Not really what I expected. It is just a collection of software drivers etc that allow you to interface with many commercially available hardware devices and protocols. The same applies to getting data for you home automation project from websites i.e weather, radio, news etc.
Very little in this book about building your own hardware such as A/D converters and digital I/O to interface your Pi to your home. Or even practical details of how to network several Pi's together each with their own useful I/O and local LCD display.
If you a looking for a book full of software gobbledegook then the book could be for you. But, if you are hope to get your soldering iron out and start putting together your home automation network this book certainly isn't for you.