This is not a light read. Thick with information and listing plenty of sources for more, I went straight home from the library (once they made me give it back) and put it on my wish list. The encyclopedia of plants is, on its own, worth every penny this one will cost you. If you plan to garden, get this book, don't just borrow it. Each of the plants in the encyclopedia is labeled with a labor scale rating to help you determine how difficult it is, as well as information on how to plant, grow, maintain, harvest, preserve, and use it in the kitchen. ( )