I own several books on Photoshop CS and this is the best. Some of his techniques, such as the one for shrinking masks around hair, are absolutely amazing and he recommends using more difficult but ultimately more successful methods for selecting areas. The black and white section also goes to some length to explain what must be the best methods I've seen for creating the most effective contrast and atmosphere.
All of these techniques can be applied to other themes and are not intended top be used literally as presented in the book. The accompanying CD is very useful and in some cases, fills in a few blanks. The exercises are complex and need some practice to be effective. Other writers have already mentioned the quality of the layout and I can only agree.
There are, however, two points to make clear. Firstly, this is not a book for beginners, nor does it pretend to be. Many of the workflows in it are intended purely for working photographers but advanced amateurs can also benefit from them if they have a good grounding in Photoshop. Secondly, as a result of the first point, the author does not waste time on methods for putting your wife's head on a giraffe's body. If you want to do that there are other books available.
Highly recommended.