About the Author William McNaughton has taught at Hong Kong's City University since 1986. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles on Chinese literature and Languageuage. Li Ying teaches at Hong Kong University.
Second edition is the best.
This second edition using Pin Yin makes this the best of its kind. If you want to learn to read Chinese, this is the place to start. I've been waiting for this book for four years since I bought the first edition. Not perfect, but very close. In my stuggles with the Chinese I have encountered many dictionaries and text books.