"The book covers and updates all important items connected with refractory classification, properties, testing, their manufacturing process and examples of applications. The spectrum of treated materials includes unshaped (monolithic) refractories being in focus of development process and intensively increasing their market share, especially during the last 30 years. Book elaborations dealing with and systemizing this topic are even more rare than those describing technology and application of shaped refractories. The Author, experienced as well in research, teaching as in managing of refractory production uses his versatile experience in the best way to collect, to choose and to present the fundamental knowledge the student has to possess and to apply to become a good refractory engineer. Thus the book can be strongly recommended for education purposes on academic degree as well as the fresh updated reference for engineers dealing with manufacturing and application of refractories." -- Janusz Henryk Zborowski, Retired, AGH, University of Science and Technology, Poland.