Through a number of well-structured lessons, this book introduces the interested user into ESRI's new version of ArcView GIS. But notice: this book is not particularly directed to people, who consider upgrading from ArcView 3.x to ArcView 8.x - it is rather for beginners. For those who know both AutoCAD map and the old ArcView - it is interesting to see now many AutoCAD-like features, and many GIS-terms have changed as well.
The real interesting value of the book lies in the 180-days trial versions of ArcView 8.1 plus the extensions of Spatial Analyst, 3D-Analyst and Geostatistical Analyst. Unlimited licenses of this software would cost more than 14,000 US$! The software has to be registered via Internet and can be only installed on a single PC, but functions (except for the time limit) without restrictions.
BTW, the three extensions are hardly covered in the book, which is also NOT suitable as a reference, the index is incomplete and poor.