Students are instructed in various line-drawing techniques, including cross-hatching to create shadow effects, and methods for suggesting a variety of textures and surfacesstone, wood, glass, and fabrics with folds, to name just a few. Finally, art students are instructed in applying these techniques by drawing landscapes, cityscapes, human figures, and many other subjects. Titles in the new "Drawing Academy" series guide beginning students step-by-step through a highly detailed training course in the art of drawing. The books are profusely illustrated in color and black and white. They open with basic instruction, then proceed to analyze the details that make up a successfully executed drawing. "Drawing Academy "titles are fine self-instruction manuals and are also ideal as textbooks for use in formal art classes."
A slim volume that I rushed through because it had to go back to the library. For being so short, it was surprisingly full of good information about how to use line to make your drawings more interesting. Definitely worth revisiting.
You should have your sketching tools beside you while reading it! This book is full of tips about how to draw using the basic element of "lines" side-by-side with using the shades.
In fact, the book is emphasising that you can draw a full work by mastering the shading technique only.