I have the How to Brew by Palmer, and while it has been pretty interesting, I would say about 75% of it has gone right over my head. He is very detailed and almost scientific in his explanations, and I have found that I have gotten far less than I thought I would. In all honesty, I think I have learned more from here and Homebrew talk than I would from the book, but maybe I need to read it more than once to get past all the tech stuff and into the brewing processes. I have not finished it though and maybe that is why too. Either way, I really have not seen why everybody has suggested that book for a new brewer, in my mind, it is a good book for those with some time under their belt and looking for more tech stuff. But that is me, and flame on for my comments. LOL. Rock On!!!!!!!!!