Much of the information in this book is not specific to black and white photography. It is very generic and could serve as the introduction to a broader book on the topic. The chapters on composition and the "zone system" are disappointingly thin, and there are very few photographs within the book to serve as illustrative examples supporting the text. The paper is of mediocre paperback quality, which makes the few photographs within the book look washed out and featureless. The author says this material is collected from his years of teaching the subject; I'd hate to be one of his students.