Agreed, there are some illuminating posts on this long long thread, but also some rather self-absorbed, trite opinions. Excuse me if I sound a testy old fart, but when you pick up books by the eloquent, highly acclaimed, (and exceedingly modest), veterans such as Ann Welch or Alan Bramson, you realise
the reason for their pre-eminence. Bramson, for instance -
At the risk of sounding defeatist I must say that, although the stupid can be
educated, there is very little that can be done about the undisciplined.
Nothing will prevent the lunatic fringe from driving at high speed in fog
and any reader who, deep down, recognises himself as such a character
is advised to put this book down now. There is little point in reading on
for he is hardly likely to accept my advice which would be to give up
flying and stick to golf.
To the keen, balanced, and conscientious pilot who recognises his
limitations and wishes to do better for his own safety and enjoyment
I hasten to explain that this not simply a book telling you how to deal
with emergencies. Its aim is rather to develop habits and techniques that
will prevent the real emergency and all the risks it entails from arising.
I do not claim to have invented the many practices described here. They
find their origins in some of the finest training establishments, civil and
military, where the experiences of talented pilots acquired over many
years has been distilled into wisdom.
BE A BETTER PILOT p. 9-10