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							December 2, 1980
Ms. Diane D. Heiberg
College Division
McGraw-Hill Book Company
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020


Dear Diane,


I was asked about contributing to this volume, hence can't be
compltely objective. Briefly,
(1) This book would not be suitable as a stand-alone text in any
course.  It is too advanced even as a supplement to introductory
AI courses, however it could be used as one of the required
readings in an advanced course specifically on machine learning
and cognition. This is about 10% of the market of a general AI
book; on the other hand: 
(2) it is the only one of its kind so far.  There are no good collections
of articles on this topic with any degree of timeliness.  There is
a need for a collection such as this.
(3) The editors know who is working in the field, and are contacting
relevant outsiders to ask them for contributions.
There is certainly no glaring omission.
(4) I would require it as a supplementary text in a graduate seminar
on learning (not taught every year), and as a recommended but not
required text for a second course in AI (taught annually).


Regards,
Doug Lenat