The 9 Best Books to Learn Spanish Quickly
Kelsey Wetherbee
Last updated on March 2, 2023
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Spanish is one of the most popular languages to learn, and there are so many resources available to help you do so. But how do you know which one is best? You can spend hours searching for the perfect one that’s right for you. This article is a guide to some of the best Spanish books available. Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, there’s something on this list that can help you on your Spanish learning journey.
Best Books to Learn Spanish
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It’s an official language of 20 different countries and is spoken by over 548 million people. Learning Spanish will let you talk to people in almost all of South and Central America, as well as some countries in Europe and Africa.
How Long Will It Take You To Learn Spanish?
Spanish is also an important language even where it isn’t recognized as an official language. In the United States, Spanish is the second-most commonly used language (after English). More than 53 million people in the USA speak Spanish. That’s more than the entire country of Spain! So even if you don’t have plans to travel through Argentina or Colombia, learning Spanish can give you a huge advantage in finding a job in your home country. This list shows some of the best Spanish books that will help you learn español quickly.
What Are The Best Books To Learn Spanish?
To find the best books to learn Spanish, we compiled a list of popular choices. We researched the books and read reviews to see what each one excelled at. All of the books on this list have been purchased numerous times through Amazon and have great user reviews. Check out the list below to see our findings, and scroll down to learn more about each one.
| Best Overall Spanish Book | Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish |
| Best for Beginners | Spanish for Dummies |
| Best for Self-Study | Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish All-in-One |
| Best Spanish Workbook | Easy Spanish Step-by-Step |
| Most Comprehensive Book | Complete Spanish Step-by-Step |
| Best for Spanish Grammar | Spanish Verb Tenses |
| Best for Reading Practice | Spanish Short Stories for Beginners |
| Best for Spanish Vocabulary | Complete Spanish Workbook for Beginners |
| Best for Advanced Spanish Learners | Learn Spanish: 6 Books in One |
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish
Best Overall Spanish Book
Margarita Madrigal is a prominent Spanish teacher and has created a unique way to learn the language, which she shares in this book. She concisely explains difficult topics and gives useful tips and tricks for learning Spanish even faster. Plus, the book features original illustrations by Andy Warhol. How cool is that?!
Although it was originally published several decades ago, it continues to be a favorite amongst Spanish learners. In fact, it has a 4.7/5 star rating with over 3,000 reviews. One reviewer recommends taking notes in a notebook while learning with this book and practicing aloud. Check out the book for yourself here.
Key Features
- Unique and interesting approach to teaching Spanish
- Easy to understand
- Illustrations by Andy Warhol
Spanish All-in-One for Dummies
Best for Beginners
Spanish All-in-One for Dummies is a comprehensive guide that combines four books of the Spanish for Dummies series. It’s a great resource for beginner through intermediate learners. It features concise explanations and practical exercises to reinforce what you learn.
There’s also a CD included with audio tracks so you can hear correct pronunciation. One user recommends this book for someone who has a little, but not much, previous experience with Spanish. You can read what other reviewers had to say here.
Key Features
- Good for beginner and intermediate learners
- Focus on grammar and verb conjugations
- Additional audio CD
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish All-in-One
Best for Self-Study
Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish All-in-One combines 5 different workbooks from the Practice Makes Perfect series into one comprehensive book. It covers all aspects of language learning like grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures.
The book contains practice questions for each topic with an answer key at the back of the book. It also comes with a bonus app that has flashcards and audio for additional practice. Reviewers liked the clear grammar explanations that this book provided. You can read more about it here.
Key Features
- Five workbooks in one
- Practice questions with answer key
- Bonus app with flashcards and audio
Easy Spanish Step-by-Step
Best Spanish Workbook
Easy Spanish Step-by-Step is an excellent tool for learning the most important verbs and vocabulary words used in Spanish. The step-by-step approach teaches grammar using building blocks, and each lesson builds upon the last one. When you complete the book, you’ll be able to use 300 of the most common verbs and vocabulary words.
There are practice exercises included in each chapter with an answer key to check your answers. Reviewers liked that the grammar explanations were logical, and also clear and concise. You can see what other reviewers had to say here.
Key Features
- Learn the most frequently-used Spanish words
- Clear grammar explanations
- Practice exercises with answer key
Complete Spanish Step-by-Step
Most Comprehensive Book
Complete Spanish Step-by-Step includes both the beginner and advanced books of the Step-by-Step series. It tackles the most important grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation issues that many learners face. There’s also an mobile app included that lets you practice listening and pronunciation.
At over 600 pages, it’s a very comprehensive choice. There are many practice questions with answers in the back of the book. Reviewers loved the organization of the book and thought that it was a great choice for beginners. See if Complete Spanish Step-by-Step is right for you.
Key Features
- Comprehensive way to learn Spanish
- Covers beginner to advanced Spanish
- App included to practice listening
Spanish Verb Tenses
Best for Spanish Grammar
Spanish Verb Tenses tackles one of the hardest aspects of learning Spanish: those pesky verb conjugations. This book has extensive explanations, practice exercises, and conjugations tables to help you understand and perfect this complicated topic. Additionally, there are quizzes to test how you are progressing and remembering the material.
