For a detector or drywasher tutorial Jims manuals can't be beat. EXTREMELY well written and by using the pamplet form not expensive either! Good man--good material-Tons a au 2 u 2-John
+1. Pearls book is amazing! Also I'd like to throw in "Rocks and Minerals" by Simon and Schusters, and "Prospecting for Gemstones and Minerals" by Sinkankas.
I know Jim Straight personally, we have sat and had coffee, metaldetected together, he's full of knowledge and shares it freely. His books got me over my first nugget with a detector. and what he writes is truth not fiction. Very best for anyone wanting to get started detecting. Grubstake