I'm thinking about buying the book as well.  I
was never much into the
 Apple ][ scene but I have a few machines here.  I think it's time to dig
 into them. :-) 
    Apple machines were interesting with a weak basic and a nice assembler
in ROM. Lots of productivity apps and nice games. I'd reccommend you  "wings
of fury" in a //e with a Transwarp accelerator. It is lots of fun