"Caving Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginning Cavers," fourth edition. Edited by Dean Wiseman and Curt Harler. National Speleological Society, 2016. ISBN 978-1-68044-007-7. 8.5 by 11 inches, 271 pages, softbound. $25 (NSS members $22.50, life members $20).
This book updates, sometimes not enough, the third edition that was published almost twenty-five years ago. The overall design is similar, with major sections on equipment, techniques, and cave science. The main revolution in equipment over that period, at least for a beginner with no need for battery-powered hammer drills, has been LED lighting, and the all-new chapter on lights covers those, but mainly relatively expensive types that are perhaps overkill for the intended reader. Are there no batteries smaller than AA? The chapter on caving clothes is new; most other parts of this section are just warmed over. The chapter on packs in pretty much unchanged. Have you seen anybody caving with a "pig" lately? Most of the material in the techniques section is new or was extensively revised. But two chapters about topographic maps were not, and it is still assumed you're working with a paper topographic map ordered from the USGS based on a state index map. There is no clue that maps can now be downloaded (start at nationalmap.gov) and of course no mention at all of Google Earth. Chapters on first aid, SRT, and conservation are nicely done, without excessive detail. A chapter on leading cave trips, while it seems out of place in a beginners' book, is nice; the following chapter on leadership skills is less so. Photography and videography were not covered in the earlier book. Here they are, with nice chapters by Dave Bunnell and Ben von Cramen, professionals in the fields. I do wish the video chapter had not punted on editing, something that, to judge by some of the grotto programs I've seen, is often sorely lacking. Under science, the geology and biology chapters are new, and the archaeology chapter has been updated. A new chapter on anthropology seems rather arm-wavy and mostly raises questions. There are twenty-seven chapters in all. The advice in the book is generally sound. But why can't the NSS publish a committee-written book that is any good _as a book_? Most of the "On" books are terrible, and this new edition of "Caving Basics" sets a new low. Did anybody actually read it before it was printed? There are plenty of things to entertain anyone bothered by bad style or grammar, but even someone who isn't, in these days of tweets, will be annoyed by the chapter in which the promised Figure 1 and Table 1 are nowhere to be found or amused by the statement that the job of the call-out person is to take action if the group does get out on time. I could go on, but it's too sad.--Bill Mixon ---------------------------------------- Always forgive your enemies after they are hanged. ---------------------------------------- You may "reply" to the address this message (unless it's a TexasCavers list post) came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org _______________________________________________ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
