Review: Terrific Concept, But Some Issues
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2012
I downloaded this title at the author's invitation, and I really like the concept behind Stay Safe Crime Map series.  I have never been to San Francisco, and have no plan to do so in the near future.  Thus, I cannot comment on the accuracy of the maps included in this book.I reviewed this guidebook first using my mobile smartphone, and then my Kindle Fire.  The maps come out too tiny on my smartphone's screen, and therefore I cannot read the maps on my phone.  The tips are really good.  Some are intuitive, and some are logical.The author suggests carrying what I would call a dummy wallet, which contains a small amount of cash, and expired credit cards.  The idea behind it is that if you are mugged, you hand over the wallet to satisfy the mugger, and you retain your more valuable items.  Having lived in New York City for over two dozen years, I have been mugged a few times.  My personal experience is that once you hand over something to the mugger, he won't take the time to search your pockets, and risk someone else intervening in the encounter.  The mugger wants to grab the valuables and leave ASAP.Using my Kindle Fire device, I am able to view the maps.  The author starts out by showing a general map of the San Francisco area.  Then he splits the area into more details maps.  The close up maps contain x'ed out areas, to denote less safe neighborhoods.I think that the maps need to be reworked somehow, to allow for viewing on smartphones.  My reason is that people going out and having a good time don't necessarily carry a kindle on their person.  Can you imagine someone at a bar take out a kindle just to check and see what areas to avoid?  Very unlikely.  But if that same person checks his smartphone, no one will raise an eyebrow at this person.The author, Michael Gard, should consider creating a "pocket edition" with maps viewable on smartphone screens.  I would imagine the maps would be cut up even further, leading to more maps of smaller areas of San Francisco.Another issue is updates.  These guidebooks should note what edition are they.  I assume that the maps were compiled with latest available data.  So call this the 2012 edition.  If an updated set of data is released, resulting in changes in the crime maps, then the author should release a later edition using the latest up-to-date data.  This is not unheard of.  For example, the Zagat Survey releases a dining guide each year for each area.The Stay Safe Crime Map series is a good concept that needs a little further refinement with the maps to allow for viewing on smartphone screens.  I would definitely recommend this guidebook to tourists and travelers.