This is an excellent chess reference, at the very least, if not a useful piece of literature for improving one's game.
Certainly not for the beginner, as you will need a reasonable knowledge of the game in general, I found it to be a comprehensive, and potentially under-rated source of information on some of the more common styles of open gameplay.
It is to be expected that any literature written by Anatoly Karpov would be good, and this book does not disappoint. It is also very reasonably priced, as are the other three in the series. Definately worth buying.