Editorial Review

The definitive guide on how to prepare for any crisis--from global financial collapse to a pandemic

It would only take one unthinkable event to disrupt our way of life. If there is a terrorist attack, a global pandemic, or sharp currency devaluation--you may be forced to fend for yourself in ways you've never imagined. Where would you get water? How would you communicate with relatives who live in other states? What would you use for fuel?

Survivalist expert James Wesley, Rawles, author of Patriots and editor of SurvivalBlog.com, shares the essential tools and skills you will need for you family to survive, including:

Water:Filtration, transport, storage, and treatment options.
Food Storage: How much to store, pack-it-yourself methods, storage space and rotation, countering vermin.
Fuel and Home Power: Home heating fuels, fuel storage safety, backup generators.
Garden, Orchard Trees, and Small Livestock: Gardening basics, non-hybrid seeds, greenhouses; choosing the right livestock.
Medical Supplies and Training: Building a first aid kit, minor surgery, chronic health issues.
Communications: Following international news, staying in touch with loved ones.
Home Security: Your panic room, self-defense training and tools.
When to Get Outta Dodge: Vehicle selection, kit packing lists, routes and planning.
Investing and Barter:Tangibles investing, building your barter stockpile. And much more.

How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It is a must-have for every well-prepared family.

... Read more

Reviews

Not bad, but misses the boat, October 6, 2009
Rawles is a great non-fiction writer, and this is a well written book. However, it has some major faults:

- The book is for hard core survivalists only. It assumes complete and absolute break down of civilization. It does not deal with "simpler" short-term emergencies (tornado, fire, flood) that you can ride out living in your normal urban or suburban environment. The book is practically all about establishing a well-stocked remote rural retreat, which you defend tooth-and-nail against looters and invaders, while keeping the curtains down not to let them see your window lights.

- Rawles preaches to the choir, not to the uninitiated. If you are not familiar with the survivalist vernacular and have not read similar books / blogs, you will find this book a little jarring and over your head. In fact, Rawles often cross-references his fiction novel Patriots as supplementary guide. Speaking of preaching to the choir: all these five stars reviews which are highly rated as helpful - feel free to ignore the ones written before October 2. Given that this book started shipping on the last day of September and is not available for Kindle, there is simply no way people could have received and read the book before Friday October 2. Rawles is known for encouraging his blog readers to all buy the book on the same day to create a "bestseller" effect on Amazon, and this carries over to the reviews. So beware.

- Book is way too tiny and short for much useful learning. In fact, each chapter is basically a thoughtful intro followed by a list of items to get, with some quick facts (e.g. how long honey or wheat can be stored, where to buy the containers, etc). There is barely any attempt to teach survival attitude and skills - those are farmed out to other books or training courses. To the author's credit, he has plenty of great pointers to other books and courses. However, you are much better off going there in the first place.

- Rawles has a misanthropic, dog-eat-dog sense to his writing, both in this book and in Patriots. It is too much about hunkering down in your darkened bunker, eating MREs, and using plenty of ammo to keep the less fortunate souls away. While it is possible that a major event could end civilization as we know it, I do wish Rawles had a more positive tone and attitude, at least when trying to covert newcomers to his cause :)

There is one really big issue with hard core survivalism in general. If a truly massive global or nationwide disaster comes to pass, the likelihood of surviving it is low, no matter how well you prepare. Surviving a nuclear war or a mass epidemic is unlikely, and more about random chance than preparation. The survivors are bound to come together in sizable groups for strength and protection. If a well armed gang or ex-military unit converges on one of the Rawles-style rural retreats, game is over. So at the end of the day, at least to me, hard-core survivalism comes across as a militaristic make-believe game, mostly indulged by paranoid guys. Last but not least, unlike "soft-core" temporary disaster survival, what Rawles recommends is expensive and requires major lifestyle changes, which limits its appeal tremendously.

So, what's good about this book? The chapters on food storage and vehicles stand out. Also, if you are looking for a primer on surviving a major end-of-civilization disaster, this is a great starting point. To the author's credit, his survival blog has more readers than most daily newspapers, so he knows his stuff, whether you agree with him or not.

Overall it's pretty OK, October 9, 2009
I have followed Rawles blog and his writings. This book is pretty OK, and here is why. The book does provoke a lot of thought, but.. Here is where it misses. The situation that Rawles describes, he has not lived through. I still have a rather normal life I have to live and for most of us, ditching it all and moving to the mountains is not a feasible option. He often cites needing a years worth of anything on hand, but what happens after that year? Do you really want to live in a place of constant death and destruction. He lists a lot of doomsday scenarios by where the ones who survive will not be the lucky ones.

I think the much more likely future is similar to what happened in Argentina or what has been slowly happening in South Africa.

So while next spring I will be tilling up a good part of yard for a garden, harvesting rain water, and buying and stocking in bulk. I will not be buying a GOOD location or a buying an old diesel junker truck to get there.

There is a lot you can learn from this book, but don't make it your sole reference. Where you live determines your survival strategy, there is no one size fits all approach.

Read this before you buy, July 27, 2010
First let me start by saying that I seriously debated giving this book either 2 or 3 stars. It's somewhere in the middle in my mind.

As part of my investigation into disaster preparedness, I read four books. I'd like to compare them here to help other customers.

The four books can be divided into two groups: practical guides, and the world's gonna end guides.

The first two books are related to what I'd call likely events - hurricanes, flu pandemics, earthquakes, blackouts, food shortages, water contamination, etc. The two that I read are:

- Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family by Arthur Bradley

- Crisis Preparedness Handbook by Jack Spigareli

These two books are similar in their scope. Neither preaches doomsday preparations and both have a wide range of good advice. Spigarelli's book focuses much more heavily on food storage, whereas Bradley's has a more well-rounded handling of subjects and targets family preparation (including the special needs of children, pets, the elderly, and those with handicaps). Comparing the two, I found Bradley's book to be more recent, easier to read, and more comprehensive. The quality of the publication is also better (numerous clear tables, examples, figures, conclusions, etc.). Spigarelli's book has been around for almost a decade and is highly regarded, but feels a bit dated (text looks almost like it was generated on a typewriter, figures are small, tables are not very clear). Not a bad book at all, just dated, and heavily focused on food storage (about 2/3 of the book). Just to be clear, both books are good.

The second set of books are targeted for more drastic, world-changing events - nuclear world war, asteroid hitting the planet, collapse of all government, doomsday stuff. The two books are:

- How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times by James Rawles

- When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin

Again, these two books are similar. Both target extreme preparation - massive food and water stockpiles, getting off the electrical grid, living in bunkers, stocking weapons and bartering supplies, etc. Of the two, I found Lundin's book to offer more. First of all it is much larger and has much more detailed content. Rawles' book is a low-quality trade publication that has zero figures or tables - think text only. The advice of Rawles book is also very general and not particularly useful.

There is some significant overlap between the two types of books, but they are definitely different in their focus. My advice is before buying a book, first decide whether you want to prepare for likely events or doomsday events. For me personally, I found the Practical Handbook for the Family to be the most useful. If you want to prepare for both ends of the spectrum, purchase Bradley's book and Lundin's book. Can't go wrong with that.

Hope this helps!

Covers all the bases, October 2, 2009
As one of the original pioneers in the survival and preparedness field, I have been critical of arm-chair survivalists who lead people astray with bad advice, product recommendations that don't work, and fail to take into consideration the fact that most people just can't head for the hills without destroying their financial lifeline. Self-sufficiency is fairly expensive, takes a lot of skill, and can't be done on a whim.

Jim Rawles' book is not in that category. He has lived everything he recommends, and thus gives the kind of savvy advice that carefully guides a person through the tough choices necessary for contingency planning. Moreover, he is very open about the pitfalls and cautions that readers must avoid in order to develop a successful retreat plan. I found myself agreeing with almost every recommendation he makes.

Highly recommended!

Joel Skousen, Author of The Secure Home, and Strategic Relocation--North American Guide to Safe Places

A reference for further learning., September 30, 2009
This book doesn't cover every detail of every disaster, of course. No one book could. What it has is easily referenced, concise summaries of particular events--hurricanes, earthquakes, brush fires, economic collapses, grid failures--and summaries of preparations one can make. Then, those preparations are roughly described.

All this gives a person or family a handy guidebook to create a disaster plan from.

Obviously, not all disasters have equal probability, nor are relevant to all locations--brush fires and hurricanes don't affect me in the Midwest. Tornadoes, flash floods and blizzards do, as might a New Madrid earthquake. Long term societal problems aren't currently a problem in the US, but are in quite a few other western nations, such as Argentina and sometimes Chile. There's even advice on a checklist to prioritize exactly those issues.

As usual, a lot of the negative reviews revolve around a provincial "it can't happen here" mindset. A given disaster might not be likely in your current location at your current time, but places, people and societies change. Preparing ahead costs little, and can save your life. If you never need it, think of it as insurance.

Interesting, but niche appeal, October 14, 2009
I purchased this book with an open mind. I can say that my purchase was motivated mostly out of respect to the author for his previous work and his blog. I tried to read this book with the only expectation that I would walk away from it with one or two pieces of useful knowledge more than what I started with. At the end of the day, I felt slightly cheated. Let me list some of the biggest flaws with this work so people can be aware of what they need to address if they are looking at this as a resource material.

1. I am really not sure who is the real audience for this book. After finishing it last night, I concluded that most of the 5 star WOW feedback did NOT read the book before they posted their reviews. I guess if you live on 20 acres in the country 5 miles away from your closest neighbor then a lot of the over view sections in this book are for you.
2. The book is written with a very pessimistic tone that leaves the reader with a sense of helplessness if he lives with in a city or greater metropolitan area. I live in a city and because of my job I am unable to leave for the country. I think this was the greatest mental hurdle when confronted with this work. If you are unable to commit to a change of location and life style, then reading this book almost feels like a waste of time. Tell me something I can use for city survival as my home, family, job and life have all taken place inside of a society.
3. Lots of the specific reference areas into subjects that are of great interest (canning, strengthening the defenses of your home, essential home gardening on less than an acre, and the firearms questions) differ to other works by name only. I was rather upset with the feeling that I had just read a survival appendix when many of the real questions I had were just glossed over and left me confused. I know that the author has a lot of knowledge in this realm, but seems to only reference it to his consulting business or divert questions to other authors.
4. The feeling of "missing the boat" or helplessness which the author brings into his pessimistic conclusions. If you have not already built a stronghold out in the country at the top of your mountain with an independent water supply 5 years ago, then you are probably boned. Good luck!

These are my own thoughts and conclusions based on this work purely for its standalone value. I still have a lot of confidence and respect in and for the author based on his previous work. I just wish he would have given us more. I am still giving him a slightly positive review 

Relevant, September 30, 2009
Rawles has been providing an important service to the readers of his books and of his survivalblog for years. Disasters happen regularly all over the world, and Rawles has the best and most relevant info on how to prepare and cope with these life-threatening problems and this book shows you how to do it. I recommend everyone read his books and blog and take steps to prepare for what will inevitably come, be it storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorism, economic breakdown, or civil unrest. Do a little bit of preparing every week and you'll sleep better knowing you can keep your family fed and sheltered in case something bad happens. If it never comes, all the better! We all have home and car insurance, right? This is just another kind of insurance.

Prepper bible, September 30, 2009
First, ignore that illiterate, lying fool who gave this compendium 1 star. He hasn't read the book, and is condemning Mr. Rawles for something he didn't do: Predict a collapse.

Mr. Rawles is a fountain of knowledge regarding basic and not-so-basic prepare-to-survive techniques. Additionally, he supplies excellent Do's and Don'ts for just about every likely, and unlikely scenario you may enounter.

This book is far more likely to save your life than whoever is on the other end of a 911 call, if anyone.

Agree with the Rawles Philosophy, Disagree on Many Details, and Hope We're Wrong About People, October 19, 2009
First off, I have read most of the reviews of this book and have found some misinformation. This is not a book of extremist thinking or encouraging extremist actions. One reviewer stated the book goes into details such as "man traps," and that is simply not true, not once does the book go into such a contrivance. The reviewer probably has a "knee jerk" reaction to anything with the term "survivalist" applied to it and might have run across a discussion of the subject elsewhere, perhaps on the authors survival blog, but not necessarily written by Mr. Rawles. One thing about this author, he certainly doesn't censor other opinions of the contributors to his blog, at least in my experience. That being said, I think the potential reader "on the fence" about it give this work a try, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I am of the opinion that Mr. Rawles does himself a disservice and denies his work a potentially broader audience by using marketing tactics (such as the title of this work) that will win with his core audience, but scare off others that could benefit.

A core principle that Rawles puts forth early in the book is the fragile nature of our current society. Just in time inventory practices, out of control government spending, and a fleeting work ethic in our nation are indeed a formula for disaster. Interestingly, the idea that there is a "bureaucratic branch" putting in place our downfall is put forth in Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" and echoed here. Inflation may very well be in our near future and may very well be a cause for what Rawles calls here (and in his novel Patriots) "The Big Crunch." I agree with this view wholeheartedly.

A second core principle put forth, is that the typical citizen of this country, when denied his TV, drugs, microwave entr�e's, and other instant gratification will revert to a savage state. When confronted with deprivation and potentially starvation, he will resort to outright unbridled barbarism. I WANT to disagree on this point and believe in "the better angels of our nature." It is my hope that in a cataclysmic situation, people will respond as they did on 9/11, and "pitch in." We cannot trust this will be the case however, so we must prepare.

The last principle that I wanted to touch on in this review is the inclusion that is part of this philosophy. Mr. Rawles wants a prepared America. He does not only want white Christians to be prepared. I sincerely believe it is his hope that there will not be a societal collapse, but that he has abandoned the hope that there will not be. I think he believes the mechanisms put in place by the "bureaucratic branch" and the "moneychangers" have reached terminal velocity. The point that should be taken from this is that this is a NEW class of "survivalist" that can (and should) include everyone, although the principles of the philosophy tend to be more embraced by white Christians. Sometimes it does have that "traditional survivalist" flavor in its delivery, but to be dismissive and brand this man as a "survivalist nut" is the hallmark of a fool.

I disagree with some details in the book. I disagree completely on the idea that we can all somehow live at a retreat full time, requiring I adapt the information for my situation. I disagree with his advice on firearms completely. Many of the recommendations could be simplified, and one does need to consider an "oddball caliber" because of the current supply problems with ammunition. I dislike the at times "preachy tone" his Christian beliefs inject into the work, but that is his prerogative, and I like that his beliefs lead him to include charity in his philosophy. However, because I disagree with many points of this philosophy, and have some experience in Emergency Management, I develop and evangelize a philosophy called StrongPoint Preparedness and it's out on the web to those that may be interested in an alternative, and I invite all to participate.

This book is geared towards a cataclysmic circumstance, but much of the work is useful in planning for "routine emergencies" like hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, particularly the sections on G.O.O.D. All in all, this is an excellent preparedness resource that I hope none of us will ever need, written by a sincere man who practices what he preaches. Good luck!

Not great, October 22, 2009
This book does a good job of telling you why to prepare for emergencies, big and small, in the first 10 pages. The rest contains precious little actionable information to help you prioritize and accomplish any sizable preparations. This combination sets up the reader with a (maybe healthy) sense of foreboding and then leaves them with an unhealthy level of confusion and anxiety. Definitely not what I would call an effective introduction to emergency preparation.

In several areas where actionable information is provided, I noted flaws in the recommendations. Certainly everybody's situation is different, but packing grains for long term storage is not difficult and this book got it wrong. As an example, a metal twist tie for mylar bags is not as effective as heat sealing. This level of mistake in areas I have personally worked through leaves little confidence in the book's content on other areas of prepping I'm still learning about.

There are better books out there; few of them are "survival" manuals per se. The reader would be better served with books on low-tech living and camping, traditional skills like canning, gardening and homesteading and Mel Tappan's Tappan on Survival as an introduction to the prepper/survival mindset. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For Any Climate, in Any Situation

Newly updated to reflect the latest in survival knowledge and technology, the internationally bestselling SAS Survival Handbook is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. From basic campcraft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster, this complete course includes:

Being prepared: Understanding basic survival needs and preparing essentials, such as a pocket survival kit.

Making camp: Finding the best location, constructing the appropriate shelter, organizing camp, and creating tools.

Food: What to eat, what to avoid, where to find it, and how to prepare it.

First aid: A comprehensive course in emergency/wilderness medicine, including how to maximize survival in any climate or when injured.

Disaster survival: How to react in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters and hostile situations—and how to survive at home if all services and supplies are cut off.

Reviews

Survive- anywhere, June 18, 2009
No need for a long review here. This book was written by a professional soldier who was in the SAS, or the Special Air Service. For those not in the know, that's an elite unit of the British Army trained to carry out operations in ALL parts of the world. Eventually, the author became a survival instructor to the SAS, so you can be sure that this guy knows his stuff.

