This is possibly the longest single book I've ever read and I do not at all regret reading it. On the contrary I enjoyed it, learned from it, and was entertained by it. I have been a regular reader of Backpacker magazine and plenty of other hiking related material for a long time (and am an experienced hiker). This book is the best and most complete single book on the subject in existence (at least in English - not that I know of any other in any other language). No if's, and's or but's about it - simply the best.