It is the first book I have seen that discusses component oriented software in a real world way. Mind you this is a text book, not your typical programming book, so some of its appeal will be limited. However, for anyone doing any serious thinking about component software this book is a must read. I don't think the author intended to write a book about COM, it's just that his ideas and the ideas of the designers of COM appear to be very similar. It covers a lot of material.
Some parts are pretty hard to read because they are so academically grounded.
The author recognizes this and warns the reader beforehand. Most of the sections I found hard to read could easily be skipped over without detracting from the real value the book provides. He is also a frequent speaker at international conferences and workshops. Help Copyright 2000 Pearson Education. All rights reserved.