This might be the greatest way to self teach a topic ever devised! You have to follow the instructions. What the authors want you to do is read along as you color the book. Each coloring page has an associated page of text. As you read the text it makes reference to certain parts of the drawing. You can't help but learn. The topics range over all areas and habitats of marine biology and hit all the key points covered in any introductory class. They are grouped by habitat, physiology, ethology and again by taxonomic groups. As far as learning style? If you where isolated in the middle of the dessert with this book and a decent set of color pencils then you would come out with an excellent broad base introductory knowledge of marine biology. It would go well with any beginners course also. Don't let the "coloring book" title fool you, a child of five wold enjoy it but an adult would be able to reap all the rewards as well.