How to Survive Anything, Anywhere: A Handbook of Survival Skills for Every Scenario and Environment [Paperback]

Chris McNab (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2004

Get Out Alive!

How to Survive Anything, Anywhere is a complete handbook of the urban and wilderness survival skills practiced by elite U.S. and U.K. military units. Dr. Chris McNab has collected expertise from both sides of the Atlantic, and reveals the fundamentals of survival for every environment, from the subzero arctic to the scorching desert—and for every scenario, from being lost in a trackless wilderness to being under attack in a city.

Each of more than 500 practical techniques is presented in easy-to-follow steps accompanied by 500 helpful illustrations that show you how to:

• Find your way in arctic, desert, jungle, or mountain terrain
• Identify edible plants
• Hunt, trap, and fish with jury-rigged tools
• Build fires and improvise cookware
• Locate underground water
• Construct shelters
• Perform first aid and use natural remedies for common diseases
• Stay safe in a car or on planes or trains, and know what to do in the event of an accident
• Keep your home safe—select security devices, construct a safe room, survive a house fire
• Defend yourself—know when to fight and learn realistic unarmed combat techniques
• Survive terrorist attacks—identify suspect packages, spot potential suicide bombers, take cover from explosions and gunfire

And, above all, how to think like a true survivor—even when things are at their worst.

Dr. Chris McNab is the author of Endurance Techniques (SAS Training Manual), Elite Forces Survival Guides, Living Off the Land, Martial Arts for Special Forces, and Urban Survival.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Get Out Alive!

How to Survive Anything, Anywhere is a complete handbook of the urban and wilderness survival skills practiced by elite U.S. and U.K. military units. Dr. Chris McNab has collected expertise from both sides of the Atlantic, and reveals the fundamentals of survival for every environment, from the subzero arctic to the scorching desert—and for every scenario, from being lost in a trackless wilderness to being under attack in a city.

Each of more than 500 practical techniques is presented in easy-to-follow steps accompanied by 500 helpful illustrations that show you how to:

*Find your way in arctic, desert, jungle, or mountain terrain *Identify edible plants *Hunt, trap, and fish with jury-rigged tools *Build fires and improvise cookware *Locate underground water *Construct shelters *Perform first aid and use natural remedies for common diseases *Stay safe in a car or on planes or trains, and know what to do in the event of an accident *Keep your home safe—select security devices, construct a safe room, survive a house fire *Defend yourself—know when to fight and learn realistic unarmed combat techniques *Survive terrorist attacks—identify suspect packages, spot potential suicide bombers, take cover from explosions and gunfire

And, above all, how to think like a true survivor—even when things are at their worst.

Dr. Chris McNab is the author of Endurance Techniques (SAS Training Manual), Elite Forces Survival Guides, Living Off the Land, Martial Arts for Special Forces, and Urban Survival.

About the Author

Dr. Chris McNab is the author of Endurance Techniques (SAS Training Manual); Elite Forces Survival Guides; How to Pass the SAS Selection Course; Martial Arts for Special Forces; and Urban Survival.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (August 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071440534
• ISBN-13: 978-0071440530
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Camping

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe not the intended audience, but this book is great for writers!, April 4, 2006

By 

Carlie (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Survive Anything, Anywhere: A Handbook of Survival Skills for Every Scenario and Environment (Paperback)

Introducing How to Survive Anything, Anywhere (edited by Chris McNab). Self defence, finding food, signalling, extreme weather, first aid, water saftey... This book has everything.

I really recommend it for writers who are writing fantasy, action/adventure, or really in any genre that might need some of the skills used in this book.

Even if you aren't going to put your characters through the tough situations described in this book, it could serve as something to flick through when looking for inspiration. I do that sometimes when I'm trying to think of a unique place to set my fantasy novel in. The story I am currently writting is set in a desert. This book describes the climate, shows the desert regions on Earth, shows me how to find water, what clothing is optimal to wear in the desert, edible desert plants, how to catch rabits, the dangers in the desert, health, navigation and movement, how to make shelters.... Very helpful stuff!! Every page is illustrated with clear pictures that make the book easier to read.

Here is the contents of the book:-

1. Survival Psychology
2. Survival Clothing
3. Survival Kit
4. Planning and Preparation
5. Fit to Survive
6. Finding Water
7. Plant Food and Survival Nutrition
8. Hunting, Trapping, Fishing
9. Survival Cooking and Preserving Foods
10. Making Shelters
11. Making Fire
12. Tools, Rope and Knots
13. First Aid
14. Surviving Natural Disasters
15. Rescue Procedures
16. Survival Navigation
17. Predicting the Weather
18. Polar Climates
19. Mountain Survival
20. Tropical Survival
21. Survival in the Desert
22. Survival at Sea
23. Defending Yourself
24. Safety on the Roads
25. Safety on Public Transportation
26. Surviving the Home Environment
27. Surviving Terrorism.

As you can see there is a wealth of information there, that can be suited for all types of fiction. Obviously this book isn't specifically aimed at writers, but I think this book is perfect for it. Give it a go! On, and I've typed 'survival' so many times now that it doesn't look like a real word anymore...

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Covers things other survival books don't, November 13, 2007

By 

Currahee (South Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Survive Anything, Anywhere: A Handbook of Survival Skills for Every Scenario and Environment (Paperback)

My favorite part of this book is how it covers many "man made" situations such as terrorism, crime and self defense. These aren't usually discussed in the context of individual survival skills. The comments on these subjects seem spot on. There are also the other typical woodland survival skills sections...such as fire starting, first aid, shelter etc. In these it might be on par with the classic woodland survival manual, The SAS Handbook. This combination makes this one of the most well rounded individual survival books I have seen. Like most non area specific guides the discussion of particular climates and situations are a bit general. However, this is inescapable in a general guide. The illustrations are very good and add to the information provided in the text. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in individual survival skills.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aids in disaster prep and is a springboard for ideas., November 28, 2007

By 

E. Nonimiss "buyer" (Bay Area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Survive Anything, Anywhere: A Handbook of Survival Skills for Every Scenario and Environment (Paperback)

This book is fascinating. It goes through several basic survival techniques and induces one to think of other ideas for one's own environment. (I have a book on edible "wild" vegetation for my area, as well. This book points one in that direction.) Included are several areas that I was unfamiliar with and the wealth of information is very much appreciated. This book is a great gift for grown children, as well as an item that should be taken camping, or when driving through rugged areas.