As someone interested in learning more about Paragliding, and not having tried it yet, I find this to be a very good book to inform and offer insight into all the key aspects of paragliding. The book offers the level of detail that the initially curious reader might not think about, whilst they are daydreaming about flying at 1000 meters with the cool breezy air beneath ones feet! The book reveals what is involved - what it means to live with the sport: the gear to use, the training, safety, air law, meteorology and others - while piquing ones interest and fueling the visual appeal with good colour photos of daring do and breath-taking vistas from the air.
It is NOT a teach-yourself book: and there are none. This is a serious sport; while having fun and enjoying the incredible freedom of paragliding (as I anticipate it to be!), the underlying message of this book is to develop as a pilot with ones intelligent use of risk-mitigating planning, anticipation and safe practice. You can have a fantastic time in flying to reach the base of clouds, soaring on thermals and experiencing life in a new and enriching way, while at the same time being in control, and aware of the incumbent 'downside' of human flight. The book brings home the fact that this sport is not of the same casualness of kite-flying on the beach: it is about piloting a vehicle in the skies.
The book covers about 40 short chapters that cover each topic neatly and permits quick reference to refresh the reader's memory. It is a good door-opener to see what paragliding involves, aside from what someone in my experience has - just to see them on the slopes and in the sky from a distance.
The next steps after reading this book would be a taster flight in tandem with an instructor to see if the feelings and sensations match ones mental 'hype'. If flying remains appealing, aside from pilot training, I would recommend a good book on meteorology for aircraft as paragliding is very dependent upon local weather systems.
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