The book covers all you'd ever want to know about the essentials of surviving in climates such as: the polar region, mountains, seashores, islands, tropical regions, or even at sea. Here's few of the many topics the book covers:

-food, what you can and can't eat
-animal tracking with numerous pics
-color pics of edible plants
-pictures of traps and how to trap things
-how to handle animals you've killed for food
-how to make a camp and various shelters
-knot tying pics
-first aid
-color pics of medicinal plants
-picures of dangerous/poisonous critters
-things to have in a survival kit

A very handy resource for anybody who enjoys outdoor/wilderness activities, it's just a darn good thing to have around in case of emergencies- or even just to look at the pictures! Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem that is interfering with your outdoor activities.

Best survival guide, September 16, 2009
I own and love this book. It is a super comprehensive guide to surviving all sorts of extreme emergencies in a variety of geographic zones and climates. Plane crashes, car crashes, getting lost in the wilderness, tsunamis, earthquakes, terrorist attacks - you name it, book covers it!

The author is an authority on survival, being the former survival instructor or the British SAS special forces troops, which operate around the world, from arctic to desert zones, and from big cities to remote jungles. Tone is very down-to-earth, and straight to the point. The book is easy to read and understand and does not assume or need any prior knowledge of military and survival techniques (which is the author's background). I am a former search-and-rescue team member and trained wilderness first-aid responder, and I find the information in this book first rate.

The content is very densely concentrated, so reading it once will not make you an expert. To make the best of this book, you need to practice some of the survival techniques. The best way is probably to go camping and backpacking, but you can try a lot of them in your own backyard.

The book overemphasizes outdoors survival (what plants to eat, how to fish and catch animals), which is due to the author's background as a special forces soldier. For more on urban disaster preparedness, read Cody Lundin's book "When All Hell Breaks Loose". Unlike Cody Lundin and many American survival books, the SAS Guide is refreshingly free of political statements and sticks strictly to the topic of survival :) The SAS Guide is about surviving a relatively localized and temporary emergency (measured in days, not years), and assumes you will eventually be helped, rescued or return to civilization. If you are interested in long-term survival of a total global catastrophe (aka "survivalism"), this is not the best guide.

It is such a great book that I am planning to buy more copies, to keep in my car, take when traveling, and give to friends. Highly recommended!

This is the book to beat!!!, August 21, 2009
First, someone left a 3 star review because of illustrations. That is SO reckless that I almost feel it's got to be someone who supports the competition. The illustrations are great with great written details.

Now, I won't go into the obvious about the book because others have touched on the excellent details on survival within the book. You WILL enjoy reading this book and you WILL learn survival techniques and you WILL create yourself a survival kit as a result if you don't already have one.

However, here is one thing I actually was VERY impressed with about this book. The QUALITY of the book. The book is SOLID. The spine of the book is VERY strong and the pages are not cheap recycled type of rough paper. They are quality semi gloss type of thick pages that will likely last a WHILE under normal use.

I bought two, one for myself and one for my son. I think I'll make this a holiday/birthday gift for friends and family for a while. I want EVERYONE I care about to have this book in their life.

I got mine... did you get yours? Run, don't walk.

In need of an editor, August 4, 2010
The content of this book gets five stars for being neatly organized and helpful, however this edition is in serious need of a revision.

My first indicator was the introduction to the book. It mentions the Berlin Wall coming down in 1999. An oversight like this is inexcusable and sent up warning flags right away as to how many eyes had actually read the book from cover to cover (as I'm in the process of doing).

The text is written in a British style (SAS, of course), which will take some getting used to for US readers but isn't a big deal. That said, I've still had to re-read several passages due to poorly assembled sentences which lack proper punctuation. Has this guy ever heard of a comma? They can be a lifesaver to a reader. Again, not to be a grammar snob, but if you want to use this as a quick reference in a time of need, the last thing you want to tackle is a confusing run-on sentence. Those are my major gripes.

Best book of Survival, but..., October 27, 2009
This book is really amazing, the best in his category, but I'm really disapointed with this revision edition. The book is the same than the older version. If you had the older one don't buy this one, it's the same. I can't find significative changes in this revision.

great starter book, July 20, 2009
More than i expected, i havent seen the other books in this category to compare, but this one seems like a good buy imo. I've only read the first 4 chapters & have leared quite a few new things already. i've only camped a little when i was younger so im no expert. From skimming the pages it has decent pics on plants to avoid, eat, etc, definately not as good as a dedicated herb book, but decent enough to give u an idea what to look out for. I noticed it had a chapter on telling directions etc by the stars/moon, didnt read it yet, but random thngs like that made it a great buy for me personally.

Excellent Information, July 10, 2010
As an Eagle Scout, I decided to purchase this book as a condensed means to information when I go out camping. Though I have done more then my fair share of camping and backpacking, its extremely difficult to keep this information memorized unless you are backpacking very regularly and using this information. Its got excellent information and detailed diagrams of everything from building a shelter to typical plants that are edible or not. If you are an avid outdoor backpacker, I highly recommend this book.

Can You Survive?, March 5, 2010
Hey!

This is the book to read if you want to know how to survive high-risk, difficult situations. Chances may be good you never have to use the information in here, but it certainly can't hurt, and in the current economy, the information may come in handy in a non-survival situation.

I've read a lot of Survival Handbooks, and I like the variety of information in them, but this one is the one that I really had to have. The information goes a little deeper, and it all is laid out in a attention grabbing way. This one also hase the broadest range of subjects, attempting to cover more survival situations than most books. And it does a pretty decent job of covering them, too. However, John "Lofty" Wiseman hasn't been in the SAS for a very long time, so the modern methods they use aren't going to be in here. But it is a great reference to use on survival methods, and I intend to learn the skills they mention.

Hope that helps all you potential customers, and happy reading!

Luv ya,
Tashi :)

Covers just about everything...., April 12, 2010
This was a very good read, but not the kind of book you read and your an expert at surviving in the Artic Shelf. Excellent information, the only two areas I could see improvement on were, shelter building, and edibles. With only a few ideas on temporary shelters, I felt it kind of lacking as that situation could very well be in order if survival is threatened. Also the author's suggestion of eat and "pray" method leaves a little to be desired, but it seems to have worked for him, and he has very high credentials. Overall though, one of the most comprehensive survival books out there, but don't leave it all to one book. Supplement this guide, with shelter building, and a book solely on wilderness edibles to make yourself the most rounded survival instrument you can be. Also in regards to my opening sentence, you WILL NOT be an expert on any survival book, unless you try the techniques outlined, before you need them!!

great book., February 5, 2010
ive read several pages. im using as a reference book and highlighting things important. i was shocked that he thought of the idea that even a condom was a good tool to carry/hold water. in an emergency situation, its good to know these little things. but the book shows pictures also of things like poisonous plants or weeds and what to avoid ingesting in the woods. just so much information in this book. im keeping it in my emergency bag(for the future..lol)but i need to store it inside a ziplock bag. well worth the price paid for this book!! enjoyable reading ... Read more

Editorial Review

Always Be Prepared
What if your life was disrupted by a natural disaster, food or water supply contamination, or any other type of emergency? Do you have the essentials for you and your family? Do you have a plan in the event that your power, telephone, water and food supply are cut off for an extended amount of time? What if there were no medical or pharmaceutical services available for days, weeks, or months? How prepared are you?
With this guide by your side, you and your family will learn how to plan, purchase, and store a three-month supply of all the necessities—food, water, fuel, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, and more—simply and economically. In other words, this book may be a lifesaver.
Inside you'll find 10 steps to an affordable food storage program plus how to:
·Prepare a home "grocery store" and "pharmacy"
·Use what you store and store what you use
·Store water safely and provide for sanitation needs
·Create a first-aid kit, car kit, and 72-hour emergency kit for the whole family
·And many more invaluable hints and tips
"This clear, concise, step-by-step program is not only affordable and doable, it's essential in these uncertain times. Now, everyone from apartment dwellers to basement owners can store a three-month supply of the essentials, including peace of mind!" — Joni Hilton, author of Once-a-Week Cooking Plan and Cooking Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me ... Read more

Reviews

Disaster Preparedness Books, October 4, 2006
If you're like I was, you're looking through the various disaster preparedness books wondering which one is best. I have worked my way through many of the most popular books and offer a shared review of all of them here. I hope this comparison helps you make a decision. I should also point out that I researched nearly every disaster book out there and recently published the Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family. If interested, search Amazon for the title. Onward with the reviews!

Book 1: Crisis Preparedness by Jack A. Spigarelli
Like many of the disaster preparedness books, this one begins by answering the question, "Why bother being prepared?" It also outlines a framework for being prepared that includes accumulating supplies, getting mentally and physically prepared, and having your finances in order. One thing I particularly liked was the emphasis on the importance of knowledge. It wasn't just about what items you need, but also what skills and knowledge you should develop. But this book is mostly about food preparation for a major disaster, with emphasis on having a year's food storage, milling your own grain, growing sprouts, home canning, dehydrating, freeze-drying, etc. There are detailed tables showing the calories of various foods including their protein, fat, and carbs. The final third of the book offers advice on other topics, including weapons, hand tools, clothing, energy, medical, sanitation, transportation, communications, and home preparation. The book concludes with a list of recommended books and a brief listing of companies that sell disaster preparation items. Overall, this is a very good preparedness book. I probably should have given it 5 stars, but I thought it went a bit overboard on the food plan. That said, it is the most comprehensive of the preparedness books.

Book 2: Preparedness Now! By Aton Edwards
This is another thorough disaster preparedness book, one that focuses more on emergency situations (fire, chemical attack, etc.). It is organized into brief chapters (some only a few pages) on a variety of important topics, including: water, food, shelter, sanitation, communication, transportation, and protection. It is also filled with many packing lists detailing what you should get in preparation. It introduces the e-kit (a very lightweight kit to keep with you) and grab-n-go bag with more extensive items. Final chapters of the book discuss various possible disasters, including earthquakes, tsunami, infectious diseases, chemical and bio warfare, crime, fire, and extreme weather. Some of the commentary is a bit questionable, but the technical content is good. Note the deficiency with this book is that it does not offer any detail on food storage.

Book 3: Disaster Preparedness for Dummies
First of all, this isn't a book. It's a DVD video. I wasn't paying attention when I bought it, and was a bit surprised when it arrived. I generally like the Dummies series. They are well researched and serve as a good summary. This DVD offers a lengthy video discussing many disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, etc.), briefly outlining how you might prepare for them. It also has an overview of how you should react in case of a terrorist attack (nuclear, chemical, and biological). But the advice is all very general, and is more like what you'd expect to hear from your local weather station. For example, the video repeatedly advises you to "stay calm" and "evaucate in an orderly fashion." The videos are high quality, but don't expect detailed outdoor survival tips or food storage suggestions. Everything presented is relevant and useful, but it feels more like a FEMA public service announcement.

Book 4: Emergency Food Storage and Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton
This book is broken into six main sections. The first section offers decent but very incomplete summaries on preparing for short-term emergencies. The second section discusses how to store and purify water. The third part talks about the logistics of setting up a food-storage program, and has some suggestions on how to store food. The fourth section details what types of foods you should store. The fifth section has blank inventory planning pages. And finally the last section has some recipes. About half of the 285 page book is either blank planning pages or simple recipes. The first half of the book is pretty good stuff, but I found this book to be incomplete. It does however offer some good advice on food storage.

Book 5: Organize for Disaster by Judith Kolberg
This book goes an entirely different direction than the other preparedness books. Emphasis is on understanding the federal resources (i.e. FEMA, Red Cross, etc.) available, creating a personal intelligence network, organizing essential documents, maintaining insurance coverage, listing a home inventory, preparing your house for disaster, basic first aid, and having a good family communication plan. There is also a good list of necessary items to have on hand that would suit many common disaster. I recommend this book for its common-sense look at disaster preparedness. However, it is not the only book you would need, because it doesn't detail food storage, water purification, heating, etc.. That said, it covers some topics that the other books overlook.

Book 6: Making the Best of Basics, Family Preparedness Handbook by James Talmage Stevens
This book is almost completely about in-home food storage and preparation. There is little discussion outside that (except for basic water issues). Many chapters discuss food in significant detail, to include things like grains, recipes, preparing sourdough breads/biscuits, dairy products, honey, sprouting, drying of fruits/vegetables. At the end of this book is a huge compendium of preparedness resources, telling where things can be purchased in every US state.

Book 7: No Such Thing as Doomsday, by Philip L. Hoag, revised in 2001
This book offers well-researched insights into disaster preparedness. Topics include water, food, heating/cooking, light, power, communications, medical, sanitation, and security. Those subjects are well done. However, much of the book reads like a bit of doomsday prediction, with many pages devoted to scaring the heck out of the reader... focusing on missile attacks, chemical dangers, nuclear war, radiation, decontamination, communist threat, etc. For me personally, I would have like to see more pages devoted to likely threats (e.g. hurricanes, floods, earthquake, blackout, fire, etc.). Also note that Amazon may not carry the latest version (updated in 2001), so you may want to buy directly from the author.

Book 8: When All Hell Breaks Loose, by Cody Lundin
This book falls somewhere between doomsday survivalism and practical disaster preparedness. It is a high quality publication, filled with illustrations and a color insert. My prediction is that you will either love this book or hate it. It does cover many of the basic topics (food, shelter, water, sanitation, light, first aid, self-defense, communications, and transportation). But the material is presented in such a way that it is very chaotic and difficult to read. There are distracting quotes and cartoons, as well as advice that is targeted more towards the end of civilization scenario. For example, he discusses how to wipe your bottom with a stick or other foreign object, how to cook up a rat, how to compost your poop, etc. It's all very interesting, but not particularly useful for say preparing for a harsh winter storm.

Overall, if you can only purchase three books, I would recommend Book 5, Book 6, and either Book 1, 2, 7 or 8. With those three, you should have a balanced look at common sense organizing, food storage, and emergency items to have on hand. If you can buy only one book, I recommend Book 1.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family" - just coming available on Amazon (July 2010).

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

Book does exactly what the title says., November 2, 2006
Just like the title says the book is full of hints to store food for a crisis. There are a number of excellent hints such as storing food that you would normally eat and turning over your stored food through your regular eating habits. The book also mentions having emergency clothing, food and water packed and ready to go because when a crisis occurs there will likely be no time to pack up supplies. You want something you can just grab on the way out the door. Hurricane Katrina is a good example. Having emergency supplies in your car is another excellent idea. Time and again we read about families being stranded without adequate clothing, food and water. Finally, one of the best ideas is to always have a ready store of hundreds of dollars in cash on hand.

Use it only as a start, October 18, 2004
I always liked this book, but a question has arisen about the completeness of the protein in dried milk. Seems that in the process of dehydrating the milk, the protein is largely deactivated. So, it would be a mistake to stock up heavily on the four items mentioned but is better to use more of a variety of foods. Another question is about food allergies arising from a daily heavy consumption of wheat. This is one of the most common food allergies but most people eat more of a variety and allergies to one item don't tend to build up, but with that heavy consumption of one food on a daily basis they could. Another thing to consider is cooking times when fuel might be in short supply or nonexistent. Shortage of food is likely to go hand in hand with fuel shortages. It is better to store many food items that don't have to be well cooked or very thorougly processed. I suggest people buy this book for the valuable information in it but very carefully think about the drawbacks and drastically alter this plan for themselves. The author does list other items to store and suggests best length of storage....read this section carefully. Learn about basics of good nutrition and walk through a grocery store for ideas of what foods might be stored. You can get your storage items in other places than the grocery store, but it will give you some ideas at least.

Good Basis for Learning Food Storage Principles, August 31, 2005
This book is good for the basics of food storage and emergency preparedness. Much of the information coincides with information from the LDS chuch and includes instructions on preparing Long Term Food Storage, First Aid Kits, 72-Hour Kits, and food rotation. Good book for those just starting out in their emergency preparations!

Not enough info to make worthwhile, July 22, 2009
Don't bother spending money on this book. I was able to read most of it in 2 hours because there was little of substance there. Common sense and searching the internet will provide you with most of the information found in this book. I was hoping for more specific information on food storage including recommended amounts of basics per person. Instead the author provides blank pages for you to record what your family eats for a week and then tells you to calculate out the ingredients for a year. She also stresses that you put away in storage the typical foods your family eats so they will not get bored with the basics. Now I might have this wrong as I have never had to do this, but wouldn't you and your family switch to an "eat to live" type of mentality if faced with such a severe crisis? My family is not accustomed to eating canned meats and vegetables, powdered milk, eggs and butter but I think we would have to accept it if that is all that would be available to us. I simply got tired of her telling the same things over and over again.
I was also looking for for ideas on how and where to store all of the supplies suggested. We live in a large house but unless I am willing to put the shelves pictured in the book in my living room, it offered little help. There were plenty of check lists provided and some recipes. But in glancing over the recipes, I noticed one for sweetened condensed milk that didn't specify quantity of sugar when the directions clearly indicated it was to be used.
I just do not think this book gave me much new information as a resource tool.

Exactly What I was looking for!, April 18, 2006
This is exactly the book I was looking for. It gave me ideas I hadn't even thought of in terms of items needed for food storage & survival.

I appreciated the chart about calculating how much ingredients for bread making, so you can plan how much to stock up.

I also liked that she stresses not to get stuff if your family doesn't like it. It should really help to save money in stocking up.

This is a good book, and it will help you make a plan to stock up!

