That's actually a mute question since there are few alternatives. Bill Thoms' book has some good features and is well worth the price (especially so if you get the CD instead of the hard copy, but I recommend both if you plan to be a serious Bulb person).
That said, the book is not a complete guide to the genus since it concentrates on the most popular species and hybrids for Bill himself. It offers some very good, but limited, growing information. He brings some clarity to a genus that's too large to bring a lot of clarity to in a single publication. It brings a lot of publicity to Bill's program, but that's hard to fault because his is the premier Bulb hybridization program around.
So, it's self-centered, limited in scope, and utilizes a pretty goofy, conversational style. On the positive side, it's all there is and offers some pointers among the ramblings. Overall, it adds to a pretty sparse selection of literature on the genus.....I say, get it!
The other choice is Emily Seigerist's , Bulbophyllums and Their Allies, 2001. This is really a ,now outdated, checklist of the genus. It is however very useful to the serious Bulb hobbyist who understands the changes in taxonomy that have taken place recently. The hard cover with color pictures is out of print and can be pretty expensive on the used market ($75 or more). The soft cover with B&W pictures is in print and cheap on Amazon.
If you are just looking for basic info get the Thoms book, but be prepared for the strange style and limited coverage. If you are really a Bulb nut or wantabe get both because there simply is not anything else.
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