I liked it, last years MVP recommended it too, but are we talking about the same book cause the book I have is from 2002 this one:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-8246403-6292733?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
As for NMS I think it blows very nit picky on detail, but after doing it you sure well learn alot of detail, weather it well be on boards or not I don't know haven't take step 1 yet.
As for other books I got advice from last years MVP that pretest clinical vignettes is pretty good. I found it good cause it made you think, not like nms where you knew the factoid or not. I also liked goljan's Rapid Review for the USMLE step 1 Qbook, it's in vignettes too and makes you think not just pure one sentence questions. You want more vignettes try Blueprints, but i didn't find it too challenging.