Customer Reviews:
Why buy what you can get for free!?.......2007-07-03
I would recommend, as another poster has, to download this book for free just by using google and inserting Fm 21-76, then print in out. Don't waste your money.
Excellent Information and Presentation BUT Needs To Be Updated!.......2007-07-01
This book is very interesting. I started out planning to give it a quick look and ended up reading it almost cover to cover. It contains a lot of very useful information; however, it has a 1970's copyright date and some of the information seems to be outdated. For instance, with respect to snake bites, it still recommends cutting the bite to suck out the venom and applying a tourniquet. Most authorities now indicate that these practices are not only no longer recommended but are actually now considered to be the cause of most of the serious injuries (at least from the venomous snakes in my area).
With a simple update to insure that all information reflects current knowledge, I would feel comfortable giving this book 5 stars and recommending it to everyone. That said, it is still chock full of valuable and potentially life saving information and at the price, it is still a good investment.
If Your GPS Broke, Would You Be Able To Find Your Way?.......2007-06-10
This manual is very extensive. Its range of topics include survival medicine, to creating emergency shelter in the field, to foretelling weather and how to find direction. It includes full color images of poisonous snakes and edible as well as poisonous plants to avoid.
While I haven't been in situations that tested virtually most of these methods, as many are geared toward survival in extreme circumstances, I always take this with me when I hike. I have, however, needed the info on tying knots, have used the pictures to identify snakes, and I often peruse the descriptions of first aid to keep familiar with it.
---*** THE BOTTOM LINE ***---
If you are someone who regularly spends time outdoors, even if it's just a dayhike or camping close to other people, you should really have this book that could help in many situations.
BEST BOOK!.......2007-05-30
This is by far the best book I have seen on this topic. It covers all necessary areas without being too wordy. Don't go camping without it!
Most important for Survival.......2007-04-22
As you can tell from the reviews, this book is a must for anyone who never have thought of what it takes to survive away from societal businesses.
How do you get water when water sources are polluted?
How long will you survive without water?
Prepare for accidents, because they will happen, more often than not.
And, more importantly, you may never know when you'll need to have this highly important manual to rely on.
Buy it, and read it, don't let it sit there without first becoming familiar to it's content. Don't wait until its absolutely necessary to use it first. It just may be a situation that you don't have time or much energy left to absorb the knowledge it contains.
Book Description
The SAS Survival Handbook is the Special Air Service's complete course in being prepared for any type of emergency. John 'Lofty' Wiseman presents real strategies for surviving in any type of situation, from accidents and escape procedures, including chemical and nuclear to successfully adapting to various climates (polar, tropical, desert), to identifying edible plants and creating fire. The book is extremely practical and is illustrated throughout with easy-to-understand line art and diagrams.
Customer Reviews:
Good if you are not in a megalopolis.......2007-10-12
I think this book is very good for certain situations, but I feel that it does not meet the needs of most average folks in case of major catastrophy.
I would recommend Ron Foster's practical guide for all scenarios. Since he works in the field of emergency response, he has the most up to date and useful methods of urban and rural survival.
If you seriously want to learn more than "how to live off the land" short term, I would highly recommend Mr. Foster's publication, "The Rural Ranger: A Suburban Manual & Field Guide of Traps and Snares for Food and Survival".
I know how to live off the land if one can even get to such a ideal location, but hunger, thirst and the elements will wear out the millions of people trying to vacate their huge cities all at once.
This book gives one a fighting chance no matter what your skills are or where you live.
Seriously,
David Highum
Amazing survival book - Incredable - Can't stop reading it!.......2007-10-10
This book is gold. If you decide to donate money to homeless people STOP. Donate this book instead. They will be able to live forever with the helpful survival tips in this book. It sits on my coffee table and has been a talking point with everyone who sees it. It has everything in it - including 'Emergency Child Birth in the Bush'. The trapping and food sections are amazing. This book was everything and much more than I thought it would be. Easily the best few dollars I ever spent on a book. Thanks to the sling traps I have no more stray cats claiming my yard as their own! Then using this book I was able to skin, prepare and cook these cats. I was also able to discard the offal that was not nutrient dense. Note: No cats have really been caught or cooked yet - but I could if I wanted to.
SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea.......2007-09-27
With the new tv shows showing actual survival skills in the wild my family and I have developed a real interest in this topic. I am enjoying the book. It was written in a very easy and understandable way. I feel confident that with this book by my side that I could survive quite well in a variety of situations.
What about cabin avalanche?.......2007-09-19
I found this book to thoroughly take me through the fundamentals of survival, however, I am always thinking of some very particular situations that I could find myself in that weren't addressed.
For instance, what about the "trapped in a cabin by avalance" that we're all fearful of? I play it over and over in my head. Most likely it would be 3 or 4 of us on a weekend ski trip. I've always felt that it would be best to go ahead and turn on the others very early on in the event of an avalance instead of waiting for starvation to decimate the group.
For one, each day trapped in that cabin means that everyone will be burning calories, making themselves thinner and thinner, not leaving much of a meal if natural course is left to do the dirty work of finishing them off. Not to mention, you might be too weak for a death match days later.
Also, turning on them early will almost assuredly be unexpected, since ditching ethical behavior at first opportunity is not the norm and especially with so much food still in the fridge. You're going to need that element of surprise, b/c let's face it, when you start helicoptering that timber axe over your head, the line will clearly be drawn in the sand and its 1 versus 3 at that point. You'll need to mow them all down very quickly. Don't worry that you aren't hungry yet, as there should be plenty of snow at the windows that can be used to keep the bodies from spoiling.
But I definitely liked the informative chapter on which leaves are ok to eat and which are poisonous.
Great!.......2007-09-14
Contains just about anything you would want to know about survival. I am reading the whole thing, and it is quite interesting!
Customer Reviews:
When civilizaton falls, I'll be ready!.......2007-07-14
This book is well written, easy to read and full of useful information on how to survive out in the wild places. Anyone planning for the end of civilization (or just a fun weekend camping in the woods) should read this book.
"A Treasure".......2007-04-20
when i say treasure i don't use that term lightly. i originally read this book in it's entirety and really enjoyed it, then put it down for awhile. However, I have spent numerous hours in the outdoors as of late and have found this as a guide to just about anything i want to do in the outdoors.
I have used it to guide me through making baskets and containers in the wilderness, (and an easter basket for my wife), for skinning a wild animal, for making knifes, arrows, etc. from flint and bone, for guiding me to some edible wild treats. I could go on and on about the uses for this book. And even if this book isn't complete on a particular subject it will guide you to a book that does. Whether it's to one of his books or another field guide series.
Good place to start.......2007-02-11
This book is a great place to start if you're interested in learning outdoor survival. Very practical, not just what to do, but how to think when you're if you're stuck in a survival situation. Clear directions, simple illustrations. Not as dry as, say, a Boy Scout manual.
Survival at it's best........2007-01-10
Tom Brown is a mastermind.I got this book read it,then got all of his field guides. Outdoor survival is my love and Tom Brown has taken me to a whole other level. BUY IT!
Keep this in your pack. .......2006-07-26
This book is the best starting place for those wishing to learn about wilderness survival. The book is well organized and a pleasure to read. The subject matter can be dry, but Mr. Brown does a good job of interlacing his personal experiences with the instructional material. There are two reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. 1) I think it could use more diagrams and pictures. Without an instructor by your side it would be easy to misunderstand some of the more technical skills covered. 2) This book is mainly for temperate regions. While much of the material is useful for any climate, it is missing tropical and artic specific information. Mr. Brown's knowledge of survival and tracking techniques is second to none. His field guides should be on every outdoor enthusiast's book shelf, and this book should be in your pack with you at all times.
