[tester457]

Definitely if it's not your job and it's just a hobby. Just like how a hobbyist coder can get by without reading any books or learning about design patterns, etc.

But if it is your job to use photoshop on a daily basis it's worth going deep into that tome.

[peepee1982]

It wasn't my intention to speak ill of good books on photoshop. I was just trying to think of an example. I'm aware that there are probably great books on Photoshop, and that probably most are.