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The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
A catastrophe compendium. The most popular scenarios from the series that has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
The worst of the worst, all in one place. Avoid the perils of mountain lions and blind dates, avalanches and teenage driving lessons, runaway golf carts and Christmas turkeys on fire. A remedy for every crisis the worst-case experts have anticipated is now only a click away. Boasting more than 500 pages, this sturdy addition to the Worst-Case Scenario library could stop a bullet—just one more way to be prepared for the worst.
Part of the series that inspired “Worst-Case Scenario: A Survival Experience,” an interactive exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
Praise for the Worst-Case Scenario Survival series
“What this book lacks in spiritual enlightenment, it more than makes up for with the practical advice you thought you’d never need. Yet it’s only when you read about how to deliver a baby in the back of a taxi, surviving quicksand and mastering awkward lift silences that you realize just how handy a book like this could come in. Some day.” — The Irish Times
“Though neither written nor read in a humorous manner, the book nevertheless amuses in a strange way . . . affords some camp appeal in the tradition of outdated high school safety films.” — Publishers Weekly
“There is something for everyone. It has a wide range of scenarios from dangerous to just downright irritating . . . It is fun, witty, entertaining and you learn something along the way too.” — Quill Quotes
The worst of the worst, all in one place. Avoid the perils of mountain lions and blind dates, avalanches and teenage driving lessons, runaway golf carts and Christmas turkeys on fire. A remedy for every crisis the worst-case experts have anticipated is now only a click away. Boasting more than 500 pages, this sturdy addition to the Worst-Case Scenario library could stop a bullet—just one more way to be prepared for the worst.
Part of the series that inspired “Worst-Case Scenario: A Survival Experience,” an interactive exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
Praise for the Worst-Case Scenario Survival series
“What this book lacks in spiritual enlightenment, it more than makes up for with the practical advice you thought you’d never need. Yet it’s only when you read about how to deliver a baby in the back of a taxi, surviving quicksand and mastering awkward lift silences that you realize just how handy a book like this could come in. Some day.” — The Irish Times
“Though neither written nor read in a humorous manner, the book nevertheless amuses in a strange way . . . affords some camp appeal in the tradition of outdated high school safety films.” — Publishers Weekly
“There is something for everyone. It has a wide range of scenarios from dangerous to just downright irritating . . . It is fun, witty, entertaining and you learn something along the way too.” — Quill Quotes
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2001
104 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Piven
91 books24 followersJosh Piven is a television writer and producer, speechwriter, playwright, and the author or co-author of more than twenty non-fiction and humor books, including the worldwide best-selling The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series.
He wrote the teleplay and serves as producer of Don The Beekeeper, a half-hour children’s TV show about honeybees and urban beekeeping. His most recent stage play, a holiday farce called No Reservations, had its world premiere in November-December, 2013, to great success and critical acclaim. More information. His next play is Muddled.
Josh likes to refer to himself in the third person.
Piven is perhaps best known for his famously tongue-in-cheek worst-case books, books that offer readers real-world (though often hilarious) advice on surviving worst-case situations that they might—but hopefully won’t—encounter: everything from “how to fend off a shark” and “how to wrestle an alligator” to “how to avoid the Freshman 15” and “how to determine if your date is an axe murderer.”
Piven is an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania—and living proof that English majors aren't necessarily failures.
He wrote the teleplay and serves as producer of Don The Beekeeper, a half-hour children’s TV show about honeybees and urban beekeeping. His most recent stage play, a holiday farce called No Reservations, had its world premiere in November-December, 2013, to great success and critical acclaim. More information. His next play is Muddled.
Josh likes to refer to himself in the third person.
Piven is perhaps best known for his famously tongue-in-cheek worst-case books, books that offer readers real-world (though often hilarious) advice on surviving worst-case situations that they might—but hopefully won’t—encounter: everything from “how to fend off a shark” and “how to wrestle an alligator” to “how to avoid the Freshman 15” and “how to determine if your date is an axe murderer.”
Piven is an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania—and living proof that English majors aren't necessarily failures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 26, 2010
Hilarious, until some of the things you realize ACTUALLY scare you and could happen... then you start reading it a little more closer and seriously or you start smiling more at what they have included. My boyfriend got this for me for my birthday this year, after I was always talking about wanting to know "What if" type situations. "What would we do if we ran across a bear?" and other questions that scare you. You see the quiz type board game at certain stores and you smile and think its totally cute... but who needs anything like that, right? Not in this day in age.
