Do you mean you took the CWI examination without reading the "little brown book"?

Many "would be CWIs" have been using it as their primer for the last twenty years, maybe more. I know it has been mentioned in several replies about what to study in preparation for the CWI.

This is what I found at the AWS Bookstore when I did a search:
"Selfstudy to prepare" for AWS welding inspector exams An excellent reference and introduction for those studying for the CWI examination. An updated version of the bestseller used by thousands of CWI candidates since 1977, now with a sleeker style and improved readability. Veteran editor Eugene Hornberger an SCWI has taught the AWS exam preparatory seminar for years. Hes packed this latest edition with a wealth of insights. Chapters cover the welding inspectors responsibilities standards joint geometry and terminology symbols, weldability destructive testing procedure and welder qualification welding, brazing, and cutting processes discontinuities NDE and inspector reports. Each chapter concludes with a selfadministered test similar in content and style to the actual CWI exam questions. Features a contemporary layout that includes tip boxes. This book has been invaluable to literally thousands of CWI applicants who studied on their own for the AWS CWI exam.dy to prepare for AWS welding inspector exams." $176.00

I thought it was interesting to see who was one of the editors. I'm not sure this is the book I'm thinking of. I'm in Florida (on assignment, not for play), so I can't check my library to verify this is the book I'm thinking of. The book I have in mind is being updated and a new edition will be available in the near future. Several people are working on it, not one individual as indicated by the synopsis I have included above.

OK, after going back and looking again, this is the book, the "little brown book",  I am thinking of: Handbook of Welding Inspection (WI2000)
"he work of thousands of inspectors and supervisors with increasingly stringent qualityassurance responsibilities. Not too deep and not too abridged, this edition earns the rank of handbook with its nononsense style, clarity of detail, and logical progression of information with chapters on operations inspection safety QA ferrous welding metallurgy preheatingpostweld heat treating discontinuities qualification of WPSs qualification of welders destructive testing proof tests nondestructive examination methods metrics standards symbols Use this invaluable training reference to help inspectors, engineers, and welders evaluate the difference between discontinuities and rejectable defects." $74.00

This is the book every CWI candidate should read before going to the CWI Seminar. I would like to see them read all the books given out at the seminar, but if that's not possible, this is the second best option. The price is "right" as well.

Best regards - Al