Modeling Project Management [1] could give you a clue about the question "what the heck is project management about, apart from some task planning" ? Max has a a fascinating review of (graphical) "models" of project management from the late eighties to the "new century." I must admit, that the final view of mind-maps he presents at last do not really compare well to the more interacting models he shows from the past. Nevertheless very interesting read and great work.