This book is intended as a "big-picture introduction", and largely succeeds. It doesn't go into much detail, and has but a few code snippets.

It's broken into chapters on CLR, Languages, Class Library, ASP, ADO and Distributed Applications. Basically, if you want to do anything regarding .net, be it architect or lead a project, do the programming, etc., you need to be familiar with all the material in this book.

It was well-written and quite readable, and being familiar with .net already, it was a case of nodding along, but with the occasional twigging and new angles on things.

Throughout the book are little extra sidebars where the author considers the pros and cons of .net and other things, mostly Java. They are largely inconclusive pieces, saying it's a good thing that there is competition between java and .net.

It would be a good place to start to get to grips with .net, but probably of little value to the already-initiated, although if a copy is available, it might pay to ream through it to keep you in touch.