[.ca] Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook (ISBN 0963122991)

Academics or comedy?:
This book is an excellent source of knowledge for aviators, old and new, and to help you pass your private pilot written exam. It is valuable for reference material beyond your written exam and it is one of the most detailed and extensive sources I have read as far as private pilot aviation goes. However, if you took out the "funny" stories, you could condense this book into half of the number of pages. The comedy is extremely distracting! Just when you are fully focused on the matter at hand, the author interjects some corny humor that totally throws you off and leaves you trying to scan the pages for continuation on the subject you were reading. It is evident that Rod Machado is a brilliant aviator and educator. But Rod, keep the humor for the airport lounges.

Great!:
Well, i think that every pilot should get this book! It's pretty steep for beginners and should be used more as a referance. Great book!

Great potential but ultimately unreadable:
I am sure that Rod Machado is a great pilot and instructor. As an author, however, I must admit that I found his book unreadable and have been forced to give up. The constant attempts at humour are really quite pathetic, and ultimately distract from the information I know he has to share. I bought this book on a friend's recommendation and thought it would be great to help me with Flight Simulator X. Unfortunately, I can't get past chapter 2. The material is easy to understand but Rod's lame jokes really make reading the book a chore. This isn't a "work hard to understand the fundamentals" chore. This is a "tolerate the juvenille garbage long enough to glean the wisdom" chore. And unfortunately, I just can't do it. I know that the book has value and that's why I can't give it one star - but please - only buy this book if you are patient.

Frozen Duck Control Freak Godsend:
I'm not happy just knowing what an instrument does. Nor am I satisfied if I can just pass "The Test". I'm a control freak. I have needs. This book is essential if this sounds familiar. You won't be left with Whys and Howsats. It's also a great confidence builder for a beginner without the smiling, happy "you can do it, it's easy! :)" that seems pretty common in other private pilot material that I've taken in. Some people aren't into the side-stories and ASRS Reports, etc in the book. For me even the doodles on the diagrams help to retain knowledge, as I'm sure Mr. Machado intended. As a new pilot I am absolutely committed to developing the best possible skills, and this book is doing me right where others have lacked. Pick this up with the King's study guides and radio communications guide, then save the rest of your checking account for your friendly neighborhood CFI. Also - read the weather chapter outdoors if you can. Helped me out greatly.

A wonderful reference and learning guide:
I read the other reviews here, and felt the need to add my opinion. I've been flying for over twenty years, and teaching for over three. As Rod suggests, I offer my students the choice between the Jeppesson and Machado texts. Not only do my students enjoy the Machado flight manual, I find that they understand the material better. If any material is interesting to the student, they will learn it more easily and remember it. I also am curious that another review found the book to be less than technically correct. Simply look at the stack of awards that this book and it's author has received. Without hesitation, I let my students learn from Rod who is one of the most published and honored flight instructors in the United States. The book is not an engineering text book, and few students would finish their training if we treated them all like engineering students. I find Rod's explanations to be more accurate and understandable than the FAA's own manuals. I highly recommend this book based on the content, and the impact I've seen this book have on my students.