Like Kirklands other books,this gives the basics behind the subject; however I found this one to be much better than the other books in the series. For starters, this book not only provides a history of the study of light (as well as mentioning some famous scientists, such as Newton, but also let's you in on some applications which utilize the power of optic technology, like the fiber-optic cable. You do not need to be a science or math expert to read something like this.