When looking for a book on trompe l'oeil, an art which is in itself a difficult thing to master. If you are a novice, look for book reviews where they tell you that it is a step by step manual. Then you will have a foundation and a valuable starting point to begin your artistic journey. Books such as this are basically good for reference material, the artist here is showing off so to speak his works of art, which is okay but if he or she offers no help in the way of instruction all you have is a pretty picture book. An author like Roberta Gordon-Smith is a better bet for the beginner. Janet Shearer offers good advice for intermediate and above. If a person praises it up and down and is overwhelmed by the quality of the artists work, that's just it...they are simply overwhelmed. The book in and of itself may not be that helpful. So read those reviews and try to read between the lines so you won't throw away your hard earned money. Best Wishes, Rick