Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
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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...

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.

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.

Watch disasters on the news with confidence if you have read How to Survive Anything, Anywhere. This is a book jammed with stuff you should have learned at Outward Bound if you had gone to Outward Bound, or Girl Scout/Boy Scout training camps, and a few occasional articles in various magazines under "My arm was eaten off by a grizzly until I sprayed PAM in it's eyes." And why did you have PAM on a camping trip? Well, this book will prepare you far, far better than any magazine article. And, yes, this book includes dealing with urban terror events. I gave this book as a Christmas gift and then the recipent was so intrigued they ignored me for the next couple of hours. Excellent gift. Now I want my own copy.

It would be difficult to think of something germaine
that Rawles doesn't cover. I can only think of one
and that would be edible wild plants. Otherwise he
thoroughly covers it all and most times specifically.
You would be way ahead of the game having digested
this book's contents. Attaboy, Rawles. This book
is a keeper.

I read through as many of these survival books as possible. Not just because i am a aspiring writer (as many others whom purchase this book are), but because I am a long range thru-hiker. And, if I am able to get a few additional tips from each book I read, than so much the better. With this book, I have discovered many hidden treasures (a few tips or tricks I've never even thought of), in EACH chapter! The survival tips in this book cover everything from the daily... mundane things in life (such as surviving when the power is out)... and "old-world... old-style fixes" for the things all around us... all the way up to and including survival in todays terrorist-filled travel worries (as well as the standard, surviving in the wilds stuff). This book also includes, as many other reviewers mention, those newest threats to our daily battle to survive in a mixed up World. Included in those new tricks of the trade... are travel into and out of foreign countries, how to deal with an embassy (what they can and cannot do for you), some of the newest equipment available (which is bypassed in most-of the even newest-survival books).... I have to admit... that... for a book I bought hoping to gain only a few old style (Jeremiah Johnson) tips from, this book has more than met my expectations! It's especially nice to know that... there is no way... that one can ever, nor will ever, know it all! There are always new things to learn. So enjoy! And keep reading!

If you want to get a book that focuses on food preparation particularly, this is a must. 3 things that will keep you alive during times of big trouble, water, food, firearms. Very detailed book on not only preparation, but storage.

This book has a wealth of good stuff in it. It includes a lot of safety measures that a person might not think of until too late. I enjoyed it..it had a lot of practical info that can be used without being a wilderness guru. I found myself thinking "huh, that makes sense, but I'd never have thought of it on my own" fairly often throughout the book. It's geared more toward the "oops, how the heck did I get myself into this mess, now I need rescuing" scenario...staying alive until help arrives. I feel it was well worth reading, and I would recommend it to the average person who doesn't have a lot of experience in life-threatening situations. Also a good read for kids...how to be safe,and what to do if things go awry, complete with many pictures to follow.

I bought this book along with "Robert Young Pelton's The World's Most Dangerous Places" and a few Lonely Planet series while planning to backpacking trip in Southeast Asia. Very helpful information, although much of it revolve around common sense, but I would definitely recommend reading it

This book tell you how to survive in the wilderness. It tells you how to prepare for Natural disasters. I highly recommend getting this one. Everyone should have a copy of this book. If your a hunter this expands on your knowledge in the wild. This also cover planets and stars how to find your way back home. Excellent guide on first aid, shelter building, plants to eat, how to make weapons in the wild, morse code, indian smoke signals, marine boat signals, how to prepare wild animals after they are killed to eat, how to make clothing out of wild skins, how to make knots, how to communicate without electricity, how to purify your water and get water to live on in the wild, how to make fires and set up camp where and when. This book is as complete as it can get to survive earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, famine, or any Natural disaster. God Bless and Get this book you may need it with all the disasters that are happening in our world now. Amen. Irish Lassy 1-17-2012