SAS Survival Guide Handbook

by John Wiseman

This is the definitive guide for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers, including:

First aid and wilderness medicine Building shelter and making fire Hunting and trapping Pocket survival kit Disaster preparedness

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Reference, Outdoors, Self Help, Nature, Military Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

John 'Lofty' Wiseman

Reviews

[TheNeverendingTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of survival manuals throughout the years and this one is the very best one out of that bunch.

It goes through the essential survival items, strategies, climate and terrain, obtaining food, preparing food, making camps, reading stars and weather, survival at sea, rescue techniques and disasters such as fire, drought, flood, lightning, earthquakes and chemical accidents as well as surviving at home if all services and supplies are cut off.

And much much more..

I'd also like to point out that this book has illustrations throughout, with diagrams etc on how to carry out tasks.

I've actually read this book several times, I just thought I'd give it a proper review as I came across it while looking for my next read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kitteh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Survival is as much a mental attitude as physical endurance and knowledge. "

This has been the most informative book I've read. As someone who belongs to a normal crowd, this book is useful. very useful.

I love everything on this book except my phony ebook reader who doesn't make the formats right. I love how you can really read the author's survival experiences just by reading this book. I hope that every civilians reads this book and should be required to read before reaching adulthood.

This book is perfect. 5 out of 5. The part I loved the most was the knot chapter. I really learned a lot by reading this book.

Here's a picture of a very-badly-knotted lasso I made :D :

[Sundeep Supertramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST SURVIVAL GUIDE EVER PUBLISHED...

I am a outdoor kind of guy.. It is very essential for me to learn survival tactics incase of emergency and all..

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It is THE BEST... Nothing can beat it.. It covers each and every worse-case sceanrios provided by the Mother Nature.. It covers all the regions from Desert to Glaciers.. Swamps to forests... hot to cold to tropical to humid... It is a one-stop deal for survival situation..

If you got lost in a wild place like (any )forest and if you have find this book in your backpack, man, you are most luckiest person on this earth..

The feature of the book which really fascinated is the GLOBAL EDIBLE PLANTS list.. There is a big list of edible, medicinal and extremely poisonous plants in the book.. which colour illustrations.. I never saw this feature in any other survival guide ever..

It has got the procedures of gutting the animals and all, clothing for a particular kind of region.. kinds of shelter that can be made with props around you..

DON'T JUST GO OUT FOR ADVENTURES WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF MANUSCRIPT... IT CAN BE A GOD'S GIFT...

[Beau Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book that gives straight forward information about surviving in the outdoors. It is written in plain language that everyone can understand.

Whether you are an experienced outdoors enthusiast or a novice; this book has something for everyone. It covers everything you need to make your outdoors experience more enjoyable; from basic camping skills through to navigation and first aid.

Outdoor skills require practice and can only be learned through experience, not from books. But reading this manual before you head out can help you avoid some of the common mistakes people make.

On a more serious note, if you did find yourself facing disaster, the knowledge in this book is second to none.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Oprah was really interested in helping people, she'd add this book to her book club. "Read it TODAY. Steadman!!! We need a survival kit and a survival pouch. And one for the cocker spaniels. And Gayle. Get off the Xbox."

Zombies: come at me bros.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This survival book is jam packed with literally everything you’d need to know in a moment of distress. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned from one book. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking to start a bugging out hobby, or a wild life survivalist. Everything you need is in the pages of this book! Magnificent!!

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this small wonder! I take it with me whenever I go hiking, camping or hunting. It isn't waterproof (maybe they'll do it in a new "weather-proof edition"!), but I just throw it in a zip-lock sandwich bag, because it is THAT small, and it goes right in the pack. It covers everything you'll ever need to know, plus a ton you hope you won't need. It includes colour images of edible plants and of those that are poisonous. For anyone who is interested in survival in wild, buy this book! I only paid $10 (CAN), and it was worth every penny.

