Be Expert with Map and Compass has been in print for more than fifty years and remains one of the standard guides on land navigation and orienteering. In easy-to-follow sections, the book lays out how to dependably navigate by compass, read and interpret a topographical map, set way points and bearings for extended hikes, give map instructions in a standardized format so others can follow your route, and much more. Each section is accompanied by practice exercises that are well-suited for use by a family or a group of varyingly experienced navigators. The latter third of the book is devoted to explaining the sport of orienteering, which seems like a fun combination of a cross-country run and a treasure hunt.
I was tragically born without a sense of direction, so much of this book was a revelation to me. Also – in a surprising synchronicity – the practice topographical map included in the back was from an area I had hiked just a few days before finding this title at a library sale!
I read the 1994 edition for this review, but the book was revised in 2009 with GPS information and updated web resources. If you just want the skills promised by the title, the early editions can be had for a few dollars (and you can save the rest to buy a compass).
– William Smith of Hangfire Books
Be Expert with Map & Compass: The Complete Orienteering Handbook
by Björn Kjellström
Wiley
2009, 256 pages, 8.2 x 9.9 x 1.5 inches