Complete Survival Manual

by Michael S. Sweeney

Complete Survival Manual: Expert Tips From Four World-renowned Organizations Plus Survival Stories of National Geographic Explorers [Paperback] This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1426204299
• ISBN13: 9781426204296
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: National Geographic Society
• Length: 367 Pages
• Weight: 1.31 lbs.

Customer Reviews

GREAT AND THOROUGH

I love this book, although I haven't finished reading it yet. It's more of a reference book, the kind of thing you read before going on a trip and then take it with you. It's extremely well written and well organized. I recommend it over watching Bear Grylls in "Man Vs. Wild" on CATV. There are lots of tips and lots of stories. I recommend it highly.

A Good Reference Guide for the Trail

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 a

useful book

This book has something about everything. It's a nice size for taking with you to read while you're out and about. Nice short chapters too so my boys could read a couple pages a day without being "overworked".

Highly recommended for any general-interest lending library

Survival stories from National Geographic explorers and tips form four organizations on everything from navigating by the sun to bad weather warning signs make for a fine library reference: an information-packed survivalist's guide filled with pictures and quick-read lists for safety at home and outside of it. Highly recommended for any general-interest lending library.

A must have book

My brother gifted me this book and I have to say , this book is awesome. The whole book is divided into chapters and organized very effectively which makes it very easy to read. The suggestions and tips for survival are written by experts in the field. I highly recommend this book.