[Igor Veloso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book on the very next day my government declared a country wide quarantine. It was quite a blessing if I may say.

Doesn’t really count as a full read from page to page, but already got around the subjects I was interested in and got to learn about others that were secondary. Everything in this book is equally important information, mind you, but to each person, their own priorities.

There are other Survival books, albeit more specialized, like Bushcraft 101 or those about flora. This one aims to be The Ultimate Guide and covers a lot: The Essentials to bring with you, Strategies to adopt (psychological and perception), Climate and Terrain to adapt, Food including what not to eat and how to cook, Camp Craft and tools, Reading Signs when you’re camped, want to be rescued or are On the Move; Health and its obligatory first aid procedures, Survival at Sea, Rescue etiquette, Urban Survival and self defense methods and finally Disasters, from natural to nuclear.

Its a big book. There are pocket alternatives, but buy those at your own risk. I’d say having these 700 pages in your bug-out bag its not wasted space. Remember to practice some of these things while you’re safe, so you can be readier when you’re not. Although once again, check your priorities. If you’re in village or near natural parks and SHTF, learning the camp stuff should be the first thing; if you’re in an Urban Environment, adapt to that one instead. Its all about the resource management and keep you and your tribe safe.

Everyone making fun of the toilet paper buying - me too, I do like to make light of things – however, assuming one is not hoarding and taking it Smeagol style, ending up having three times more paper than the food you can wipe, maybe you should be doing the same. People are realizing they have to stay at home, many are at higher risk by going outside. Families are used to buy just the necessary, so stock is manageable. Now they have to be as self sufficient as possible, and have to buy extra, not only to reduce risk of exposure but also to avoid clogging the supermarket or wait in endless lines. Markets and shelves have to adapt to the new reality. Much of the “panic buying” its simply a derogatory term for the mass prepping people need to do. Very careful with being condescending about those, or you might be the next beggar.

We’re all preppers now.

Which means, if you don’t have this book yet, its one of the most worthy investments you can make. You not only learn something for the betterment of those you love, but also those around you, starting with staying at home, reading.

Stay safe out there.

[Omar Alhashimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually one of the few that I always take me whenever I travel or go on a trip. This could potentially save your life and it is really so detailed it is crazy. Having the pages able to survive water is also so useful. Going from every environment, to what plants you can eat, to setting up traps and shelters this has EVERYTHING. I never travel without it beside me, it could save your life one day, so I think its better to be safe than sorry. Even if you aren't that adventurous its cool to read just as info.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I know how to field dress a hare.

[Gard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical pocket sized book that I will be sure to bring with me come doomsday.

[Davud Juffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am ready to wander into the wilderness!
Overall a great textbook survival book with all the classic survival strategies and scenarios. I only give 4 stars since it is not as practical as Survive by Les Stroud, the gold standard for survival books.

[Samuel Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I have not actually read everything but I get the idea. Ready for the jungle.

[Tyrell ⚔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The more we know the easier it is to survive. Knowledge dispels fear.”

I started this book with the intention to read it over time - I've recently been really interested in learning some survival skills, creating a bug out bag, etc. so I thought that I'd give it a deep read. I quickly became wrapped up in the book, struggling to even put the book down.

There's some great information in here, with excellent supplemental diagrams. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy so that I can study it over time.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is poorly written, terribly organized, and horribly (I mean HORRIBLY) edited, but I almost gave it four stars. Obviously, you don't read a book like this expecting great literature. The guy who wrote it isn't a writer (and apparently neither were his "editors") -- he's a legit survival expert. The sheer amount of useful information in this book makes it worth owning and worth actually reading. Besides the obvious worst-case-scenario imagination-stimulation, you might actually learn something that could someday save a life or two.
Two caveats though: 1) The quality of the writing and (I think) the information itself trailed off a little by the last few chapters; and 2) there were three or four places where the writer was either "stretching" beyond his actual knowledge or had someone else slap together that section for him. For instance, despite instructions to the contrary, on a raft or any other vessel that's just floating with the current (river or ocean), a rudder will not work at all. (Just a few questionable passages in a book that's almost 600 pages long is not too shabby...)

