This book is the original canon upon which the classical series was based as well as good part of the Next Generation series. After that the series no longer followed the book but it continued to be used as reference.
The First Contact film is an example. It contained all the basic ideas of the book, like the contact with vulcans and the first tentative warp drive, but they've changed the fact that Cochrane was an alien to make him human, so it would appeal to human pride and therefore to public interest.
The contemporary series Enterprise also contains elements of the book, albeit with some changes. I'm not going to put spoilers here, but as an incentive it describes how the Federation was founded and the Romulan wars, which are a few years ahead of the timing in which the series is passed.
I stronlgly recommend this book, I owed this book for many years until I gave it to a Trekkie fan which is a friend of mine.

. . ."First Contact" was a disappointment of Warp 10 proportions!

I was a "Trekkie". For many, many years, beginning in Jr. High (where I discovered this book), continuing through my highschool and college years, and many years since. However, since the death of the Great Bird of the Galaxy, I have been increasingly disappointed with what the "Star Trek" universe has become.

This book was the ORIGINAL "Chronology" of the future for Trek fans. What has come after is a destruction and desecration of Roddenberry's original vision. I'm sorry that this book is out of print and remains largely unknown to the Trek fans of today. The illustrations are wonderful, the "tie-ins" with the episodes of "Classic Trek" are wonderful, the imaginary history is wonderful -- and although the book predates most of the Classic Trek movies (it came out about the same time as "Star Trek: The Motion Picture") it dovetails nicely with the films and many of the original Star Trek novels.

Unfortunately, the current powers and authorities running the Star Trek universe have rejected this work in favor of their own agendas -- and why I no longer purchase Star Trek novels, see the movies in their theatrical releases, or watch the new series.

May God forgive Rick Berman and his ilk for what they have done to the inspiring and fresh vision of Gene Roddenberry -- but I suspect that many "TRUE" Star Trek fans will not.

Find this book, buy it -- whatever the cost, and see for yourself what the Star Trek universe was -- and still SHOULD be.

I own a copy of this book and was looking for a copy to give to a friend. I have really enjoyed the history in this book as well as the creative ideas of where mankind maybe in the future with space travel. I would be lying if I did not rate this book with 5 stars!