This nontechnical survey of information technology is suitable for readers with no previous knowledge of the subject. A large number of topics are skimmed rather than fully discussed, so readers with scientific backgrounds are likely to lose interest quickly. In a more positive light, the book may be suitable as an undergraduate textbook within a business or management curriculum.

The book has three parts spanning 14 chapters. The first part covers basic concepts concerning hardware, software, databases, and data communications. The second part discusses how to build and use information systems. The third part gets into specific information systems, covering such topics as the information superhighway, global information systems, decision support, virtual reality, geographic information systems, and artificial intelligence.

All chapters begin with clearly stated objectives and end with summaries, review questions, and lists of key terms. Everything seems to have been well thought out by the author and publisher, except for the fact that it might have been better to publish this volume exclusively in softcover, since the “modern” technology described in the book may seem pretty dated not too far down the road.