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers every survival question you can think of and loads that you can't. It covers every major climatic region and survival at sea and how to get through various man-made and natural disasters. It also covers:
- what you can and can't eat
- identification of edible and medicinal plants
- animal tracks and signs
- trapping, killing and preparation of animals
- where to locate and how to build a camp
- first aid from minor to major injury and illness
- signalling using yourself, morse code and stuff your find nearby

Written by a professional SAS soldier, Lofty really knows his stuff and conveys it clearly, in such a way that anyone will be able to understand and follow his advice and methods. This book is a must for anyone who goes out and about for whatever reason and will definitely be a part of my survey kit from now on.

[Lauren Bedson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read about this some time ago as being the "definitive guide" to wilderness survival, a topic of great interest to me. This book is fantastic - based on a lifetime serving in the Special Air Service (SAS), an elite British army unit, Wiseman packs this invaluable book full of comprehensive, clear, practical information about building shelter, finding food and water, and staying safe and healthy in all emergency scenarios and situations. The diagrams are very clear, and his writing style is quaint. Very enjoyable to read, and who knows, one day it could save your life!!

On a related note, check out the CDC's fun and educational illustrated narrative on emergency preparedness, zombie style: http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies_novel...

[Wendy Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Am I an overly anxious perfectionist who likes to be overprepared for every worst case scenario?)

This book is a treasure trove, I desperately need a copy to keep on my person at all times (& esp in the wilderness). I love his understated British "keep calm & carry on" attitude, because honestly, when you're resorting to drinking fresh water from fish bladders I think the realistic chance of survival is abysmally miniscule. Though it's nice to be hopeful in any situation, if only because the alternative is rolling over and dying.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a bizarre, interesting book! I now feel prepared should my car drive off of a cliff onto a frozen tundra. Seriously, I was fascinated by this book, and I have the strangest urge to buy a good knife and always keep in on my person now...

[Monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in-depth guide to survival that is easy to understand, with simple illustrations and language that everyone can grasp. I always smile when I find this book lying around the house and can't help but sit down and have a quick skim-through.

[Paulius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daug naudingos informacijos. Tiek daug ir įvairios, jog be šansų viską atsiminti.

[Barack Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

428-The SAS survival handbook-John Wiseman-Tool-1986

Barack
2022/07/23

The SAS survival handbook, first published in 1986. It is a complete course for the Special Air Service to prepare for any type of emergency. It presents real-world strategies for surviving in any type of situation, from accidents and escape procedures, including chemical and nuclear, to successful adaptation to various climates (polar, tropical, desert), to identifying edible plants and making fires. The book is very practical and illustrated with easy to understand line art and diagrams.

Special Air Service, Special Air Service (SAS) is the special forces unit of the British Army. The SAS was formed as a regiment in 1941 and reorganized into a corps in 1950. The unit specializes in multiple missions, including counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, and covert reconnaissance. Much of the information about SAS is highly classified, and neither the UK government nor the Ministry of Defence has commented on it due to the secrecy and sensitivity of its operations . He gained worldwide fame and recognition after his televised rescue of all but two hostages during the siege of the Iranian embassy in 1980.

John Wiseman was born in London, United Kingdom in 1940. In 1959, 18-year-old Wiseman joined the SAS from the parachute regiment he had joined a year earlier, becoming the youngest person ever to pass the selection. He went on to serve in the SAS for 26 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. Wiseman was also head of 22 SAS Operations Research, formed an anti-hijacking group called SP Team, and formed the SAS Counter-Terrorism Team (known for its involvement in the Iranian embassy siege). After leaving SAS in 1985, his first book was the SAS Survival Manual (published in 1986). Wiseman has since become a survival writer and consultant, and has appeared on television.

