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Rating: 
Summary: Be carefull of what review you read for this book
Review: I am not sure if some of the other reviewers for this book have something against Don Paul on a personal level, but there is a reason why some of our military's most elite units issue this book to their soldiers....and that is that these techniques work. I must have a newer version of the book as there doesn't seem to be any major typos. I have both the Army's and the Boy Scout texts on navigation and use this book more than the others.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on practical compass work
Review: This book is not a complete work on orienteering, but works great for people who really only want to know some basic skills to get them up and running. It is written in an easy to understand way. I also must have a newer version than the one that some of the reviewers are talking about as I have not seen any problems with misspelled words.
Rating: 
Summary: Uncommon common sense
Review: This is not literature nor is it intended to be. It is a presentation of a method for finding the most direct route back to your starting location without knowing where you are at any given time. After reading this a few times and trying it out, it works. Don's writing style is a little like fly excrement, it's all over the place. It makes seperating out his ideas a bit challenging. He presents statements which though obvious to him leaves the reader unknowing. For instance, he suggests rubbing an iron/steel needle on a rock to magnetize it and how to float it for an emergency compass. He fails however to tell which direction to rub it and which end of the needle would be pointing north. There are several important to the subject examples like this that are maddening. There are typos etc. This is a book in serious need of editing. So that's what's wrong with it. What is right with it is that he has developed a novel if somewhat cumbersome method of finding your way home without a map. You need a good compass, a pile of what he calls P.A.U.L. notes and some basic arithmetic skills. Even I could utilize his system almost immediately. This system can be utilized in any immaginable situation, even scuba diving. He then introduces somethink called S.O.C.K. you will just have to read for yourself. It applies to numerous navigation situations and is quite frankly, brilliant. There is a bit of tactical and military information that if not generally useful to a hiker is at least interesting. The owner of this small unusual book definitly gets his moneys worth out of it. There is the unavoidable colorful stories and anecdotes blessedly brief plus bits of very useful common sense suggestions. The attraction of this book is that it is based on empirical experience, it's not just some rhetoric on yet another idea for sale. The book has valuable coupons to use for discounts on his other publications. He's not a dummy. He's also not a writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't even think in buying this book
Review: This is the worst book I have ever read on navigation. By far. I suspect the author can not even stay found when he is trying to go to his kithen or water closet. He says hundreds of blatant nonsense. And from time to time he will pronounce some truism with such an emphasis that I have to believe he is so dumb that he's never been able to read a real book about navigation. Or else, how could he boast about having "invented" himself things mankind has been using since dawn of time?I have read some very good books about navigation. I have also navigated through thousands of kilometers in jungles, deserts and open lands. Night and day, under rain and under sand storms. I could use "his" methods on some simple scenarios. of course, the "methods" are not "his", every experienced navigator knows them all. And, of course, most of the times "his" method SHOULD NOT BE USED, because they are too simple-minded and will not work under tough conditions. Sometimes "his" method will not work even under fairly light conditions. He brags, he boasts, he blows his horn, he crows, he shows off; the only thing he does NOT do is teaching good navigation principles. One more thing: EVERY SINGLE thing he mentions as uniquely developed by him can, in fact, be found in almost any other book about land navigation (or any other form of navigation). Including those published by the US Military. Don't by this book. Keep searching. There are many many titles that go from "good" to "excellent" in this subject. You don't need to waist your time and money with this junk. And, what's worse, you could be convinced -- at least in the begining -- that Don Paul has taught you what you needed for navigation. And then find -- when lost in a dangerous place -- that you are alone, helpless and lost. I was thinking, perhaps this guy lost his head when he had an a parachute accident. He is not a writer. He doesn't know how to string words together, let alone a book! It seems he writes as someone who turns the fan on, put some smelling material in front of it and let it fly. The book stinks! Now, remember: you have been advised. If you still want to buy it, don't complain later.
Rating: 
Summary: Idea not Unique
Review: This little book needs a re-write. It just does not flow, you have to read it a couple of times to understand what he is saying. Once you get his meaning you find out that this material is known by many experienced navigators, it is not a unique idea. My advice is, do not bank on just this method of wilderness navigation; or you will be in trouble. Investigate other navigation books because there are better ones. Ted Fisher
Geographic Information Systems Director
Vermilion County MIS
Rating: 
Summary: Available now in 8th edition. Absolute best compass system.
Review: You ain't worth squat if you can't find your way in the woods, jungle, or city. My book requires no maps, no math, no jerk-you-around system of other sophisticated declinators universal transverse scru u's, etc. This is it in a nutshell: go anywhere you want without maps, anytime, and my take-along book will bee-line you back to where you started without having to backtrack. Stay found forever.
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