RECOMMENDED READING:
The following books and maps are some of many we would recommend for reading before coming to the Dolomites.
Some are what we would call 'background' reading, some are specific to the trip you will be doing, and all are excellent preparation and fun to read, counting the days before your holiday begins.
The books & maps are divided into following categories:

1: GUIDE BOOKS
2: TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
3: 'HOW TO' BOOKS
4: REGIONAL TITLES

1: GUIDE BOOKS

BOOK TITLE	USA	CANADA	UK
Graham Fletcher, John Smith: Via Ferratas in the Dolomites V1 This guide covers the North, Central and Eastern Dolomites, across an area stretching from Val di Fassa to Auronzo. Volume 1 includes areas such as Catinaccio, Marmolada, Sella, Puez Odle, Fanes, Tofane, Cristallo, Sesto, Sorapiss, Marmarole. The authors have first-hand knowledge of the routes, and have developed a completely new grading system, which strives to simplify an extremely subjective topic.
Graham Fletcher, John Smith: Via Ferratas in the Dolomites V2 The second volume documents Via Ferrata routes in the mountain ranges of Civetta, Schiara and Pala as well as those to the west in the Brenta. A significant addition is the inclusion of routes around the northern end of Lake Garda and the Piccole Dolomites north of Vicenza. Here, the mountains are generally lower and you can enjoy ferrata climbing over a much extended season, with some routes accessible for most of the year.
Hofler, Werner: Via Ferrata This guide book was THE bible on Via Ferratas in the Dolomites, and also the most comprehensive. It suffers a bit from being translated from German into English, and is now also a bit outdated, but still a very good guide for Via Ferrata novices.
BOOK TITLE	USA	CANADA	UK
Rother Walking Guide: Via Ferrata Dolomites Another fairly good guide book regarding the Dolomites. If you are familiar with the Rother Guide book series, this might be your book.
Cicerone: Walking in the Dolomites Gillian Price's book guided us very sensibly around the Dolomites last summer, and in terms of description of routes and estimation of difficulty it would be hard to fault it. Her coverage of flora and fauna was also excellent. Don't expect to be too thrilled by it, though; the author leaves you to discover the real beauty of the area for yourself, as the pages do not exactly brim with mouth watering descriptions.
Martin Collins: Treks in the Dolomites, Alta Via 1 and 2 Martin Collins' book is an essential item if you intend to do one of these fantastic high-altitude treks. The profiles are fairly accurate, and the routes are very well described. A great trek, an excellent book, just take the timings with a pinch of salt.
BOOK TITLE	USA	CANADA	UK
Henry Stedman: Trekking in the Dolomites, AV1 and AV2 As a trekking destination the Italian Dolomites has few peers. Juxtaposing dramatic mountain scenery with picture-perfect Tyrolean villages, and flower-filled alpine meadows with poignant WWI battlefields, this small yet exquisite range rarely fails to enchant and beguile those who visit. This guide has been re-researched and updated to include the two most popular long-distance hikes in the Dolomites--the Alta Via 1 (AV1) and the Alta Via 2 (AV2) as well as shorter walks.
Anette Kohler, Norbert Mehmel: Classic Rock Climbs in the Dolomites

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2: TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

MAP TITLE	USA	CANADA	UK
Tabacco Maps are some of the best you can get for the Dolomites. There are 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 maps available. If you intend to spend more time in the Dolomites, it might be worth to purchase the 1:25,000 series, otherwise the 1:50,000 maps are all you need.
1:25,000 maps: Cortina d'Ampezzo #3 Val Gardena - Alpe di Siuisi (Seiseralm)#5 Val die Fassa - Marmolada - Rosengarten #6 Alta Badia - Fanes - Peitlerkofel #7 Grupo Ortles / Cevedale/Ortlergruppe #8 Dolomiti di Sesto -Sextener Dolomiten #10
1:50,000 maps: Cadore, Cortina, Dolomiti di Sesto, Val die Fassa, Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Val Pusteria,

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3: 'HOW TO' BOOKS

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BOOK TITLE	USA	CANADA	UK
Michael Wachtler: The first World War in the Alps This is one of the only books in English about the Great War that has been fought between the Italians and Austrians in the Eastern Alps. Never before had men been expected to hold out for months, even years on end in the bitter cold and snow at altitudes of almost 12,000 feet above sea level. This was the feature which lent such historical significance to a relative sideshow of the Great War. It was an anachronistic struggle, man against man, for no armored vehicles could ever reach these rock faces.
Rolf Steininger: South Tyrol - A minority of the 20th century Tyrol, a province that had been part of Austria for over 500 years and was almost totally German-speaking, was split into two after World War I and the southern part was awarded to Italy as "spoils of war". The country was settled with Italians from the south, who had a totally different mentality from the Italians residing in South Tyrol. With the emergence of National Socialism in Germany, eighty-six percent of all South Tyroleans agreed to leave South Tyrol and become citizens of "Greater Germany". After World War II, the region was not returned to Austria.
Martha Ward: The hidden life of Tyrol It tells how people of these high mountains put meaning into their collective lives and how they organize the "whole house"--the social structure of mountain survival. Through time Tiroleans have suffered and solved major ethnic problems. Moreover, this Alpine region has wedded economic development to ecological sensitivity. Their remarkable achievements are an international model. Tirol is one of the most highly visited and highly visible culture areas in Europe.

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