The book begins by defining the types of patents and the requirements for each and ends with descriptions of patent infringements and legal remedies. In between the reader will find instructions about how to document the development of an invention, including the importance of confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements. I was particularly interested in the chapters which described the differences between copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents. The author does his best to clarify the confusing patent search process. Other chapters deal with the application process and include images of the patent forms. The author even devotes a chapter to marketing, manufacturing, and distribution of patented inventions. The book includes appendices, which include fee schedules, and a glossary. I appreciated the chapter sidebars, which contain advice from an experienced patent attorney.

In my mind, the weakest part of the book is the bibliography, which does not include complete citations of the reference works. This minor weakness does not in any way damage the value of this book as an essential tool for the inventor.