Sure - its got me started - just - only it reads like a series of lectures in which I can't ask questions. Books like this need a special kind of organisational magic that guides the reader through things while providing answers and vauable reference.

I get the feeling that this book has been written off the back of teaching practise, with no real attempt to explain or explore beyond the immediate needs of students who need to use an editor and learn something about editing. Attention to detail is poor.

Furthermore the book mixes Mc and Xpress in a way which lacks structure and clarity. As much as we might like to believe the two packages are the same, they are not. Despite their similarities, it just doesn't work to avoid commiting to one or the other (with possible appendices to point out the differences). Instead there is a mix in which its hard to sort out where you are. Incidently, I'm still trying to find some of the supposed features of Xpress mentioned in the book!

All in all I would advise leaving this one and buying one of the usually excellent Peachpit books, available at the end of the year (no I don't work for Peachpit). I don't doubt that Kauffman knows his stuff, but he should have made a far, far, better job of organising his knowledge in this book.