| The format of the book is: Each chapter covers a category of common mistakes (example booking a VFR flight which turns into IFR along the way). At the start of the chapter the author gives you the stastics of accidents in general aviation accidents for that category broken down by number of hours the pilot clocked up. This is to support his central theme that inexperience, and the consequential bad/reckless judgement that follows, kills. He then goes on to give NTSB accident reports and then explains why those incidents should never have happened. Where necessary the author gives enough technical information for the reader to comprehend the point(s) he's trying to make. In some chapters he rounds off the chapter with reports from pilots who came close to tragedy but managed, at the last moment, to save themselves. In my opponion the book does have 3 weaknesses: 1) The author is speaking from an American point of view so, whilst the general points have relevence in all countries, the legal/progression details are not totally applicable; 2) The much-vaunted self-assessment questionaire gives broad information on interpretation but leaves it mostly up to the reader to come up with recommendations; and 3) The book ends a little too quickly. Yes, there is a chapter on Airmanship, and a [very brief] chapter on dealing with the media, but the end of the book still feels abrupt. As a guide to how not to fly it is invaluable. In fact I would say that it, or a book like it, should be compulsory reading for every student pilot. In fact I believe that a similar book should be done for learner drivers as well. However, that is not to say the book is without fault. | 
