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Many scientists, engineers, and technical managers face the same problem. It is important for them to have a good grasp of modern computer technologies, including computer architecture, operating systems, and networks. All of these are complex and rapidly changing subjects.
Until now, these people have had two choices. On the one hand, there are many detailed computer science textbooks available for each subject separately. These books offer a comprehensive view of the subject, but require the reader to plow through 500--800 pages of material. Mastering computer architecture, operating systems, and networking might require absorbing 2000 pages of highly technical material.
On the other hand, bookstores are full of gee-whiz books telling how wonderful computers are and what they can do for you. Many are about specific systems, and are full of advice of the sort ``To make X happen, click on icon Y.'' These books are written for readers with a casual interest in science and technology, but do not explain how computers and systems actually work inside.
For technically-oriented people in physics, chemistry, engineering, and management, neither of these choices is appropriate. What they need is a single volume that discusses the fundamentals of computer systems (architecture, operating systems, and networks) in considerable technical detail, but in a single well-integrated book. This is their book. In a little over 500 pages, it covers hardware, architecture, operating systems, communication, LANs, and WANs in a surprising amount of detail, with numerous algorithms given as actual programs in an Ada-like language.
At universities, this book can be used for a second computer course for non-computer science majors. It is also self contained, and makes fine reading for practicing professionals who want to keep up-to-date on three different subareas of computer science, but without having to read three different books. I recommend this book most highly for these audiences.