Nutshell review - A dry and hard book to read but very extensive and does cover all the official (ISC)2 CISSP exam material. If you are serious about the CISSP exam you should read this book.

Update: I just passed the CISSP exam in June 2008 and I think that my review is pretty accurate but I wanted to add one more thing of value. The questions from the CD included with the book are spot on in the style and difficulty of the questions in the real exam. In hindsight my best suggestion is to use the Shon Harris as your main study guide (due to the better explanations) and use this book as a supplement (for some details that Shon misses and for the questions on the CD).

Review: If you want to get book to prepare your for the CISSP, this is a good one. Since it is from ISC2, you know it will give you everything you need and it maps to the new sections of the test (Tip: Be careful when looking at other study guides out there. The exam changed in 2007 and there aren't too many guides on the market based on the new test! If you buy something written before 2007, it is mapping to the old exam and you won't get the latest info on some of the technologies that you are expected to know for the exam). On the bad side it is not as easy to read as some of the other study guides. Since there is a seperate author for each chapter, the writing styles vary a bit. I also didn't like the questions at the end of the chapter, though the CD questions are better. On the good side, the actual reading material is straight to the point and only about 700 pages. The remaining pages of the book (approx 300) is a comprehensive glossary of terms (very useful).

If you like something that is easier to read, the Shon Harris All-in-One Study Guide puts things in a simpler fashion but it is over 1000 pages (a lot more reading). (4th edition maps to the new sections CISSP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 4th Ed. (All-in-One)).

It boils down to what is your reading style. If you don't mind reading something that reads like a college text book, this is the book for you. If you think that reading a text book is a cure for your insomnia or you want to have someone explain certain concepts in a simpler fashion then try Shon Harris. Just be ready to dedicate some more time to her book. It is much longer and she can get repetative.

I attended a 6 day boot camp that provided this book as pre-study prep tool. NO ONE in the class even cracked it open, and all (including the instructor) far preferred the Shon Harris book(s).
The material doesn't have to be this dry. But boot camps feel obliged to provide this one because its by ISC2, and perceived as 'more official'.
BTW, always keep in mind... the purpose of the books and classes you may take is to get you through the exam. You HAVE to squash the frequent "but that's not the way it is in real life" thoughts.
When in doubt, put on your 'management' cap and answer from that POV, not as a techie.
One last thing... stay away from on-line test quizes... they'll destroy your self-confidence, which you can't afford. They're more often than not exercise in "hey, dig how smart I am and how obscure a question I can write." Stick to questions in this or Harris' books.
BTW, I passed. :)

I found the Shon Harris book easier to read, but I used this extensively as a reference when trying to strengthen my weaker areas.

If you are thinking about taking the CISSP exam, I would highly recomend this book (and others as well). Think about it, why not read the book that is published by the ones who created & manage the test itself ? No brainer right ? This book is roughly 715 pages of reading and it is well put together. However, I stongly recomend that you also read the All-In-One CISSP by Shon Harris. You must keep in mind that the ISC CBK is written by multiple authors (each chapter is a different auther), so the melody of the book changes throughout. However, it is a great reference and should be included as your CISSP study guide.

Highly recomended !!

Also Read:

All-In-One CISSP
CISSP Passport
CISSP for Dummies
Take PLENTY of practice tests !!!!!!