Well, people learn in different ways. I'm buying the book. It's a bit sad that we live in a post-literate society. As I said before the book is only for the grammar, elementary understanding. From there you learn directly from the greats, the "art form" itself from those who mastered it. From there you master your own way of doing it. The later two cannot be learned from a book or any kind of class free or paid. This is how you learn what applies here and there. See I'm not interested in being spoon feed.
So, I'm buying the book. It has helped me so far, and I'll keep learning that way. A book I can take with me, live with it, sleep with it, study it, write in it. A book engages more of my senses touch, smell, sight, memory. There more stuff for my brain to bite onto and etch new pathways. No online or free class can do that, ever, not even on a smartphone.
This is called the classical method of education, most commonly described in grammar, logic and rhetoric.
Grammar: elementary principles, terms, basic understanding of the subject.
Logic: You begin to apply said principles learned previously. You learn directly from the greats. Ie., in music you listen to lots of Beethoven, even if you're a rock star, Queen anyone? Thumbnails you learn graphics design and begin to learn the differences between print and online. on your own.
Rhetoric: You begin to master a thing and come into your own. You're able to enter the great debate, teach others, write your own book or teach your on class online or free.
In other words the book serves 1/3 of the way I learn at best. Yet, it's the most fundamental aspect of the system.
There's a big difference between textbooks and the classics. Textbooks are horrible for learning. They are the dumbest thing ever for learning anything. I'm not looking for a textbook. I'm looking for a Grammar Phase classic in the realm of graphic design. The book I've chosen my be that book for me.