Amazon.com
How to Wrestle Free from an Alligator: 4. If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (for example, a limb), tap or punch it on the snout.
Though it's being marketed as a humorous title--after all, it's unlikely you'll be called upon to land a plane, jump from a motorcycle to a moving car, or win a swordfight--the information contained in The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is all quite sound. Authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht consulted numerous experts in their fields (they're cited at the end of the book) to discover how to survive various and sundry awful events. Parachute doesn't open? Your best bet for survival is to hook your arms through the straps of a fellow jumper's chute--and even then you're likely to dislocate both shoulders and break both legs. Car sinking in water? Open the window immediately to equalize pressure, then open the car door and swim to the surface. Buried in an avalanche? Spit on the snow--it will tell you which direction is really up. Then dig as fast as you can.
Each survival skill is explained in simple steps with helpful illustrations. Most stress the need to be prepared--both mentally and physically. For example, to escape from quicksand, you will need to lay a pole on the surface of the quicksand, flop on your back atop the pole, and pull your legs out one by one. No pole? No luck. "When walking in quicksand country, carry a stout pole--it will help you get out should you need to."
Hopefully you'll never need to know how to build a fire without matches, perform a tracheotomy, or treat a bullet wound. But in the words of survival evasion resistance escape instructor "Mountain" Mel Deweese, "You never know." --Sunny Delaney
Book Description
Danger! It lurks at every corner. Volcanoes. Sharks. Quicksand. Terrorists. The pilot of the plane blacks out and it's up to you to land the jet. What do you do? The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is here to help: jam-packed with how-to, hands-on, step-by-step, illustrated instructions on everything you need to know FAST-from defusing a bomb to delivering a baby in the back of a cab. Providing frightening and funny real information in the best-selling tradition of the Paranoid's Pocket Guide and Hypochondriac's Handbook, this indispensable, indestructible pocket-sized guide is the definitive handbook for those times when life takes a sudden turn for the worse. The essential companion for a perilous age. Because you never know...
Download Description
Danger! It lurks at every corner. Volcanoes. Sharks. Quicksand. Terrorists. The pilot of the plane blacks out and it's up to you to land the jet. What do you do? The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is here to help: jampacked with how-to, hands-on, step-by-step, illustrated instructions on everything you need to know FAST -- from defusing a bomb to delivering a baby in the back of a cab. Providing frightening and funny real information in the best-selling tradition of the Paranoid's Pocket Guide and Hypochondriac's Handbook, this indispensable, indestructible pocket-sized guide is the definitive handbook for those times when life takes a sudden turn for the worse. The essential companion for a perilous age. Because you never know...
Customer Reviews:
The book works..........2007-07-13
I read the book. I saw a car accident. I can't go into further details because it is illegal to perform medical procedures without a degree in medicine. The boy didn't survive (he was brain dead immediately (happens when your head takes a cars bumper)) but his body did and was used to keep two other kids alive.
Laughter and Skills You Hope You Never Need.......2007-04-10
The odds may not be very good that you'll end up in some of these situations, but if you ever do, you'll be glad you read this book. If you never need these skills, then it's great for a laugh.
Entertaining.......2007-02-22
Extreme and extremely funny. Some are more plausible than others but all are thought provoking.
Really good.......2007-01-31
When I bought this book, my girlfrind and some friend where making fun of me, but as soon as one of them started reading it, he couldn't let it down and everybody was reading it. It contains information that I hope I'll never need. It's funny, but at the same time the information provided was well researched.
Great for having at your coffee table, since everyone will comment on it.
I belive it might be useful also for actual surviving....
Three Reasons To Buy This Book.......2007-01-20
One: You just might learn how to save your own life.
Two: You just might learn how to save someone else's life.
Three: You just might impress the hell out of your next date.
