The intent of the author is good, i.e., providing a workshop for people who are learning GoF design patterns. But result is disappointing.



First of all, design pattern would lose most of its values (or at least it is hard to appreciate its value) if there is no design context and forces that constrain or influence the solution proposed by the pattern. The context and resolution of these forces will let the reader/designer the see the value of how a design pattern fits in and balances the forces and maintains a level of flexibility. However, each chapter of the book provides little context for the design challenges.



Secondly, I don't understand why the author picks fireworks industry as the background for all the examples in the book, it is an area that most people are not familiar with. I know design patterns are not domain specific and can be applied broadly, but knowing the background of the industry in the examples is definitely helpful for readers. And all those examples are very boring, and sometime ridiculous.



Thirdly, the author tries to provide some pattern refactoring examples, but does a lousy job compared with Joshua Kerievsky, the author of "Refactor to Patterns", who provides clear steps to refactor from an existing causal (bad) design to a pattern. Particularly, what are the problems of the existing design and how a design pattern will solve those problems.



Overall, I am sorry to say that the author's mission failed terribly for such a good will.