I was highly recommended this book by a friend, and it absolutely fulfilled my expecations. I was new to NLP, but it was a subject that I had been fascinated and intrigued by. I read this book hoping to get an introduction to the subject. I got this, and much, much more. Whilst the book covers lots of content, it makes it very simple and manageable. The style is clear and well structured. Theory is expertly combined with practice, and the principles are explained in such a way that you feel comfortable putting them into practice pretty much immediately. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to understand NLP. It is an enjoyavle and engaging read. Enjoy!!