I bought this book long ago and I have used it more than any other book I own. This book covers the basics of graphics theory. The book assumes some mathematical knowledge (linear algebra), but provides a solid review in the appendix. Beginning graphics student often worry about the technical details of their particular platform (how to put a pixel), and this book doesn't cover those issues; you'll need an OpenGL guide and a C book for that. Hearn and Baker write far more lucid prose than most academics.