This is a great text for preparing for the CCNA exam. It covers most of the material that you need to know (probably about 90%). It is geared towards the exam only, though, meaning if you want to become very proficient in Cisco configuration, you will want additional material. I used this book in addition to hands-on experience and some other study material and had no problem passing the test. Todd does a great job of explaining his point in a way that is easy to understand, and he covers the basics necessary to pass the test.