The book is probably overkill and is just for those who are interested in the subject.
The author has cited his work, and if you read the preface, he even worked with some folks from GOEX for information on the commercial manufacture of black powder. I think he did a pretty good job. But let's face it, to make a shootable bp is simple. There is no reason whatsoever to read that book, or this entire thread for that matter. I think the information needed to make a shootable black powder, can probably be summarized on one page. In my opinion, the only value this forum has is discussing the topic and sharing personal information and experience. It's by no means the ONLY information on the subject, and it's probably overkill.
The basic procedure for making black powder is pretty much all the same for everyone. We shoot with GOEX, the pyrotechnic guys use it for sky art. Of course, what they do with various other chemicals is MUCH more complicated than just making black powder to shoot with, and quite frankly I have absolutely no interest in making fireworks.
The week I decided to try to make some bp, I bought a cheap kids rock tumbler off Amazon, order my ingredients online, followed the simple instructions on a couple of pyrotechnic websites, and made a very shootable black powder. I shot half of that first batch through my Walkers, within the first week from deciding to make it. It's just not that hard to do.
I joined this forum to discuss it, but it seems that there is some sort of dogmatic orthodoxy that has formed here. I find that strange. Is not the purpose of this thread to discuss black powder?