Since reading Kenneth L. Zuber's Joyriding however, I have developed a higher level of comfort and confidence that enables me to make intelligent decisions behind the wheel. While I, like all new drivers, must gain hands-on driving experience, reading through Zuber's book will certainly expedite my learning period.
In this comprehensive 400-page manual for new drivers, Zuber presents the reader with familiar situations on the road, such as driving in traffic, parallel parking, and merging onto the highway, as well as less common events like driving in rural areas. As a new driver, I found the sections about using the mirrors and using your eyes correctly to be particularly helpful. Perhaps the best feature of Joyriding however, was the book's focus on predicting the actions of other drivers and reacting appropriately. Even if a new driver only reads about this prediction and reaction, it would be time well spent, and he or she would benefit greatly.
As informative and humorous as this book may be, even the best joyrides have their share of potholes. Throughout large portions of the book I found myself thinking, "I already learned this in Driver's Ed!" Also, Zuber goes into a quite detailed "overview" of the cars mechanics. To those concerned with getting their cars and themselves home in one piece, does a new driver really need to understand how electricity flows through the ignition system? Though interesting and educational, the Mechanical Knowledge section of Joyriding does not logically fit within the pages of this manual designed for new drivers.
Undoubtedly, the pros outweigh the cons in this fun, informative, and practical work by Kenneth L. Zuber. Parents, if you have children who will be turning sixteen in the near future, do them a favor by picking up this book for their birthdays. It helped me greatly in my transition from the passenger seat to the driver's seat.
If I had to raise one finger to give my judgment of the book, it would most certainly be the thumb - rather than the other finger, that I've been seeing much less of since I read this book.