Customer Reviews

Keller's Outdoor Survival Guide: How to Prevail When Lost, Stranded, or Injured in the Wilderness (Willow Creek Guides)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thought that this book was Great!!! I have to say I was a little disappointed upon reading another review for this book. I think the criticism was entirely unfounded. I found this book to have more than enough very practical and very useful information on how not only to prevent yourself from ever getting into a bad situation but also how to get out of it if you happen to find yourself lost or stranded. I don't think that anyone who thinks differently could have possibly even read the book. The chapter titles include: Shelter and Staying warm, Fire, Water and Food, First Aid, What to do when you are lost, Detectability, Surviving in a Vehicle, Venturing Out; Clothing Footwear, Plans and Packs. What else could you possible need. I think that pretty much covers the basics. As a registered nurse I found all of the information to be very helpful and very acurate from both a personal standpoint and also from a medical standpoint. I especially enjoyed the chapter on First Aid, While most people feel that they have a basic understanding of first aid but this chapter is a great review. It discusses Assessment, Artificial Respiration, CPR (how many of us couldn't use a brush up on that), Bleeding, Imobilization, Hypothermia. Even if you are never going to set foot in the wilderness this chapter is a great First Aid review. After all you don't have to be in the wilderness to get hurt, or come to the aid of someone else who is.
Bottom line this is a great book. The personal stories keep your attention from start to finish, and the information is very practical for anyone. The authors expertise and knowlege is very apparent in each and every chapter of this book. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is a serious outdoorsmen or even just a causal camper.

This was a great book any way you look at it. It was full of fun stories that kept my attention and tons of usefull information that is practical for very many situations. It is a GREAT book!!

As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative. It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas. Well worth the money.

As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative. It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas. Well worth the money.

I cannot say enough good things about this book.
This book is packed full of easy to understand,
usefull information. There are so many wonderfull
stories that make me want to read it over and over.
I think that every person who has ever even thought
of venturing into the wilderness should own a copy of
this survival manual. I definately recomend it.

What a great read! The topics for each chapter well thought out, and the material is practical and accessible. The book really shines compared to others because of the author's frequent use of personal anecdotes from searches he's participated in, accidents he's observed, and injuries he's seen. There are many books that provide solid instruction on survival techniques, though many rely on graphic horror stories or rare but catastrophic events to frighten readers. Keller skips the hype and theatrics, and provides an engaging and conversational discussions based on his own experiences in search and rescue. Rather than focusing on the rare but catastrophic, he leans towards relating how normal folks start out pleasant days and how things go wrong. The easy tone draws attention to understanding and equipping rather than a bunker mentality. One reviewer complained that he tells stories rather than teaching practical survival techniques, I think most readers will find that these eye-opening stories are meant as real-life illustrations of how people get into trouble, with the vast majority of the book consisting of practical survival techniques and preparedness.

There are a number of helpful reality checks in the book that can help readers think through what they carry with them in the woods. For example, in discussing different types of fire starters, the author points out that some of the nifty products sold in stores are simply impossible to use in many cold weather survival situations when hands are lose dexterity. He point out that solar stills take a long time to produce water in any quantity, though he probably should have gone much further than this statement, given the exertion and dangerous sweat loss incurred in constructing one!

The material is accessible. Keller does not assume prior knowledge, though he repeatedly suggests readers take formal first aid training and CPR. Like many introductory books that try to cover many of the bases, each topic gets limited attention and there are places where I wish he'd gone into more depth. There are clearly places where the first aid advice should be updated (e.g.: he recommends tilting the head back when performing artificial respiration, but I didn't catch any cautions about the effect this could have if there is a neck injury present. Similarly, the national guidelines for CPR have changed since he wrote.) Ultimately, though, there is good, solid information in the book for new campers and experienced backpackers alike.

Despite this being an encouraging book about the steps one can take to stay safe and deal with difficult situations, one of the things that struck me about the book is that the author recognizes there are situations where even your best won't be--and can't be--enough to preserve a life in an extreme situation. Though his discussion is very brief, it is sensitive and full of wisdom. The author displays an above-average sense of humility throughout the book, pointing mistakes he's made and what he's learned in the process.

As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative. It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas. Well worth the money.

This is the most practical survival guide I have read, and I've had training courtesy of Uncle Sam, the Red Cross and the Boy Scouts.

You have heard the joke: "If a careless match can cause a forest fire, why do I need a whole book to start a campfire?"

Or, perhaps like me you have a Magnesium fire starter: Just shave a pile of Magnesium into a small heap with your pocket knife and then hit it with a spark, and voila! I always wondered how I'm going to make my neat heap in a twenty mile an hour wind, not to mention hit it with a spark...

The author has practical suggestions for fire making that I think will really work.

Also practical suggestions for water, food, not getting lost in the first place and if you do how to make it easier to be found.

On the other hand, I think it is important to point out that the author spends a lot of time on cold weather and snow. I think this is because he lived in cold climates especially in Routt County, Colorado (where Steamboat Springs Ski area is located). This is a plus for me, but if you live in a desert in the the S.W. US, or tend to get lost in the swamps of the U.S. Southeast - you may want to keep this in mind before buying.

In sum: buy the book because it is worth it to learn how to be prepared to make a fire. ~B

Do not buy this book for 7,000 dollars. I don't know what these people are thinking. Its worth 30 dollars at the most.

I found this book to be very poorly written. Though full of many stories it lacked any concrete or practical information. For example, the next time I'M lost and I can't find a railroad electrical house to break into and take insulation from to keep warm what shall I do?