The Sky is Yours!
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If I was ever to attempt parachuting, I certainly wouldn't do it without reading this book from cover to cover and committing most of it to memory. The layout is terrific, with lots of photographs and very detailed drawings and diagrams, and it's written in such a simple and direct style that it even makes sense to someone ignorant about skydiving, like me. People who step out of an airplane with a parachute are amazing and courageous, but I'm an acrophobic couch potato that settles for getting my thrills watching others do it (think Keanu and Swayze in "Point Break"), or looking through books like this fantastic manual.
"Parachuting-The Skydiver's Handbook" gives you a little history, starting with Leonardo da Vinci, with the photo of Kathe Paulus from the 1890's quite priceless, through "Your First Jump," "Skydiving Emergencies," with every possible emergency you could ever go through (as the author states, "parachutes are good but not perfect," pg. 142), "Your Freefall Progression" (I love the drawings in this chapter!), and so much more. It has an extensive chapter on equipment as well, and how to use it. There is also an appendix for further information on clubs, books, etc., a glossary, and an index. Dan Poynter and Mike Turoff have done a superb job with this book, which has enough information that even an expert might expect to learn something, and for the novice, don't leave home without it. Keep your eye on the sky, and "Fly with your own wings"!
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Must-have for newbies & novices
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Great book aimed mainly at beginner and novice jumpers. Lots of information (possibly too much for someone prior to a first jump course though), about all aspects from "what happens on your first jump" to the all-important safety issues (mals, canopy handling etc) to the various disciplines. I read this book a good number of times in my first year or so jumping - it becomes less useful as time goes on but I would heartily recommend it as first choice to any new jumper looking for more info on the sport. Blue skies!
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A must for all skydivers of all skill levels
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With a cover like that, it's a book you'd be hard pressed to skip over. From the first paragraph to the last page, you learn something new about the sport that we skydivers know and love. Whatever you're into, there's something there for you: freeflying, relative work etc. It breaks down the FJC into logical parts and each section is as comprehensive as it is easy to understand. A nice touch is the various signatures culled from rec.skydiving (amongst other places). Some of them make you smile, some of them make you think. A great book, whether you have 1 jump or a 1000.
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