Last revised in 1985, the long-lived seafarers' reference adds 21st century technology to traditional techniques to cover all phases of surface navigation. Originally written for midshipmen at the US Naval Academy, the current text is also intended for merchant mariners, recreational boaters, and navigational neophytes. Revising author Cutler (strategy and policy, Naval War College) takes a conversational tone and makes use of many examples, mnemonics, step-by-step explanations, and diagrams "to empower the reader in the use of such things as geodesy, spherical trigonometry, and hydrodynamics without becoming overly immersed in them." Oversize: 9x11.25<">. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)