I like this book. It's like one of the Dummies titles devoted only to survival skills. It makes you feel like you're just a leetle bit superior to everybody else. The basics are here, but so are some of the coolest factoids, techniques, and tricks I've ever read. If someday you're in a falling elevator/locked in some pervert's trunk/facing an oncoming flash flood/freezing your epidermis off in a snow-covered SUV while driving home from a ski resort where you had a fight with your significant other who was wrong, not you, you'll be glad you bought this book and spent a day reading it. It's cool, it's fun, it's empowering, and it reminds me of someone I knew in college. (Yes, that last detail won't make you rush out and buy it, I know, but...)
Read The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook and you'll feel like you're ready for anything life might throw at you!
Amazon.com
Rosehips, rich in vitamin C, will remedy scurvy. Poplar, red cedar, elm, and willow are preferable for friction fires. If stuck on a flat, shelterless desert, dig a shallow pit (east-west) to lie in; even a few feet can result in a 100-degree temperature change. This is the sort of information outdoor enthusiasts will find in Bradford Angier's classic guide to survival in the wilderness. Divided into four parts (sustenance, warmth, orientation, safety), How To Stay Alive in the Woods is packed with woodcraft tips and age-old tricks--and it's packable as well, so don't leave home without it.
Book Description
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.
Customer Reviews:
Good book?!?.......2007-10-11
I bought this to help me get ready for my first planned camping/backpacking trip incase something was to go wrong I would like to say it is an older printed book but is very helpful. I aint a city feller and have some exsperince in the whole outdoors stuff, but I wanted this to give me some ideas incase something went wrong and I had to try and survive out there alone or with a hurt friend maybe and it is great for what I neede it for I was exspecting alittle morer but it is a paperback andwith that in mind I cant ask much more from it. I now have an idea of how to capture game with several different types of traps and also shelters out the wazzuh. I am going to find a book about the different types of plants and vegitation that grows arounfd my home so I can know what to look for and want poision myself. As I read this I wondered if the guys on the Discovery channel read these books before they get started because if you have watched any of them (Surviorman and etc.)there are so many of the thing they say do and build in this book its unreal, anyway I like the book and it has alot of helpful ideas if you are really wanting to be prepared for anything that could happen.
A fun and handsome book to have around, great to read through or just occaisionally reference........2007-09-08
Like most people who have read this book, I received it as a gift. Perhaps some innate mountain man spirit or boy scout tendencies of mine made somebody think this was an appropriate present to give me around the holidays. Anyways, I appreciated the gift and have only recently gotten around to reading and reviewing it. In this edition of the book the cover is bound in olive drab, grip rubber, not unlike a basketball. This unique cover material makes the book a handsome and manly looking piece of literature if there ever was one.
So what about the content? Well, as a former soldier, I found much of the material consistent with standard military survival manuals, particularly when it comes to woodland survival. The language of the writing is classic 1950's American English, not too removed from those elitist publications put out by the East Coast gentry who cranked out books on every subject following the war. It is, however, not pretentious or condescending, Bradford Angier genuinely has written a book he hopes will assist the stranded, starvation-bound "Average Joe American (or Canadian)."
A fun and attractive book to read with at least a little insight into roughing it, either deliberately or not.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ, AUTHORS, READERS AND PUBLISHERS DESERVE YOUR HONEST OPINIONS.
Survive Anything.......2007-04-12
You won't believe the skills you'll pick up from this handbook on survival in the wild. You'll be able to start a fire with only a piece of ice, among other tricks.
This is a great book.......2007-01-10
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!
Its ok but i would not recomend it.......2006-04-05
This book was ok but I would not recomend it.Bradford Angeir is not that great of a writer, so there are many parts that are hard to understand.But if you have time on your hands and want to know about the baics of wilderness survival it is preaty good.
Book Description
With concise explanations and detailed illustrations, survival expert Gregory Davenport covers the five basic elements of survival--personal protection, signaling, finding food and water, travel, and health--providing the reader with complete information on how to stay calm and alive until rescue arrives.
