The Canoe Handbook: Techniques for Mastering the Sport of Canoeing

I am quite a novice into paddling, have done it a few times as "one of those tourists in a rental canoe". Then purchased a canoe and two books including this one. I've never been aware that there was so much to know about canoes, water and paddling technique. I already learned a lot and will be able to re-use this book to review and learn more after I've practised the first items. I would recommend this book to anybody in a similar or slightly more advanced situation. You should note however that this book is primarily focussing on down-river canoeing. Flat water is also covered briefly and a lot of river technique also work for lakes. In case you would be looking for specifics on flat-water navigation, canoe behavior in windy conditions or trip planning, this book might be less appropriate.

While this title may contain too much information for someone who has never paddled a canoe, it is an excellent resource for those who have paddled a bit but have never had formal instruction. There is detailed instruction on a variety of strokes as well as identifying, entering and peeling out of eddies. There is also very important info about reading water and identifying hazards such as undercut rocks, strainers, hydraulics etc. Also included is basic instruction on water-reading. This book has made it much easier for me to teach less experienced paddlers. If you've been in a canoe enough to know how to get down an easy river, this book will likely have parts that are under and over your head. If you're somewhere between beginner and expert, this book is definitely worth reading.