.

And I think billyclyde is probably right. I too noticed that some stories are using incorrect primitives, which would indicate that those people are not using the book, otherwise they wouldn't make such gross mistakes.

Thats the advantage and disadvantage of the net. Free stuff, but quite often it should be taken with a grain of salt...

Edit: Oh, and yes, I do own a copy of RTK1. I'm also frequently prowling (right expression?) round the shelf with the RTK2 in my local bookstore...

Last edited by Biene (2007 November 13, 12:33 am)

Aikiboy wrote:

I wouldn't fault anyone for not buying the book.  I recommend it though...I feel indebted to the man for his insight and perserverance and his books. And to all of you while I'm at it!

I totally agree with this. Initially I was thinking it would be scandalous not to buy the book. But I wonder how much of the cover price Heisig actually receives?

To anyone without the book, I reckon you are doing yourself a much bigger favour than Heisig if you buy a copy.

Another great thing about having the book is that you can show it off and entice your friends to join the club!