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98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive!

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If you breathe and have a pulse, you NEED this book.

Cody Lundin, director of the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Prescott, Arizona, shares his own brand of wilderness wisdom in this highly anticipated new book on commonsense, modern survival skills for the backcountry, the backyard, or the highway. It is the ultimate book on how to stay alive-based on the principal of keeping the body s core temperature at a lively 98.6 degrees. In his entertaining and informative style, Cody stresses that a human can live without food for weeks, and without water for about three days or so. But if the body's core temperature dips much below or above the 98.6 degree mark, a person can literally die within hours. It is a concept that many don't take seriously or even consider, but knowing what to do to maintain a safe core temperature when lost in a blizzard or in the desert could save your life. Lundin delivers the message with wit, rebellious humor, and plenty of backcountry expertise.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2003

208 people are currently reading
1547 people want to read

About the author

Cody Lundin

5 books51 followers
Cody Lundin (born March 15, 1967) is a survival instructor at the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Prescott, Arizona, which he founded in 1991. There he teaches modern wilderness survival skills, primitive living skills, urban preparedness, and homesteading. Lundin was also a former co-host of Discovery Channel's reality television series, Dual Survival.

Lundin is the author of two books on survival and preparedness: 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive and When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes. Lundin has also provided a foreword for Steve Hart's Citizen Survivor's Handbook, a parody of British wartime propaganda focusing on the importance of psychological endurance in times of crisis.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for PsychoSchematics.
135 reviews11 followers
September 4, 2015
Besides the dedication to "all Beings of Light," living "within a conscious understanding of our true Selves" and his gratitude for "all the Ascended and Cosmic Ones, to all the Archangels, Archeia, and angels, elementals, and Elohim"... and his characters "Elvis Parsley, Willy Nilly" and others, by the time you weed through all his flakey or cutesie fluff content, the meat on the bone is practical and useful, but lost. By three chapters in, I truly felt like I had wasted my time.

The title suggests "How to survive Fear, Panic, ad the Biggest Outdoor Killers," but my initial survival was against falling asleep while reading this kum-by-yah, lets all hold hands and thank mother earth tripe.

Just read page 209, and you've saved yourself $16.95 and the time spent reading it... OR...
Watch your core temp, adequate water, stay dry, tell people where you are going, check your transportation, take a survival kit, know how to signal for rescue, don't take unnecessary chances, rest. DONE.
76 reviews4 followers
November 24, 2019
I am not an avid outdoorsman with a lot of experience, but I like going outside and I like knowing what to do if I get myself in trouble. So, I enjoyed this book because it was practical, and it gave a lot of advice that didn't involve buying fancy gear or turning yourself into a Navy SEAL.

Cody Lundin spends a good amount of time talking about how to dress for weather and what to do when you are caught, I have used his cold weather advice this year, when I went cross country skiing and found myself quite comfortable as a result. I have not practiced building fires or some of the other skills, but if I get the opportunity, I probably will.

The book has several cartoons and some "wacky" presentation at points, but I enjoyed it because I have read other books of this type that take themselves way too seriously and make survival skills seem next to impossible for the average person to develop. I will also say, the good thing about Cody Lundin's book is that he denies being the final word and encourages you to think things through and experiment for yourself.

This book would be a good read for people who like outdoor activities, who want to know more about outdoor survival skills, and for armchair adventurers who like to know how things can be done.
Profile Image for Monica.
307 reviews48 followers
December 27, 2013
This is an overview or tip guide for outdoor survival.

For the most part it is fairly easy to read. In some places, the tone does seem to be condescending but this could also be an attempt at humor. Without knowing the writer, in a text format, these types of humor are rather difficult.

Little to no references for fact checking or additional reading are left which is heartily disappointing.

Numerous references are dated and/or regional which may cause confusion to outsiders.

There are a number of good tips scattered within the pages though.

