After giving a friend some recommendations for reading, I was reminded of this book. It was the second Heinlein I ever picked up (the first was my father's copy of "The Cat Who Walks Through Walls"), and oddly enough, at the suggestion of my freshman year high school English teacher (who, before that point, I thought was kind of lame). Yeah, I somehow managed to read one of his much later works before anything else. I am sort of cursed in that way; I somehow picked up the seventh book of the Wheel of Time series before all the other ones (although in my defense, it was for a school book report).Counted amongst Heinlein's "Juvenile" fiction, it is shorter and in some ways, intellectually lighter than his future history or Long family stuff. However, I will never forget it for one really important lesson it taught me.
When the main character, Rod Walker, is trying to decide what equipment or weapons he should bring on his adventure to a hostile and savage world, he remembers the advice of his teacher. He doesn't bring heavy weaponry, guns, or any kind of advanced arms. Why?
Because those things would make him feel safe. They would distract him from the incredibly deadly situation he was in, giving a false sense of security.
Of course, I've never had to really act on this, but in 13 years, I haven't forgotten it!
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