Hi! Frankly speaking, I don't know this book, so I cannot reccomend it, but if you want to pick up some words before course, maybe Polish in4 weeks is a good solution? It's a small book with CD. Or maybe Polish phrase book? They are quite new so I think the phares that you'll find there would be quite useful.
Yes it is quite a good book, though a little dated now. It was written during the socialist era If I remember rightly there are also a set of cassettes, which come with the course, I know this as I have a set too though I never use them. It is quite a comprehensive book and you would know a lot by the end of the course. In fact I am holding my copy now. It looks pretty good and even gives the words in phonetic script, which would help you even more. Do not be put off by all things old, some of the old books are much better than the simplified newer ones.