I would not recommend it. It has a lot of old, outdated theories about "pack" mentality, alpha rolls, hitting your dog, forcing it to be submissive, etc. That's not a great way to establish a bond with your new puppy. I think a better approach is to teach them what you expect and show them how to behave, rather than punish them.
Two great straightforward books are by Pat Miller. One is
Positive Perspectives and the other is
The Power of Positive Dog Training. I would highly recommend either of those two books to start out. I have many more on my bookshelf worth recommending, if you are interested. She also has a website with great information and additional recommendations.
http://www.peaceablepaws.com/pages/resources.asp