I can only hope it becomes available for free. After speaking to many Second Life residents, and getting really excited about entering what sounded like an incredible, fascinating world, I was so disappointed the first few times I entered Second Life. As far as I could tell, everyone was either in a brothel or a casino! I flew around aimlessly, entered many communities that didn't want or like strangers (Goreans, Furries, etc) and it wasn't until I searched for residents I'd interviewed that I enjoyed it in the least. For those curious people who are exploring it without having any in-world contacts, I can only imagine they are met with frustration or boredom. I think you're absolutely right, Tony- offer it for free. Aimee's a sweetie, I think she'll find a way...

It's nice that someone has attempted to write the missing manual for Second Life, but I'm skeptical. Second Life is constantly changing, so a book written 6 months ago (or more) will have many inaccuracies and omissions.

Linden Lab has started collecting all their help information together into a Second Life Knowledge Base. It has a better chance of being current. Unlike a book, it's also searchable.

Trying again with a comment:

I'm skeptical, too, because if no one has heard about this project or knows the guy has been in SL, you have to wonder how knowledgeable he is. Furthermore, if he's been steered once again by LL's media department to the same old avatars, he has the usual pinhole approach. And judging from Aimee's raising of an eyebrow that the Lindens seemed to be departing from her Platform Party's notions of platform and going to much "game" with such a "game manual," we can't be sure even the high-profile avatars interviewed were heeded on the basics.

There's a huge demand for game manuals, people love to read them, sometimes even more than playing the game itself.

I should note that Foolish Frost, a well-known developer and builder in SL, has a very good manual, "A Foolish Guide to Second Life," clear, good typeface and pictures, very easy to read. The only drawback is that it is in PDF, not inworld, and only by joining his forums at www.sldrama.com which is reached by touching an inworld kiosk first -- like others setting up shop in the wake of LL's decision to close the official forums, he is insisting on use of SL names rather than nicks and alts that have plagued the official and unofficial forums. Surely, given the access obstalces, however, he'll figure out a way to put this PDF on his other websites to make it very broadly available.

I'll also note the cards prepared at the Ross Info Memory Bazaar I helped to develop, here:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ross/35/244/60/
It has a lot of practical tips and insights not just of the "here's how you build" variety that you can't find in the regular orientation and knowledge base.

Also f1 now contains their knowledge manual and it's searchable.

While Prok means well, I should note something:

You have never needed to join in order to download the guide. That would have defeated the entire function of the beginners guide.

Apart from that, have it here: http://www.sldrama.com/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=item7

It's free, and fun!