Mixed feelings about this one...., October 13, 2009
This book seems to have a good foundation to start a home survival program but in my opinion is lacking on some very important details. The author suggests you store up to 1 year supply of certain dehydrated products that you should incorporate into your daily eating habits and rotate your stock. The idea is good but the problem lies in the overall health of consuming these products on a regular basis. If you like eating healthy you may find yourself disappointed with the ingredients in many of the products that will store long term. For example, powdered eggs seem to have an anti-caking agent that has aluminum in it which is linked to alzhemiers. Numerous products out there have Food Dyes and Colors (FD&C's) which have been shown in some studies to cause ADD and ADHD in children. As the author does point out and cautions, other products such as certain Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) flavors contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)which can cause headaches in some people. There is a fine line between being prepared for a survival situation at your home and subjecting yourself to not so healthy choices to accomplish this. If you eat healthy or are making your way there I suggest you do not adopt all of the author's suggestions and you will have more than enough work for yourself trying to think of other products to use for long-term storage. Try to purchase organic canned soups and as much organic products that you can replace the not so healthy stuff with. I see nothing wrong with storing some of these "unhealthy" products for an emergency but as a word of advice do not consume these types of processed foods on a regular basis. Perhaps the author is looking for people to hire her for consultation and to purchase the products she sells. On a positive note, if you know next to nothing about food storage and survival the book has some useful ideas, blank charts and commercial resources to help you organize and design your survival plan.

A great mix..., December 11, 2008
Anyone can buy a case of MRE's an say they are prepared for an emergency. What happens when those MRE's expire?

This book provides plan to make preparedness an easily managed day-to-day activity. It is extremely applicable to a wide range of readers. Everyone from the hard-core survivalist concerned about communist or alien invasion to the factory worker concerned about the security of their job could learn something from this book.

I fall into the middle between these two extremes.

The most valuable part of this book is the development of an at-home "supermarket". The essence of this plan is to buy what you use regularly in higher quantities, and begin a first-in first-out rotation of the products you buy. When times get lean start to use up the supplies that you have stockpiled. It sounds simple in theory, but this book really helps define the nitty-gritty of the practice of such a storage plan.

There are other sections of this book regarding long term storage of grains and legumes that was less important to me, but some readers may find valuable. Also, a list of recipes using the staples stored is presented and some lists of non-food items that would help in a disaster situation are presented.

The main takeaway from this book is the implementation of a rotation system to buy what is commonly used and methods for long-term storage of foodstuffs. This book is highly recommended.

Helpful, but not quite enough, October 17, 2007
I've read this, and continue to use it as a reference. While it has a breadth of information useful for planning, what I really missed is a very detailed list of shelf-life for various foods. There are generalized numbers for general food categories, but I'd like much more. If you are truly planning for an emergency, you'll need more than just this book.

a little disappointing, September 2, 2009
I expected more information from this book. Where to buy and the exact amounts, rather than spread sheets I had to figure out and pencil in. There is a lot of good information, but I guess I expected more survival information and less lists. ... Read more

Editorial Review

To live in a pristine land ... to roam the wilderness ... to choose a site, cut trees, and build a home ... Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them. Here is a tribute to a man in tune with his surroundings who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond. ... Read more

Reviews

To Do a Thing to Completion
This has to be one of my very favorite books. I have read it front to back at least 7 times! It is written with the true adventurer in mind. Every detail of his experience makes the reader wish it were he/she that was there with him. If you have ever wished you could just go off into the woods, build a cabin and be self-sufficiant, This is the book for you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Survival expert Cody Lundin's new book, When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes is what every family needs to prepare and educate themselves about survival psychology and the skills necessary to negotiate a disaster whether you are at home, in the office, or in your car. ... Read more

Reviews

Comparison of Disaster Preparedness Books, August 29, 2009
If you're like I was, you're looking through the various disaster preparedness books wondering which one is best. I have worked my way through many of the most popular books and offer a shared review of all of them here. I hope this comparison helps you make a decision. I should also point out that I researched nearly every disaster book out there and recently published the Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family. If interested, search Amazon for the title. Onward with the reviews!

Book 1: Crisis Preparedness by Jack A. Spigarelli
Like many of the disaster preparedness books, this one begins by answering the question, "Why bother being prepared?" It also outlines a framework for being prepared that includes accumulating supplies, getting mentally and physically prepared, and having your finances in order. One thing I particularly liked was the emphasis on the importance of knowledge. It wasn't just about what items you need, but also what skills and knowledge you should develop. But this book is mostly about food preparation for a major disaster, with emphasis on having a year's food storage, milling your own grain, growing sprouts, home canning, dehydrating, freeze-drying, etc. There are detailed tables showing the calories of various foods including their protein, fat, and carbs. The final third of the book offers advice on other topics, including weapons, hand tools, clothing, energy, medical, sanitation, transportation, communications, and home preparation. The book concludes with a list of recommended books and a brief listing of companies that sell disaster preparation items. Overall, this is a very good preparedness book. I probably should have given it 5 stars, but I thought it went a bit overboard on the food plan. That said, it is the most comprehensive of the preparedness books.

Book 2: Preparedness Now! By Aton Edwards
This is another thorough disaster preparedness book, one that focuses more on emergency situations (fire, chemical attack, etc.). It is organized into brief chapters (some only a few pages) on a variety of important topics, including: water, food, shelter, sanitation, communication, transportation, and protection. It is also filled with many packing lists detailing what you should get in preparation. It introduces the e-kit (a very lightweight kit to keep with you) and grab-n-go bag with more extensive items. Final chapters of the book discuss various possible disasters, including earthquakes, tsunami, infectious diseases, chemical and bio warfare, crime, fire, and extreme weather. Some of the commentary is a bit questionable, but the technical content is good. Note the deficiency with this book is that it does not offer any detail on food storage.

Book 3: Disaster Preparedness for Dummies
First of all, this isn't a book. It's a DVD video. I wasn't paying attention when I bought it, and was a bit surprised when it arrived. I generally like the Dummies series. They are well researched and serve as a good summary. This DVD offers a lengthy video discussing many disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, etc.), briefly outlining how you might prepare for them. It also has an overview of how you should react in case of a terrorist attack (nuclear, chemical, and biological). But the advice is all very general, and is more like what you'd expect to hear from your local weather station. For example, the video repeatedly advises you to "stay calm" and "evaucate in an orderly fashion." The videos are high quality, but don't expect detailed outdoor survival tips or food storage suggestions. Everything presented is relevant and useful, but it feels more like a FEMA public service announcement.

Book 4: Emergency Food Storage and Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton
This book is broken into six main sections. The first section offers decent but very incomplete summaries on preparing for short-term emergencies. The second section discusses how to store and purify water. The third part talks about the logistics of setting up a food-storage program, and has some suggestions on how to store food. The fourth section details what types of foods you should store. The fifth section has blank inventory planning pages. And finally the last section has some recipes. About half of the 285 page book is either blank planning pages or simple recipes. The first half of the book is pretty good stuff, but I found this book to be incomplete. It does however offer some good advice on food storage.

Book 5: Organize for Disaster by Judith Kolberg
This book goes an entirely different direction than the other preparedness books. Emphasis is on understanding the federal resources (i.e. FEMA, Red Cross, etc.) available, creating a personal intelligence network, organizing essential documents, maintaining insurance coverage, listing a home inventory, preparing your house for disaster, basic first aid, and having a good family communication plan. There is also a good list of necessary items to have on hand that would suit many common disaster. I recommend this book for its common-sense look at disaster preparedness. However, it is not the only book you would need, because it doesn't detail food storage, water purification, heating, etc.. That said, it covers some topics that the other books overlook.

Book 6: Making the Best of Basics, Family Preparedness Handbook by James Talmage Stevens
This book is almost completely about in-home food storage and preparation. There is little discussion outside that (except for basic water issues). Many chapters discuss food in significant detail, to include things like grains, recipes, preparing sourdough breads/biscuits, dairy products, honey, sprouting, drying of fruits/vegetables. At the end of this book is a huge compendium of preparedness resources, telling where things can be purchased in every US state.

Book 7: No Such Thing as Doomsday, by Philip L. Hoag, revised in 2001
This book offers well-researched insights into disaster preparedness. Topics include water, food, heating/cooking, light, power, communications, medical, sanitation, and security. Those subjects are well done. However, much of the book reads like a bit of doomsday prediction, with many pages devoted to scaring the heck out of the reader... focusing on missile attacks, chemical dangers, nuclear war, radiation, decontamination, communist threat, etc. For me personally, I would have like to see more pages devoted to likely threats (e.g. hurricanes, floods, earthquake, blackout, fire, etc.). Also note that Amazon may not carry the latest version (updated in 2001), so you may want to buy directly from the author.

Book 8: When All Hell Breaks Loose, by Cody Lundin
This book falls somewhere between doomsday survivalism and practical disaster preparedness. It is a high quality publication, filled with illustrations and a color insert. My prediction is that you will either love this book or hate it. It does cover many of the basic topics (food, shelter, water, sanitation, light, first aid, self-defense, communications, and transportation). But the material is presented in such a way that it is very chaotic and difficult to read. There are distracting quotes and cartoons, as well as advice that is targeted more towards the end of civilization scenario. For example, he discusses how to wipe your bottom with a stick or other foreign object, how to cook up a rat, how to compost your poop, etc. It's all very interesting, but not particularly useful for say preparing for a harsh winter storm.

Overall, if you can only purchase three books, I would recommend Book 5, Book 6, and either Book 1, 2, 7 or 8. With those three, you should have a balanced look at common sense organizing, food storage, and emergency items to have on hand. If you can buy only one book, I recommend Book 1.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family" - just coming available on Amazon (July 2010).

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

Good beginners book, March 8, 2008
This book is focuses on urban survival. I would recommend this for any person initially looking into the subject matter, but not to anyone that is primed already. Although well written, you will have to further your knowledge on certain topics with supplemental reading. I feel like I got a huge start with this book with a lot of direction on where I need to study further.

Written in an easy to read format, Lundin does a good job at grabbing you and keeping your attention throught the book. There are lots of silly figres with helpful tips, drawings and blocked out page sections further detailing subject matter.

The first 60 pages are dedicated to the psychological effects of a disaster and trying to mentally prep for survival. He then lays out a nice piority pyramid and starts getting into the meat of the matter, including transportation, lighting, first aid, communications, cooking, shelter, food, clothing, water, and sanitation.

Topics I feel I dont need to research further after reading this book include body temp regulation (he has another book more dedicated to this) and clothing, nutrition, water storage and sanitation, solar cooking, a preparadness "bug-out" kit, general hygiene and sanitation, lighting, and communications.

Topics I do feel I need to read more on are specific food storage, fire starting, more detailed first aid, shelter building, alternate energy sources, indoor shelter temp control, homestead and food storage defense, edible wild foods, trapping, skinning, tanning, meat curing and storing etc... In Lundins defense a lot of these topics are more for wilderness survival, and this was not really the focus of this book.

Some Good Stuff But Needs Editing, June 24, 2008
I had high expectations for this book and perhaps that's why I am a little disappointed. I thought it lacked organization and editing and perhaps was a little heavy on the funky side.

* Replace some of the cartoons with more specific sketches

* Rate measures as to their effectiveness and difficulty

* Serve as a foundation

There were a lot of nuggets and reminders. One was that a .22LR is a lightweight rifle suitable for most small game and certainly effective in stopping another human that wants to cause harm if properly used. Ammunition is cheap and lightweight. It is all useless without practice.

The section on hygiene was great.

More guidance on threat assessment would be helpful as what's needed depends on the prospective challenges, goals and characteristics of the area. What are the worst case scenarios, would you need to leave the place where you normally live or live in-place without outside support and stuff like utilities. Are the natives friendly? What's the prevailing weather? What are the reader's goals - personal survival, family survival, help neighbors and family.

Perhaps the real answer is a bundle of smaller books including a pocket guide to handling medical problems and a survival guide to pack with the gear.

Fun reading but time invested is not adequately rewarded.

Good deal..., June 13, 2008
Having read Cody's "98.6" book, I was eagerly looking forward to this book. I'll say up front that this book's writing style isn't as good as 98.6 but it's a great value that I recommend.

Cody's strength is his experience and blunt comments that really try to get the message through. The book is vast in its coverage (450 pages) so you really get a great value for your dollar. I really like how the book covers non-obvious topics and gives you historical examples/studies where people learned the hard way to help reinforce the point.

Cody's weaknesses are that he comes across as more condescending than in 98.6 and often seems to repeat himself far too much. I sometimes think that Cody believes we are all scared little creatures psychologically incapable of surviving without his 80 page "yes-you-can" lecture. I don't mind some encouragement here, but it should definitely be scaled back as it isn't one of his strengths and shouldn't require so much text. And as for the repetitiveness, for example, by to 20th time you read about how worthless our government is, you feel like saying "I get it, Cody, preaching to the choir." There are indeed too many political, personal, and off-topic concepts in this book. Stick the meat of what the title advertises. Cut off the fat from this book and you'd probably arrive at about 300 pages of solid and wonderful content.

Enjoyed the coverage about water, food, sanitation, body temperature, etc. Well done and informative. The self defensive chapter was hugely disappointing. It seemed more suited for daily urban survival at the local bar and not for catastrophe survival. I agree with Cody that food and water are often greatly overlooked by the Gold/Guns crowd, but to have hardly any advice about firearms seems bizarre. I am not recommending to have guns out of fear but out of reality. Imagine if someone with a gun comes for your supplies or loved ones and the only thing you know how to do is close combat fighting. Guess who will control the situation? And know that guns were confiscated illegally by law enforcement during Hurricane Katrina from law abiding people.

Yes, there are times where it seems Cody may not have listened to his editors or earlier reviewers based on my comments above and a lack of 'polish' on the text. And yes, the cutesy drawings are out of place. However, despite my minor complaints, for a very low price you get such a wide range of very useful information. At minimum the book will make you think in more depth about the subject at large. Most likely though you will learn a amazing amount of survival information. Either way Cody may have helped saved your life someday.

A solid book, December 5, 2007
If you get any preparedness book, get this one. Cody Lundin, a wilderness survival expert, gives us urbanites a solid course in what you really need to survive a disaster, step by step. Where many books (and TV shows) promote a fearful attitude, I found this book calming, because he explained so clearly what you might face in the days after a disaster and how to handle each as they came.

He uses short bites of information and lists along with extended explanations so this book can be actually be used in an emergency without having to wade through pages of data to find what you need, but you get a thorough knowledge of the reasoning behind what you'll be doing.

I've read quite a few of these books and this is the best one I've found by far.

Video Demonstration of Codys Work, January 16, 2008
Ive known Cody for a long time. This book is not only a manual on how to survive an urban catastrophe its timely message for us to examine or spiritual connection to the earth and the reason where on the planet. Heres a great video with Cody catching,cooking and eating a rat. Its hard to imagine having to do such a thing but just imagine that this is already taking place in many countries where water,famine,war are at the doorstep.

When All Hell Breaks Loose, August 11, 2008
The author, Cody Lundin, is a professional survival instructor in Prescott, Arizona. He lives "off the grid in a passive solar earth home in which he catches rain, composts wastes, and pays nothing for heating or cooling."

This book on urban survival can help you prepare for such emergencies as a natural disaster in your area, a debilitating or deadly viral epidemic, or extreme and violent "civil unrest" propagating from one cause or another. Any of these emergencies can put you in a situation where no one can help you but yourself: water and food, medicine and first-aid, hygiene and sanitation, warmth, comfort and light will only be available if you've prepared and made provision for them beforehand.

Lundin surveys home-based survival needs. Topics covered are psychological preparation and mental health, shelter, cooling and heating, water, food, sanitation, hygiene, lighting, cooking, first-aid, self-defense, communications, transportation, and the bugout bag. If you don't know the survival value of household chlorine bleach, you will by the end of this book.

While the coverage is not exhaustive (it would be naive to expect it to be), each topic is given enough attention to take you from blissful ignorance to a solid foundational understanding of what it takes to survive when society breaks down, and how to prepare yourself and equip your home for (at least temporary) self-reliance during very bad times.

This book does not cover wilderness survival: it won't teach you how to construct a debris shelter, make cordage, set-up a Paiute deadfall trap, or how to create fire by friction. Nor does it cover long-term self-reliance topics such as goats and chickens, gardens, food preservation and storage, baking, leather making, or how to set up your home to live permanently and comfortably off the grid. But what it does cover, it covers well and with a real understanding of what living under such conditions entails.

No Hype, Just Richly Informative..., January 28, 2008
Unlike so many other survival manuals attempting to prepare us for Ragnorak (Armageddon), Mr. Lundin avoids the scary hype and simply provides us with honest, clear perspective aided with genuinely valuable information, all of which is valid, reliable and credible.

It's a real-deal guide about how to create the necessary: planning, preparation, practice, psychology and personal responsibility for realistically surviving serious crises.

