I'd never played before, but I was able to win my first game, winning shortly after using a card called "Transformation" (really!) It was quite a thrill to be able to win that way, and I was able to win my next two games as well, both with ease. It's one of most enjoyable games I've played in a long, long time.
It's not a perfect book - its advice on publishing, for example, is a little outdated in today's online world - but as a resource for the craft of writing and successful storytelling generally, I would say it would say it's a huge success, easily the best book on the subject I've read in several years. Highly recommended.