However, it is a BIG disappointment.

The CD examples are a big letdown. The melody is played with one of those terrible flutey synth sounds, which always irritates me. You'd think he'd record with a piano or guitar, being as that's his speciality. Due to the samey nature of the sound,and the tempo, one example blends into another, which doesn't help the learning process, at all.

Perhaps the main failing of this book is that reducing melody writing to a series of lessons sucks the fun out of the whole songwriting process. I'm a firm believer that you either have an ear, or you don't, and only by continually songwriting do you improve that gift.

Whilst I still recommend his "How to Write Songs" book, I'd give this a miss. Instead, get out some of your favourite CDs and play your favourite songs. By identifying what you like about those songs, and applying those things to your songs, you'll do far better than trying to learn hundredes of rules from a book.