diff --git a/chapter08/kernel.xml b/chapter08/kernel.xml
index d60fe0767..d1dbd48ec 100644
--- a/chapter08/kernel.xml
+++ b/chapter08/kernel.xml
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
 <sect1 id="ch08-kernel">
 <title>Installing a kernel</title>
 
-<para>
-A kernel is the heart of a Linux system. We could use the kernel image
-from our normal system, but we might as well compile a new kernel from
-the most recent kernel sources available.
-</para>
-
 <para>
 Building the kernel involves a few steps: configuring it and compiling
-it. There are a few ways to configure the kernel. If a user doesn't like the
-way this book does it, he should read the <filename>README</filename>
-file and find out
-what the other options are. The following commands are run to build the
-kernel:
+it. There are a few ways to configure the kernel. If you don't like the
+way this book does it, read the <filename>README</filename> that comes
+with the kernel source tree, and find out what the options are. The 
+following commands are run to build the kernel:
 </para>
 
 <blockquote><literallayout>