Richard Blake's book, The Complete American Gold Prospector's Handbook, is a valuable source of information for anyone considering the all-American activity of prospecting for gold. The term Complete in the title certainly describes Richard's book. It is a reference for people of all experience levels - from the beginner, to the serious amateur and even to the professional prospector. The book contains helpful tips on prospecting and on panning for gold. It has instructions on how to file mining claims and the forms needed to do the filings. Included are maps and descriptions of all major and most minor locations where gold has been found in 47 States. And, for those who want a little more help getting started, there are lists of prospecting suppliers, prospecting clubs and professional services. Richard wrote the book in an easy-to-read fashion, with interesting bits of information on the history of gold mining in the US from the 1700s to the present. It has all that and much more.