This is an excellent book!
The author worked for years in the "down database pit" at Oracle tech support and has seen just about every kind of database problem requiring recovery. In this book, he does an great job of sharing his experiences on what causes problems and how to fix them.
The book includes a review of the technologies involved and describes the mechanics of what goes on inside the black box that is the database. When a database gets hosed up really badly, this insight is invaluable.
On the proactive side,it includes backup programs for both UNIX and VMS servers and many case studies of real life recoveries.
If you're a DBA in deep doo doo due to a dead database, reach for this book before updating your resume.