Overall, an adequate read.
Profile Image for Brad Theado.
1,856 reviews3 followers
September 7, 2010
what a waste of time. I love this guy on Dual Survival, but this was a simple essay padded to be a book.
Profile Image for Thomas.
Author 1 book13 followers
January 1, 2015
I love this book. Well written, very useful info when you are out there and things start to fall into the danger zone. I ended up buying an electronic copy and have it on my iPod Touch to refer to whenever I like. The line drawings of the " characters" are sort of strange, but I think they work in driving the point home. Fear and confusion are the challenges out there. If you have some sort of overall plan, you have a chance.
Profile Image for Christine.
12 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2014
This book was a lot of fun to read as well as being super informative. I wish he'd been a little more specific about the brands of gear he prefers. I realize he left it out so he wouldn't appear biased or influence buying but as a novice I would have appreciated the recommendation.
Profile Image for Jams.
518 reviews25 followers
July 22, 2016
This survival guide is crude, weird and in your face obnoxious. But I will feel much more confident packing survival gear now.
14 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2017
Very informative. Humorous at times. Great survival book for anyone who loves the outdoors.
105 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2020
Very good book. Practical for real world survival tips. I got a lot more from this book about survival; realistic survival, then any TV show or books.
Profile Image for Richard Crater.
122 reviews
June 3, 2024
Lots of good tips, but I knew most of them already. Pretty basic, repetitive, and long winded. Some funny parts.
Profile Image for Bernie Gourley.
Author 1 book114 followers
June 25, 2014
If you’ve seen the Discovery Channel show Dual Survival, you’re familiar with Cody Lundin. He’s the one who looks like a hippie and is always barefoot. 98.6 is a book designed to prepare readers for a wilderness survival situation. To be clear, this book isn’t about going out for a six week trek. It’s about going out for a day hike and finding your foot stuck in a bear trap or having your jeep washed away in flashflood. It’s about how to stay alive for as much as a few days while search and rescue teams are looking for you (and how to make sure they do look for you.)

As the title suggests, Lundin focuses on the issue of maintaining the body’s core temperature as the key to short-term survival, and special attention is given to the subjects of hypo- and hyperthermia. Besides dressing appropriately, maintaining core temperature involves requirements such as hydration that may not seem relevant at first blush. The heart of the message is that one has to plan for the worst even on apparently mundane treks or drives into the backwoods. Lundin hammers home the importance of letting others know where one is going and by when one will return. However, the bulk of the space is devoted to suggestions about what to pack in your survival kit.

Lundin takes a light-hearted tone while talking about the dire nature of survival in the wild. Many of the graphics are quirky, caricaturesque line drawings (there are also photos--mostly towards the rear of the book in the discussion of gear and kits.) His writing style is conversational—which is to say that he writes like he talks. While this may induce rage in English teachers, I find it’s only problematic if it leads to misunderstandings. (i.e. In conversation there are fewer opportunities for misunderstanding because there is non-verbal communication and the potential for feedback.) Having said that, I can’t recall any cases in which meaning was unclear, so either Lundin is conscientious about this issue, or his editor did a good job of maintaining his style without losing clarity. The conversational tone involves a lot of analogies and metaphors that are sometimes humorous but sometimes over-the-top.

Lundin’s advice runs toward the pragmatic and the frugal. Survival gadgetry and gear is a huge industry, and Lundin’s guide helps a budget-weary amateur outdoorsman know where it’s worth spending a little extra and where it’s likely to be a waste of money. (In some cases, spending more money will leave one worse off in more areas than the pocket-book.)

Despite his folksy tone, it’s clear that Lundin is no stranger to science. One thing that one will get in his guide that’s uncommon in others is scientific explanations--in lay terms--of why some methods or equipment will or won’t work. This ranges from the physics of space blankets to the psychology of fear to the chemistry of nutrition.

Another strength of this guide is that it gives due attention to the crucial nature of the mind in survival. There are a few early chapters devoted to this. Many guides might give a paragraph to the subject before plowing into survival methods. The problem is that some people may die overwhelmed and unable to keep all that knowledge straight. Tips about keeping one’s head seem worth the space.

In addition to the use of humor and anecdotes, there is a clear attempt to make the information memorable. Lundin uses mnemonic devices to help people ingrain information, and frequently recaps important points. He also has a “Cliff Notes” version at the back of the book that condenses his message down into a few pages.

If you like to spend time outdoors, I’d recommend you pick up this book. Of course, reading a book is not going to keep you alive, you have to practice with the gear you assemble, but the book is an important first step.
Profile Image for Renee.
27 reviews
February 20, 2019
The humor and fluff was kinda over the top and a little distracting at times but there was still a ton of useful information in this book. I’ve read several books and articles on survival and I still learned new things here. He takes it down to the ultra basic but also includes relative info on using current technology. It’s not perfect and might not be to some readers preference in style/delivery but it still delivers a lot of good common sense and survival techniques. Worth the read.
Profile Image for Jason.
555 reviews31 followers
December 7, 2012
I borrowed a copy of this book from a friend whose son was a bit disturbed by the curse word in the title. So they took a sharpie marker and edited it such that it read "The Art of Keeping You Alive". I found that pretty entertaining.

