12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Reference Guide for the Trail, April 13, 2010
This review is from: National Geographic Complete Survival Manual (Paperback)
Complete Survival Manual definitely covers a wide variety of survival situations and topics. I will start with the positive things about this book. First, it covers a large array of different survival terrain. It begins with two chapters on basic survival information. These first two chapters includes basic things such as building fire, edible plants, shelters, safe drinking water, etc.The first two chapter are split into:
Mind and body survival basics
Environment survival basics
Then the chapters progress into survival techniques for different terrains. The other chapters include survival techniques for:
Temperate forests
Swamps and rain forest
High mountains
Desert
Th poles and subpolar regions
Survival on the water
Home survival information
Storms and Disasters
This book also contains a very useful appendix which includes a packing check list, CPR instructions, a first aid list for injuries/illnesses, a guide to tying knots, a signal guide, a list of edible plants (with photographs, although, very small photographs), and various maps. There is also a useful index included which makes finding what you are looking for much easier. This book is also a nice size for carrying in your backpack which is s plus. On top of that, the cover is made of water-resistant material so that the book can withstand being hauled around and used in the outdoors. This is a very nice addition also. Complete Survival Manual also included an essential packing guide for each different kinds of terrain.
Now for the negatives. The information in the book is a little too general in many instances. While it covers a lot of information, it doesn't go into a lot of detail in any one of the subjects. Also, the illustrations are very small and not high quality. Many are to the point that it is difficult to see exactly what the authors are trying to demonstrate. Being a National Geographic book, I expected the illustrations to maybe be photographs or at least of a higher quality. In all fairness, it probably has more to do with the size than the quality of the drawings though. And I do understand that this book is meant to be carried with you are the trail, so it has to be kept to a smaller size, thus the illustrations have to be smaller...but this was a bit of a drawback for me. Also, it seems very pricey at $29.95, but I am sure that has to do with the water-resistant properties of the book.
So in summary, this is a good survival book for carrying with you on the trail. This may not be the only book that you want to use to learn survival techniques, as there are other books with better illustrations, but those other books are not meant to be carried along with you. I would recommend checking out multiple books on survival, learning good survival techniques, and then have this be the book that you carry along with you for a reference guide. After all, very few of us can remember all of the information that we need to know on the trail. This is a good book and will only add to your knowledge of survival, which is never a bad thing.
Bohdi Sanders, author of
Wisdom of the Elders
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book but..., October 27, 2009
This review is from: National Geographic Complete Survival Manual (Paperback)
There is a good book but not the best. I bought many books for survival situations and I can say that the best book is SAS Survival handbook by John Lofty Wisemann.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Reference..., December 20, 2011
This review is from: National Geographic Complete Survival Manual (Paperback)
"National Geographic's Complete Survival Manual" has a lot to offer. Drawing on many sources of expertise, including its own field researchers, this book presents useful information on surviving in a variety of challenging environments, including the desert, mountains, and polar/sub-polar regions. The format is user friendly, mixing pictures, diagrams, and chunks of information. Some general imperatives on survival are addressed right up front, including the importance of remaining calm and keeping a positive attitude. The appendices include packing lists, signaling techniques, and maps of the US National Parks, where the general reader might perhaps be most apt to go astray. The personal narratives of survival included with each chapter are particularly compelling.
However, in attempting to cover a huge variety of situations, this survival manual tends to skimp on some useful detail. Some of the life-saving techniques mentioned in the book get only the barest description. Persons expecting to be at risk in some of the more extreme environments are encouraged to seek additional details before venturing out. Nothing beats hands-on experience with the life-saving techniques specific to each environment.
"The National Geographic Complete Survival Manual" is highly recommended as an introduction and general reference on survival for those who intend to venture into the wild, semi-wild, and maybe just off the beaten path.
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