The most explicit answer to your inquiry is NO, the book does not include the OFFSET function.

I hope it helps you to decide and order!

Thanks for your question!

The function OFFSET(reference,rows,cols,height,width)
returns a reference (A2, C6, etc) or an array (A2:A5, B3:B9, etc) that you can use in any formula that requires such argument.

For example: you can feed the formula =SUM() this way =SUM(A2:A6) or this way =SUM(OFFSET(A1,1,0,5,1)) with the same results.

Of course, you will use the OFFSET function with some condition that changes. Generally speaking, this function only feeds other formulas.

Well…

In brief, you need the lookup formulas to do the search and summary job, and eventually, if you have dynamic spreadsheets use the OFFSET function to specify arrays and cell references dynamically.

For example, this array formula from the “Excel Lookup Toolbox” ebook searches two index columns (order number and quantity) and returns the sum based on the specified column…
{=INDEX(Haystack!$A$2:$C$5,MATCH(1,(Haystack!$A$2:$A$5=A2)*(Haystack!$B$2:$B$5<=B2),0),3)}

and it is the same that this other one using the OFFSET function as the lookup_array for the MATCH function
{=INDEX(Haystack!$A$2:$C$5,MATCH(1,(OFFSET(Haystack!A1,1,0,4,1)=A2)*(Haystack!$B$2:$B$5<=B2),0),3)}

Conclusion:

The book provides the lookup building blocks (45 lookup scenarios); you can feed any of these formulas with your dynamic range (OFFSET)

However, since Excel can make a range dynamic using List(2003) or Table(2007), I’m wondering why would I need this type of forumula instead of a standard Lookup formula?