This book is good for the newbie. It gets into different basic parts and apparatus. It to me has (the best I've seen)description of thumb palming a sponge ball and palming a larger size billiard ball. These two moves if learned well are worth the price of the book. It also has a section on wands which you don't see that often. It's on Dover books now. it's a good read even if you the know the stuff in it. Well.....Hugard.