This was a great listening to as an auto book but that also meant that I did miss out on the illustrations. It was a better way of exploring the world that Robert Jordan create without it been swallowed by the action/drama occurring through the series. Also contains min stories of the history that is mentioned through out this saga. A good read no matter if you read it during the reading of the saga or after. I would not recommend it before you at least read first couple of books first due to a few spoilers.