Customer Reviews:
Wilderness Survival.......2007-09-22
This review is based on the first edition (1998) of Wilderness Survival. In his introduction, Davenport writes: "The five basic elements of wilderness survival are personal protection (clothes, shelter, and fire), signaling, sustenance (water and food), travel, and health (dealing with traumatic injuries, environmental injuries, and stress)." This book's emphasis is on surviving, getting out, and being found. It is not about connecting with nature or exploring the possibilities of a primitive lifestyle.
After a perfunctory chapter on climate, Davenport covers those "five basic elements of survival" in the order he listed them in the introduction. There is no discussion of natural cordage or the use of bark or clay in constructing containers of any sort, nor does he illustrate improvised fish hooks or even discuss how to derive one -- all of which Raymond Mears does, scattered through the chapters of his 1992 book The Outdoor Survival Handbook, the book I read before Davenport's.
There are 8 pages on snares and traps, some of the illustrations taking half a page. There are 2 pages on skinning, gutting and butchering an animal, and 2 on tanning an animal's hide. That's 12 pages out of 172. Anyone serious about finding food in the wilderness would seek more detail than the 37 total pages devoted to it here. That, of course, is a limitation of any survey of survival techniques, and why there can be entire books devoted to only a few facets of wilderness survival.
In fire making, for example, both Davenport and Mears spend time explaining the construction and use of the bow drill, but only Mears mentions the hand drill, and neither of them even hints at the possibility of the fire plow, the method used by Tom Hanks to start fire in the film Castaway. Both of them assume you have at least a knife, and so neither of them mentions the dire need in wilderness survival to be able to tear, break, and cut things, nor do they mention any method of devising a cutting tool from the natural environment. Les Stroud, in his Survivorman series, has established the practical value of a multi-tool for survival where there are man-made objects that could be disassembled or cannibalized in some way and used contrary to their original purpose; but even Stroud demonstrated flint-knapping to make a rudimentary cutting edge while in the Utah desert.
Davenport, with his origins in the U.S. Air Force survival school, apparently hasn't considered that not everyone will find themselves trying to survive already equipped with a knife and ready supply of parachute cord. In an appendix, he illustrates 7 knots and lashes: square knot, double sheet bend, overhand fixed loop, bowline, double half hitch, square lash and shear lash. But not having shown us how to make cordage from the environment around us, if we don't have any man-made equivalent, his helpful illustrations may be of no help at all.
His discussion of compass and map navigation and of how to locate North without a compass is clear and useful, but a curious reader would probably wish for more detail. He doesn't, for example, extrapolate from using an analog wristwatch in locating North to using an imaginary or drawn circle divided into 12 segments and your knowledge of the time from some other source; and from his instructions on how to locate the North Star using the Big Dipper or Cassiopeia, you'd never imagine the star was part of the Little Dipper. In his pursuit of concision, he sometimes fails to teach.
The book is designed like a semi-expanded outline, with no peripheral comments. This makes the book easy to read and study. If its limitations of content are not a concern, it is a good first look at surviving in the wild.
Second Edition.......2006-08-11
Davenport's second edition is worth the purchase. He has updated the signaling chapter and expanded all others making it even better then it already was. If you want the definitive guide to learning outdoor survival skills, the second edition of Wilderness Survival is the book.
Both Interesting and useful - highly recommended.......2006-02-19
Wilderness Survival is a valuable source of information on woodland survival techniques. Like most books on this subject, he covers shelter, acquisition of water, food, fire building and signaling to search and rescue personnel. A significant bonus is the excellent section on land navigation included by Davenport. The illustrations are nothing to write home about, but still quite clear and effective. This book includes a surprising amount of good information considering how little time it takes to read. One reviewer criticized the book because the material was "almost word for word from about 10 different books I own". From my perspective, any single book that provides the information of 10 is worth owning.
Teaches you how to think.......2004-10-01
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!
Useful and informative.......2003-08-05
I've read many wilderness outdoors and survival books for different country (mountain, forest, desert), and Wilderness Survival is one of my all-time favorites, along with Mountaineering The Freedom of the Hills by Don Graydon and The Ultimate Desert Handbook by Mark Johnson (both of which I also highly recommend).
Book Description
An emergency can arise anytime. Now everyone from the average commuter to the risk-taking sportsman can benefit from these just-in-case kits that may just save a life. Build the Perfect Survival Kit offers a number of kits, from very basic pocket-sized ones with just the essentials to elaborate ones designed for weeks of surviving in the wilderness.
The book advocates careful advance planning and building a personalized kit specifically tailored to each outing or possible emergency that may be encountered. Readers will learn about the eight categories of gear: Fire and Light, Signaling, Water and Food, Shelter and Protection, Knives and Tools, Multi-purpose Items and Miscellaneous Items, and what to pack into a kit for their pocket, glove box, four-wheeler, trunk, small plane, backpack, and more.
-Each kit is described with a list of components, a picture of the finished product, and a discussion of each component and its value -Gives instructions on how to use each component -Not just for hardcore outdoorsmen--this is valuable information for anyone who drives a car, walks in the woods, etc.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2007-03-08
Really liked many if the kit designs. The book pointed out many items that I now have added to my kits. If you are makeing a small survival kit, car kit or the world is going to hell kit, this is the book for you. Good Job.
Outstanding book of ideas for survival kits.......2007-03-04
This is a book that I highly reccomend. I don't loan this one out because I might not get it back...I hold this book in such high regard :)
I am a preparedness junky. I thought I had some great background in making kits for all sorts of situations. Even I can learn when info is presented well.
BUILD THE PERFECT SURVIVAL KIT opened my eyes to many ways of kit making and stocking that I hadn't thought of.
This is a book you should have in your library.
Tom TOB9595
Practical but not for the expert.......2007-01-08
Given the nature of some of the previous reviews it's doubtful some actually even took the time to read Build the Perfect Survival Kit
With that said, the book overall is a practical resource and idea generating report. The resources listed in the back of the book and its recommended reading list is the books strength but for the expert you might not find anything new in there and with at least one dead link: Survival Inc. But as a compliment to your survival library one or two ideas might be gleaned.
The book is replete with photos but Color photos would have been better as it is hard to discern what some of the items that you are actual looking at (especially for the beginner.)
The authors preference for suppliers are sites like CAMPMOR and Brigade Quartermasters to name a few. The book is redundant but is purposely and practically written that way but YAWN I was looking for something more informational.
The survival tips are few but again it was purposefully not designed for that.
There are some tidbits of survival wisdom within the pages as the author is an experienced survival expert, some idea generating tips for assembling equipment like making a survival stove with a NUWICK candle, food, water, shelter; all the basics. So, it would be wise to assemble at least a small kit for your car or truck but as in the book -- building a kit is a process best done slowly as your budget allows. And having some equipment on hand in an emergency just makes sense. Preparedness.
The book does not include everything that you might need or want in your kit and had some glaring drawbacks.
For example, waterproofing is talked about but the author on page 91 placed separately in small zip lock bags his Tylenol and alcohol pads to
go into the main compartment of plastic medical kits carrying case; they (Tylenol and pads) are already waterproofed!
I gave it 4 stars for effort and as a resource guide.
Definitely for Gadget Geeks (like me).......2007-01-03
This is a cool book for those that are interested in gadgets and survival in general. I would have liked more photos (especially more close-ups). A full-color edition would really put this book over the top. All in all, if you enjoy this kind of thing, this is a very interesting and enjoyable book. The book included good, up-to-date lists of where to come up with the various items that the author uses and reviews.
