This Reddit user, a self-described advanced Excel expert, is asking the right question. The path from spreadsheet mastery to Power Query proficiency is not just a natural next step, it is the most practical move anyone in data work can make right now. The tools that served yesterday's workflows are no longer enough, and this user has recognized that truth.
What makes this request so telling is the humility behind it. An advanced Excel user could easily coast on existing skills, teaching others how to build complex nested IFs or pivot tables from memory. Instead, this person is actively seeking a bridge to something more powerful. Power Query is that bridge. It automates the repetitive cleaning and transformation tasks that consume hours of manual work in Excel. It introduces a repeatable, auditable process that scales far beyond what any formula-based approach can offer. And once Power Query becomes second nature, Power BI opens up a world of interactive visualization and enterprise-level reporting, without requiring a degree in data science. The user's instinct to move in this direction reflects a forward-thinking mindset that will serve them well.
Practical recommendations are what they asked for, so here is one direct path. For a book, *M is for (Data) Monkey* by Ken Puls and Miguel Escobar remains the gold standard for learning Power Query from a grounded, hands-on perspective. It assumes you already know Excel, which this user does, and it builds from there. For online learning, the official Microsoft Learn modules on Power Query and Power BI are free, structured, and surprisingly accessible. They offer guided exercises that mirror real-world scenarios. The key is to start with small, actual problems from your own work, import a messy CSV, unpivot a table, merge two queries, and let the tool teach you through repetition. Do not try to absorb everything at once. Master one transformation, then another.
The deeper point here is that the spreadsheet itself is not the enemy. It is a powerful tool that has served millions of people well. But the way we use it is evolving. The user who learns Power Query is not abandoning Excel; they are extending it. They are choosing to work smarter, not harder. That choice separates those who manage data from those who let data manage them. This Reddit user is on the verge of that transition, and the only mistake they could make now is waiting too long to start.