The Essential Guide to Skiing is no rehash of the standard “how to ski” books, simply updated with newer pictures of newer equipment and clothing. Nor is it “Skiing for Dummies.” Instead, it is a comprehensive book packed with authoritative advice on every aspect of the sport. For novices, there is information on how to walk in ski boots, when and where to rent equipment, and where to attach a lift ticket. Experienced skiers can learn how to find the shortest lift lines to the best slopes, discover the best goggle lens colors for flat light, and uncover the best powder stashes even when the mountain looks skied out. Other subjects range from the financial (finding the cheapest lift tickets) to the mundane (evaluating the fiber content of a pair of ski socks) to the creative (how to take great action pictures and videos). Extensive black-and-white photographs add to the fun.