I just finished reading Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass by Harold Gatty. The author, an Australian, was a pioneering aviator and flew to many parts of the world during the 1930s. He also instructed the U.S. Army Air Force during the Second World War.
The book is a compilation of his thoughts on various natural means of navigation. It serves not so much as an instruction manual but a general reflection on natural navigation with a bunch of helpful tips and techniques thrown in. Gatty is well-traveled throughout Asia, the Pacific, North America, and Europe, and it shows.
The book is a bit dated and probably focues way too much on bird navigation signs (the longest chapter) for the casual reader, but I think it's a fun book to pick up if only to elicit some thoughts on the matter. While some of the chapters were a little tedious, nearly all were short and many were downright fascinating. It's definitely a cool book to pick up for someone who's ever been romanticized by the thought of throwing the map and compass away and bushwhacking your way to glory.
Jason Feulner
The book is a compilation of his thoughts on various natural means of navigation. It serves not so much as an instruction manual but a general reflection on natural navigation with a bunch of helpful tips and techniques thrown in. Gatty is well-traveled throughout Asia, the Pacific, North America, and Europe, and it shows.
The book is a bit dated and probably focues way too much on bird navigation signs (the longest chapter) for the casual reader, but I think it's a fun book to pick up if only to elicit some thoughts on the matter. While some of the chapters were a little tedious, nearly all were short and many were downright fascinating. It's definitely a cool book to pick up for someone who's ever been romanticized by the thought of throwing the map and compass away and bushwhacking your way to glory.
Jason Feulner