I don't have the book so I can only guess, but could it be that the example is using the new Type inference system? Consider this example:
Code:
Class Person
Public Sub New()
End Sub
End Class
Class TestApplication
Private Sub MethodName()
Dim somePerson = GetPerson()
End Sub
Private Function GetPerson() As Person
Return New Person()
End Function
End Class
Despite what it looks like, the somePerson variable *is* strongly typed as a Person and not as an Object as the compiler infers the type of the variable based on the value that is assigned to it. Since GetPerson returns a Person, the somePerson variable is typed as a Person as well with this code.
This code works with Option Explicit and Option String set to On, as long as Option Infer is On as well.
Cheers,
Imar