In reply to abarro81:
I disagreed with the over-emphasais (I felt) on why people choose not to wear helmets, whereas I was getting the impression (partly from on here) that people are going towards the idea of wearing helmets all the time when leading/belaying trad. I would have hoped that an instructional book aimed, in part, at beginners would encourage people towards helmet use, saying that they were getting lighter and more comfy rather than that many people find them hot and uncomfortable and that they obscure their vision. Yes, thay gave both sides of the story, but I felt they over-emphasised the negatives, which, given that the rest of the sections I read were far from impartial, was wrong.
Patronising... the comments on keeping yourself safe rather than relying on rescue etc, and on not making a nusciance at crags or sueing a landowner if you hurt yourself, because it would jeapordise access to crags. I'd hope most of us wouldn't be stupid enough to sue a landowner for broken ankles, or even necks, and those that were wouldn't have their opinions changed by a book!