I could agree, and my boyfriend and I at first were laughing at the illustrations, and you probably will, until a topic title grabs your eye and you read more.
At first you laugh when it tells you how to survive things like the wedding night, not being caught sleeping during class, how to escape a business meeting and how to crawl under the desk, or trying to buy a last item in a store full of shoppers on the verge of rioting. Then is has more interesting "hmmm" topics like disarming a bear trap and other actual useful things, such as being bitten by snakes, or how to scare off mountain lions, avoiding certain stampeding animals (who knows, maybe someone will ask you to safari out in Africa), dealing with an evil vending machine (properly of course! haha) that takes your money but doesn't drop your goodies, and other stuff you think actually is chit chatty type handy tips or noteworthy things to store away in your brain.
Then, you might run into one of the topics that grabs your eye and it is something you are ACTUALLY scared of... and you read on and on it is something you NEVER forget, that I can promise! These are usually from the "EXTREME" edition of the Worst Case Scenario series, and some of them are things most of us have feared at one point or another. I was up a little too late one night, hooked on reading about being buried alive and escaping the grasps of nature, and insomnia induced hysteria started having me think "Oh my, I should keep this with me at all times on road trips". Of course, I also have studied and hold onto the Zombie Survival Handbook so, just a heads up haha.
Some other topics will have you flipping right through, but being a reader nerd I have to read everything cover to cover. Being "Complete" it has more than you could definitely want, and some topics you might raise an eyebrow for them including, but then shrug because who knows, it might not help you but someone else. Sort of like those obvious signs that tell you DANGER, low ceiling or something or another, but it can't stop there it has to include a comical yellow and black sign of someone hitting their head.
As a result, combining the useful with the more trivial and funny is great and if you like buying "Complete" editions packed with all the other side books and don't want to dish out more buying all the other books (and I think at this point there are quite a few), this is a good buy. However, if you want just the serious or the funny, looking at the catalog of their separate books is probably a better idea to suit your tastes.
For any person who is anxious, likes to plan, is the handyman type and needs to know all Plan B's, this is a wonderful gift. Even if they don't read it right away, I can promise it will be something they'll keep with their tools for the handy type, their car/truck for the roady type or those who enjoy camping outdoors... or like me, the anxious type, I keep it with my xanax!
I could agree, and my boyfriend and I at first were laughing at the illustrations, and you probably will, until a topic title grabs your eye and you read more.
At first you laugh when it tells you how to survive things like the wedding night, not being caught sleeping during class, how to escape a business meeting and how to crawl under the desk, or trying to buy a last item in a store full of shoppers on the verge of rioting. Then is has more interesting "hmmm" topics like disarming a bear trap and other actual useful things, such as being bitten by snakes, or how to scare off mountain lions, avoiding certain stampeding animals (who knows, maybe someone will ask you to safari out in Africa), dealing with an evil vending machine (properly of course! haha) that takes your money but doesn't drop your goodies, and other stuff you think actually is chit chatty type handy tips or noteworthy things to store away in your brain.
Then, you might run into one of the topics that grabs your eye and it is something you are ACTUALLY scared of... and you read on and on it is something you NEVER forget, that I can promise! These are usually from the "EXTREME" edition of the Worst Case Scenario series, and some of them are things most of us have feared at one point or another. I was up a little too late one night, hooked on reading about being buried alive and escaping the grasps of nature, and insomnia induced hysteria started having me think "Oh my, I should keep this with me at all times on road trips". Of course, I also have studied and hold onto the Zombie Survival Handbook so, just a heads up haha.
Some other topics will have you flipping right through, but being a reader nerd I have to read everything cover to cover. Being "Complete" it has more than you could definitely want, and some topics you might raise an eyebrow for them including, but then shrug because who knows, it might not help you but someone else. Sort of like those obvious signs that tell you DANGER, low ceiling or something or another, but it can't stop there it has to include a comical yellow and black sign of someone hitting their head.
As a result, combining the useful with the more trivial and funny is great and if you like buying "Complete" editions packed with all the other side books and don't want to dish out more buying all the other books (and I think at this point there are quite a few), this is a good buy. However, if you want just the serious or the funny, looking at the catalog of their separate books is probably a better idea to suit your tastes.
