How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter, and Self-Preservation That Makes Starvation in the Wilderness Next to Impossible [Paperback]

Bradford Angier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1998

For more than 30 years, sportsmen, hunters, and camping families have carried this book with them every time they have ventured into the woods. In 26 clearly written, illustrated chapters, Bradford Angier spells out tips that can save time, energy and even lives. Illustrations .

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

About the Author

Bradford Angier (May 13, 1910 – March 03, 1997) was a wilderness survivalist and proponent of back to earth living. He authored more than 35 books on how to survive in the wild and how to live minimalisticly off the land.

In 1947 Bradford and his new wife, Vena, were living in Boston Massachusetts. They had long romanticized the life of Thoreau and decided to move to Hudson's Hope, a small town in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, to live off the land. Once there, they found an old prospectors cabin. With the few tools and how-to books they brought with them, they were able to repair the cabin. Bradford then set about learning to hunt and gather wild food.[1]

He eventually started writing survival books. Vena was artistic and hand illustrated several of his books. The couple lived in Canada until the building of the W.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace river near their home forced them to move. They moved to Cambria, California and built a house that was less than 1,000 square feet (93 m2).^[2]

In the 1970s Bradford and Vena returned to Hudson's Hope. In 1972 he wrote the book One Acre & Security in which he discusses how to live organically on only 1-acre (4,000 m2) of land. At this time he had become popular with the back-to-earth movement and was sought out by many people wishing to emulate his lifestyle. He was sometimes referred to as "Mr. Outdoors"^[3]

Two chapters in his book, Wilderness Wife, were almost word for word copies of two chapters from the book The Forest by Stewart Edward White, which was published in 1904. There were no references made to White's book or even footnotes included which stated the text's source.

Bradford died in 1997, a few months short of his 50th wedding anniversary. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; 1st Fireside Ed edition (March 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684831015
• ISBN-13: 978-0684831015
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Survival Skills

More About the Author

Bradford Angier (1910 - 1997) was a wilderness survivalist and the author of numerous best-selling books on nature, survival, and living off the land.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas, but a bit outdated..., March 10, 2002

By 

steve "steve" (midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter, and Self-Preservation That Makes Starvation in the Wilderness Next to Impossible (Paperback)

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...

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone planning an extended stay in the woods, December 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter, and Self-Preservation That Makes Starvation in the Wilderness Next to Impossible (Paperback)

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.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars How to Stay Alive in the Woods, February 15, 2000

By 

roger william sloan (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter, and Self-Preservation That Makes Starvation in the Wilderness Next to Impossible (Paperback)

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.