The book is split into five sections and contains eighteen programs. The sections are headed Applications, Educational, Graphics, Games and Mathematical.

The programs themselves are not remarkable, although they are probably as good a collection as I have seen in the flood of computer books now available.

What is really good about this book is not so much what the programs do but how they are written. It does much to advance the case for structured programming, mainly because the author never falls into the trap of being pompous or messianic. His nice, subtle sense of humour, evident throughout the book, makes it a pleasurable read. He is not afraid, on the odd occasion, to use GOTO but this almost seems like devilment on his part. Purists may also take exception to the technique f providing multiple exits to functions, as in the Tachistoscope program, but it adds to the fun.

The section for each program has an introduction explaining what it does and how to use it, the listing, a good blow by blow explanation, a discussion of each new technique used and suggestions for modifications. There are examples of just about every type of Basic program you could want, with the exception of utilities, each excellently written and clearly explained.

With a few exceptions the programs are not over long and I don't think I would bother buying the optional tape. It is often quite a good exercise to type in programs - if they are accurately printed, as these appear to be.

What I most enjoyed about this book is the feeling it gives that the author had a good time writing it. After all, if he was bored you probably will be too. I recommend it to anybody wishing to improve his or her Basic programming technique, and have some fun doing it.