Oh, I forgot there was a beginner's section. With a basic question like this I would have put in there, whoopsie.

I have a basic knowledge of camping mostly from using very bad gear that cost next to nothing and spending some sleepless,cold, and wet nights up in the mountains thinking this wasn't so bad. I have a bunch of boy scout friends who were raised the exact same way. We've never even thought to look on the internet for anything about camping only until about half a year ago. So, for about half a year I've been getting into what the modern backpacker brings along and so forth...

I don't have time to read, but I should just find that 500-800page book and give it to one of my friends. They can read a book like that in a couple days. I have no idea how. I read rather slow.