I spend a lot of time in the wilds and am constantly running through survival scenarios in my mind and wondering how I would handle them. This book felt more comprehensive than most in terms of covering a variety of landscapes, situations, tools needed, psychology, etc.

What I enjoyed most about reading this book was the fact that Lundin seems to know how to have a good time when writing about something that could otherwise come across as a bit dry. He filled this book with great cartoons to illustrate points and had some great humor throughout.

Most of the survival training I've been exposed to has come more from military schools of thought along with some Native American teachings. This was the first time I'd studied Aboriginal techniques. Though they share a lot in common with Native American traditions I found a lot of unique information in this approach as well.

I appreciated the way the book was organized in to concrete and informative chapters, I liked the lists throughout, and I loved the practical hands-on tools and tips.

All in all a fantastic read!
Profile Image for Joseph.
185 reviews13 followers
June 13, 2011
Just starting this for the first time...I love the "reality check". "some of the information in this book used incorrectly could kill you.... etc etc". And "printed and bound in Hong Kong, land of cheep, small rubber toys". Funny stuff.

This book comes in down to two sections. How your body reacts to heat, cold, dehydration, the lack of salt, and so on. The stages your body goes through, the symptoms, the causes, and ways to avoid problems.

Then it covers the essential items you need to carry to survive, as the author sees it.

Many books, including my beloved army field manual covers "how". How to make a shelter, catch a fish, identify plants you can eat. This book covers "why". Why your body reacts as it does to to much heat, to little water, to much cold. What those symptoms mean for your immediate and future survival. Why you should carry specific types of items. Very little on how you should use them.

It's a very important side of the process of survival to consider that affects your day to day life. Heat stroke and water deprivation are problems for you sitting around your back yard, on the job site, and so on. These are things you need to understand and be able to handle, no matter where in the world you are, and what supplies you have on hand.
Profile Image for Remo.
2,553 reviews181 followers
March 31, 2019
Empecé el libro esperando encontrar multitud de historias de gente que había sobrevivido a situaciones difíciles (avalanchas, averías de coche en el desierto, perderse en mitad de una ventisca...) y resulta que este libro es tan solo una larga serie de consejos sobre cómo prepararse por si sucede lo peor. El libro está muy entretenido, y llega por momentos a detalles increíbles, como la tasa de pérdida de calor por evaporación (medida en BTUs) de la lana frente al algodón, o el índice glucémico óptimo de los alimentos que debemos llevar.
Hay un par de grandes secciones sobre ropa, kit de supervivencia y botiquín. Y el resto es repetir de muy variadas maneras lo que podríamos llamar sentido común:

Avisa a dónde vas
Aprende a hacerte ver
Aprende cómo regular tu temperatura
Aprende a usar un mapa
y varios consejos más que hay que hacer antes de encontrarnos perdidos en la nada.

Un libro entretenido, aunque demasiado especializado para lo que yo buscaba.
Profile Image for Mckinley.
10k reviews83 followers
September 26, 2017
I think this is a book for urbanites who take a wrong turn on a dirt road and drive down it too far then get stuck. This is not for people who routinely camp out. That said, those urbanites need to do some prep, mostly what to have in a survival first aid kit.

Top 2 points: have the proper clothing and lots of water
During a survival situation - monitor your mental health along with resting, hydrating and maintaining your core temperature (cooling and heating)
In addition, tell other where you are going and approximately when you will be back, have reliable transportation, take a survival kit and food & water, know how to signal for rescue, and don't take unnecessary chances.
Then be as visible as possible for search and rescue workers, think about what to do in relation to being found.
Profile Image for Katie.
766 reviews
July 13, 2016
He lives a very extreme version of what most readers are interested in, so he could probably share a ton more than he does, but the author here boils it down a few top priorities. this could be a detriment based on what you're looking for in a book, but he makes it accessible to low skill outdoorsman. He's blunt - he calls 'stupid' when he sees it. He also shares a lot of in depth information on the how's and why's of things. Again, this isn't necessary for your 'how do i survive' questions, but for me i find the trivia and information interesting. The more you understand, the less you have to rely on rote memorization, and he obviously understands these concepts. Good read, i just might complement with another book that focuses on a wider variety of topics.
Profile Image for Nathanael Coyne.
157 reviews56 followers
October 25, 2011
The first half of this book is about survival psychology and physiology, mostly regarding regulating your core body temperature to avoid the detrimental and often fatal effects of exposure, specifically hyperthermia and hypothermia. Also goes into hydration and acclimatisation. Cody is clearly knowledgeable on the subject and comes across rather scientific and delves into the synthesis of ATP, storage of glycogen & insulating properties of nylon vs polyester but there are no citations so we just have to trust his credibility. More than you ever wanted to know on the subject, but it's what you need to know.
Profile Image for Skeetor.
205 reviews2 followers
December 22, 2014
This book instructs you how to put together an emergency kit for the unexpected survival situation (such as getting lost or injured while hiking, a disabled car in the middle of nowhere, etc.). The author explains what your most important tasks are in a survival situation. He covers how to keep warm or cool and what basic necessities you'll need in order to stay alive while rescuers search for you. He methodically goes through what you need to do and then how to do it. Included is a list of suggested items to include in your emergency kit.
22 reviews
October 4, 2011
Although a little cheezy at times, this is a great book for well, keeping your ass alive.