For any person who is anxious, likes to plan, is the handyman type and needs to know all Plan B's, this is a wonderful gift. Even if they don't read it right away, I can promise it will be something they'll keep with their tools for the handy type, their car/truck for the roady type or those who enjoy camping outdoors... or like me, the anxious type, I keep it with my xanax!
December 15, 2012
a "greatest hits" sampler of the worst-case scenario books, this is pretty much the ideal waiting-in-line time-killer. in other words, download it for the e-reader program of your choice (this version was free/extremely cheap for kindle), and have it loaded up on your phone. when you're stuck in some waiting room or interminable line, you can dip into a couple of the short topics this book is arranged into. when it's your turn, you won't have a problem tearing yourself away from the brief little sketches of what to do in circumstances of variably ridiculous peril. it's more than a little silly, but might give you a few sparks for conversation at stalled-out dinner parties.
January 27, 2014
I was so enchanted when I flipped through this how-to book at the bookstore that I had to...request it from the library. There is so much helpful counsel (like how to survive a poisonous snake bite, important information here in the West) that is right alongside tips like how to determine if your date is an axe murderer, how to survive awkward elevator silence, and how to silence Christmas carolers. Everything is presented so matter-of-fact that I sometimes can't tell if I am supposed be laughing, so I feel like the awkward last person in the room who finally peer-pressure laughs at the joke everybody else got but me.
This would be a good book to have in your 72-hour kit, or a fun book to flip through at a party or on a date to give you lots of interesting topics to talk about. A word for the naturally anxious, though: some things may freak you out if you think about them too hard, like how to escape being buried alive. I really, truly hope I never need that information.
I was going to share this book with my teenagers since I thought they'd be very entertained by it until I realized that it had instructions on things like how to jump from roof to roof or into a dumpster. Knowing some adventurous, impulsive minors like I do, I prudently realized that this information should be kept out of their hands for now. I mean, even the buried alive thing could be turned into a "fun experiment" in the wrong hands. I don't want anyone getting ideas for new home video for "Jackass" or "Nitro Circus." Back to the library with the manual that may be a little too helpful! In a few years I think I'd buy one for my emergency kit though!
This would be a good book to have in your 72-hour kit, or a fun book to flip through at a party or on a date to give you lots of interesting topics to talk about. A word for the naturally anxious, though: some things may freak you out if you think about them too hard, like how to escape being buried alive. I really, truly hope I never need that information.
I was going to share this book with my teenagers since I thought they'd be very entertained by it until I realized that it had instructions on things like how to jump from roof to roof or into a dumpster. Knowing some adventurous, impulsive minors like I do, I prudently realized that this information should be kept out of their hands for now. I mean, even the buried alive thing could be turned into a "fun experiment" in the wrong hands. I don't want anyone getting ideas for new home video for "Jackass" or "Nitro Circus." Back to the library with the manual that may be a little too helpful! In a few years I think I'd buy one for my emergency kit though!
June 12, 2009
I got this book from a guy for my birthday. I was impressed mostly that a guy would even GET me a book for my birthday, let alone one who knew so little about me, And yet, this book couldn't have been a ore perfect present. I haven't read every single page yet but within the first 24 hours of owning this book I was with a friend who was struggling to open a beer bottle without an opener and I had FOUR different ways to help her get it open.
A lot of it is funny but there's really a lot of valuable knowledge as well. This sort of makes a combination for the perfect book. Each article is short so those of us with handicapped attention spans can feel like we accomplished something even if we only read one page, but it's still time well spent. It's one of those books I would probably pick up and read every time I saw it in the store but would never actually break down and buy for myself, which is one more reason to love it.
A lot of it is funny but there's really a lot of valuable knowledge as well. This sort of makes a combination for the perfect book. Each article is short so those of us with handicapped attention spans can feel like we accomplished something even if we only read one page, but it's still time well spent. It's one of those books I would probably pick up and read every time I saw it in the store but would never actually break down and buy for myself, which is one more reason to love it.
April 17, 2013
This book helps the reader handle a variety of situations correctly and calmly. If you are not faced with the problem right now and are just casually reading through this book, it makes for a very quick read. I liked that it offered solutions to problems I hadn't even thought about, like "How to Free Yourself From a Coat Hook" or "How to Survive Empty Nest Syndrome" and even "How to Free Your Fish if Stuck in Tank Decorations." While I probably may not remember most of this advice years down the road, I think that faced with an unpleasant/dangerous situation I may remember some of the things that I read in this book. I even learned how to construct a paper airplane, which I did not know how to do before. Also, the method of hiding things in your dorm room by making secret compartments in books seems very useful.
