This book is great to have handy if you do not own any other books from the series. The party basics is, to me, a collection of finger-foods and small- to medium dishes which one could use for a party.
If you already own Basic Cooking, Basic Baking, Basic XYZ... you do not need to get this book. I would suggest investing in one of the broader-range ones and take it from there. There's probably better Party Basics guides out there than this one.
I really am not sure whether I'd recommend this to a friend but would have to say: tendency is not to recommend it.