From the reviews:

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION

„True to its title, this is an introductory book on S-PLUS that even first-time users will find accessible, informative, and easy to follow. The book originates from lectures, and it retains the clarity of exposition of a well-organized course…an excellent introductory reference for first-year graduate students in statistics, because it provides not only the necessary information to get them started using the point-and-click GUI, but also an introduction to the use of the command line and to more advanced concepts, such as programming, object-oriented programming, and the use of Trellis graphics. All the while, the book avoids the overwhelming complexities typical of a software manual, and the few, well-thought-out exercises (with careful solutions) at the end of each chapter supply the motivation to explore more advanced topics.“

SOCIOLOGICAL METHODS & RESEARCH

From the second edition: „Krause and Olson rely very heavily on the idea that it is best to show how something is done before explaining its more abstract aspects. With their clear, step-by-step instructions, this should be quite effective. There are many useful tips throughout the book and a collection of hints and practical topics in one chapter…For those new to S-PLUS, Krause and Olson have provided an invaluable starting point. For the instructor seeking a single volume that introduces the basics of the powerful data analysis abilities in S-PLUS that lie beneath the GUI and that provides a good grasp of its unified approach to statistics and integrated graphics, the only choice is Krause and Olson. Moreover, by making S-PLUS so accessible, Krause and Olson expand the audience for whom S-PLUS is an appropriate environment for their introduction to data analysis.“

TECHNOMETRICS

„Its inclusion of GUI coverage makes it a good choice for any statistician who wants to get started with S-PLUS.“