Software professionals who are working in an organization that has adopted the Rational Unified Process, in whole or part, should read the book linearly. The chapters have been organized in a natural progression.
Project managers can limit their reading to Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 7, which provide an introduction to the implications of an iterative, risk-driven development process.
Process engineers or methodologists may have to tailor and install the Rational Unified Process in their organizations. They should carefully study Chapters 3 and 17, which describe the process structure and the overall approach to implementing the Rational Unified Process.