This entire subject is very difficult. I suppose that i wouldn't know that this book

was bad if i hadn't read better?Computability: An Introduction to Recursive Function Theory

for instance, uses much more understandable language and symbols.

In most cases books in this area of language and automata theory are difficult,

but most authors realize this and try to make the text

more understandable. I suppose if this were a text for a class

I'd be faced with trying to find a Schaum's outline text to get me through the course?

In other words the text is a failure that seems to be difficult for

even people who are familiar with the material.

My heart goes out to students who have only this text for their class:

an instructor that choses such a text will be no help in his lectures?