Table of Contents
1 - ESSENTIALS
2 - STRATEGY
3 - CLIMATE & TERRAIN
4 - FOOD
5 - CAMP CRAFT
6 - READING THE SIGNS
7 - ON THE MOVE
8 - HEALTH
9 - SURVIVAL AT SEA
10 - RESCUE

This book is about how to survive in a variety of unconventional environments, which may be harsh natural conditions or man-made crisis situations. Before encountering these circumstances, you should be prepared. First and foremost, keep a pocket knife with you. The second priority is to prepare mentally and physically. Knowing these basics in advance may not be used in a lifetime under normal circumstances. But if you really need to use it, then the value of this knowledge will not be exchanged. The third prerequisite is a strong will to live. Only if you have a strong desire to survive can you rack your brains and find ways to survive. A more experienced person, if negligent, can also capsize in difficult circumstances. On the contrary, with a strong desire to survive, we may take the initiative to seek out all the knowledge, tools, internal motivation, or external support that increase our chances of survival.

Methodologically speaking, our preparation can refer to the Plan rule. P is protection, pay attention to the dangers in the environment and build temporary shelters. L is location. Send out your location as much as possible to help the outside world find your location as quickly and accurately as possible. A is acquisition, to obtain important resources such as water and food as much as possible, even if it is not used now, it may come in handy at some point in the future. N is navigation. It is best to carry a navigation system such as GPS. If you can accurately know your latitude and longitude, and can send it out, it will greatly reduce the difficulty of rescue.

One of the keys to dealing with special circumstances is preparation. We may already know when, where and how we will enter difficult circumstances, or we may not know when disaster strikes, but plan to prepare in advance. Every detail has the potential to make or break us. We can't be perfect, but we can simulate every detail iteratively. This kind of simulation may be planning in the mind; it may be collecting written and written data, learning from the experience of others; it may also be practiced in advance. Preparation itself does not guarantee success, but an extra preparation increases the probability of success.

The human body is magical. On the one hand, the human body has stricter requirements on the temperature, humidity and other parameters of the external environment. Therefore, we need to use the limited luggage we carry with us to create these environments as much as possible so that we can survive longer. But on the other hand, people's ability to adapt is extremely strong. Even if we don't reach the best state, we can overcome it for a short time. This kind of spiritual wisdom and adaptability is our ability to achieve more than other creatures. one of the main factors.

When it comes to camping in the wild, tents, sleeping bags, clothing, hiking shoes and other equipment must be considered. The mountaineering bag carried by an adult is about 60 liters, and the overall weight may be about 12KG~ 15KG . So it is very important to choose equipment that is as light as possible and durable at the same time. At the same time, moisture caused by sweating and rain must be considered, so materials with good air permeability are important. If a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools. That's why any sport, not just mountaineering, plays as far back as the gear goes. When personal skills and physical strength have basically reached a relatively high level, the influence of equipment possession is also increasing. Conversely, just having good equipment, but not using it correctly, is tantamount to a waste of money, and there is no way to fully utilize the potential of good equipment.

Any tool that can effectively locate , such as GPS, is essential. If you only rely on the mobile phone to locate in the field, if there is no power or no signal, the function of the mobile phone will be very low. And if you only rely on the compass, you may get lost because the positioning is too rough, or you can't see the sun. Only by knowing your exact latitude and longitude can you understand how far you are from your destination and how much you have passed from your starting point. Knowing where you are now, where you are starting from, and where you are going are the most important issues.

A wireless walkie-talkie is necessary even when only two people are traveling. Traveling in the wild is different from traveling in big cities, and safety is always the first consideration. If there is no way to afford equipment such as radio and GPS, then we would rather not go hiking and camping outdoors, because the lack of these equipment may put us in danger. On the contrary, when traveling in big cities, you can reduce the items you carry with you. After all, as long as you bring enough money, most problems can be solved easily. Different travel modes and destinations require different strategies.

