This book is wonderful! It answered most of my questions about how to actually begin this type of embroidery. It covered all the most important questions as to fabric choice, needle size, thread size, etc. It also shows what the back of the work should look like, how to end a thread and start a new one, where to place a waste knot, etc. Everything someone new to this type of embroidery would need to know.
The projects begin with the most basic and proceed to the more complex and difficult. If a person were to pick one of each of the categories of projects (the first project has no thread cutting, but is lovely nonetheless)and actually complete them, that person could become quite adept at this type of embroidery and have an enjoyable skill for a lifetime.
This is definitely what I, as a complete novice, was looking for!