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Hawke's Green Beret Survival Manual: Essential Strategies For: Shelter and Water, Food and Fire, Tools and Medicine, Navigation and Signaling, Survival Psychology and Getting Out Alive!
The perfect home-reference book for both seasoned outdoorsman and average citizens to learn comprehensive outdoor survival techniques. Includes illustrated instruction on shelter and water, food and fire, tools and medicine, navigation and signaling, and survival psychology. Hawke's engaging style and matter-of-fact attitude—not to mention his incredible resume in the survival arena—elevates this book above its competition.
640 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2009
57 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 17, 2018
There is a lot I could say about this one but this review I saw on Amazon is SPOT ON for how I feel about this book. It's generally well done, but a little sparse in a few places.
The first thing you need to know about this book is the perspective the author takes on what survival is: he basically is talking about situations where you unexpectedly find yourself out of range of help, and where furthermore you don't have the means to survive readily available (meaning you didn't come prepared with food, shelter, tools, etc). This book is not for the "survivalist" - someone who puts themselves in a difficult situation on purpose, or someone who is preparing for difficult survival conditions. The bulk of the book would most readily apply to the survivor of a vehicle crash in a remote area.
The author makes the point early and often that surviving is about mindset, and he constantly reminds you to stay alert, positive, busy and willful. Beyond that, he covers most of the basics that would apply to someone thrust into a survival situation who hopes to escape or be rescued. Thinking about this book as an overview is a useful perspective; expecting to walk out into the woods after reading this book and surviving is not.
I found the chapter on First Aid to be superior to other survival material I've read. Chapters on Food, Water, Tools and Signals (as in signaling for help) were pretty good as well. I've read better stuff on Shelter and Fire. Like almost every general survival guide, he occasionally falls into the trap of over-explaining best-case scenarios. Yes, bamboo is the greatest if you have access to it, but it's pretty easy to figure out how to use it; tell me how to make a small water vessel with no coconuts or bamboo or large conch shells laying around.
There are places where the book is quite explicit and could serve as a how-to reference. I learned more about antibiotics from this book than living in society and having them prescribed for me for years ever taught me (frankly, the first-aid chapter could explain a lot to the average person about what a doctor does during an office visit and how they figure out what's wrong with you). In other places, the material in the book just gets you thinking in the right direction, but it will take some practice and experience to utilize any of the techniques described. In the same chapter, for instance, the section on CPR rather presumes that you know all about it, and really just addresses when you might want to administer CPR and when it frankly isn't going to help much.
The bottom line is that this would be a great book for anyone who thinks they could end up in an unexpected survival situation one day. For those looking for long-term survival information, or detailed how-to guides on thriving away from society, look elsewhere. If you want to have a chance to walk away from a disaster in a remote area alive, this book will introduce you to concepts that will make that possible.
The first thing you need to know about this book is the perspective the author takes on what survival is: he basically is talking about situations where you unexpectedly find yourself out of range of help, and where furthermore you don't have the means to survive readily available (meaning you didn't come prepared with food, shelter, tools, etc). This book is not for the "survivalist" - someone who puts themselves in a difficult situation on purpose, or someone who is preparing for difficult survival conditions. The bulk of the book would most readily apply to the survivor of a vehicle crash in a remote area.
The author makes the point early and often that surviving is about mindset, and he constantly reminds you to stay alert, positive, busy and willful. Beyond that, he covers most of the basics that would apply to someone thrust into a survival situation who hopes to escape or be rescued. Thinking about this book as an overview is a useful perspective; expecting to walk out into the woods after reading this book and surviving is not.
I found the chapter on First Aid to be superior to other survival material I've read. Chapters on Food, Water, Tools and Signals (as in signaling for help) were pretty good as well. I've read better stuff on Shelter and Fire. Like almost every general survival guide, he occasionally falls into the trap of over-explaining best-case scenarios. Yes, bamboo is the greatest if you have access to it, but it's pretty easy to figure out how to use it; tell me how to make a small water vessel with no coconuts or bamboo or large conch shells laying around.
