Survive!: Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere - Alive

By Les Stroud

Book Overview

An up-to-the-minute survival guide from the creator of Survivorman explores how to stay alive in the wild, in the jungle, in the desert, and in urban disasters. From the sun-scorched sands of the Kalahari to the snake-infested jungles of the Amazon, Les Stroud has made a life of surviving in the harshest--and most remote--regions on Earth. Now, the creator, producer, and host of the hit television program Survivorman transfers his decades of knowledge and experience to the pages of Survive , a practical guide that gives everyday readers a no-nonsense look at the real world of survival. Stroud offers readers the essential skills and tactics necessary to endure in any corner of the globe, along with a wealth of insider information born of his own experiences in the outdoors and unavailable in any other book. Readers will learn: How to make a survival shelter and why a lean-to is largely a waste of time. Why survival kits are important, and why you should make your own. Where to find water and why drinking contaminated water is sometimes warranted. How to locate and trap small animals and why the notion of tracking and hunting large game is largely a pipe dream. Whether seasoned in the outdoor arts or new to adventuring, all readers will learn something from Survive . Stroud's many colorful anecdotes and cut-to-the-chase philosophy not only make for an entertaining read, but also enhance anyone's ability to focus on the main goal when everything else has gone wrong--survival.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061373516
• ISBN13: 9780061373510
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

This book could save your life!

i became aware of Stroud's show about 2 years ago and it's hands down my favorite TV show. i've seen every episode several times, even the non Survivorman shows like the two Stranded episodes. Anyways, i've learned a great deal from the TV show and beforehand i'd have been in dire straits had i been alone in the wild. now i KNOW i have at least a fighting chance of making it. not only have i bought this book (we'll get to that shortly) but i've bought a leatherman wave and a Survivorman hat from Les's own website. i didn't know Les's was even working on a book until i got an email from the newsletter he sends out to his fans. obviously i bought a copy! first off, this book is HUGE!373 pages (and that doesn't count the several pages that are blank intended for fire starter material if you happen to have the book with you. one of the pages is even labeled as fire starer. leave it to Les to think of every thing. that way you needn't burn any of the actual pages in an emergency. second, the book has tons of vital information not covered in any of the shows. also, it goes more in depth about subjects the show does cover. even if you've never seen his shows you can easily understand the step by step instructions and photos that show you what to do in a given situation. you don't have to be a survival expert or adept to understand this stuff. i feel it's written for the ones who know nothing about survival, the soccer moms who might be going on a camping trip or maybe a lawyer who gets lost after his plane has crashed, those regular types. this book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about being able to take care of themselves or other loved ones in really desperate times.

Keep a Copy Handy, Just In Case

Les Stroud, host of the television show Survivorman, has written a very informative survival guide. The book is full of instruction on how to survive almost any type of emergency situation. Not only does the book cover survival techniques for situations in such places as the frozen tundra, the desert, and the jungle, but it also includes urban disaster situations. The book details how to plan and prepare for a trip, how to locate sources of water, how to build a fire and a shelter and how to locate food sources. Also in the book are checklists of various types of survival kits. These kits range from a basic survival kit to a comprehensive survival kit and even a survival kit for the car. Included is a very informative section on emergency first aid. It goes beyond the basic first aid that one might typically learn to cover situations where a great deal of time might pass before an injured person is able to be rescued and cared for by professionals. This is perhaps the best book that I have ever read on survival skills. It is reader-friendly and would be valuable not only to the novice but to a seasoned adventurer as well. I plan to make it a permanent part of my own personal library. Reviewed by Serena Snyder

Great Read!

I found Les Stroud's Survivorman series on TV and was hooked from the start! Now we have a written version of all the essentials from the series, as well as a multitude of other equally important survival "must knows." Many of the "how to" details that can make the difference in doing something right or making a terrible mistake are explained in detail and generously illustrated. Thanks, Les, for this informative and reader-friendly book. We are so glad you took to the wilds and are sharing your knowledge in such an entertaining and honest way. A real treasure, even for someone who only gets as far as their own back yard!

The best survival book to come along in years!

I have to say that I've liked Les Stroud from the beginning when I got a hold of a copy of his first movie, "Snowshoes & Solitude" which documented his yearlong stay, along with his wife, in the boreal forest of Canada. His TV series has revealed what a talented woodsman and teacher he is who doesn't fabricate his storylines and film shots, unlike other hosts of "survival" shows. Les Stroud comes across as a guy who is the real deal- just the type of competent woodsman you want to tune into each week. I say this having been a fulltime survival instructor for years and having seen much of the nonsense on both TV and in the written literature that has been perpetuated in the industry. In my own fieldcourses, the conversation always arises with my students around the evening campfire, as to who is the best survival educator on TV today and, almost unanimously, everyone agrees on Mr. Stroud! No surprise. So, I was pleasantly surprised to obtain a copy of this new book- probably the best book written on the subject of survival in years! Not only does it show practical skills but it has many helpful sidebars and tips for the reader. I was most impressed by the fact that the author gave credit, both in photos and writing, to his mentors and teachers along the way. Again, this shows what a class-act the man is and how he doesn't claim to be the sole repository of all wilderness knowledge like many other survival authorities. Whether you are new to the outdoors or an experienced woodsman or woodswoman, I'd highly recommend this book. Tony Nester Ancient Pathways, LLC