Gozo Shioda was a student of Morihei Ueshiba and as the case with many of them, his techniques are much harder than the softer versions of aikido that are so popular now. Each technique is shown as a series of pictures with Gozo Shioda as the tore in most.
While the book is intended for beginners, I think it is more accessible to people with at least some background in Japanese martial arts. I also like how some at the techniques have the tori initiate the attack and/or applying atemi to their uke before doing the technique, two things you don't always associate with aikido.
This is a necessary textbook for any Yoshinkan Aikidoka, but would make a valuable reference guide for any martial artists. It describes priniciples of movement as well as specific techniques. The techniques are organized according to type of pin or throw, so it gives a very comprehensive, very structured look into the martial art as it still practiced today.
Yoshinkan aikido is one of the most effective forms of aikido with the shortest learning curve. Still some of the knee-bend stances leave it wide open for a kick to dislocate or break the knee. Keeping this in check, though, I would recommend this book as a very basic primer...also recommended is his follow-up Total Aikido.
The first aikido book I read, back in 1995. Didn't end up practicing this style of the art, but Shioda shows some of the realistic applications of aikido.