There are places where the book is quite explicit and could serve as a how-to reference. I learned more about antibiotics from this book than living in society and having them prescribed for me for years ever taught me (frankly, the first-aid chapter could explain a lot to the average person about what a doctor does during an office visit and how they figure out what's wrong with you). In other places, the material in the book just gets you thinking in the right direction, but it will take some practice and experience to utilize any of the techniques described. In the same chapter, for instance, the section on CPR rather presumes that you know all about it, and really just addresses when you might want to administer CPR and when it frankly isn't going to help much.
The bottom line is that this would be a great book for anyone who thinks they could end up in an unexpected survival situation one day. For those looking for long-term survival information, or detailed how-to guides on thriving away from society, look elsewhere. If you want to have a chance to walk away from a disaster in a remote area alive, this book will introduce you to concepts that will make that possible.
September 12, 2014
OK, I'm sixty pages into this tome that has sat gathering dust on my shelf for a year, and already I feel the need to beat myself over the head with it! Why, oh why, oh WHY did I not start reading this the day I bought it? It is by far the best volume on survival I have ever come across - and that includes the legendary (and frankly almost sacred) Lofty Wiseman classic. Everyone should read this book, it's just so very, truly, outstandingly awesome!
August 15, 2009
This should be required reading, not just for hikers and campers, but for everyone! You never know when this knowledge will come in handy.
May 21, 2021
I have an obsession with survival books and stories. This guide is hardcore and I skipped over some stuff, but was entertained and learned a few things.
"If you are with someone who cannot walk, you have to leave them behind. If you cannot leave them behind, both of you will die."
I also liked the intro, where the author shared how and why he started his survival "training" as a young boy. He is funny and blunt.
"If you are with someone who cannot walk, you have to leave them behind. If you cannot leave them behind, both of you will die."
I also liked the intro, where the author shared how and why he started his survival "training" as a young boy. He is funny and blunt.
May 25, 2024
I think he tried to cover too much. He did try to make things simple principles to follow, but it was clear that i need to pick up a book on the swamp if i am going to be near one, or mountains, or jungle, or desert… too much for one book, imo.
August 22, 2020
Covers things in Worldwide Wilderness, Urban Survival that only some botanists/survivalists would know.. About 1 lb ? but covers everything. NBC Warfare, S.E.R.E, Attitude, Spirituality...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2022
Comprehensive and Clear
Bare bones and comprehensive at the same time. Mykel hits every topic and gives you a no-nonsense approach to everything from knife choice, to fire building, to how to amputate your own leg. The main mantra, and really the main ingredient to survival is drilled into you: Never give up! It’s a very realistic book that anyone can understand. You may find that some subjects are touched upon too lightly, but it’s a fine overall view of what it takes to survive. Great for beginners or as a refresher for the experienced.
Bare bones and comprehensive at the same time. Mykel hits every topic and gives you a no-nonsense approach to everything from knife choice, to fire building, to how to amputate your own leg. The main mantra, and really the main ingredient to survival is drilled into you: Never give up! It’s a very realistic book that anyone can understand. You may find that some subjects are touched upon too lightly, but it’s a fine overall view of what it takes to survive. Great for beginners or as a refresher for the experienced.
April 14, 2014
The book itself is very informative, the best survival manual you can find. For me a lot of the stuff I already knew out of common sense and from my own research/experience. When I bought the book I was hoping for advises on how to survive when living off the grid, but this book was all about getting back to civilization.
Nevertheless it's the best survival book you can find that covers most of the topics on how to survive in any climate long enough to find your way back to civilization.
Nevertheless it's the best survival book you can find that covers most of the topics on how to survive in any climate long enough to find your way back to civilization.
March 15, 2024
I enjoy survival knowledge and Hawke’s book is full of good to know information on this topic. If I feel the audio book is worth it, I am compelled to get the book to read in my hands to review and study— this is that book for me.
January 11, 2010
Good information. I wish Mr. Hawke had used a better editor, though - the colloquialisms and occasional grammar misses made reading the text less than enjoyable.
March 19, 2012
Short version:
content: excellent
grammar, style,...: not so excellent
--> ****
content: excellent
grammar, style,...: not so excellent
--> ****
October 10, 2012
One of the better survival manuals I have read. Myke has a way writing like he talks, so it can be very entertaining at times. overall a great book.
February 4, 2010
Overwhelming, but very informative.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews