این کتاب یکی از مراجع در زمینه شبکه می باشد که آموزش خود را به صورت بالا به پایین یا  top down ارائه داده است.

For an area that’s as dynamic and changing as computer networks, the most important thing a textbook can offer is perspective—to distinguish between what’s important and what’s not, and between what’s lasting and what’s superficial. Based on our experience over the past 20-plus years doing research that has led to new networking technology, teaching undergraduate and graduate students about the latest trends in networking, and delivering advanced networking products to market, we have developed a perspective— which we call the systems approach—that forms the soul of this book.