It's in the name........2006-10-06
The phrase Survival Kit is in the title of this book, and that is exactly what is presented. Survival techniques are not the focus of this book, but assembling survival kits for various situations. In that regard, this book is extremely thorough giving many examples of assembling survival kits for just about every scenario be it personal, vehicle, boat, etc. He also provides many examples of the different survival tools available and where you can obtain these tools. There aren't an abundence of survival techniques in this book, but I don't think that was the author's goal. It's also a pretty dry read and when the author reveals what he carries with him at all times, I thought he was joking. This guy carries on 3 keychains something like 2 micro flashlights, 2 knives, a multitool, metal aspirin container, fire tinder in another aspirin container, and about 4 different tools for fire starting. And, that's just what I remember off the top of my head. He carries this stuff around all the time. While I find that completely ridiculous, the kits and all the tool recommendation make this book rate high for what it is. A guide to assembling survival kits. For actual techniqes, I'd go with another book.
Amazon.com
Since 1965, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has been teaching its students how to climb, kayak, and navigate; how to camp without leaving a trace; how to stay warm and dry in the wilderness; how to cope with a backcountry emergency; and how to effectively lead others through such experiences. There are many reasons for spending time in the remote outdoors. Awe-inspiring scenery, peacefulness, wildlife viewing, and exercise are all good reasons. Another is that such experiences build character: "The wildlands teach us to be smart, practical, resourceful, and observant. To hike ten hours through scabrous terrain, cross a brawny river, stay warm in a snowstorm, and navigate your way out of tangled woods tests and builds your best faculties." While no single book can prepare one for spending time in the wilderness--much less impart all the skills necessary to survive in the elements--the NOLS Guide is an eminently useful place to start. Chapters include primers on equipment (fitting boots and packs, choosing a tent, the "Five Commandments for Equipment Care"); appropriate dress for a variety of climates; and ways of traveling in the backcountry, from crossing scree fields to fording rivers. It's not a substitute for in-depth instruction in, say, snow camping, or reading a map and compass. But with a solid grounding in the basics, one can take that first boot-step into what Joseph Wood Krutch called "the great reservoir of energy, of confidence, of endless hope."
Book Description
The classic backpacker's handbook -- revised and updated -- providing expert guidelines for anyone who loves the outdoors.
The Wilderness Guide brings the savvy of the world's most famous and respected outdoor organization to everyone -- from the 16 million backpacking Americans to the more than 265 million people, tenderfeet and trail-hardened hikers, who visit our national parks annually. It covers:
- Selecting equipment -- including discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of products such as the internal frame pack, lighter-weight boots, and freestanding tents
- The latest "leave no trace" camping techniques
- Traveling safely and sensibly -- including vital information on maps, compasses, and tips on crossing difficult terrain
- Backcountry cooking, with tips on building fires and tricks for making gourmet meals
- Search-and-rescue techniques, including how to organize a self-sufficient search group and when to call in professional rescue teams
Illustrated throughout with instructional drawings and photos and featuring lists of equipment, the Wilderness Guide is a must-have for anyone planning to explore the great outdoors.
Customer Reviews:
Hamstrung by the past.......2006-11-21
I've read a lot of backpacking books and go on backpacking trips each month. A lightweight pack is a better way.
You'll love this book, if you think a 5,000ci pack is required for 2 night trips and a 4,000ci pack is required for an overnight, if you think heavy boots are required, or bringing a heavy fleece jacket or wool sweater is good advice.
It covers a lot of different topics. Unlike other books written by "traditional" backpackers, such as O'Bannon's Backpackin' Book, I didn't feel like I skimmed some good ideas from a knowledgeable and experienced traditionalist backpacker. It was mainly regurgitating dogma, some of which is good advice (but readily available from other sources) and much of it myth.
Good for this kind of camping.......2003-09-19
This book isn't for someone who wants to learn to be attuned to nature, or be able to flow with nature. I recommend Tom Brown Jr.'s books.
Excellent!!.......2002-08-25
A very good coverage of a large variety of topics. Learned a lot.
The best book for serious outdoor adventure.......2001-06-20
I read the book in preparation for a mountaineering course - it's great - informative, well written, a good balance of solid content and easy readability. He would be a great person to go up a mountain with - but the book is a little easier to fit in the backpack!
