I just want an opinion on the following books as to their usefulness, with the stress on usefulness, to beginning and continuing Zen/zazen practice. I'd be grateful for the opinion of anyone who has read these books.

I was going to buy and read Kapleau's Three Pillars of Zen, but I've received mixed reports about this book; that being so, yes, I know that there is only one way to find out what it's like and that's to read it but I'd like further opinions.

What I really want is a book that gives me practical advice or instruction in how to practise. To that end, I was also thinking of buying Zen Training: Methods and Philosophy by Katsuki Sekida. Has anyone who has read this book got an opinion as to its merit as a good practical guide to Zen/zazen practice?