When All Hell Breaks Loose, June 4, 2008
When All Hell Breaks Loose

"If you are going through Hell, keep going."--Winston Churchill

Once upon a summer day, a Grasshopper hopped and danced and sung to his heart's content. An Ant passed, dragging a huge sack of powdered milk, beef jerky, and salt.
"Why not come and sing karaoke and do a Jell-O(tm) shot with me," chirped the grasshopper, "Instead of breaking your back, working all day?"
"I am preparing for hard times ahead," said the Ant, "and I recommend you do the same."
"Why worry about winter?" said the Grasshopper. "There's plenty of food right now."
But the ant continued his hard toil. When winter came, the shivering grasshopper had no food and found himself slowly dying of hunger. So, he kicked down the Ant's door only to find out that the Ant had completed a comprehensive martial art training regimen that focused on close-quarters combat and self-defense, and that food was not the only thing the Ant had packed away. Only then did the Grasshopper realize that...

It is best to be prepared for the days of necessity. Haven't you ever stayed awake late at night running through "what if" scenarios? Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados, zombies, asteroid strikes -- you didn't build that bomb shelter in the backyard just for the kids to use as a playhouse. Well, grab your gasmask and a copy of When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin.

He is not another paranoid survivalist huddled in a cave spouting Bible verses and lovingly stroking his guns. Cody Lundin and his Aboriginal Living Skills School have been featured in dozens of national and international media sources, including Dateline NBC, CBS News, USA Today, The Donny and Marie Show, and CBC Radio One in Canada, as well as on the cover of Backpacker magazine. When not teaching for his own school, he is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College and a faculty member at the Ecosa Institute. His expertise in practical self-reliance skills comes from a lifetime of personal experience, including designing his own off the grid, passive solar earth home.

This book is not going to teach you how to wrestle an alligator, or try to convince you that all you have to do is gaze into your backyard to find endless amounts of wild edible plants, or that wild game is there for the taking. Hunting and trapping are true arts and require practice, the right equipment, and the proper environment to be successful. What this book will do is provide the knowledge to help you survive the standard survival scenario, which lasts about seventy-two hours, in the most practical, affordable, simple and realistic way possible.

The book is divided into two parts. Part one deals with the psychological aspect of surviving. According to the author "surviving a life-threatening scenario is largely psychological on the part of the survivor(s). Get this fact into your head now that living through a survival scenario is 90 percent psychology, and 10 percent methodology and gear." He covers how to define your survival priorities with his "Pyramid of Needs" and great checklists for preparing you physically, mentally and emotionally, as well as spirituality and the equipment you are going to need. This section will give you the common-sense foundation upon which to base your survival plan.

The second part of this basic survival guide contains the information to keep your physical body alive. Specific chapters on emergency sanitation, water, food, first aid, communication, and more are presented in the most practical detail as possible. Entire books have been devoted to each of the above subjects. So, don't expect this book to cover every possible aspect of these skills, but appreciate the excellent overview..

Perhaps the greatest survival skill of all is being able to keep calm in the face of chaos. This is accomplished by being sensibly prepared and not scared. It may sound romantic to live off the fat of the land. You may have a great yearning to live wild and free. I sometimes get the urge to grow a beard, live in a cave, and become a combination of Grizzly Adams and Daniel Boone, and then I realize that many indigenous peoples died young and died hard. No one plans to find himself in a survival situation. That's part of what makes those situations so terrifying when they happen. This book can be a useful for keeping you and your family alive, or you can pray and wait for FEMA...

Are you an Ant, or a Grasshopper? [...] Hurry, before the world ends: get"Hobo Finds A Home", a children's book about a cat that didn't wait to inherit the earth. Grab your popcorn and get ready for "Hobo: The Motion Picture", coming in 3D and Dolby surround sound.

Everyone in America should read this book., November 15, 2007
This book is great. It places a lot of emphasis on the survival mentality. A lot of people skip this step and go for the gadgets or hard core survival/anti terrorism type books. For the value, your money is better spent on this book because of its contents, not it's coverage. Cody Lundin shows exactly how a lay-person must think to survive anything from catastrophic events to a collapse of the stock market. Provides insight on self reliance and many tips along the way. I would recommend this book to everyone except Chuck Norris. He doesn't need it. :0) ... Read more

Editorial Review

WARNING SIRENS ARE BLARING.
YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO EVACUATE.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Cataclysmic events strike sleepy towns and major cities every year. Residents face escaping quickly or perishing in rising waters, raging fires or other life-threatening conditions. By the time the evacuation starts, it's already too late. Being prepared makes the difference between survival and disaster. Guiding you step by step, Bug Out shows you how to be ready at a second's notice.

• Create an escape plan for where to go and how to get there.
• Pack the perfect bug-out bag for the first 72 hours.
• Find food, water and other necessities outside of civilization.

Floods. Hurricanes. Pandemics. Earthquakes.
Blizzards. Tsunamis. Wildfires. Riots.

Bug Out includes detailed information on the best escape locations everywhere in the U.S.:

• The Pacific Coast
• The Rocky Mountains
• The Desert Southwest
• The Heartland
• The Lakes and Big Woods of the North
• The Gulf Coast
• The Appalachians
• The Atlantic Coast

About the Author

Scott B. Williams is a sea kayaker, sailor, boat builder, and writer with a passion for exploring and outdoor adventures on land and sea. He has written five books and continues to write for magazines in addition to maintaining various blogs on boat building, sailing, and outdoor survival. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Following the success of The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (more than 150,000 copies sold!), this ruggedly handsome hardcover collection brings together new and classic advice from Worst-Case experts to help readers master the manly arts from wrestling an alligator to calming a crying child to extinguishing backyard barbeque fires with all the contents fully searchable on an accompanying CD. ... Read more

Reviews

The range of scenarios that can be survived makes for a lively addition to many a general library, September 11, 2010
Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Man Skills packs in over 500 pages of manly survival scenarios and new advice for modern perils. From survival times in various degrees of water to how to obtain an emergency reservation or apologize when you haven't done anything wrong, this offers a range of survival skills plus a searchable DVD. The range of scenarios that can be survived makes for a lively addition to many a general library.

Great graduation party gift, July 5, 2010
I have bought a number of these books to give out as High School graduation gifts to my son's friends and they love it! It is a great alternative to giving just another gift card.

Great Book!, December 15, 2010
Product arrived quickly however as a gift I was hoping not to have indents on both sides of the book like it was used or prior ownership.
Could be just the way the book is supposed to be but other than that it will make a great gift. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Do you really need to buy this book? You gotta ask yourself one question: Are you going to be ready when the sh*t goes down? Here is a quick checklist:

1. Have you dug up your wife's rose garden and built a fallout shelter, equipped with a prison where you can lock up annoying family members?

2. Have you mapped out an escape route to your safe zone?

3. Is there a vehicle of death sitting in your garage?

4. Have you filled your go bag with all the needed instruments, including waterproof matches, postapocalyptic goggles, and at least one sexual party favor?

5. Have you learned how to milk various types of animals, including a giraffe?

As you can see, you need this book more than you even know. Without it, you're roadkill. Lucky for you, Forrest Griffin is the perfect apocalyptic chaperon. When he was in the womb, his mother had visions that the world would soon crumble, and Forrest would be the messiah of all mankind. He learned of these "visions" at the age of ten, and although they led him to believe that his mom had just been watching Mad Max and eating bad Mexican food, nevertheless he began his postapocalyptic training—a part of which involved his becoming a proud member of the Webelos, which is just one step below Boy Scout. And you know what the Boy Scout motto is. (Well, I hope you do, because Forrest doesn't have a clue). Another part involved hoarding ketchup packets, which he sucked down in the darkness of his room while listening to Nine Inch Nails. Hey, don't judge . . . hoarders are survivors. Just look at squirrels, they have been around longer than sharks.

If you want to survive the end of the world, and then avoid ending up in a government holding pen suffering from a bunch of diseases and listening to crying babies, you've got some skills to master. But don't worry—Forrest has you covered. From spotting the signs of the global downfall, to alienating your loved ones now so they don't come looking for you after, to hot-wiring a car to starting a religion in your own image, he provides you with all the hot knowledge you need to survive the downfall of civilization. Simply put, this is the most important book about the apocalypse that you will ever read by a UFC fighter from Georgia.

Reviews

Yeah...I read it...irreverent and funny as hell!, August 13, 2010
This is definitely a book for the 14+ - 40ish guy crowd or any woman that really likes UFC. I went to a book signing on Long Island where Forrest spoke and took questions for about 45 minutes. I have to say, he is a naturally funny guy - like stand up funny with a small crowd. He has a great sense of timing and humor...which probably means he's a heck of a lot smarter than anyone realizes...making him a dangerous man to tangle with...even before the 'stuff' goes down. This is NOT a book for anyone under 14 - language and situations are for adults only.

I think he admitted that this book didn't take all that long to write, and it shows. But this isn't a book anyone is going to read for the literary value, unless they get to twenty by counting on their toes. It's a great read for anyone with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD); Forrest throws in little 'Forrest Factoids' and 'Fortune Cookie Wisdom' paragraphs whenever the mood strikes. These paragraphs kind of act like little mental speed bumps, and they either enhance the story or sending the reader into deep thought while contemplating all the wisdom. It doesn't take that long to read either - which for me, was a blessing.

Probably the funniest thing about the book is that it actually has some good advice - like what vehicles are the best to commandeer (hint: avoid tractors), and the importance of weapons (for protecting your stuff). I could have done without the knowing that Forrest attempted to milk penguins when doing research for this book; sadly only a nuclear explosion (nearby) will erase that from my memory. I hope the penguin wasn't traumatized...or at least not as bad as Forrest when he saw a freshly killed deer stuffed into the trunk of a Lincoln Continental.

The best thing you can do is buy the book here on Amazon. I paid full price, and man, am I stupid.

Love It!!! Forrest is Hilarious!!!, August 5, 2010
Another great read by Forrest Griffin...I enjoyed this one as much as his first book, "Got Fight?". Griffin has a knack for telling a story and the man is funny as hell. I found myself laughing out loud while reading it. If you enjoyed his first book, this is a must buy!

Exellent toilet reading, October 25, 2010
This is a very funny book! Has made me laugh out many times. Besides, it might very well come in handy some day.. I am already contemplating my vehicle of death.. Oh yeah.. I bet you'd like to know why and what that means!?

Buy the book!

5/5

very funny, September 17, 2010
very easy and fast read. very funny for a guy who gets punched in the face for a living.

If you don't think this is funny you're dead, August 5, 2010
This guy is brilliant (it's bs that his iq is 86). I haven't laughed so hard since I was reading Nat Lampoon in the subway in the seventies (people did move away from me at the time).

Lone Dissident, November 12, 2010
I can't understand why this book has received so many positive reviews. Did we read the same book? Has my sense of humor gone missing? Am I the only one who feels duped for buying the book?

Reading this book is like listening to someone make fart noises. Let me explain. The first one might make you laugh, the second one might make you giggle, the third one might make you grin, but by the fourth hundred fart noise - well, frankly, any person would just be annoyed. And this is how this book began and ended for me. The opening pages were funny with vintage Forrest's "Fortune Cookie Wisdom" and his opening disclaimer. That made me laugh. The proceeding quiz about "mainliness" made me giggle. The next chapter about Ragnarok and "The How to Kill a Supernatural Wolf" made me grin. But the last 120 pages of this book, my friend, were difficult to get through.

You might be the kind of person that still laughs after six hours of someone making a fart noise. I sure as hell am not. What bothered me most about this book is that at times Forrest appears to really get serious about some issues, namely religion. Would anybody in a religious congregation take a kid making fart noises seriously about anything? What if he were really earnest? All the more pathetic.

Lastly, I have to say that Erich Krauss is actually a respectable MMA author. I am a big fan of his OTHER books. But it makes me wonder what he is trying to accomplish (apart from making money) by signing his name to such inane literature. And if making money is his only motivation, then he obviously doesn't care about the art of writing. Respect the art Erich!

Stay away from this book!

Typical Forrest, September 30, 2010
Typical Forrest. Self-depricating, smart, and slightly off his rocker. If there is a handbook for the Apocalypse, this is, without a doubt, the guide for survival, and then some. The must have book of the year in my opinion. Gotta love Forrest! ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are plenty of books about coping with adversity.But isn't until now, with WHO SURVIVES, that we discover the human factors that determine survival.It's a combination instruction book and security blanket that blends compelling true stories with cutting-edge science to deliver some of the most important lessons we'll ever need to learn.

The book will:
--list the most important traits necessary for survival (e.g., adaptability, tenacity, faith)
--identify the 5 types of survivors
--debunk myths (like only the strong survive), explore the frontiers of survival science (How much strain and punishment can a human body endure?), and introduce readers to counterintuitive thinking (Ever heard of posttraumatic growth?)
--provide a Survivors Tool Kit, including an online test that measures one's Survivor's Quotient

Each one of us eventually joins the club of millions who face life's inescapable tribulations and tragedies. WHO SURVIVES is the companion we need to prepare us for and guide us through the worst. ... Read more

Reviews

Life lessons, January 26, 2009
Here's a club everyone wants to be a member of. It's probably human nature to wonder if you have what it takes to survive in a crisis. This thought-provoking book not only profiles dozens and dozens of people who have done just that, it also gives you a way to grade yourself on your likely survivorship, and tips on how to raise your score. You even learn which seats on an airplane are the safest (be near an exit, and forget about that window seat).

The three rules of the Survivors Club, according to author Ben Sherwood, are that everyone is a survivor, one person's crisis can't be compared to another's, and people are stronger than they know. Attitude has a lot to do with it. If you see yourself as a survivor, you'll likely be one.

You learn many of the reasons why people do not survive. One is called the Incredulity Response -- people simply don't believe what they are seeing. Two gripping stories bring this idea to life. In the first, a car-ferry sinking in the Baltic Sea, many victims didn't move or try to get out of the sinking ship, but were rather "frozen to the spot" looking like "marble statues, pale and immoveable." 852 passengers died. In the second story, a fire in London's Underground train station killed 31 people, with many commuters marching "right into the disaster, almost oblivious to the crush of people -- some actually in flames -- who were trying to escape."

"Brainlock" is another reason some people in crisis die. They respond to the shock of the situation by forgetting to think. "Under stress... people often display memory problems. They seem to forget what they're supposed to do." This isn't good if you're skydiving. As Sherwood puts it, "panic is the archenemy of survival."

The final section of the book is devoted to helping you understand your own survivor potential, with quizzes to take and a website to visit.

Reading this book will make you think about how you live your life, and ways to ensure you can keep on living. It's fascinating.

Here's the chapter list:

Prologue: Brace for Impact
Introduction: The Survivors Club
Part 1: What It Takes to Survive
1. A Knitting Needle Through the Heart: The Three Rules of the Survivors Club
2. The Statues in the Storm: Why So Many People Die When They Shouldn't
3. Ninety Seconds to Save Your Life: The Wrong (and Right) Things to Do in a Plane Crash
4. The Organ Recital: Who Lives and Dies in the ER
5. The Supersonic Man: How Much of Life (and Death) Do You Really Control?
6. Rescued from the Lion's Jaws: Prayer, Miracles, and the Power of Faith
7. The Dancer and the Angel of Death: How Did Anyone Survive the Holocaust?
8. The Science of Luck: Why Good Things Always Happen to the Same People
9. Hug the Monster: How Fear Can Save Your Life
10. Too Mean to Die: Does the Will to Live Make Any Difference
11. The Resilience Gene: Who Bounces Back and Who Doesn't
12. What Does Not Kill Me: Why Adversity is Good for You
Part 2: Are You a Survivor?
13. The Survivor Profiler: Discovering Your Survivor Personality
14. Your Survivor IQ: What Type of Survivor Are You?
15. Your Survivor Tool Kit: What Are Your Top Three Strengths
Afterword / How to Eat an Elephant: The Lessons of the Survivors Club
www.TheSurvivorsClub.org
Appendix A / The Science of Falling Cats (and Babies)
Appendix B / The Arithmetic of Dying Too Soon

Live Longer!, January 26, 2009
In America, life expectancy is 78.14 years. If you would like to live longer, read this compelling self-help book. It's loaded with detailed research material and anecdotal tips on surviving--what to do when: being impaled with a foreign object, finding yourself lost in the woods, experiencing an airplane crash, having a heart attack, or making a trip to the ER.

Many topics are covered with proof that they help people live: the power of prayer, managing fear, the will to live, and having good genes. Adversity can work to make people appreciate life and have a better perspective. Daily joy can be experienced after a traumatic episode.

Offered are such informative chapters as: The Survivor Profile, Your Survivor IQ, and Your Survivor Tool Kit. I suggest using this volume as a resource tool. Though it is interesting enough to be read straight through, I want to keep it around to refer to often.

I give it a B or B-, August 14, 2009
This book was alright. I finished it, from beginning to end, which is an accomplishment in and of itself proving that if anything, the book was an entertaining read. But after a while, Sherwood seemed to repeat the same points over and over: have faith in some form of divine authority, be positive, and be on the lookout for lucky opportunities. And that is what made the book lose points, in my opinion. Everybody knows that already!

