Yes, the in-depth domain specific 1150 page book is going to be more useful for building an engine than the introductory 340 page book on design patterns with a gamedev flavor.
Right. I don't think "design patterns with a gamedev flavor" has any value for game developers, but I didn't want to just say the book was bad without suggesting an alternative. They're both aimed at game developers who want some deeper understanding of how to structure games and you can pick out chapters you like from the 1150 page book.