[William Schram · Rating 5 out of 5]

The SAS Survival Handbook is a massive compendium of information on almost any aspect of survival imaginable. I have the third edition, but I don't know if that makes any difference. It is on my phone and runs for 1706 pages. Thankfully, this review is on my laptop, so I don't have to type with my thumbs.

John Wiseman split the book into chapters for easier digestion. It covers everything I can think of and more. Do you have to live off the land? The book has an entire chapter on edible plants and tubers. Were you in a horrible plane crash? If you survived unscathed, the book describes how to administer first aid to those in need. Are you running out of supplies and need to get the attention of a passing airplane? The book has an entire section on signaling. Does any of that sound impossible to you since you never travel? The book discusses local dangers particular to the Urban Jungle.

The book is so thorough that I wish there were words to describe it. The SAS Survival Handbook even goes into things like forest fires or tsunamis. It covers the most important aspects of living through anything life can throw at you. If you can read and live in society, you can get something out of this book.

In short, I loved the book. The only problem I had was the format. A phone screen is not easy to read on all the time. I imagine that there are better ways to read this, though, and you should try those first. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Sana Shaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready to survive 2025

[Pepijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

When disaster strikes, it is always good to be prepared for any type of emergency. Even if houses have an “Emergency Kit”, the question is whether the family knows how to use the materials properly. The SAS Survival Handbook is great for learning how to learn with equipment, or nothing but hands. SAS Survival Handbook, written by an ex-SAS, John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman, was written so that anyone can learn how to survive with nothing in any situation or climate.

Survival dates back to when the first man walked on earth searching for food. Survival brings common people back to their basic thoughts and instincts. In the book, Wiseman brings some focus about listening to instincts and letting the “inner caveman out”. Being in a survival situation is not ideal but being prepared can never hurt. Wiseman makes learning easy by separating sections that relate to each other so there is not confusion. With the author’s chapter-by-chapter topics, learning new material is easy.

Topics that are focused on in the book are wide in variety. Reasons such as this make the book seem well organized. Wiseman focuses on topics such as setting up essentials, being mentally prepared, finding food, navigation, staying healthy, natural disasters, climates, and survival at sea. The author’s style helps comprehend the variety of topics. Wiseman uses a layering technique where he builds off of previous chapters. This is great for reading straight through because it reviews older material so it is not forgot. Just because chapters build does not mean information cannot be quick. For example, if I need to learn quickly how to reduce blood loss, I can look up the Health section where it goes deeper to what I am looking for. The information is simple and easy to understand. There are also many pictures that help. With these techniques, anyone can learn how to survive the worst situations.

If the reader does not believe that they would not benefit from this book because they would not read it, having a copy around cannot hurt since it covers topics varying widely. I would recommend this book to everyone. The reader does not need to be alone on an island for this information to be relevant. Blood loss is possible around the house where it needs to be dealt with immediately. I would also recommend this to everyone because I enjoyed reading it. Although some parts were gruesome, it is all part of life and survival. I found the information to be the perfect amount where it keeps attention and get the information through. Reading about how humans had to survive attracts me to human behavior and the will to live. If I were in a survival situation, I would just need Wiseman’s SAS Survival Handbook to live a long and healthy life.

[Misbah Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...let me firstly warn temperaments such as mine--those hyper-vigilant folk no less that this book is not the best book to read if you are in a kind of self-imposed lock-down for several days. I found myself at the library and two books appeared out of nowhere and beckoned me to take them out..one was 'How to build a time machine' and the other was this one i'm reviewing. ( I had borrowed them the day after the horrifying news, albeit predictable, so really are we shocked? of Trump's victory...and the world's doom)
It's not a literary masterpiece, nor is it poetry...and thanks to a good editor and writer it is not... or this book would provide more harm than good if one had to decipher/delve/or deeply ruminate on how to survive a car-jacking, plane crash in the ocean or jungle...through poetry. Can you imagine...