I enjoyed reading the plentiful anecdotes, but I felt disappointed by the title of the book, for the book didn't really share very many tips or science about survival, other than the three points mentioned in the paragraph above. What also made the book lose credibility was the test offered online after completing the book. Though Sherwood raved that this test was the "real deal" and as accurate and scientific as psychometrics gets, to me it seemed no more relevant than an online personality quiz or a horoscope reading in a women's fashion magazine. The results bore little resemblance to me. Rather, it sounded like feel-good babble.

Maybe if I hadn't been egged on to take that test I would have respected the book a little more. That and the lack of MORE case studies and science rendered this book nothing more than another hyped up opinion piece.

Once again, I encourage all future readers of this book to get it from their libraries; or if you absolutely MUST own a copy, get it used and at a cheap price.

Stay awake nights.... learing how to survive!, July 20, 2009
I heard the author being interviewed on a syndicated news talk show. After listening to the first few minutes of the interview, I was convinced I needed to purchase this book which I did, then I recommended the book to my book club. I have never felt compelled to contact an author but after reading this book I did. After locating Ben Sherwood's email address, I emailed asking if he would agree to a telephone interview/conference with our book club. Much to my surprise he graciously agreed!

After reading the book, each book club member had a list of comments and questions. Mr. Sherwood spent over an hour answering our questions and provided more details about some of the survivors featured in the book. It was a fascinating experience. Each of us was enriched by this experience and as far as reading retention is concerned...? We will not soon forget the valuable lessons gleaned from reading this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the skills required to survive some of life's most challenging events. This book isn't focused solely on how to survive a plane crash or other catastrophic events, rather, it teaches how to survive ALL life's challenges large and small. It provides an interesting quiz to discover your strong personality traits or attributes and the ones that could use a little help in improving. Who among us wouldn't find this information useful? Who knows, perhaps it could save your life! Definitely worth purchasing, but please don't let this book simply gather dust on the book shelf, read it, learn from it and then pass it on to those you love.

Pros and Cons of The Survivors Club, January 14, 2010
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and learned some important things from it, especially the value of being prepared to act and move decisively in an emergency, and not "freeze". With so many illustrative survivor tales, its an engrossing read. I am glad I read it, but it is really a "story book" and not a scientific study. Recommended despite some weaknesses; just keep your expectations in check. Its the kind of book you may want to refer to again, from time to time.

PROS:

Extensively researched and well written with many detailed accounts of true survivor tales
Easy to read and structured to allow the reader to select portions out of sequence if he/she wishes
Contains some good life advice in the book; from the value of optimism and laughter to being aware of context, to where to sit (or not sit) on an airplane to improve your odds of surviving a crash
It passes the "common sense" test; it mostly hangs together pretty well


CONS:
Its way short on science, despite its sub-title that promises ".. Science that Could Save Your Life"
The web-based Survivor Profiler is a disappointment. It did not yield any new insights or suggested courses of action; its mainly a gimmick
It overplays the fact that people who face and conquer terrible challenges usually emerge stronger; we already knew that, though the examples are often compelling.

The Survivors Club book review, March 1, 2009
Fascinating book. Heard the author on a National Public Radio program and was intrigued to get/read his book. I am a career military veteran (fighter pilot) with significant survival training and found this book: (1) an easy read; (2) compelling in its practical lessons to be learned; (3) a primer for anyone about to take an airplane flight, an extended drive, or finds oneself in the Emergency Room (victim or family member). Though many anecdotes of the author's research deal with severe physical tragedies many experienced and survived, the mental aspects of survival are not to be overlooked. When this book is read from that perspective, the chapters are instructive to develop mental plans for potential future shocks which inevitably will come in life, professionally and personally. This is a quality book and well worth the read--highly recommended.

Paramedic thoughts..., February 5, 2010
I have read so many survival books and none compare to this one. Most others read like an instruction manual with a very short opening chapter on positive attitude. Survivor Club however takes more of a scientific approach to survival. All the quizzes and experiments throughout make it personal. You learn a great deal about yourself. I am a paramedic and we are trained to remain calm and aware in any situation. However I showed this book to my colleagues and was surprised at how unaware even we can be at times. It also gave me great insight into human nature. It is nice to have an idea how the general public will react to emergencies and survival situations. I recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for survival. You will not be disappointed.

Misleading Subtitle, March 15, 2009
This book is little more than a string of feel-good anecdotes that are occasionally, but rarely, stitched together with a little science. More often than not, faith in god and miracles is given precedence over information gleaned from scientific research.

Sherwood candidly admits his own belief that many survivors' tales are the result of godly intervention, and he offers up page after page of anecdotal evidence for this assertion. But when it comes time to deal with the science of survival, Sherwood is quite dismissive of facts that undermine his beliefs. He will admit, for instance, that peer-reviewed, double-blind studies have found no evidence that prayer affects the recovery of hospital patients, but he does so in a single sentence at the end of a half a dozen anecdotal tales attesting to effectiveness of prayer. And even then he downplays the significance of the studies by saying only that they "seem" to show that prayer has no effect.

Sherwood also demonstrates that he doesn't understand statistics. On p.134 he tries to prove that faith in god is a key factor in survival by stating that as many as 75 or 80% of catastrophe survivors cite a higher power as a reason for their survival. He seems naively unaware that at least 75 or 80% of all human beings believe in a god that takes a hand in their daily lives. His statistic, therefore, proves the opposite of what he intends. Survivors are, in fact, no more likely than any other randomly selected group of people to cite god as a reason for their survival.

My advice to Mr. Sherwood is that he remove the word "science" from the subtitle of his book. My advice to readers seeking reliable information on survival is to skip The Survivor's Club and read either Deep Survival by Lawrence Gonzalez or The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley. Both are excellent.

A life changing book recommended for any survivor, December 17, 2009
I am a survivor of a different sort, and I now advocate for other survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This book had very little to do with these sorts of survivors, but at the same time had everything to do with the skills and traits every survivor must use to not only survive but thrive no matter what the situation.

The point made by the author over and over again is that the people who most often survive are the people who CHOOSE to survive. Resilience is another factor that can determine which people survive and which people give up.

If you are a survivor of any type of abuse, sexual assault, or domestic violence this book could be the most important book you will ever read.

Disjointed...the author has a point? and it is....?, February 21, 2010
I think the author published this book merely to procure a revenue stream from book sales. The provocative and misleading title is great marketing, though. It certainly duped me into picking up the book at my local independent bookseller yesterday. I was unfortunate enough, during my perusal, to land on the 2 or 3 paragraphs (on different pages throughout) that made it seem worthy.

The "stories" within are disjointed, incomplete vignettes of the wandering thoughts variety. Very annoying to read as "stories" jump back and forth. Much of it isn't even stories of survival. The author clearly thinks that a 3-4 sentence summary about an event can constitute a survivor's story. This is the TV/Hollywood script sound bite presentation masquerading as a book. Teasers I believe they are called. And that is what this book is. As they say in Hollywood...Get me rewrite!!!!

How Bob has survived, if this is the way his brain computes, can only be attributed to...luck. How he even got this published can only be attributed to...connections.

Distill down the 383 pages to actually USEFUL advice and you'll have a maximum of (and I'm being extremely generous) 3 pages that might be worthwhile. Who cares if the author knows honcho Jeff Zucker and believes Jeff to be the most courageous survivor. Ever. Nothing more than name dropping or ego stroking in that bit. Puh-lease! This book is just a bunch of snippets presented in a haphazard fashion with not enough information or background to even keep the reader fully engaged on any story. I had to skip large swathes of the book within each chapter, which is saying something because I am a voracious reader and can usually engage if there is actually something interesting and/or informative about the words. Bob finds a way to disengage even me.

I will save you $14.99 and disclose all the "secrets" the book reveals: 1. Sit within 5 rows of an airplane exit, 2. Be situationally aware of your surroundings, 3. Make sure you WANT to live - keep repeating that mantra in the face of insurmountable odds, 4. Maybe you'll be lucky and survive, in spite of (or because of) your DNA, your optimism, your new-found believe in God or other higher deity at the moment of your peril etc., 5. Make sure that when you have a heart attack that you are in a Las Vegas casino and finally 6. if you're anything other than healthy and fit 16-19 year old male, then you're doomed and don't even think about being a survivor.

That No. 6 theme is pervasive throughout the book. Maybe this book would appeal to that age/gender group. Bob was there once.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Not a how to, but a good read filled with idea, November 3, 2009
I gave the book 3 stars because I was expecting a "how to" book; this book is not an instructional at all. Rather, this book seems to be a compilation of ideas, methods, and skills that are all described very superficially.

Fun to read, but if you were going to be out in "no where" for the rest of time you'd want something far more detailed.

1994 Woodsmoke Reprinted, November 25, 2007
This is a book of collected articles previously published as "Woodsmoke, Collected Writings on Ancient Living Skills" (Menasha Ridge Press 1994). No revisions, but then the articles were good then anyway. This book is the second in which the fire piston is covered (the first that I am aware of came out in 1972). Beside the philosophy (waxing poetic) of the Jamisons and a poor bit on tracking, the book offers the reader some well laid out "how-to" information from the likes of Steve Watts, David Wescott, Jim Riggs and Larry Dean Olson. Atlatl, Pottery, blowguns, Hide Glue, stone tools and bark baskets are some of the topics introduced in this book. If you are interested in the primitive skills, this book is worth getting.

Master the Art of Survival, September 19, 2007
This is a very interesting book which describes in remarkable detail various primitive crafts and survival techniques. Skills such as making blades and axes from stone to various methods of primitive cooking are described in detail. There are sections on primitive basket making and pottery as well as blowgun making and stalking. After reading this book I was left with both a profound admiration for our primitive ancestors as well as some potentially useful newfound knowledge. Since many of the techniques described were utilized by Native Americans this book will be enjoyed by students of this subject as well as by Boy/Girl Scouts who will find many sections which they can utilize on camping trips. This book will also be enjoyed by fans of shows such as "Survivor Man" and "Man vs. Wild" and should be required reading for anyone planning to compete on "Survivor".

Overview of some primitive crafts., December 12, 2009
I can say I generally agree with the other 5 reviews prior to the date of this one. This book is a compilation of various authors' articles that have been published elswhere including in the Primitive Technology I & II (Bulletin of Primitive Technology), & Practicing Primitive by Steven Watts. Therefore the content varies from chapter to chapter some being more detailed than others. I particularly found the chapter on the Paiute deadfall & Whole-shoot Willow Baskets helpful, while some of the stories told were also enjoyable. The subtitle of the book "An outdoorsman's guide to Shelters, Tools, Weapons, Tracking, Survival, and More" is a bit misleading in that there is next to nothing gained from this book for shelters and I would take the survival part somewhat lightly. There are certainly some useful survival tips but as one reviewer said you wouldn't want to be stuck with this book in a survival situation. I recommend this book for people just starting with an interest in primitive technology or those looking for a summary or introduction to the world of primitiveness. It may also be of use to those looking for some basic instructions on basket crafts & pottery.

more of a history lesson, January 26, 2010
This book is good if you want to just sit at home and read. It's more of a history lesson than a guide. I got about halfway through it and got bored and haven't picked it up since. The instructions are a little hard to follow if you don't already have a conception of what to do already.

Interesting Return To Yesteryear....But Impractical, September 1, 2010
Hiking and camping has been a passion of mine ever since I can remember first experiencing it as a cub scout. The mountains in the north country of New England here have been the scene of many trips by me and with my family in the warmer months, as well as years of my trekking the mountains in the dead of winter. No matter how many books on hiking and survival one owns, it seems to be a subject that one can't get enough of if you happen to have a passion for it. There always seems to be something or other included you never saw before, or at least is talked about in greater detail. This Primitive Skills book goes far enough back and gets about as thorough as to diversity as one can get on the subject of wilderness survival. In fact, its better called a wilderness book on living. There is just about nothing that this book doesn't cover, or at least mention in passing on the subject of living and surviving in the wilds of any frontier. From the very beginning it assumes you have moved out into the wilds of some wilderness country and decided to stay there for a right long time. And, bringing nothing with you but a knife and a few matches. Along with the before mentioned basket and tool making, this book will tell you how to make a blow gun, and stalk your pray with it too. It will instruct you on how to make fire from scratch and what is safe to cook over it and keep it going all night. It speaks of primitive medicine in some detail, and outfitting a wardrobe from whatever you can find. And it directs one through the procedure of making all manner of shelter using the bark of trees as rope. You'll learn how to fashion fishing gear out of wild root and fish hooks made of bone. And you will even enjoy an immensely enjoyable section on how to cook some darn tasty good meals with a bare minimum of ingredients, and even show you how to season it. It is a very interesting and informative look at yesteryear when life was devoid of all modern convenience. Even some not so modern...

Unfortunately as much as I enjoy this book immensely for its being well written, and with a vast amount of interesting info, I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here that speak of it being quite impractical, and not anywhere near as instructional as one would surmise in others. Although I feel it gives one enough information on many of the subjects as to actually building or practicing what it preaches, one would still be hard pressed to find someplace anymore where much of what you learn here could be put to any real use. Not a whole lot of lonesome hills and prairie left anymore where one can chop down trees at will, chisel away at rocks, or go running around with blows guns hunting down your dinner. Even if you are interested in a lot of its more congenial teachings, (like leather work or tool making), one would still have to pursue the subject deeper than this book offers to really know and understand what you're doing. Unfortunately as interesting as this book is, its most definitely written about a time, place, and era that just doesn't exist anymore. As much as I personally am enjoying it very much, I would recommend it only to those that long for a full flavor of yesteryear, and how it was living back in the real old days when we needed much more in the way of skills to just survive. A very interesting and downright fascinating book for those simply yearning for the nostalgia of it all...

ok, August 13, 2010
kinda more stories than a survival guide ok for tender feet.
pretty much a field and stream perspective only more feminine.
if you want something more serious get the sas survival handbook it is awesome.
and quite literally gives info to survive anything you could ever encounter.

A little too much emphasis on the spirituality of the matter but, great book regardless., June 30, 2009
A little too much emphasis on the spirituality of the matter but, great book regardless. I personally prefer "to-the-point" descriptions. But I'm sure other readers will benefit from the holistic approach achieved in this publication.

quality over quantity., November 7, 2010
This seems like a survival book, with the bare minimal in mind. The fire starter is especially crafty. This is not a huge amount of info, but instead a focus on a few very affective strategies for living off the land. There is a great amount of effort made to convince the reader to value these traditions. Not what your regular know-it-all survivalist would approve of but those with actual experience probably will.

Primitive Skills and Crafts, Amazon Books, October 10, 2010
This is a great book for varous groups to learn basics for survival. An introduction to woods skills and such for the average person; once one has mastered these basics, one can go on to more advanced skills from here. I taught my young children right on thru their teen years with this type of a book, learning also, my own self how to keep warm, start a fire, catch food and so on as we learned together on weekends used for camping trips around the wilderness areas of the U.P. of Michigan.

For even more advanced skills, I would suggest other reading material procured from Amazon and from off the home computor. Skills such as edible foods to be found in the wild, shelters that will survive storms and extreme cold, medicinal plants and so on.

For anyone wanting to sharpen their survival skills in an uncertain world, start reading and preparing now. ... Read more

Editorial Review

$14.95 gatefold paper * 1-58685-234-5 * May

6 x 9 in, 192 pp, 70 Line Drawings, 16 Color Photo Pages

Rights: W, Survival/Nature

"If you breathe and have a pulse, you NEED this book."

-Cody Lundin

Cody Lundin, director of the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Prescott, Arizona, shares his own brand of wilderness wisdom in this highly anticipated new book on commonsense, modern survival skills for the backcountry, the backyard, or the highway. It is the ultimate book on how to stay alive-based on the principal of keeping the body's core temperature at a lively 98.6 degrees. In his entertaining and informative style, Cody stresses that a human can live without food for weeks, and without water for about three days or so. But if the body's core temperature dips much below or above the 98.6 degree mark, a person can literally die within hours. It is a concept that many don't take seriously or even consider, but knowing what to do to maintain a safe core temperature when lost in a blizzard or in the desert could save your life. Lundin delivers the message with wit, rebellious humor, and plenty of backcountry expertise.

Cody Lundin and his Aboriginal Living Skills School have been featured in dozens of national and international media sources, including Dateline NBC, CBS News, USA Today, The Donny and Marie Show, and CBC Radio One in Canada, as well as on the cover of Backpacker magazine. When not teaching for his own school, he is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College and a faculty member at the Ecosa Institute. Cody is the only person in Arizona licensed to catch fish with his hands, and lives in a passive solar earth home sixty miles from Prescott, Arizona. ... Read more

Reviews

Reality at its best, August 3, 2004
Excellent book on survival. I am glad someone finally divides "SURVIVAL" from "Wilderness Living Skills" I would venture to say that most people that provide bad reviews of this book are looking for texts in Wilderness Living Skills. There are other books for that. I use 98.6 for a text book in our Search and Rescue Team training. In reality most victims succumb to hypothermia in survival situations other than trying to catch fish with a shoe string and a safety pin. It is reality at its best, presented in a humorous fashion.