Because the book exclusively focuses on grammar and verb conjugations, it’s best to have some knowledge of Spanish before using it. Reviewers loved the practice exercises in the book and found it to be a great resource for learners with a basic grasp of Spanish under their belt. You can read more about it here.
Key Features
- Specific focus on the difficult topic of verb conjugations
- Tons of practice exercises
- Bonus app included
Spanish Short Stories for Beginners
Best for Reading Practice
Spanish Short Stories for Beginners helps beginner learners start to practice reading in Spanish without overwhelming them. Each story has a set of useful vocabulary words that are highlighted throughout the text so you know what to focus on. There are also comprehension quizzes to test your understanding of the story and a recap of the story in English and Spanish.
Unlike other resources, this book is truly aligned with the beginner (A1) level, and you are given the tools to be able to understand, but also push yourself and learn. Reviewers liked the vocabulary lists with English translations and a recap of the story in English and Spanish. You can read what other reviewers thought about the book here.
Key Features
- 25 short stories for beginner level
- Focus on real-world vocabulary
- Comprehension quizzes and vocabulary translations
Complete Spanish Workbook for Beginners
Best for Spanish Vocabulary
Complete Spanish Workbook for Beginners focuses specifically on teaching tons of new vocabulary words and phrases. The idea is that you’ll learn the most commonly used words, which will help you in almost any situation. This book goes beyond just words and also teaches common phrases and expressions.
Words are arranged in commonly used categories so you can easily search and learn what you want to. There are also practice exercises and quizzes that help you retain what you learned. Many reviewers thought this book was an easy way to begin learning Spanish. You can read more reviews here.
Key Features
- Learn the most frequently used Spanish words
- Practice exercises and quizzes to help you remember new words
- Learn common phrases and expressions
Learn Spanish: 6 Books in 1
Best for Advanced Spanish Learners
Learn Spanish: 6 Books in 1 is a comprehensive book that includes topics from beginner Spanish all the way to advanced. It compiles 6 different books into this one resource so there’s a ton of information to learn. There are also short stories and tips on how reading can help you improve your Spanish.
This book has a large focus on grammar and teaching the words and phrases necessary to navigate common situations. Many reviewers recommended this book for someone who has already learned Spanish in the past and is looking for a refresher course. You can read other reviews here.
Key Features
- Comprehensive book that covers the most important grammar and vocabulary topics
- Readings in Spanish to practice vocabulary and grammar
- Quizzes to test your progress
Why You Should Use Books To Learn Spanish
Books can be incredibly beneficial to your Spanish study routine. For beginners, there are books that start from zero and offer an all-around approach to learning. If you are more advanced, some books have very detailed explanations of important grammar topics and can help you reach an even higher level of understanding and fluency.
Books are portable and easy to carry. They make learning convenient because you can take them anywhere. They also offer flexibility as you can flip to whatever section you like and study what interests you.
How To Use Books To Learn Spanish
Once you’ve selected a book to help you learn Spanish, it’s time to create a study routine. It’s recommended to have a consistent routine and dedicate time every day or a few times a week to studying Spanish. When learning a language, frequent study is the only way to see continuous improvement.
Books are one of the best ways to learn Spanish, and are best used alongside other language resources. For example, a book can give you detailed grammar explanations, but a Spanish language app might be a more effective and entertaining way to learn vocabulary. Or taking an online Spanish course is good if you want to be walked through the language step by step.
Best Books To Learn Spanish: Final Thoughts
Hopefully this list has given you a few good options of books you might enjoy learning with. Finding the right one for you will make it easier to stick with studying. Read what other reviewers say about the book and check if the book comes with additional resources, such as a CD, online audio, or app so you can take full advantage of all the tools you’re given. With consistent study, you’ll be speaking Spanish in no time! ¡Buena suerte!
Best Books To Learn Spanish: FAQ
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish is the best book to learn Spanish because it gives an interesting all-around approach to teaching the language. Each lesson concisely explains difficult topics and gives useful tips and tricks for learning Spanish even faster. This book has been around for decades, but it’s still a favorite amongst Spanish learners.
Books are an excellent way to learn Spanish. They offer in-depth explanations about important grammar, conversation, and vocabulary topics. Many books also include practice exercises so you can practice what you learn. Some books focus on specific subjects, such as verb conjugations or commonly-used phrases, which will give you an in-depth look at that one particular topic.
Spanish All-in-One for Dummies is the best Spanish textbook for beginners because it starts from the basics and has clear and thorough explanations. It’s a comprehensive guide that combines four books of the Spanish for Dummies series. It comes with an audio CD and practice exercises throughout the book.
Realistically, you probably won’t reach a proficient level of Spanish in 3 months. According to the US Department of State, it takes 600 class hours (or 24 weeks) to reach proficiency in Spanish. But if you dedicate the time, in 3 months you can learn enough Spanish to comfortably have basic conversations and get around in a Spanish-speaking country.
To see how long it will take you to learn Spanish, check out this fluency calculator.