After watching countless survivor type shows it is amazing the number of people who have no clue as to how to survive outdoors. And i'm sure they must have done some research on it before hand.

If they can't succeed what chance does the average day tripper person have?

This is must reading before engaging in outdoor activities.

Also recommened is Cody's other book "When all hell breaks loose"
Profile Image for Shane.
631 reviews19 followers
April 4, 2014
This book has a very scatter-shot approach to its subject. If you have seen Cody Lundin on "Dual Survival" you will understand.

The book delves into the psychology of survival and has a couple chapters on Cody's personal survival kit. These are mildly interesting and okay to read. Where this book really shines is right in the middle; Chapters 8-10 deeply cover thermo-regulation and hydration. These three chapters are worth the price of admission and everything else is gravy.
7 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2018
Contains valuable info, but...

If you are looking for a "do it all" manual this is not it. This book mainly covers: prevention and dangers of hypothermia and hyperthermia, how to construct a survival kit, and short term (3 day) survival. Cody really dives deep into the biology of survival, and does a good job of it.

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would. Just be aware of the limited scope.

Party On!
Profile Image for Jim.
47 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2018
This book was a quick, easy read. I'd give it five stars for content and information since Cody Lundin is very knowledgeable and experienced in primitive skills and survival. But the book's bizarre, cartoonish illustrations were very distracting and it seemed that the information in the book could have been organized better. Cody's survival gear list is perfect, though. I do recommend reading this book if you can get past the cartoons and Cody's conversational method of writing.
Profile Image for Martin Streetman.
116 reviews6 followers
May 15, 2008
This was a good book on mindset, and putting together a 10 essentials kit. What he uses and why. He also places importance on knowing how to use this stuff, which I completely agree with. I read it in an evening, the author really knows his stuff and I would like to take some of his classes in AZ. Anybody up for that?
3 reviews
September 24, 2009
this book is about Cody Lundin and he gets himself stranded on purpose to show his readers how to keep your ass alive. He shows and tells what materials your gonna need and a few of them you would never guess could keep you alive..

i really liked this book because i go camping and swimming at lakes and being stranded isn't entirely impossible

Profile Image for Greg Danklef.
78 reviews
February 23, 2011
Very straight-forward and helpful. He is a little crazy, but this is a great book about putting together a simple survival kit that will really work. I really get the feeling he knows what he is talking about and is a good teacher. He doesn't come off as superior, just helping you understand what you will really need. Good book.
Profile Image for John.
114 reviews
November 24, 2012
An entertaining, practical guide to survival and rescue. Well-documented and thorough without being academic, and funny enough to keep everyone reading more. A little too casual in spots in terms of language and humor, but he gets his point across, and it made an impact on how I think about packing for hikes, camping, etc.
Profile Image for Kore.
64 reviews11 followers
January 28, 2013
This is a very useful book to have in your library and apart of your survival kit. There are a couple of things that I would disagree with but overall I would take note of what Cody Lundin has to say, he is the expert after all. I would recommend everyone to read this book to further your understanding of wilderness survival methods.
Profile Image for Daniel Brown.
542 reviews2 followers
December 29, 2014
Very interesting. I actually chipped away at this a little at a time over a 16 month period. I found it very useful and plan on carrying this book with me anytime I'll be going out. I like the style he wrote the book in - kind of like he's speaking directly to you. It's almost like McGyver in the woods. I already bought three copies of this book to give to relatives who go outdoors a lot.
Profile Image for Carmen.
300 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2009
My brother, Mark, recommended this book to me. A quick easy read with practical advice for any outdoors person, it gives the quick and dirty on how to keep yourself safe and what is best to bring along - just in case!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews

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