Ted Fisher, Vermilion County Search and Rescue

A Fresh New Look at Survival, August 27, 2004
It's about time I pick up a book that has more than a list of survival skills. In fact, this book doesn't make any attempt to teach you how to trap animals or construct log furniture in the wilderness. Instead, you learn how to idetify potential survival situations and avoid getting into them if possible. If you do, backcountry knowledge will be helpful but it will be even better if you know how to take care of the basics such as controling fear and focusing on keeping your body at a comfy 98.6 degrees. I absolutely loved this book. There is discussion of psychology, biology, and physiology, all in a basic easy to understand format. Lundin's writing style is as if he were there talking to you. One of my personal favorites of the book is the chapter on survival kits, complete with color photographs. I thought I had a pretty good kit but after reading this, I need to make a few changes. If you spend any time in the world, anywhere, I recommend this book. If you want to know how to build monster solar stills, trap wild animals, and spear fish, look elsewhere. This book rocks!

It kept my ass alive!, May 12, 2005
Prior to embarking on a rugged solo day hike in AZ's Superstition Wilderness, I read this book cover to cover. (I'm a middle-aged, East Coast trail hiker who hasn't hiked recently, so survival was a major consideration.) My desert day hike turned into an overnight stay on a canyon ledge far from the trailhead. Thanks to Cody Lundin's book, I maintained a "party on" attitude, was fully prepared (both with equipment and mentally), and spent a fabulous night watching the stars. The right attitude is everything! Enjoyed the humor and common sense approach of his writing. His examples stick with you when you need them. Great tips on putting together a practical, personal survival kit that will work anywhere. There's now one in my pack and one in my car. Lots of useful information on how to overcome fear and keep your head.

Skewers Many a Sacred Cow About Wilderness Survival..., February 24, 2007
This book works for many reasons:

1. Unlike alot of wilderness survival books that are cut and paste jobs from military manuals, Cody's book is funny, entertaining, and highly readable while remaining on topic-hence the info conveyed will stay with you.
But don't be fooled by the gonzo approach. Cody knows what he's talking about. The first few chapters about maintaining core body temperature should probably be read more than once.

2. Cody covers the base essentials: wear proper clothing, maintain core body temperature, and prepare for the 72-hour survival window. Learning how to snare a deer, while fun, with your boot string probably won't come into play during most wilderness survival ordeals. (I did actually learn how to do this at a survival course in Virginia.)
And here's the statistical bottomline of Cody's overall philosophy: if you aren't located in the first 72 hours, your chance of survival and rescue drops to 3%. Of course this doesn't mean you give up, but that's the statistical reality.

3. Cody devotes a substantial part of the book on how to build a personal survival kit. I really like his approach: the kit should be portable and cheap; hence, you can build several, test them beforehand, easily replace items, and become intimately familiar with them. No need to buy a $120 Doug Ritter Survival Knife or $150 Delta Life Capsule unless you have money to burn or are a survival gear junkie like me.

4. And let me say one last thing...military manuals written about survival should be taken with a grain of salt; in a survival situation, your goal should be to stay loud and visible until found; in the military, even in a survival situation, our goal is to remain invisible and undetected until rescued; usually with the aid of radio and satellite.

You cannot go wrong with this book., March 2, 2006
If you are involved in *any* outdoor activity, even if you just walk to your mailbox and back, this is a book you should have.

Filled with all kinds of insightful tips, tricks, and Cody's personal take on the survival kit, it stands up better than many of the other books in the field.

What I like most is Cody's survival kit, a core to the book. It is small (fits in a fanny pack), lightweight (under 5 lbs), and inexpensive (no costs given, but I priced it out at well under $50 and that is buying much of the pieces at a regular retailer, as opposed to a discount store).

Go ahead, pick up a copy, you can't go wrong.

A great guide to getting out of a survival situation., October 9, 2006
Unless something is wrong with you, your goal when thrust into a survival situation is to get out of it as fast as you can. That is the premise of this book. You won't find detailed instructions on building and using a fire bow. You won't find recomendations on the biggest, baddest knife. The one used in the book has about a 4 inch blade and retails for less than $20. You will find practicle suggestions for fire. You will also find suggestions on assembling a survival kit that's thorough but not enormous. There is scientific discussion on the human body's reaction to the environment. All of this is presented in a humorous style. The book focuses on preparation for a survival situation and how to get out of it. Not learning flint knapping, snare building, dead falls, etc. I found the book informative and easy to read. Those offended by the few cartoon characters should get a life.

Everybody Ought To Read This First, Like It Or Not!, June 17, 2009
OK, here's the deal. If you've ever read through one of the exhaustive, "Military-FM-Type" survival manuals (some of which are really great, by the way - Lofty Wiseman's classic comes to mind), you know that they often detail a half-dozen ways to improvise and use fishing gear, maybe a dozen different snares and deadfalls, and several dozen or more species of wild edibles. Absolutely none of which are included in Cody Lundin's book.

And they darn well shouldn't be. Simple as that.

Because even a cursory glance at survival/rescue statistics will support Cody's assertion that the vast majority of wilderness survival scenarios, barring getting lost in the Amazon or something (if that's a possibility for you, by all means check out Wiseman, but AFTER you've read this -- what's here still applies), occur over a 72 hour period or less. This book is about making it through that three day period. That means that, given an average amount of body fat, you could have not eaten for a couple of WEEKS before you got lost and probably still come out okay. Food's just not an issue for short term survival, folks.

But hypothermia and hyperthermia? Now THOSE are issues, as another casual glance at the statistics will confirm. What's the number one killer? Not a failure to eat. Not a failure to navigate by the stars. Not even a failure to adequately execute a figure-four deadfall. Nope. The number one killer is a failure to adequately regulate core body temperature.

The problem is, everybody else glosses over this particular subject on their way to the really cool improvised fishing tackle and blowguns. I mean EVERYBODY. I love the books by Lofty Wiseman, Greg Davenport, Bradford Angier, and Ray Mears, just to name a few. I really do, and I think they're all worthwhile reads. But maintaining temperature is given barely a mention in these works; maybe a paragraph each for arctic and desert extremes, maybe a page or two in the first aid section. And it's the NUMBER ONE KILLER!

What the reading of Cody Lundin's book does is hammer this realization into your brain by way of repetition, mnemonics, humor, and cartoons. These things aren't filler, as has been suggested; they're part of a bona fide teaching methodology. And it's a methodology that works. The book actually affects your behavior on (or off) the trail. You'll find yourself constantly monitoring your body, your clothing, your fluid intake. If you go out with loved ones, you'll find yourself far less cavalier concerning their environmental safety. And if something does happen, to you or to someone else, you'll by God know what to do about it. All of which are Really Good Things.

So, yes, there are certainly more complete technical manuals on the market, and I urge anyone even remotely interested to check them out. But the fact is that hypo/hyperthermia isn't something that should be relegated to a blurb, like treating a snakebite or building an igloo. It's SERIOUS and, whoever you are, if you play outside you're LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ONE OR BOTH at some point. So start here. Enjoy Cody's style, or not. Laugh at the cartoons, or not. But read it, because if you do I guarantee that the information that's here will stick with you, and might just save your life.

Just the facts..., January 30, 2006
And you will get more than that in this gem of a book. This book is not about long term survival but is focused on how to avoid injury or death in a far more common scenario - backcountry emergency, the trip gone bad, etc...Well researched information on what the body requires to get out alive. I especially enjoyed the survial kit photos (well done) and descriptions. I would have to say this is one of the most useful books on the subject and from a man who has real experience to share.

Lots of valuable information and easy to understand, February 9, 2006
The goal of Lundin's book is to teach you how to survive until help arrives. As such, he doesn't attempt to teach primitive living skills. As he points out, it's not that they're without value, but the most common wilderness emergency situation is being stranded in the middle of nowhere for a few days. His in-depth explanations of how the body succumbs to hypothermia and hyperthermia are well written and serve to drive home his points regarding proper clothing and hydration. Lundin also stresses the importance of keeping your head and offers useful advice for doing so. The section on survival kits is highly informative with good logical explanations for each item included. The author provides valuable, easy-to-follow instructions in other areas as well (such as fire starting and signaling rescuers). There isn't much at all on land navigation, but then again that's not the subject Lundin is dealing with. The book, while well written and often humorous, frequently uses language that's unnecessarily raw, but given the excellent information presented, it's easily overlooked. This is a well written text that provides a great deal of information in a format that is easily understood.

A must-read for any hiker, hunter, camper, etc., August 25, 2007
If you believe the TV drama crap in the show "Man vs. Wild" where Grylls is scaling cliffs and jumping into freezing rivers, this book isn't for you because Cody Lundin actually wants you to live. The book 98.6 Degrees tells you statistically that most people who die in the wilderness die from hypothermia and hypothermia -- not from avalanches, bear attacks, etc. But most people don't want to hear this maybe because it isn't exciting enough.

I think of this book as the foundation from which all survivalism studies should start. The book really goes into great detail into the "whys" of exposure and other conditions one commonly faces in the wild. You need this information so that you can adapt and think on your own for the unique situation you may face. Cody challenges traditional survivalism manuals and has the personal experience to back up what he writes. One reviewer labeled this book as a kum-bay-ya book, but the book is exactly the opposite. The book speaks with life saving frankness and flat out tells you that you will be worm food if you make certain wrong decisions.

The book has some great color photos and diagrams as well and has perhaps the best and most thorough advice on assembling a survival kit I've seen (the book explains why store bought kits are seriously lacking). The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt the book, at times, spends a little too much time on trivia knowledge (e.g., history of the match) at the expense of more knowledge on shelter building strategies, how to build a fire, etc. I want more info on how to put the survival kit to use. I suppose that might be in a sequel to this wonderful book. Despite minor shortcomings, this book has completely changed how I look at preparing for and handling survival situations. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Editorial Review

How are the ice blocks of igloos so perfectly formed and fitted, andable, it’s been said, to withstand the weight of a polar bear?How can you determine if the fresh snow that’s fallen outside your front door is as good for making a slab shelter as a snowman? What is a slab shelter, anyway? For that matter, what are drift caves, spruce traps, snow block walls, and bivy bag shelters, and how would you go about building them, whether for winter fun or protection from the weather?

In thisinstructive, whimsical, illustrated manual,Norbert E. Yankielun, a seasoned cold-regionsexplorer and researcher, takes readersstep-by-step through the process of constructing and inhabiting a range of useful snowstructures—from the most basic to the morecomplex. Whether you’re a veteran backcountryskier or a backyard builder, this is one bookyou won’t want to be without. 100 black-and-white line drawings ... Read more

Reviews

As Good As It Gets, January 12, 2008
First of all my 5 and 6 year old started looking at this book and it was hard to get it back from them as they were so charmed by the pictures. They have been playing in the snow and hounding me to help ever since.

Second of All I lived in Nunavut for 9 years and took lessons in igloo building from Inuit elders. I also worked with elders and teachers to create a unit on igloo building for students and teachers. I learned to make a half presentable igloo in this process! I can say with a modicum of expertise that many books on the subject are complete flops but not this one.

This book is the real deal. The pictures are great and the text is as well. A fantastic and charming tutorial for playing in the snow. First rate.

Just Add Snow!, December 12, 2007
What a truly delightful book describing both the science and the frivolity of snow structures. Dr. Why's excellent detail and evident excitement about the subject lend a depth to a subject all those exposed to the colder climes will enjoy. Make those NOT in a snow-filled area jealous... Great book for all ages and abilities!

Outdoor Fun and Survival, October 22, 2008
"There are lots of reasons to build a snow shelter. A snow shelter can be a serious survival refuge for people who work or play in the winter backcountry. It can be a fun social experience shared by friends, or a wonderful educational and inexpensive afternoon family project." ~ pg. 9

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to build a snow shelter then this book has many creative ideas including:

Preparation Before Building
Igloos
Quinzees
Slab Shelters
Drift Caves
Spruce Traps
Expedient Shelters
Camping Out

Norbert E. Yankielun explains why snow on a roof helps keep a house warmer and how snow acts as an insulator to protect plant roots and even stops hibernating animals from freezing. He then gives safety tips and explains the importance of nutrition and hydration. He also discusses windchill, frostbite, claustrophobia, hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning.

"...it has been reported that polar bears occasionally climb on top of an abandoned igloo to better survey the surrounding flat terrain for prey." ~ pg. 39

The instructions for building an igloo are very detailed and there are some interesting ideas for making part of the igloo with a block of ice for a window to let some light in. In areas where there is less snow an igloo can still be made after making a "sheet cake" of snow. Making a quinzee looks easier than the igloo or you could try to make a slab shelter that looks like a "pup tent." For most of the shelters it seems better to have at least two people working on the project. The simplest project includes a spruce tree and snow packed around it to form a type of cave for two people.

Throughout the book safety is emphasized. There are also creative ideas to keep tents from blowing over in damaging winds. A few structures are built with tarps. There is a short discussion about camping items you will need if you are sleeping out in your snow shelter. If you are building an igloo near your house all you need is warm clothing, a shovel and a saw. This book could save lives if you are out camping or can be a source of fun ideas if you just like to play around in the snow.

~The Rebecca Review

More than igloos, it's the other shelters, November 12, 2008
I had been looking for something exactly like this for a class that I help teach.
We wanted the "Other" Shelters, not igloos and not caves. This book has the
best treatment of any book that I have been able to find. The illustrations
are also outstanding. It would be great for kids too, although my students are
adults. We wanted to find the other shelters because the igloo/cave take too
much time to build when you are running out of day light. Most other books
have just lifted ideas from old Army manuals. This author is a distinguished
engineer and his work shows that. This is the best outdoor book that I have
read all year!

Any collection located in an area that gets winter snow will relish this fun, appealing title!, January 9, 2008
How are blocks of ice cut and fitted to create an igloo, how can one assess snow possibilities to build one, and what are other shelter options for snowy areas? Norbert Yankielun's How to Build an Igloo and Other Snow Shelters covers all the basics, offering step-by-step insights on how to construct - and inhabit - an igloo or other snow shelter. Any collection located in an area that gets winter snow will relish this fun, appealing title!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

interesting, January 3, 2008
my son got this as a gift and enjoyed the variety of snow shelter info.

Okay condition, September 11, 2010
Product came in slightly worse condition than advertised: the book's both front and back cover were bent. But, price was unbeatable. ... Read more

Editorial Review

My book is a Modern Survival Manual based on first hand experience of the 2001 Economic Collapse in Argentina. In it you will find a variety of subjects that I consider essential if a person wants to be prepared for tougher times: -How to prepare your family, yourself, your home and your vehicle -How to prepare your finances so that you don't suffer what millions in my country went through -How to prepare your supplies for food shortages and power failures -How to correctly fight with a chair, gun, knife, pen or choke with your bare hands if required -Most important, how to reach a good awareness level so that you can avoid having to do all that These are just a few examples of what you will find in this book. It's about Attitude, and being a more capable person and get the politically correct wimp out of your system completely. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The worst of the worst, all in one place! This deluxe desk reference includes a hardbound volume of the most popular scenarios from all 11 Worst-Case Scenario handbooks, plus the entire contents of all the books on a fully searchable CD. Avoid the perils of mountain lions and blind dates, avalanches and teenage driving lessons, runaway golf carts and Christmas turkeys on fire a remedy for every crisis the worst-case experts have anticipated is now only a click away. The CD also contains newly created extra features: screensavers, e-cards, wallpaper, and more. Boasting more than 500 pages, this sturdy addition to the Worst-Case Scenario library could stop a bullet just one more way to be prepared for the worst. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There’s never been a better time to “be prepared.” Matthew Stein’s comprehensive primer on sustainable living skills—from food and water to shelter and energy to first-aid and crisis-management skills—prepares you to embark on the path toward sustainability. But unlike any other book, Stein not only shows you how to live “green” in seemingly stable times, but to live in the face of potential disasters, lasting days or years, coming in the form of social upheaval, economic meltdown, or environmental catastrophe.

Reviews

A good read for the wary -, February 29, 2004
This is a great book about preparing for short-term societal or environmental crises - how to conserve water when the water's not running (after a hurricane, say), how to stay warm and safe when the ice-storm of the century wipes out your natural gas and electricity, or an earthquake shakes your house down around your ears in the middle of the night.
The true beauty of this book is the wealth of information for longer-term "doing without," or slow erosion of a situation of plenty we now take for granted. Here is information on dealing with medical problems when no doctor is forthcoming, growing food organically and with your own saved seed, how you might store food over the winter with no refrigerator.

If we lost the luxury of the machines that run our world, would we find ourselves back in the stone age, having lost the knowledge handed down for generations beyond count of how to shelter, clothe, feed and doctor ourselves? These skills are all touched on in this book, with voluminous resource lists so that the reader can learn more about any of these subjects.

Technology, too, is given its due - renewable energy sources like solar and wind are discussed and the best water filters on the market.

Change is coming. That's apparent. If you're worried, wary - this is a good book, a jumping-off place to learn skills you may some day be very thankful for, or at least gather a library of relevant information against the day when it is needed. Survivalist paranoia not required.

90% Great, 10% Newage Garbage, April 18, 2001
Most of this book is very good. It is a good survey of many issues related to self-sufficiency. It has great references that make it easier to find the materials needed for a more in-depth understanding of most of the topics.

