For example, in discussing Proto-Germanic verb classes, Ringe presents the various classes in the order from easiest-to-understand to hardest.
The individual chapters could also stand some better organization. since Ringe presents the same material three times over in three different chapters - from the PIE standpoint, from the diachronic PIE->PGerm standpoint, and from the synchronic PGerm standpoint. This can make it very tricky to find particular topics, esp. My biggest complaint is the lack of a concept index. One of the best features is the complete conjugation tables of PIE nouns and verbs and especially the enormous numbers of examples, illustrated with cognates from across the PIE spectrum (forms in Hittite, Avestan and Tocharian are especially welcome as these are generally under-represented elsewhere the Hittite and Tocharian forms in particular go a long way in reducing the skepticism that I naturally had for some of the newer theories that he presents). I'm heavily familiar with both subjects and I still found this book incredibly eye-opening. It's well written and does an exceptionally good job in presenting modern views both on Proto-Indo-European in general and on the origins of Proto-Germanic. For the right reader, however, it is a true gem.
Ringe essentially assumes familiarity with Gothic, Old English, Greek, Latin, and Indo-European studies in general. It is probably not going to useful for your average dilettante, however. This is a wonderful book for those readers who are heavily interested in historical linguistics and the origins of Proto-Germanic.
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