This book is well-arranged and comprehensive. It's essentially a beginner's book - the language and illustrations could help even a 9-year old get started. Advice on construction, flora and wildlife it can sustain and maintenance makes planning a water garden or pond easy. This book is cheaper than other books in the same subject category. I used another book - How to Build Ponds and Waterfalls : The Complete Guide by Reid as much as I used this one while building my backyard pond.