An absolute must for anyone who camps in the non-RV sense of the word.
If you Can't Take Mark Harvey Camping, Take His Book.......2000-01-28
As a carefree college student,I camped quite often, but today, as a thirty year old business owner, I prefer to enjoy the outdoors by day, and to sleep in my warm, safe, familiar home by night. Harvey's Wilderness Guide has not only helped me to more thoroughly enjoy my day hikes, but it has also served as a catalyst to reignite my enthusiasm in camping for more than a Sunday afternoon. Harvey delivers intelligent, informative information in an easy to understand and enthusiastic style. The Wilderness Guide is packed with information, but it is far from bland reading, for Harvey is not only intelligent and well written, but he has a sense of humor as well. I live in Aspen and have spent time with Mark Harvey on numerous occasions. Possibly I will be able to camp with him one day. If not, I always have The National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Guide.
Average customer rating:
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Wilderness A to Z: An Essential Guide to the Great Outdoors (Outdoor and Nature)
Rachel Carley
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0743200578
Release Date: 2001-10-23 |
Book Description
A world of dazzling beauty, heart-stopping adventure, and remarkable diversity, the American wilderness has attracted explorers, artists, writers, philosophers, and millions of hikers, anglers, mountaineers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
You'll find their hard-won knowledge and secrets in Rachel Carley's marvelously absorbing Wilderness A to Z. More than 200 photographs and line drawings give life to a richly detailed text. Here you'll find information on:
- Wilderness recreation, safety, and trail etiquette -- from finding the right boots and sleeping bags to emergency signals and advice on surviving encounters with bears
- Geological, botanical, and wildlife wonders of every state, from Alaska to the Everglades to the Adirondacks, including the Rockies, Yellowstone, and Yosemite
- Pioneering and contemporary naturalists, literary figures, and advocates whose vision has helped protect natural wonders, from seashores to scenic trails
Blending striking visual images with practical, geographical, and historical information, Wilderness A to Z is a nature lover's literary feast.
Book Description
A Wealth of Information on Being Prepared for Any Contingency or Catastrophe
This is the definitive survival guide and essential resource for all travelers, campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. Already a worldwide million-copy bestseller,
The Ultimate Survival Guide covers everything from basic first aid to disaster preparedness, from setting up camp to making it through a hurricane -- an absolute must-have volume for anyone who has ever placed him or herself at the mercy of Mother Nature.
- What to pack, carry, and wear in hostile environments
- First aid and rescue
- Finding food, water, shelter, and making fire
- Dealing with wild animals, snake bites, and fierce climatic hazards
- Surviving flood, avalanche, tornado, and other violent natural catastrophes
- Fully illustrated and easy to use
Customer Reviews:
More practical in most extreme situations and environments.......2005-06-17
Many diagrams and step-by-step instructions for what to do in different situations. This book is probably more useful for the more adventurous type folks, frequent outdoor campers and hikers. About 1/10 of the information in the book can be used for everyday emergencies, like how to carry someone safely over your shoulder. The rest of the book covers things like how to make a raft, making ropes for capturing small animals, and making arrows are fun to read but only useful if you purposely put yourself in that kind of environment. Basically this book targets the die-hards of jungle exploration, mountain climbing, and cross-country camping. Might be useful if you have this book on the plane when it crashes, that's assuming that you're close to land and able to swim to it, because most pilots will do their best to land in water.
Books:
- Vegetation Description and Analysis: A Practical Approach
- Waiting for Wings
- Wildland Water Quality Sampling and Analysis
- Working the Tides: A Portrait of Canada' S West Coast Fishery
- 50 Ways to Save the Ocean (Inner Ocean Action Guide) (Inner Ocean Action Guide)
- A High, Low, Near, Far, Loud, Quiet Story
- A Northern Light
- A Season in the Desert: Making Time Holy
- Almanac of World History (National Geographic)
- American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Books Index
Books Home
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