Overall, this book offers practical and useful advice for varying situations.
Overall, this book offers practical and useful advice for varying situations.
January 30, 2010
A very funny collection of survival tips from the "Worst Case.." series of books. The great surprise is how useful many of the tips can be. As long as you read it with a grain of salt and use your own common sense and judgement, this book may well just save your life one day (...but don't count on it)
September 15, 2010
I learned how to survive with no oxygen while diving, how to survive crashland an aircraft, how to survive in a gunfight, how to swordfight, how to break into (my own!) car, how to take a leap from great heights, how to ...
This books is written with a hint of humour, but the advice and guidelines are completely serious. This is the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook for real life. Sorta :-)
This books is written with a hint of humour, but the advice and guidelines are completely serious. This is the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook for real life. Sorta :-)
January 30, 2017
This is a very handy Survival Handbook, I finished it in one day just because I found it so interesting. But I'm glad I have it just because I may need to use one of these techniques one day.
November 7, 2019
HA. I picked this up in a TJ Maxx with my husband. "We're going to get this", I said. He was doubtful but then he started laughing out loud as he flipped through it. Called it.
June 10, 2019
The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook was given to me by a friend, and at first when I looked thru the pages of this book it looked like it is a collection of hilarious responses of how to get away from the amusing situation: How to not get eaten by a lion, How to avoid annoying coworker, How to survive a boring class... etc. However as I continue to read the guide, I surprisingly realized that it contains many valuable advices and can certainly be used in real life situations. It also includes multiple entertaining topics that can be discussed in a group, on a date, etc.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This is a perfect gift for anyone, book lover or not.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This is a perfect gift for anyone, book lover or not.
September 10, 2020
I mistook this for another book that was more practical. At first the short stories seem like they could be good explanations for very complex things. There are many scattered throughout the 300 or some odd stories that seem to be either satire or parody. Towards the end it seemed like none of these would be very useful. If you read Men's Health, the section where people write the bartender for advice, this entire book could be a huge collection of those. I do not think many of these are helpful at all. Many of the things cannot be fully explained in a short one page story. So not sure who should read this.
January 31, 2023
I’m not quite sure why I read this. I think I read this mostly for fun.. The part of me that thinks “What if…?” feels that I’m more prepared for some of these situations. In reality, I would probably forget most of what I’ve read. Let’s hope I don’t have to face these things.
Some of the circumstances had solutions that were a little humorous, while others were more serious.
The illustrations were the most helpful for understanding what exactly it wanted you to do. I looked forward to seeing them in this book.
Some of the circumstances had solutions that were a little humorous, while others were more serious.
The illustrations were the most helpful for understanding what exactly it wanted you to do. I looked forward to seeing them in this book.
August 16, 2023
Very educational. I feel far more confident I will be able to ward off a hostile alien life form by jabbing them in the eyes, as well as be a champ at crawling under a table to escape a boring business meeting. :)
All jokes aside, there was some useful stuff in here like how to escape attacking animals and what to do if you get into numerous situations from falling down stairs to defending yourself in a fight. Let's just hope I'll be able to keep my bearings if I ever get into any of these high stress situations. I nice, entertaining/educational read.
All jokes aside, there was some useful stuff in here like how to escape attacking animals and what to do if you get into numerous situations from falling down stairs to defending yourself in a fight. Let's just hope I'll be able to keep my bearings if I ever get into any of these high stress situations. I nice, entertaining/educational read.
March 29, 2021
Solidly 3 stars. There are some serious ones in there that can be helpful, but also some hilarious ones that felt like they were placed there for humor sake. While entertaining, could have been done without some of them. Very fast read, would take some of it with a gain of salt though. Some I found to be accurate, and others can be easily executed badly even with the best intentions. Some were also just funny and inadvisable.
May 25, 2024
Finally giving up on this book after close to 2 years of intermitting reading. I almost exclusively read this on the shitter, and it's a hefty tome. That's a lot of shits. I finished aprox. 400 pages out of 500. Look, this is kinda corny. Middle America. White people shit. I don't know. This comes with a CD-ROM. LOL. I was rolling my eyes more than not, I only made it as far as I did because of my misplaced sense of completionism.
February 15, 2020
The main downfall of this book will be not having time to look up the information when the situation happens. For example, even if I carry the book with me at all times, when the elephants are stampeding, I will most likely not have time to find the appropriate chapter in the book that tells me what to do. However, if you have a photographic memory, I would suggest reading this cover to cover.