However, I had the feeling while reading the book was that it was written by Abby (Dharma's mother from Dharma & Greg). Great, pragmatic information is tainted with pseudo-science nonsense and newage garbage. Most of which is harmless, but some of it may be downright dangerous.

For example, there is a half page editorial on the moral issues of hunting followed some pages later by a long discussion of tanning. There is a story of how blessing water turned undrinkable swill into sweet healing water. There's enough folk and eastern medical advice to make your head swim.

If you believe everything you read, this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you can discern the likely from the silly, you might find this book useful.

Broader in scope than most survival books, October 29, 2001
Matthew Stein has written a clear, concise book on the subject of survival that, while educating, also does what few others have managed to do - entertain and engage the reader.

Throughout the book you'll find personal stories accompanying the text to further illustrate or drive home a point. The use of these asides brings you into Matthew Stein's life, as he recounts personal stories of survival and tells the stories of others who have managed to overcome the odds to survive.

Not just a survival book, Matthew also covers topics like alternative therapies; how to create a survival mindset; survival strategies; renewable energy; companion gardening; prophecies etc. as well as all the regular topics found in such books - edible plants; first aid; making a survival kit; growing, hunting and foraging; making tools; creating shelters; spinning/weaving/tanning etc.

The book has some great illustrations that make plant identification and first aid that much easier to understand and each chapter finishes with a reference section listing books (along with a short review) and resources (with web addresses where available).

This book is supposed to have been 15 years in the making - and the time and effort taken by the author to research his topic really shows. When Technology Fails belongs in your survival library - as the publisher says, "it's a user-friendly manual for the 21st Century".

A Wealth of Diverse and Useful Information, January 29, 2001
The content of this book is diverse and well researched. One of the strengths of this books is the vast amount of information it covers in an easily accessible way. It is like a tour through many alternatives to our traditional technological solutions. It gives you a view into such topics as low-tech healing, alternative shelters, power, heating, effective methods for growing food, tool making, and much, much more. If you need to know more about any particular topic you will find an abundance of references at the end of chapter.

The title "When Technology Fails" does not seem to fit the content well. The book does have a few sections on emergency preparation, procedures, and first-aid, but that is clearly not the heart of this book. It is also not an anti-technology book. It is full of technological solutions, however they are low-tech and earth friendly technologies. This book is much more about our future and how we can live using much more earth friendly and sustainable practices. Chapter 2, "Present Trends, Possible Futures," is a MUST read for everyone. Stein shows the reader, very clearly, how we can all still live in relative comfort AND dramatically reduce our impact on the environment.

The book is very well written with many examples and illustrations to highlight his teachings. Its is also a fun read, which is unusual for a "how to" manual. There are many beautiful and powerful quotes and several ideas that will challenge your thinking. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

This book is a Keeper, January 9, 2001
I'm the kind of guy that wants to understand how things work- I'm not an engineer or anything like that- I'm just a regular guy. One of the things about our modern society that concerns me the most, is as new technology makes our lives simpler, we (the people not involved in implimenting the new technology) lose track of how things really work. This book is a handbook that describes the systems and techniques that our grandparents once knew and we (as members of modern society) have never learned.

There are a lot of books out there that focus on singular aspects of what this author undertakes. I have not ever seen a book as comprehensive as this on the subject. Although the author is an engineer, the book is written for the layperson- and he does a great job doing it. It shows; he has extensively researched all of his topics and offers a huge reference section at the end of each of his chapters.

This author has a keen understanding of where the modern world is going- if something isn't quickly done to change its course; but rather than just complaining about the problems the world faces, he offers time proven solutions that every one of us can utilize, on our own.

With the threat of higher utility bills on the horizon, the timing of this book is uncanny. I truely believe that this may be one of the best books to have in the reference section of your personal library!

Good information, not all is practical or needed, December 29, 2005
There is a lot of good information in this book, especially good are the reference and resource areas and websites the author includes.

With that said, I found a lot of stuff that simply wasn't practical or necessary to have. Some questions I have after reading it are: Where would the average person store that roughly 1200 lbs of grain, 240 lbs of legumes, 200 lbs of dairy, etc, etc. needed for a family of 4 to survive a year? And what would you do at the end of the year when you had eaten all your food? Also the average uban dweller probably isn't likely to be able to drill their own well for drinking water. And what about your neighbors? Is it really practical to expect that they would let you eat drink and be merry while the whole village starved?

Some of the things the author lists for survival also seem ridiculous. How about the condom that you can put in a sock to create a water bottle. Why not just keep a couple water bottles around? He lists a compass and matches and candles. Unless you are planning to do hiking in previously unnavigated areas, the compass seems not necessary. Candles and matches! I live in South Florida where we get a lot of power outages from hurricanes- the last one left us without electricity for two weeks. My best suggestion is a couple really good flash lights (battery powered and solar) and some solar lanterns and stock up on those batteries.

I couldn't decide if this book was for the end of the world, a nuclear attack, or a beginning primer to for the end of fossil fuels. This book seemed more like a hodge podge of other more succinct works giving the most extreme examples.

Since we aren't at the end of the world yet, there are lots of ways to reduce your personal dependence on the modern electrical grid. If we all do this collectively, then a manual like this becomes less necessary. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs- 1/4 the energy usage- lasts 10x as long. Get a tankless water heater or one that is solar powered. Turn off your lights and unplug your appliances when you aren't using them. Buy appliances that have an energystar rating. Plant some trees- they will give you shade and soak up some of that carbon modern societies love to emit. Plant some vegetables. Compost & buy a rain catcher for plant irrigation. Recycle everything! Buy a hybrid car. Plan your shopping excursions to maximize your time out driving. ETC, ETC. And most importantly demand an energy policy that works from your elected officials!

You can also buy those appliances that won't leave you stranded if there is an extended outage. Solar cookers, gas grills, solar refrigerators, and like I noted earlier the flash lights and solar lanterns. Stock up on some water and non perishible items if you live in a place that gets hit with hurricanes.

So, in sum, while this book gives a lot of good advice, its not very concise and also gives you a lot of info that you won't likely need.

Stein succeeds where technology fails, January 10, 2001
When Technology Fails

A good engineer understands technological theory and is able to apply it in the real world. A good teacher helps other people grasp an abstract idea and its concrete manifestations. A good writer can get an idea across to the reader.

In his new book "When Technology Fails", Matthew Stein succeeds as an engineer, teacher and writer. He demonstrates his broad knowledge of the field of self-reliance. He helped me better understand self-reliance concepts and, especially, their many applications. He writes clearly and concisely. It's a good how-to and why-to book. It does remind me of The Whole Earth Catalogue as the jacket suggests, but it covers many topics more deeply than its predecessor. The extensive bibliography makes it an excellent reference source if you want to explore a topic more, but one gets plenty of practical advice without going further. It also reminded me of my old scout handbook, loaded with self-reliance tips for everything from emergency survival to first aid to energy efficient, low-cost housing. I'm not wild about the book's title. Stein is an MIT-trained engineer, not a survivalist reactionary. The book also provides low-tech, not no-tech solutions.

When Technology Fails is a well-written, useful source of information and ideas for both the neophyte and old pro interested in becoming more self-reliant.

the title is misleading - not what I expected., February 1, 2010
"when technology fails" is misleading to the content of the book. It had a few good ideas but is was more about the author's philosophy. To give you a better idea of what I am speaking of before you decide to buy this book;
this is chapter 16 Making the shift to sustainability.
Plan B
1. change the tax structure - cap & trade
2. rebuild our cities
3. rebuild our railways, waterways, and mass transit systems
4. rebuild our homes, office buildings, and factories
5. rebuild our industries
6. fund and support renewable energy development
7. eliminate population growth (I had to write the whole caption under this one)
Reduce global population to the point where the population of our planet levels off, followed by a decline in world population. On a planet where the estimated long-term carrying capacity is on the order of 1 to 2 billion people, if we can't control our own population growth, nature will do it for us. Most people would agree that it is much more humane to provide family-planning eduction and birth control materials for all people on earth than for the population to find its natural level through starvation, plagues, and wars. "when technology fails" page 461.
8. share the wealth
9. reach out to developing countries
10. replace coal-burning power plants
11. global relocalization
12. make decisions based on sustainability
DO YOU NOW UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED FROM THE TITLE.
WHY DID I TYPE THIS? IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SURVIVAL OR BACK TO NATURE BOOK FOR CAMPING, THIS IS NOT IT. EVEN THOUGH THE TITLE MAY PUT IT IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS "THE SAS HANDBOOK" OR "HOW TO SURVIVE THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT" YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS BOOK.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN GLOBAL WARMING AND GOING GREEN ALL THE WAY, BY ALL MEANS BUY THIS BOOK. IT IS VERY WELL WRITTEN.

Just the Facts, not the Fear, July 13, 2007
What I love about Stein's book, "When Technology Fails" besides the incredible in-depth information on alternative health remedies, is he simplifies the job of disaster preparedness for those of us who don't buy into the media-based fear, are not survivalists, or retired boy scouts but want to take prudent action to protect our families - just in case. As Stein commented on a recent appearance on "The View from The Bay" ABC news Channel 7 in San Francisco, preparedness is like auto insurance, we hope we never have to use it and it's a good thing to have around when we need it.

As a mother of four children living in San Francisco, the book leaves me feeling empowered with the basic facts along with plenty of options to consider without outfitting a nuclear safe compartment for a family of six in my backyard. Living in California, my husband and I had wondered for example, if we could store an adequate supply of water in our city garage for our family in case of earthquake. One of the helpful hints we got from Stein was to buy a water filter and treatment tablets used by hikers and climbers because they are both effective and compact.

While it isn't easy to consider the unthinkable, especially when you are responsible for young children, knowledge is power and "When Technology Fails" put that knowledge right in the reader's hands. We can't and don't control disasters and/or world events but we do very much have choice about our own abilities to respond if necessary. We don't need to buy into the fear but the facts are certainly helpful.

Don't read it cover to cover. Read it like an encyclopedia. Check out the topics that are of interest and use the information that is helpful in your own circumstances. And don't miss the information on the "grab and run" kits.

Now in a newly revised and substantially expanded edition, March 12, 2001
Everyone has experienced the abrupt interruption of their daily lives when the power goes out. That temporary termination of electricity is the most commonly encountered example of how our lives are affected when our technology fails. That's why in the age of the electric lightbulb we still buy candles. Now in a newly revised and substantially expanded edition, "When Technology Fails: A Manual For Self-Reliance, Sustainability, And Surviving The Long Emergency" by engineer and building contractor Matthew Stein provides a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide to preparing for both temporary and extended technology collapses and dramatic adjustments necessitated by local phenomena and global environmental trends ranging from the inevitable diminishment of petroleum as a source of energy, to climate change, to economic collapse. Addressing issues ranging from self-reliance, to emergency survival, to low-tech medicine and health, to water quality and treatment, to shelter, food, clothing, low-tech chemistry, and more, "When Technology Fails" is invaluable and a core addition to personal and community library reference collections.
... Read more

Editorial Review

When the power fails, prepared families settle in, stay warm, and eat well. With careful planning, organization, and a detailed assessment of the needs of each family member, it is possible for every household to survive at least several days with no outside services. A sensible home system will take over the work of providing warmth, shelter, and nutrition.

Author Kathy Harrison guides readers through the empowering process of setting up such a home system with her OAR method — Organize existing supplies, Acquire additional necessities, Rotate everything for freshness. Her comprehensive coverage of emergency preparedness includes food storage, alternative heating sources, personal supplies for every family member, entertainment ideas, toiletry and proper clothing, pet supplies, emergency family communication plans, and neighborhood cooperatives.

In addition to preparing the home for extended periods without electricity, Harrison also discusses evacuation plans — where to go, how to meet up with family, what to pack, and how best to protect all that’s being left behind. Self-sufficiency at home or in a temporary safe haven takes away much of the fear and helplessness associated with disasters. Just in Case puts the power back in the hands of individuals who are equipped and ready to take over when public services fail.

Disasters can strike an entire region or a single unlucky family. They can be brought on by weather (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, severe heat or cold, landslides) or by man (terrorism, acts of war, simple human error). Whatever the cause, these catastrophic events have the potential to disrupt routines and cost money and lives. Why not be one of the prepared few? Just in case . . .

Review
With the assumption that "many of us have a false sense of security... assuming that technology will prevail or that some government agency will bail us out in a crisis," this extensive guide gives detailed, down-to-earth advice on what to do when disaster strikes, be it a house fire, an ice storm or biological terrorism. Aided by charmingly retro illustrations vaguely reminiscent of a 1940s air raid brochure, Harrison (Another Place at the Table) presents her "OAR" system for preparedness—organizing, acquiring and rotating supplies—and techniques to safely and even comfortably survive any kind of emergency. She shows how to prepare for a short-term crisis: building a supply of food and water; preparing first aid and evacuation kits; planning communication and a family meeting place in times of crisis. She also presents long-term strategies for self-sufficiency: "eliminating debt and securing a supply of cash in your home"; planting a garden, canning food and making cheese; replacing an inefficient fireplace with a woodstove; building a solar oven. Harrison shows that learning to do it yourself, besides providing some security in an increasingly insecure world, brings less obvious but perhaps equally important benefits: "an incredible sense of self-sufficiency and independence." And pointing out that family preparedness can build community, she reminds readers, "crisis can bring out the best in people, or the worst. Strive to be one of the good guys."
(Publishers Weekly, August 2008) ... Read more

Editorial Review

With concise explanations and detailed illustrations, survival expert Gregory Davenport covers the five basic elements of survival - personal protection, signalling, finding food and water, travel, and health - providing the reader with complete information on how to stay calm and alive until rescue arrives. It is completely updated with information on keeping yourself safe and healthy in the wilderness. It is a comprehensive, well-organised, and user-friendly guide to staying alive in the backcountry. ... Read more

Reviews

Davenport's book is an outstanding educational tool!, June 24, 2000
Greg Davenport's simple approach to Wilderness Survival is the key to this user friendly educational text.

Greg posts on several of the wilderness survival forums. Through his book and posts I have come to understand his unique approach to wilderness survival. He believes that it is based on ones ability to do three things:

1. Stop and recognize the situation for what it is.
2. Identify your "five survival essentials" and prioritize them, in order of importance, for the environment that you are in.
3. Improvise to meet your needs using both your manmade and natural resources.

His book covers this process. It explains in step by step format how to meet your "five survival essentials" in every global environment. Davenport believes that these essentials are constant and the only thing that changes (from one climate to another) is the order and method in which they are met. These "five survival essentials" are:

1. Personal Protection (clothing, shelter, fire)
2. Signaling (manmade and improvised)
3. Sustenance (water and food ID, procurement, and preparation)
4. Travel (with and without a map and compass)
5. Health (psychological stress, traumatic and environmental injuries).

Davenport covers this information and more in his book (preview the table of contents). If you travel outdoors and are interested in learning about wilderness survival buy this book! You will not be disappointed.

Finally a book that focuses on wilderness survival, October 10, 2001
Wilderness survival and wilderness living are not the same thing!!!

Like the previous reviewers - I have read most of the survival books on the market and I agree that this is hands down the best one out there. It covers all aspects of survival:

1. personal protection (clothing, shelter, fire)
2. signaling
3. sustenance (water and food)
4. travel (using a map and compass)
5. health (psychological stress, traumatic and environmental injuries)

I agree with a previous post -- its navigation chapter is the best I have seen and has really helped me master this skill. In addition, Greg Davenport's medical experience is apparent - his health section is by far the best I have seen in a book related to wilderness survival...

In a time when most survival books are actually about living in the wilderness ... it is good to find a book that focused on teaching the skills needed for those who play and work in the wilderness... I look forward to reading Mr. Davenport's newest book -- Wilderness Living -- which does focus on wilderness living skills.

Great book!, August 6, 2000
This is a no nonsense book on adapting and surviving in the wilderness. A former Air Force SERE instructor, Davenport breaks survival down to its basic essentials (personal protection, sustenance, signaling, travel, and health), teaching the reader to evaluate his/her situation, prioritize needs, and take life-saving action. Many survival books are just a catalog of exotic skills, poorly illustrated, and giving the reader no clear idea of how or when to employ them. I liked this book because it follows the KISS approach--surviving is 90% common sense. The other 10 is the ability to apply basic skills, which the book clearly details. If I were going to carry one survival manual with me into the bush, it would be this one.

This is the most comprehensive survival book available!!!!, September 24, 2001
Although survival has been a constant throughout time, it is refreshing to find an expert who presents the information in a user friendly format. Greg Davenport's design makes it easy to learn basic and complexed survival skills. Like other books, Davenport provides insight into shelter and fire skills. However, unlike other books, Davenport goes one step further and breaks ground by providing comprehensive chapters on Signaling, Navigation, and Wilderness Medicine. In fact, his Navigation chapter is perhaps the best I have ever seen (I learned more from this chapter then from books devoted to this subject only). If you want one book that covers all the skills you need to survive -- then this is the book for you!!!

The How-To Bible of Survival, December 14, 2002
For those of you who take the time to read Gregory Davenport's book you'll find it covers all aspects of survival (not backpacking). The book focuses on the survival skills needed to stay alive should your outing turn bad. It is clear, concise, and covers each task in a step-by-step format.

The post stating the book lacks detail and fails to give alternatives (using the lean-to example) is misleading. I went back and read the passage the reviewer refered to. Here is what I found,

"A lean to is most often used in the warm temperate and snow environments.
1. Find two trees about 7 feet apart with forked branches 4 to 5 feet high on the trunk.
2. Break away any other branches that pose a safety threat or interfere with the construction of your lean-to.
3. Place a ridge pole (a fallen tree that is approximately 10 feet long and the diameter of your wrist) into the forked branches. Note: If unable to find two trees with forked branches, lash the ridge pole to the trees."
4. Lay several support poles......."

While it is true he doesn't cover lashing here (should he cover it everywhere that it is referred to?) it is covered at the end of the book in Appendix A (lashing and knots). The lean-to is just one of many natural shelters describe in this well thought out book. Others alternatives include, tree pit, A-frame, platform bed, hobo shelter, snow cave, and snow A-frame. In addition, he gives step by step instruction on how to build four various tarp shelters. When you read this book you'll find Davenport's attention to detail doesn't just stop with the steps needed to meet your survival needs, he also covers safety concerns related to each task.

Wilderness Survival covers clothing, shelter, fire, signaling, water and food procurement, navigation, and health issues better than any book out there. I have almost every survival book there is and none match the detailed step-by-step approach seen here. If you want a book on how to camp, buy a book on camping. If you want a book that teaches you the next step--survival--this is the one.

Survival Cornerstone, April 5, 2001
I?ve lived in various parts of the world, and have always chosen to spend as much time as possible, as far from my fellow man as I could. I?ve spent more than twenty years as a wildlife photographer and artist. I?ve captured images of the world?s rarest and most dangerous game on every continent. My assignments have taken me Pole to Pole, and all points in between. The risk of finding myself alone and in trouble in the wilderness has always been a very real possibility and has come to light several times so far in my career. I hesitantly anticipate more of these possibilities in the future. On a side bar, the rumors of having heightened senses after such an encounter are very accurate.

To my review. I was intrigued about this book because of the background of the author. Knowing that the military spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on training their pilots and other airmen, I could only imagine how much time and money they must?ve spent on training their instructors whose job it was to keep these men alive. If an airman were to find himself stranded in the wilderness, for whatever reason there might be, he would need to know the essentials of survival for many different climates and geographic locales. That is where this book excells. It gives the reader an intelligently structured set of instructions that offer anyone the best odds of survival in nearly every circumstance.

I have read every book on the subject of wilderness survival and there are many fine ones in print. This book by Davenport seems to bring them all together. It is concise, very well written, very informative, and most importantly it is organized better than any other wilderness skills book I have read. It serves as the new center piece in my library on the subject. If a book, or manual, or article has been printed on the subject of wilderness survival, I own it. There are other books that delve deeper into particular areas of wilderness survival but none encompass the totality of the subject as well as Greg Davenport?s. This book is clearly meant to serve as the cornerstone of one?s education. It offers an excellent foundation with enough specifics that the reader is presented with several different options or plans to follow in the case of an emergency. If I were to recommend only one book on the subject, this would certainly be the one. It will accompany me on all future assignments and I feel more secure in knowing that it will always be by my side.

Outstanding, February 17, 1999
I've read every survival book out there. It is refreshing to find one that is straightforward and easy to follow. Greg's book isn't filled with philosophy...it's full of valuable information that is useful for all backcountry travellers!!!!

A quick and easy to read book on outdoor survival., October 13, 2001
I would say that this book tends to lean towards one finding themselves in an unprepared survival situation. It does not have an endless list of items to have when going into the wilderness. This book is a must for even those that are prepared seeing it will give knowledge to add to your survival package. This book is easy, simple, and quick. The chapter on land navigation is an added extra and again simple. I also enjoyed trapping wild game. The universal edibility test on plants was new to me and valuable. However, I felt Mr. Davenport could have been more informative on listing edible plants. The characteristics of plants to avoid is good information and new to me as well. The section on water procurement is excellent! The more I read this book the better I like it. I will find a book on edible plants to compliment this book. I would recommend this book highly and read it until you know it by heart!

Clear and Concise, May 8, 2003
I am very impressed with Davenport's book. It covers the essentials (he lists five) of survival without adding a bunch of stuff you don't need to know. I carry it in my backpack as a reference. Mr. Davenport has also written an excellent book on primitive survival skills called "Wilderness Living" and has a series of books out under the series title "Greg Davenport's Books for the Wilderness."

I like his clear and concise writing style and his basic approach to survival in the various global climates. I urge all those who explore the wilderness to pick up his books. All of them.

Teaches you how to think, September 30, 2004
Although it would be nice to have everything you needed for a survival situation, that isn't always the case. Davenport's book teaches you how to think through a survival situation and promotes the art of improvising when things go wrong. His book is straight forward--helping the reader identify survival needs while showing a myriad of methods in which to meet them.

It is a textbook! One I highly recommend! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A Book Every Person Should Have, June 25, 2009
HAWKE'S GREEN BERET SURVIVAL MANUAL is clearly written by a seasoned expert, but it is 360 degrees different from those by the rest of the survival gurus out there. It is packed with expertise based on both real-world and military training, but geared for regular people, even those who have no outdoor experience. It is a big, comprehensive book that covers absolutely everything needed to survive virtually anything...how to do it with or without tools and provisions in any environment; also how to think like Macgyver and use whatever is at hand. And perhaps one of the greatest things about this book is that it is immensely readable as told in Hawke's bare-bones, earthy and often humorous style. This book will appeal to both men and women, hard-core outdoor enthusiasts and those who've never even been camping.

It's also extremely empowering as Hawke makes it clear that we all have the most important tool to survive if we learn how to channel it: the will to live and the vow to never quit. But he provides a lot of invaluable extras that you may never need--or that may someday save your life or, perhaps, many others.

Got me going., June 26, 2009
This book is well written for the casual reader. The stories inserted here and there add a bit of humor. I looked over the myriad survival guides but found this one the most down to earth. Myke really speaks to the non-nature oriented folks. My experience with survival is limited to "car camping" and avoiding the bad neighborhoods in NYC. I don't smoke, but I think I will start carrying a lighter with me (get the book to know why). This book is a great fraking read. I would advise everyone to get this one, absorb what Myke says. Go to the local parks and practice what you can (legally.)

This book is not a technical manual, there are plenty of other books out there for that. Read it, practice it, and remember the acronyms, or make up your own as it doesn't matter how you get this knowledge in your head. If you decide to carry it with you and find yourself in a survival situation, you can use it as kindling if all else fails. Myke would be ok as long as you do all you can to survive.

I'm still reading through it, but I thought it deserved an early good review. IT'S THAT GOOD.

Awesome book!, June 5, 2009
This is truly a brilliantly bizzare and unconventional book on survival. Hawke avoids a dull survival book read with his informal writing style, personal accounts and shockers like cannibalism and getting fluids from feces. The medical portion is fantastic. I was in the military with Hawke and he's the real deal. The book is very high quality.

Practical and relevant survival information, March 23, 2010
Hawke's Green Beret Survival Manual by Myke Hawke is one of the best survival books on the market. The book is written in a relaxed yet humorous tone. After reading this book you get the sense that Hawke really knows the "in's and out's" of survival. With his extensive military and special operations experience he definitely has, "been there, done that" and this book provides you with valuable insight based on real world experience. He tells you what works, what doesn't and if he disagrees with conventional thought about a survival topic. He pulls no punches and provides a dose of reality when it comes to survival. Hawke makes no apologies that survival isn't pretty or fun and that sometimes it is just miserable, painful and difficult. Also included are survival tips for the urban environment.

There are chapters on: The psychology of survival, shelter, weather, fire, food, tools, navigation, signals, first aid and nature. Each chapter is complete with realistic and relevant survival information that is practical.

The chapter on first aid is extensive, thorough and realistic. Covered in this section is vital signs, triage, trauma medicine, ABC's, nutrition, immunizations, diseases, antibiotics, CPR, self treatment, elements & exposure, shock, common health problems, sprains & strains, dislocations, fractures, cricothyroidotomy, open wound management, closing a wound, appendectomy, wounds caused by critters and animals, and primitive plant medicine. Even if you are up to date on first aid this is an excellent chapter with very relevant and practical information. Hawke has a great way of getting you to see the big picture in survival and that sometimes tough decisions have to be made such as leaving a wounded individual, amputating a limb, performing an appendectomy or deciding not to conduct CPR. Remember survival is not pretty and sometimes people die despite best efforts.

Regardless of your skill level or experience I believe that there are plenty of informational nuggets in this book that would make it worthwhile for all to read. Hawke's Green Beret Survival Manual is current and up to date with excellent information. I highly recommend this book.

A 'must have' guide for disaster preparedness., September 11, 2009
I recently purchased this 'survival manual' from Amazon.com.
It is clearly evident, after spending just a short time scanning this book, that it is written for the 'everyday person'; not just those who have special training.
If you want to be prepared for any type of disaster, you will need to have this manual in your library. However, just having it in your library does not prepare you for any eventuality. You must read and study it.
It is not necessary to commit all of it's teachings to memory. I believe that, depending on where you live, there are certain sections that are more important for each of us to know rather than to digest the entire training available through the book. In addition to 'where you live', other key factors of what you prepare for will depend on your capabilities and desires. Most of us have limitations in some way and all of what is available in the book just does not make sense for some of us.
When taking all of this into consideration, there are items covered in this book that will make us better prepared regardless of who and what we are and what we can do.
Get the book, look it over and decide in what manner you wish or want to be prepared; 'just in case'. It never hurts any of us to be prepared, even for things that may never happen. It helps us live more confidently to be prepared, for whatever.

The best place to start., January 27, 2010
Now i have read a slue of survival/preparedness books and this one takes it for me. I would say its best if your just beginning and need a place to start. For seasoned survivors this may make a handy tool for reference but probably contains information you already know. While i havent been in a survival situation myself (depending on what your idea is) i am using this as a base start for organizing the rest of my survival kit.

I believe Mykel Hawke is very good at what he does and who he is ( i did a bit of searching on his military career as well) he has been everything from green beret to emergency medical tech so i take his word seriously. He may talk to the reader as if they are a buddy but hes a cut to the chase kinda guy. Not sure why someone rated this book alright for teenagers, i give this five stars because its the best out there for everyone, not just first timers. Give this book serious thought over many others as the best place to start.

Don't think about it, just BUY this book!!!, August 11, 2009
This book is the only survival manual you MIGHT ever need in an emergency situation. If your not in such a situation, it still makes good reading and also gives you food for thought. It's well written and provides easy to find info on ANY thing you need to know to stay alive.

Need to Know, November 20, 2009
This book is a "must-read" if you are paying any attention whatsoever to what is going on today! Even if nothing ever happens (and hopefully it won't) there is no problem with being able to handle whatever life throws at you. This book contains detailed and thorough information to help you in nearly every situation. I found the book well written with explanatory diagrams. Be Prepared!

Informative and life saving, September 10, 2009
I found more in the book than I thought would be there. I thought it was just going to be very very basic and be only about 150 pages or so. I was very surprised to see a hard bound book and full of information that I have found very informative and will be very useful. Thank you very much !

Solid info to keep you alive, September 5, 2009
Good book no matter your outdoor skill level. Lots of skills an outdoorsman may already have, but may not have thought about all the possibilities for applying them. The best of all though, is Myke's insistence that you NEVER give up. The psychology of surviving is the most important asset you can have. I have read many tales where people should not have survived the conditions they did, but they did not give up and they came through. His shelter building is particularly strong; he gave me ideas I had never considered for sheltering in a watery area. Text on medical care is first rate, particularly the discussions about triage. It may not be nice to consider, but you must do so if you are going to survive and help others do so. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

HOW TO STAY ALIVE IN THE WOODS is a practical, readable-and potentially indispensable-manual for anyone venturing into the great outdoors.

Broken down into four essential sections, Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation and Safety, this enlightening guide reveals how to catch game without a gun, what plants to eat (full-color illustrations of these make identification simple), how to build a warm shelter, make clothing, protect yourself and signal for help. Detailed illustrations and expanded instructions, newly commissioned for this deluxe edition, offer crucial information at a glance, making How to Stay Alive in the Woods truly a lifesaver.A sturdy, durable rubber cover with Dayglo type protects this must-have from the elements. ... Read more

Reviews

Some good ideas, but a bit outdated..., March 10, 2002
Although there is a good deal of information to be gained from this book, some of the information is a tad outdated. I have read through several similar books and in my opinion the US Army Survival manual as well as Wilderness Survival by Gregory Davenport does a much better job in helping a camper/hiker feel comfortable in knowing how to take care of themselves or others should the situation arise.

The initial copyright on the book is 1956; the writing style and information show their age... The discussion of wool being the best bet for cold weather seems a bit outdated. The writing style is unique and not the easiest to read. I wouldn't be comfortable if the only survival information I had were Angiers instructions and illustrations. I found that many of the other "survival" books do a much better job in explaining how to do a given task with step by step information. The illustrations leave much to be desired as I couldn't tell most of the edible plant illustrations from the poisonous ones, and I doubt I could match an illustration to an actual plant if my life depended on it...

In my opinion your best bet would be the two other books I mentioned before you considered this one...

How to Stay Alive in the Woods, February 15, 2000
Having read an earlier book by Mr. Angier many years ago I looked forward to a revised and updated version of the tips offered decades ago. Unfortunately I was dissapointed. While many things have not changed in the wilderness, clothing, emergency suplies, and first aid techniques certainly have. Saying that only wool is good enough to keep one warm and to advocate the outdated use of snake bite kits and iodine are examples. I suggest that today's survivalist look for a more modern guide.

Anyone planning an extended stay in the woods, December 8, 1998
Angier's book, How to Stay Alive in the Woods, is a must for all outdoor people. It describes, in detail, how to overcome almost any backwoods disaster. Those who like to take overnight hikes into wilderness areas should be prepared for anything, and this book does just that; it prepares you for everything. I have spent numerous weeks at a time trekking through Alaska, Northern Canada, and the Rockies and have read many books. This is the best wilderness survival book out there.

Good Book, February 28, 2004
I have never had to use any of the information contained in this book in a susrvival situation but as a kid I did use the information about trapping and snares to catch rabbits in Alaska as a kid (I'm using the third printing 1966 version.) I also built snow shelters to play in. Everything I tried from this book worked.

Tips for Survival, February 20, 2003
You are stranded in the woods, alone and scared. Bradford Angier's "How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere" very well may save your life. Throughout the book, Angier gives important information which is also quite interesting. He covers main topics which are the focal point if each chapter. Most ideas and tactics are generally understandable, although the illustrations are downright ridiculous at times. The moments that leave you thinking "that was a brilliant idea" are often interrupted with common sense tips that make you wonder what age group the book is intended for. Detailed explanations of practical knowledge draw attention from several parts of the book, which results in numerous low points. In conclusion, this book makes for a decent read, but lacks the qualities which would make it a book that you would like to own.

This is a great book, January 9, 2007
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it is a little outdated, but the ideas are just as valid today. This is written by a writer who lived off the land and knew exactly how to survive in situations that others would give up on. The fact that this was written before the GPS came around doesn't make it any less valuable a resource.

How on earth do you start a fire with only a piece of ice? Read the book! (And yes, I really don't think I could start such a fire even with the book in front of me, but it's nice to know that it is possible...)

How do you create a fish trap out of sticks? How do you create a snare? How do you find civilization if you are lost? How do you find water? What type of things do you need to bring with you on camping trips? What is safe to eat, and what is not? These types of things are all answered inside.

I've read it cover to cover several times and I believe it is the perfect type of book to give to an outdoorsman or to keep down at a cabin for a little light winter reading...

Highly Recommended!

Excellent, except the pictures, January 26, 1999
This book is primarily focused on survival in the northwestern United States and Canada. The pictures leave something to be desired, but Angier's descriptions are excellent. The book a bit dated, but for theoose looking to go back to simpler times, the lack of GPS systems and Gore-Tex may be just the thing.

Know the basics., June 23, 2002
Changes are inevitable, and you may find yourself in a position to know how to survive in unfamiliar terrain. This books provides a heads-up for the woods. Know the principles so that you can apply them.

great, great, great!, April 12, 1999
Not only does this book give you the confidence to set off on your own, but it is immensely pleasureable to read. I would agree the plant pictures are a little vague, but that can be supplemented. The Bible of survival!

Don't buy this book., July 26, 2010
There are hundreds of books out there with better information that are easier to read. Here is a sample of how the book is written.

"Although fires may as we have considered be lit by several primitive methods, this can be accomplished neither so surely nor so easily that many will care to go into the bush without a waterproof case filled with long wooden matches."

There are no typos in this quote. that is exactly how the author speaks in this book. I was very upset when I got the book home and started reading. Don't waste your money here. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With the same sharp eye, quick with, and narrative drive that marked his bestsellers The Game, The Dirt, and How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, Neil Strauss takes us on a white-knuckled journey through America's heart of darkness as he scrambles to escape the system. It's one man's story of a dangerous world—and how to stay alive in it.