diff --git a/src/documentation/xdocs/hssf/index.xml b/src/documentation/xdocs/hssf/index.xml
index f230683cdb..f956b0f289 100644
--- a/src/documentation/xdocs/hssf/index.xml
+++ b/src/documentation/xdocs/hssf/index.xml
@@ -15,8 +15,32 @@
  <s1 title="Overview">
 
   <p>HSSF is the POI Project's pure Java implementation of the Excel '97(-2002) file format.</p>
-  <p>Please see the HOWTO for usage information.</p>
-  <p>TODO: turn this page into a meaningful summary.</p>
+  <p>HSSF provides a way to read spreadsheets create, modify, read and write XLS spreadsheets
+     It provides: 
+  </p>
+  <ul>
+        <li>low level structures for those with special needs</li>
+        <li>an eventmodel api for efficient read-only access</li>
+        <li>a full usermodel api for creating, reading and modifying XLS files</li>
+  </ul>
+  <p>
+        Truth be told there is probably a better way to generate your spreadsheet
+        generation (yet you'll still be using HSSF indirectly).  At the time of
+        this writing we're in the process of moving the HSSF Serializer over to 
+        the <link href="http://xml.apache.org/cocoon">Apache Cocoon
+        Project</link>.  With Cocoon you can serialize any XML datasource (of
+        which might be a ESQL page outputting in SQL for instance) by simply 
+        applying the stylesheet and designating the serializer.
+  </p>
+  <p>
+        If you're merely reading spreadsheet data, then use the eventmodel api
+        in the org.apache.poi.hssf.eventmodel package.
+  </p>
+  <p>
+        If you're modifying spreadsheet data then use the usermodel api.  You
+        can also generate spreadsheets this way, but using Cocoon (which will do
+        it this way indirectly) is the best way...we promise.
+  </p>
 
   </s1>
  </body>