A good book symptomatic of Franco-French tendency to codify everything. Unless you want to shine in society meetings cafistes or with your friends neophytes citizens, I do not see the point of this book. The mountain is not learned in books. And your future mistakes you will learn much more than all the theories. When will the alpine equivalent of traffic to get to have the right to put on the crampons? So yes, you do not reduce the risk by not buying this "bible", but surely put a little salt in your escapades out of this ultra modern world secure.