Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival [Paperback]

Tom Brown (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 15, 1987 | Series: Field Guide

Here, in one essential volume, are the basics of wilderness survival. The most ancient and important skills, preserved for generations, are presented in a simple, easy-to-use format with clear illustrations and instructions. A complete must-have companion to the great outdoors.

* How to build natural shelters in plains, woods, or deserts
* How to get safe drinking water from plants, trees, the sun, or Earth Herself
* How to make fire without matches and maintain it in any weather
* How to find, stalk, kill, and prepare animals for food
* The "big four" edible plants, and hundreds of others useful for both nutrition and medicine

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Brown, Jr. began to learn hunting and tracking at the age of eight under the tutelage of an Apache elder, medicine man, and scout in Toms River, New Jersey, and is the author of 16 books on nature. Recently, he was the technical advisor on The Hunted, a major motion picture starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benecio Del Toro.   In 1978, Tom founded the Tracker School in the New Jersey Pine Barrens where he offers more than 25 classes about wilderness survival and environmental protection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 15, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425105725
• ISBN-13: 978-0425105726
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Survival Skills
  • #23 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Reference
  • #26 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Ecology

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

194 of 214 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Good stories, meager knowledge January 18, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Tom Brown is a charismatic, inspiring story teller...one of the best. But if you are interested in learning these skills, you'd be much better off with McPherson's "Naked into the Wilderness" or "Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski or Larry Dean Olsen's "Outdoor Survival Skills". For hide tanning (brain tanning) check out "Deerskins into Buckskins" by Matt Richards, tracking try "Mammal Tracking in North America" by James Halfpenny. Just about any edible plant guide will out do this book.

Tom has inspired more people's interest in wilderness living/survival, and for that he deserves kudos. His most inspirational reading is "The Tracker". Get it and it will change your life. But if you want to actually learn the skills, you're better off elsewhere.

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique experience January 11, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I have read most of Tom's books, some of them repeatedly, and attended two of his survival classes. My experience says that Tom is an unusual person, who writes unusual books, based on his unusual life. Tom told us in one class that he estimates that from the time he met Stalking Wolf up through high school age, he spent an average of 40 hours a week in the woods. In his classes and books he attempts to teach not only specific skills but also a way of life, attitudes, and as much as he can of actual experience rather than descriptions ABOUT experiences. This is a tall order for any teacher.

This book is about skills which Tom has used to live year round and in all sorts of weather from Canada to Death Valley, wilderness to the heart of New York City. They do work. However, keep in mind that it is impossible to teach skills - actual experience - through a book. And keep in mind that Tom was taught, and teaches himself, in a manner which expects the student to question, investigate, experiment, discover, and learn on h/is/er own. He would consider anything else a cheap way of cheating the student. If you can approach the contents of this book, and his others, in this spirit, you will have enough here to learn from for many years.

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as its cracked up to be September 27, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I've read all of Tom's books, and he is one awesome story-teller, but when it comes to teaching hands-on skills...well he's really just ok. I've been teaching primitive wilderness living skills for years, and there are quite a few topics in this book that his treatment and understanding of, are less than satisfactory.

Get Tom's book The Tracker from amazon.com, to experience him at his best. For better survival skills info get Primitive Wilderness Living by John McPherson, or Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olsen.