Reddit reviews FE Review Manual: Rapid Preparation for the General Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (F E Review Manual), 2nd ed.

Definitely downloadand review the ~200 page FE Reference Handbook. It contains all the equations, tables, and unit conversations that are provided on the exam. The handbook also lists (by percentage) the topics that will be covered in the general morning session and each discipline-specific afternoon session. I had a general idea of where to find each equation, and this saved me a lot of time on the exam.

I purchased a FE Review Manual and the discipline-specific review manual for my major. I studied these for two weeks before the exam, averaging about 2 hours of studying a day. I tried to use the FE Reference Handbook to answer all the questions in the Review Manual, and I found that this helped me get familiarized with all the equations. The Review Handbook (especially the discipline specific handbook) more than adequately prepared me for the exam. The questions in the review manuals often required derivation and extensive algerba or calculus. The problems on the test were almost all "plug and chug."

I probably could have gotten away with just reviewing the Reference Handbook, but I'm easily overwhelmed by nerves and needed that extra "safety blanket" of review problems.

if you studied this book you should be fine

I took the FE three years ago and passed first try. I did not study much, maybe 1-2 hours a week for 3 months, mostly did practice problems. I bought the FE Review Manual by Lindeburg but it didn't get much use.

As others have mentioned, the most important thing is to know the handbook inside and out. Most of the time if I didn't know the answer I knew where to find the equation.

Stow your fancy TI-89xi calculator now and start using the FE approved calculator. Don't be the guy who buys a new calculator and uses it for the first time in the exam. A friend of mine did that and spent the first 4 hours stuck in fraction mode.

This is what I used when I took the FE:

http://www.amazon.com/Review-Manual-Preparation-Fundamentals-Engineering/dp/1591260728/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313505706&sr=1-2

It was pretty good and had a couple of sample exams that you could take to review.

Also, if you're not taking any courses that provide the FE provided handbook, I advise you to buy it. This helps you be aware of where formulas and things are so you don't waste time looking for them during the test:

http://www.amazon.com/FE-Supplied-Reference-Handbook-Ncees/dp/1932613307/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313506679&sr=1-5

Condolences man (or woman.) Did you you feel you put in a good faith effort studying? I can only speak for my own experience (almost six years out of grad school) but I worked through PPI's review manual. There's 54 chapters, and I'd guess that I averaged an hour fifteen per chapter, but at least it's over with and I can put all the fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and chemistry out of my mind now.

You should seriously consider taking your discipline-specific exam in the afternoon. I took the electrical afternoon exam, and would again. If you are more knowledgeable in one discipline over the others, why the hell not take that specific exam. The general one covers all disciplines so, if they're evenly distributed, only a fraction of the questions might be specific to your discipline. At least with your specific exam, no questions would look completely foreign to you, and you'll have some idea of how to go about solving them. A guy (another electrical engineer) I went with decided to take the general afternoon exam after seeing that the morning one isn't that bad. Turns out the afternoon one is more difficult, and he regretted it (he could just be an idiot though).

Oh yeah, this book is a great study tool. But if you're taking it next month, you'd have to move through it pretty quickly.

I only used the second book that you mentioned. I took it in 2010. I don't remember the details of my studying anymore, but it wasn't that involved. I don't think I used any other sources. Maybe another practice exam.

I had this one and although it's expensive I thought it was worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Review-Manual-Preparation-Fundamentals-Engineering/dp/1591260728/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310791195&sr=1-1