I can't say if fifteen years seems like a long or short time. In one sense, it doesn't seem like that long ago that Hubble went up. In another, it seems as if Hubble has been a fixture in American life, as if it's always been there. It's hard to remember a time when fantastic Hubble imagery didn't come down every few weeks or so.
And of course that's what Hubble is known and, someday, will be remembered for. The astronomers know it as a fantastically useful tool, but everyone else knows it for the stunning imagery. And that's about the way this book handles it. Coffee-table-sized, it contains all the breathtaking photos you could ask for, with text explaining the science behind the photos. But you're going to remember the book - and want it - for the photos, not the text. But that's reason enough.