The book is divided into three topic areas: strategy, implementation and technology. The material in each section appears to have been carefully selected to provide the essentials. For example, each of the six papers under Strategy contain a distinct viewpoint of a distinct element of developing and implementing an e-business strategy. My favorite paper in this section is "Finding Sustainable Profitability in Electronic Commerce" by John M. de Figueiredo because it shows not only what needs to be done, but also what will not work. Each of the other sections follow this pattern - the papers are in touch with the harsh realities and challenges faced by businesses, not stuff cooked up in an ivory tower.
Although not stated as an objective by the authors (and editors), this book does a remarkable job of bridging the gap between business and IT. For the business side, the slant towards strategy and marketing in the e-business environment will provide a solid foundation about what it takes to establish an "e" presence, and how to effectively build trust and a brand image, develop customer loyalty and manage online processes. For the IT side this book provides insights about business challenges within the context of strategic and tactical requirements. This is especially useful information for those who are working as business systems analysts. Those IT professionals need to gain more than a cursory understanding of business requirements and translate them into technical solutions. Moreover, for those few IT departments do anticipate business needs, or are integrated into the business strategic planning process this book will provide many ideas about how technology can support business imperatives.
In addition to the excellent material in this book, you'll find a wealth of information on Erik Brynjolfsson's personal web page, which also has links to even more relevant material on pages at MIT Sloan School of Management and MIT's Center for eBusiness.