One thing becomes obvious within minutes of reading this book. Venerable Henepola understands humanity and all that makes us human in an amazingly clear and concise way. I took up meditation around 6 months ago and read a number of books on Meditation and Buddhism before this one but I wish I had picked this one up first.
The language used is indeed plain English. There is a clarity to his writing that describes meditation (and the benefits and difficulties that come with it) as if he were in the same room calmly explaining how to get the most from your practice. I would suggest that this book is essential reading for any beginner becuase it is during the early stages of practice that you are most likely to give up as you wait impatiently for instant benefits. Meditation requires patience and dedication and anyone looking for inspiration would benefit from reading this book.
For those interested in following a Buddhist path I would also advise reading 'A Path With Heart' by Jack Kornfield. A beautiful book.