1 metre between the cars
is all that I need
to make a break
panic, eyes wide
I metre is all I need
behind
in-front...........................anyway I'm digressing with my terrible poetry.

So despite the tendency for me to be ultra hyper-vigilant....( note well...yes I had decided that a man sitting outside our house on the opposite side of the street and then getting up and moving around was suspicious as he was there for over an hour.....he probably was right?) Yes..I made myself invisible...and only wished for binoculars. Other things..I did end up buying a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit..and practised some self-defence moves on my obliging partner. In a way...I could have turned into Manny from Black books.
Did you know you are more likely to survive in you sit at the back of the plane..so first class aint all that. Did you know you can make flotation devices from your clothes if you land in the freezing water after a plane crash ( would one have the energy after the shock?)
Thus...its a mighty fine read because it alerts your mind to the ingenuity and determination of how humans have passed on knowledge for survival. That in itself makes this book exceedingly remarkable.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The SAS survival guide provides a wealth of information on how to survive in different situations ranging from a volcano eruption to being lost at sea and tells you how to perform useful tasks like building an igloo and amputating an arm. While I am undoubtedly better prepared to fend for myself if I get lost in the woods the lack of detail on certain topics and the focus on long term (1 month +) survival prevented me from rating it higher.

I didn’t find the organization as bad as some other reviewers the book is broken into 11 categories (essentials, strategy, climate and terrain, food, camp craft, reading the signs, on the move, health, survival at sea, rescue and disasters). It often does tell you to flip to another section for more information, which is annoying and breaks flow but it is clear this book is intended as a reference guide. The sections on navigation and movement were especially thin and the part on disasters could have been left out completely since it was so brief it wasn’t useful. What was really missing was a list of other books that focus specifically on certain topics to read if you want more information.

Overall this is a great place to start if you want to feel a little more confident about your abilities to survive being lost. It is clear you’ll need to practice everything in the book in the safety of your backyard (maybe not the part about fighting large animals) before trying it in a survival situation. I’m sure many of the things that look easy are frustratingly difficult. Still, I can sleep easy knowing if I ever need to send signals to air rescue or deliver a baby I’ll have some idea what to do.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The SAS SURVIVAL MANUAL won acclaim upon its publication in 1986, both because of its clear organization and the illustrious career of the soldier behind it, John "Lofty" Wiseman who served for 26 years and participated in operations all over the world. Having examined a range of survival manuals, I decided to sit down and read this one in depth, and all in all I'm happy I did. There are clear, often colour illustrations for edible and poisonous plants and for tying knots, while the instruction on how to properly butcher a deer or sheep are easier to grasp than in some other manuals. There's a fine section on eating insects that is missing from other guides.

Still, one wonders how much this venerable old manual has actually been revised and corrected for the 2008 edition when it still says that quinine is a good treatment for malaria. Or when it still recommends the folk remedy of smearing chemicals on a tick to remove it instead of firmly pulling it with tweezers. Also, the final section on surviving disasters in the city feels unnecessary, as I imagine most readers are thinking of the wilderness when they pick this up. But learning proper survival would require more than just reading this book, so perhaps those inaccuracies would be corrected in further research.

[Paul Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is massive and contains so much information that it's a daunting read. It's also very interesting and sometimes humorous. I loved the case studies and would have liked to see more of those included. One of the things I've been thinking about in recent years is the SHTF scenario (look it up if you don't know what this means). While the "Urban Survival" section gives a little bit of info that's usable, mostly in the "Home Front" section, I was hoping to see more. This is a good book for carrying in the "Go Bag," with plenty of items for reference. A "Go Bag" checklist would also be handy. I'm certain there are tons of useful items to be included, but having a resource like a checklist in this book that gets you started would help round things out.

There's probably a dozen or so grammatical errors too. You should be able to figure them out. One in particular was a warning about using morphine. If you inject it you should mark the patient's forehead. In the text it says, "...preferably on the forehead of the parent, ..." Where was the editor on the day to review this chapter? Argh...