Flip to any page, and you will find:

* individual itemized tasks, charmingly illustrated

* columns of tips and techniques

* numbered lessons.

Let's try it, and thumb to page 194 and 195, containing "Part 8, Task 12: Using File Sharing:"

If your iMac is on a network, you can share files with other computers on the network. If another Macintosh is on the network, the other Mac can directly access the iMac on the network using File Sharing.

The author then proceeds to demonstrate how to select the File Sharing control panel, and in eight steps takes us to sharing "any Mac that logs onto your computer with guest access."

Ideal users of Easy iMac In Full Color are people who are new to the Mac, and who learn best via individual illustrated lessons. Lisa Lee thoughtfully makes the Internet her first priority, enabling readers to sign up and log in early in the book. If people want to delve deeper into additional Mac pursuits, they can do so at their own speed.

Both fun and serious subjects are covered, ranging from "Playing Games" and "Using Stickies" to "Editing a QuickTime Movie" and "Defragmenting a Disk." The design of the book is so appealing that I'm tempted to borrow Pete Miner's new iMac for a couple of months ("Don't even think about it, John!") so I can work through every lesson in Easy iMac In Full Color.

Don't buy this book for yourself if you are an experienced Macintosher. Instead, for $20 U.S., give it as a gift to someone who will let you use it whenever you need a little sparkle in your computing life.