How to Survive Anywhere: A Guide for Urban, Suburban, Rural, and Wilderness Environments

by Christopher Nyerges

This unique book addresses the basic survival skills needed to keep you alive and healthy in the woods, suburbs, and city. Each chapter focuses on a primary area of concern--water, fire, food, shelter, clothing, tools, and weapons--describing in detail practices applicable to all environments. This one-of-a-kind guide provides real solutions to life-threatening situations caused by natural or man-made disasters, as well as the challenges encountered by anyone who wants to live more independently from modern systems, for a few days or a lifetime.

About the Author: Christopher Nyerges has instructed thousands of children and adults, on field trips, lectures, and classes in ethno-botany, on basic survival and living skills for both wilderness and the urban environment through his School of Self-Reliance. His books include Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants (1556523440), Extreme Simplicity (1890132365), and Testing Your Outdoor Survival Skills (0960319050). He is the editor of Wilderness Way magazine and lives in Eagle Rock, California.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Reference

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[jaime chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not died at all since reading this.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

On p. 263: “In studies that have been done of survivors of major disasters, the following conclusions have been made about their mental state. Approximately 15% made quick, appropriate, and efficient choices. Another 15% ‘went crazy,’ making wild irrational choices. The rest, about 70% of the survivors -a full majority- neither went crazy nor did they make wise and efficient choices and actions, but rather wandered about somewhat zombielike, spaced-out, in a state of stupor and shock, simply not knowing what to do, where to go, what to think. This shocked majority tends to be passive, but will take orders from someone who seems to know what he or she is doing and why.”

Even though the author does not verify, cite, or reference any specific “studies,” (and I wish he did) in the above passage, I keep coming back to this concept. It certainly sounds disquietingly true, anyway.

This book is a good survey of general information that might help save a person’s life in the event of a large-scale disaster, while possibly also holding some semblance of society together at the same time. Refreshingly, it does not come from a Libertarian, fringe Right, prepper perspective, but rather more of a hippy, Mother Earth News, DIY, nature-loving vibe.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for your bug-out bag in case of a natural (or Putin-caused?) disaster. Even in normal times, Nyerges thinks we should all carry a pocketknife, fire starter, and some twine with us everywhere. Nyerges is very insistent about practicing survival skills before you need them and, of course, about having your emergency kit packed and ready to grab as you go out the door.

[Jenni Salomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but Nyerges incorrectly states John Wooden was the coach at USC when in actuality, he coached basketball for rival school UCLA. This does not take away from the survival content of the book but makes me think someone shoulda caught that gaffe.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding survival guide for, as the title indicates, all environments. It's well organized and has clear text, lots of illustrations, and useful tables. Everyone should have a book in this category in his or her library, and this is a good choice.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for learning practical survival skills. Survive in the wilderness or at your house after a natural disaster or during civil unrest/instability. Many others online recommended this title.