Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Rick Curtis' "Backpackers Field Manual" 1st chapter begins quite informative. Yet Mr. Curtis' unconventional and sometimes bizarre brand of rules quickly begin to irritate even the most patient reader. Most troubling are his one-sided views of camping and how it is supposed to be done. quickly, the book becomes a turn-off to backpacking. I bought this book to better hone my backpacking skills. I wanted to get a book that would help me learn more about the great outdoors. Considering the reviews other readers gave this book, it was a sure bet. Upon reading the book, I quickly learned that I don't follow Mr. Curtis' brand of Politicall Correctness. His understandable Enviromental concerns quickly begin taking a zealous fervour. His "rules" range from always peeing 200 feet from the trail to prevent defolienting plants(?) to not bathing in rivers because body salts many endanger its fragile ecosystem(?). Thinking about using dead wood for a fire? That too is a no-no in Mr. Curtis' book. It quickly becomes apparent the author's camping experineces are never without an expensive gas stove and an overpriced tent at a minimum. While the book does have some interesting information(Chapters #6,7, & 8), the rest of the book is too "Ecocentric." I don't consider this book a wise choice for novice backpackers. I wouldn't recommend this book to those interested in backpacking. Rick Curtis' "Backpacker's Field Manual" should be renamed "Politically-Correct Backpacker's Manual."