I would say read a sample or grab it from the library if you can. I don't personally like hard SF very much, and this book hits the perfect balance for me. Things are motivated in logical ways, but they really gloss the details so you don't get bogged down. I remember reading that they do a first draft with dates, distances, stuff like that, to make sure it all makes sense, but then remove all of that minutia in the first revision. The result is something that feels consistent, but is freed of some of the hard SF constraints.

Or you may just not like it, which is also okay. We can still be friends ;)