----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The copy UCSB's Map & Imagery Lab has is tattered around the edges, which tells you something; the following is from an MIL staff member who works with persons using gis software: Most of what I know about the Understanding GIS book is word of mouth from account holders who have used it. The beginning of the book discusses GIS conceptually, which is good for the novice and can be skipped by the initiated. I think that persons unfamiliar with GIS will find the book very useful from an overall conceptual and an introductory software standpoint. Persons I see having possible problems with the book would be those with little or no computer experience or possibly little or no physical science knowledge. Mary Larsgaard