I haven't read any of his others. (And can't remember why I decided to read it originally. I come across a book online and then pop over to my local lib's website and put it in a request for my local branch. Sometimes it's months before a book comes in and sometimes I just can't remember.)

I wouldn't tell anyone to rush out and read this book. There are others who do the academia and/or voodoo thing better. (Not academia, but voodoo: Russell Banks Continental Drift for example)