Customer Reviews

Tappan on survival

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even with some of the material outdated, most of what Mel Tappan wrote still applies today, just that some of the threats have changed. I still go back and re-read this and Tappan's "Survival Guns", which also should be on the survival family's bookshelf.

For the family that has little knowledge of firearms, the advice he gives is still practical today. His advice on retreating is the best I have read, and once again, the most practical. His writing is entertaining and straghtforward, and he backs up his conclusions with sound facts.

If you want cold, hard, logic (and when it comes to the survival of yourself and your family, who doesn't?), then this is the book for you. It is not the end all to be all, but I consider it mandatory to the modern survival family.

Mel Tappan's had a big influence on the survival movement with his newsletter Personal Survival Letter and a later column in various magazines, and his first book SURVIVAL GUNS offered up many practical firearm tips, so prior fans and newcomers alike are sure to eagerly anticipate the publication of Tappan on Survival. This comes back into print for a new generation with a new foreword by survivalist Bruce Clayton, and returns the ideas and practical applications of a man who before 1999 served up a series of recipes for survival in the event of any disaster, whether it be nuclear or caused by storms. An easy question/answer format supplements hard facts.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"Tappen on Survival" is 5 stars. Written in the '70's by Mel Tappen. I first read "Survival Guns" and then sought out his second book. Both books are excellent!! Mel Tappen was the level headed expert on survival. He wrote on survival and weapons for several different magazines during the 1970's. Expert advice still today!!

A true classic of its period, this survival manual suffers from the advancement of survival technology.
It's old and much of the information offered is now outdated, but it's still worth reading, if only for its view of what the survival movement was all about in its infancy.

Mel Tappan's books are a bit dated on a few things but his methodical way of looking at long term survival is still sound. The chapters on the reasons for living in a small town are still relevant as is the chart explaining the difference between working guns and guns for retreat defence.

Tappan's book may have been originally published in the early 80's, but his concepts are still pertinent. This book is a compilation of his articles written in a gun magazine in the 70's, so some of the information is dated. However, this book is still en excellent introduction to preparedness, and some of his ideas still echo down into today's preparedness books. An excellent beginner's first book for their preparedness library.

A reprint of an old book purchased for my personal collection. Although the suppliers details listed in the book are no longer relevent the thought processes, theory and practical demonstrations are sound......I'm sure that there are more than few readers who will still feel the same about the Colt 1911 favoured by the author.

"An oldie, but a goodie!"

This text is truly a classic on the art of survival. It will prove valuable in the upcoming revolution.

Great book a must have for any "prepper" or good fundamental information to help keep you and your family alive when the Schumer hits the fan.

This book was big on general thoughts and contains very little detail and I do mean very little detail. It is more of an over reaching strategy survival book that could probably have been condensed to half as many pages or less. Furthermore, most authors or authorities on subjects are opinionated, but Mel took the cake and could not entertain the idea that he might be wrong about something, which for me is a little annoying. Especially since he was completely wrong about the imminent collapse of the US (12-18 months he wrote in 1980).