The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht

With over 9 million copies sold worldwide, the Worst-Case Scenario series has been preparing readers for dangers of all kinds for more than a decade. This handsome large-format hardcover compendium is truly the ultimate guide for handling life's inevitable Worst-Case Scenarios, collecting—for the first time—hundreds of the best and most crucial scenarios from across the entire 26-book series, along with dozens of all-new and expanded scenarios, charts, and expert tips. Topical, tabloid-style pages explore more than 100 subjects, from storms to stampedes to technology failures and beyond, with special sections highlighting critical information on starting fires, animal encounters, emergency signals, "Can I eat that?" questions, and more. Packed with expert advice and sturdy enough to stop a tiger bite, this gifty tome will keep longtime fans and new initiates safe and entertained in equal measure.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Reference

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2012

About the author

Josh 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.

Reviews

[Matt Lillywhite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this book was interesting. But 80% was unrealistic scenarios that nobody will ever encounter in their lifetime. eg. Do I really need tips to survive a zombie apocalypse?

Honestly, wasn't a fan. Originally planned to give this book two stars. But since there's some decent medical advice in there that could save someone's life, I bumped it up to three.

[Indrig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world is a dangerous place, and every day, no matter what you do, you dance a deadly dance between life and death. On the streets, in the wild, even in your own home. Death walks among you, and even as you read this review, there is a chance you will not live to see tomorrow…

Fortunately for you, you have this book!

Since 1999, ‘Worst Case Scenario’ has been a series dedicated to helping people like you survive any situation life may throw at you. There’s many books in this series, helping you survive perils ranging from the apocalypse to life in college. There are even kids' editions and even a card game!

This book is a mix of them all. An anniversary edition of the series that has probably saved millions of lives, containing over 200 pages filled with how-to guides on how to survive any scenario. From being lost to the desert, being attacked by a mountain lion, how to escape from a twister heading towards your house…

Not enough for you? This book will also teach you how to survive arriving to a work meeting late, how to avoid applying for a shitty job, how to get out of an awkward blind date, and even how to communicate with the dead, and how to beg for another chance at life, should you fail on your quest to survive these worst case scenarios

I’m pleased to say that this book is filled with all the same serious information and hilarity of the other book of this series I read, and I firmly believe new fans, as well as die-hard lovers of this series will enjoy this great compilation.

[Shala Kerrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I planned to do this review a month ago. The problem is that's a Worst-Case Scenario book. It's a nice, big thick one, full of lots of things from other volumes in the series, all arranged by setting. My whole family loves this series, especially my daughter and my husband. So for the last month I've been stealing it back from them, reading a few pages, then having to find it again to steal it back from whichever one of them took it. That's what you face with one of these.

I'm okay with that. It's not only a guide to situations you might find yourself in and situations that you are very unlikely to ever be in, it's also a conversation starter. The publishers talk to people who are experts in various fields on all sorts of unlikely topics and likely ones to get the best advice they can for any given dangerous situation they can imagine.

From the very helpful-
how to survive an earthquake
how to put out a grease fire
how to save your date, dog or self from choking

To the unlikely-
How to escape a swarm of pigeons
How to jump out of a train
How to survive a zombie attack

and even some historical Worst Case Scenarios like
How to survive being thrown to lions

Small tips for an easier life such as a list of ingredient substitutions for cooking, and how to find inner peace are also included.

There are also regional suggestions. Someone in Florida might not need to know how to get someone's tongue off a frozen pole or how to hopefully avoid a bear attack, but they are more likely to need to know how to survive a flash flood than I am.

Some of the tips and suggestions are more adult in nature. My daughter is 17 and tends to skip that sort of thing anyway, but you'll find tips on surviving a scandal if you're a politician and other adult situations in this book which make it better suited for more mature readers.

This books is a lot of fun, with a mix of helpful tips and ideas and things that will just amuse you greatly. The sections separated by setting and type of issue. There is a good table of contents to find what you are looking for, and the sheer scope of this is too much to cover in a few hundred words. It's a great gift, a good coffee table book and a good source for conversational material.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my craft blog- Don't Eat the Paste. I received no other compensation, and my review is my honest opinion of the product.]

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is going to save me a lot of work

[Felip · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Muy divertido! Consejos prácticos de como tratar situaciones difíciles desde como dormir en clase o como evitar que te pillen viendo internet en el trabajo a cómo comportarte en una estampida de elefantes, en un tsunami, como gestionar una abducción alien o como negociar con la muerte...

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing and informative in equal measure. I recommend this book for stimulating the mind when certain situations are possible before each and every one of us.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some books are a waste of time. This was one of them. Explain to me how a shaving cut is something to survive from? This book would be embarrassing as a bathroom read. Just filled with nonsense.

[Rachel Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for Christmas and finished it the same week. It's intended to be both useful and funny. It's easy to follow with very clear headlines (ex/ How to survive when lost in the desert) and step by step instructions. Some of the lists also have tips and warnings.
The book over all is more entertaining than useful, some of the tips are very silly. It would be easier and more helpful to google search some things in a time of need so I would keep that in mind if you are giving it as a gift or buying it.
If you enjoy random bits of trivia, have a sense of humor and enjoy similar books like the Zombie Survival Guide you would probably like this book.

[Kim Jaymes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers everything from evading a charging rhinoceros to curing yourself of hiccups, with charts, lists and illustrations. Great gift for the emergency preparedness-minded people in your life, especially if they have a sense of humor.

[Corri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gag gift and found it to be remarkably entertaining and more educational than expected.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I