This book is a well made book physically that gives very detailed descriptions and basic photo and hand drawn examples of the written word. It is as advertised and although it holds several types of dials for several lattitudes what this book is not is a book to teach you how to make any other type of dial , for any other latitudes than listed, than the dials in the book. So, I would not suggest this book as one for a person who is wanting to learn the mathematics of making a very location accurate dial by mathematic construction in wood; this is just not that type of book but, if you already know the mathematics this book could give you some good design and style ideas for a custom wooden dial. Also, the full size dial templates are a real help. In short, this is not a book I would use for reference; just a book to make somewhat accurate wooden dials of types described by the book.