We are now halfway through this year's Edinburgh Fringe and if you are planning to come during the thrilling second half there is one thing you should get hold of. Not a ticket for the best shows. Not somewhere to stay. but Secret Edinburgh, the pocket guide to the festival produced by fellow comedy website Such Small Portions. Yes, of course you can have your Apps and your flimsy magazine guides but there is nothing like a real book to stick in your pocket and dip into as you wander from venue to venue or hunt for somewhere to eat.

Secret Edinburgh is written by the people who know the Fringe inside out – the comedians who come here every year, just to entertain the public, improve their skills and, erm, maybe land a lucrative TV deal in the process. Among the 160 fine folk who have chipped in are Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Thomas, Isy Suttie, Sarah Pascoe and Josh Widdicombe.

If you want to eat French food surrounded by stand-ups getting over their last gig go to Chez Jules in Hanover Street, advises Elis James. In fact Alexis Dubus recommends the same eaterie, and he is the alter ego of Marcel Lucont so he knows a bit about French food. Andrew Maxwell recommends "dafting" in the Waters of Leith. It's like white water rafting but less strenuous and involves more red wine. Milton Jones gets all philosophical and compares the highs and lows of the hilly city to the highs and lows a comedian experiences during the festival.

Secret Edinburgh is funny, informative and rather essential. Nica Burns, who runs the Foster's Comedy Awards, says that "No serious Fringe-goer should be without it." In fact there is only one thing wrong with this book. They didn't ask me to contribute.