June 3, 2017
Really?
Okay again really? I enjoyed most scenarios but "How to Get Sand Out of a Swimsuit?" I guess this book is also aimed those without common sense, or perhaps they live in a desert?
Okay again really? I enjoyed most scenarios but "How to Get Sand Out of a Swimsuit?" I guess this book is also aimed those without common sense, or perhaps they live in a desert?
January 11, 2018
Fun
Humor is born from catastrophes. God too maybe. When everything goes wrong think twice and pray. Also help yourself first if you want to live. This book is funny and full of tips that can save your life.
Humor is born from catastrophes. God too maybe. When everything goes wrong think twice and pray. Also help yourself first if you want to live. This book is funny and full of tips that can save your life.
December 12, 2016
Thanks to this book, I am now qualified to be an action movie stunt man. Or maybe, a critic of the action movie genre. Anyway, it was a greatly entertaining read
December 11, 2017
Did you ever want to know how to run down the top of a moving train?
If the answer is no, you are a sad human being.
My favorite 14th birthday present
If the answer is no, you are a sad human being.
My favorite 14th birthday present
April 10, 2018
Some good information here. A fun book to read
December 13, 2021
Actually got to read this again for work. My job rules. We hosted the traveling exhibit based on the series and it's both hilarious and totally helpful.
Don't panic.
Have a plan.
Learn parkour.
Don't panic.
Have a plan.
Learn parkour.
March 11, 2023
Hilarious & nifty
March 21, 2024
Fun book i read at dull moments for while. Some solid tips and some just jokey material.
January 14, 2025
Helpful and Hilarious
July 10, 2025
A must have in every library!
March 5, 2018
I placed this title on my "Books I Want To Read Someday" list years ago. I read the whole thing and didn't care for it. Yes, it details instructions for surviving things. I learned how to escape from a car that goes into a lake and other deadly situations. Some are certainly more far-fetched than others. I do realize much of the book is meant to entertain. One example is how to dress to cover up a beer belly. But in many scenarios in the book, the reader is encouraged to lie. The reader is given lines to borrow in order to get a job one isn't qualified for.
I say don't spend time of this one.
I say don't spend time of this one.
February 27, 2025
Came here for a good time and ended up learning a bunch of stuff.
This was a practical book, covered a lot, and threw in some funny stuff (ie: situations or pictures) to make you giggle and break up the monotony.
My coworkers recommended this for my anxiety and I'm pretty sure all I've learned is I'm not gonna make it. Feel free to leave me behind boys!
This was a practical book, covered a lot, and threw in some funny stuff (ie: situations or pictures) to make you giggle and break up the monotony.
My coworkers recommended this for my anxiety and I'm pretty sure all I've learned is I'm not gonna make it. Feel free to leave me behind boys!
Read
September 25, 2016If you're looking for a survival guide, this isn't it. If you're looking for coffee table amusement, then this will more suited to you.
January 17, 2010
It took too long for me to read this book. My interest waned as certain sections became a lot of work.
There are some very practical and helpful topics: How to survive a riptide; How to remove a tick; How to treat food poisoning.
There are some fun and interesting topics that most people secretly ponder sometime in their life: How to fend off a shark attack; How to land a plane; How to stop a car with no brakes.
There are some some ridiculous but fun topics treated: How to cross a pirhana-infested river; How to jump from a moving train; How to survive if your parachute fails to open.
There are way too many failed attempts at humor in time-wasting topics: How to foil a UFO abduction; How to survive if you have no one to kiss on New Year's Eve; How to determine the gender of your date.
Some of the book is fun and parts are actually useful. But be prepared to do a lot of skimming.
There are some very practical and helpful topics: How to survive a riptide; How to remove a tick; How to treat food poisoning.
There are some fun and interesting topics that most people secretly ponder sometime in their life: How to fend off a shark attack; How to land a plane; How to stop a car with no brakes.
There are some some ridiculous but fun topics treated: How to cross a pirhana-infested river; How to jump from a moving train; How to survive if your parachute fails to open.
There are way too many failed attempts at humor in time-wasting topics: How to foil a UFO abduction; How to survive if you have no one to kiss on New Year's Eve; How to determine the gender of your date.
Some of the book is fun and parts are actually useful. But be prepared to do a lot of skimming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews