Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival

by Tom Brown Jr.

This long-awaited handbook by the director of the world-famous Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School is the first of its kind. Like FOXFIRE it preserves knowledge that was in danger of being lost forever, but reaches even deeper into the past. It is about the basics. In it you will find much that was forgotten: the most ancient and essential skills of humankind, presented in a comprehensive and usable wilderness survival library, of which this first volume forms the heart.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Nature, Reference, Outdoors, How To, Sustainability

287 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

Tom Brown Jr. was an American naturalist, tracker, survivalist, and author from New Jersey, where he ran the Tom Brown Jr. Tracker School.
In his books, Brown wrote that, from the age of seven, he and his childhood friend Rick were trained in tracking and wilderness survival by Rick's grandfather, "Stalking Wolf" (whom Brown stated was Lipan Apache). Brown wrote that Stalking Wolf died when Brown was 17, and that Rick was killed in an accident in Europe shortly thereafter.
Brown spent the next ten years working odd jobs to support his wilderness adventures. He then set out to find other people in New Jersey who were interested in his experiences. Initially Brown met with little success, but was eventually called on to help locate a crime suspect. Though the case won him national attention, he and authorities in the Ramsey, N.J. area were subsequently sued for 5 million dollars for charging the wrong person. Despite this controversy, he was able to build on this exposure to develop a profession as a full-time tracker, advertising his services for locating lost persons, dangerous animals, and fugitives from the law. According to People magazine, "He stalks men and animals, mostly in New Jersey."

Reviews

[Wizardeyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned alot about wilderness survival from this book. Tom Brown's an eloquent writer and I appreciate how he describes backcountry living in the book. I really dig that he writes about 'survival' as a way of life (which is information I'm looking for) as opposed to something like Les Stroud's "Survive" which talks about survival from an emergency-"I need to be rescuded" stance.

[Roger Burk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the title, this book is not about wilderness survival. It is about learning the skills of our paleolithic ancestor: making bows and arrows, stalking deer, tanning hides with their brains, making pemmican, and so forth. These skills are surely as difficult and time-consuming to learn for us as learning to navigate the internet would be for a cave man. The short last chapter of the book seems like an afterthought: it's about what's really important if you find yourself lost in the woods, like avoiding hypothermia and signaling for help. Learning the skills from the earlier chapters (other than possibly fire-making) will help you avoid perishing in the wilderness primarily by this: you will be so busy learning the skills that you will have no time for trekking in the wilderness at all. But if you want to find out how our ancestors made a go of it without goretex and titanium, this is your book.

[Rachel Chae · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant book if you want to learn how to walk like a fox and feel a salad

[P.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to call these the most important books in print. Perhaps they still are. The reason I rated them so highly is that Tom Brown's books contain knowledge that has practically vanished from the Earth. Namely: how people lived before civilization.

Both the field guides and the biographical and autobiographical books deliver an understanding of nature that is missing from modern life. They are essential reading.

And oh yes, they are the best survival manuals available.

[Lee Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We need only imagine what would happen if all the supermarkets closed down to see through the veil that separates us from survival living. It is uncomfortably thin.”, wrote Brown in this 1983 Field Guide. I bought it a couple years ago not realizing how handy it may become! Given these strange times it may be prudent for us all to give Brown’s book a peruse, just in case. Apparently there are many ways to literally dig yourself out of armageddon, like pit cooking and excavating a hole for a solar still (for water, not booze). The illustrations depict a hairy man (cross between 70s hippie, Neanderthal and the Karate Kid) clad in tight briefs (only) while handling all manner of tools and materials from fishing spears to sling shots (a section on protective gear would have been a nice addition). If you’re not outdoorsy or preparing for doomsday, just frugal, the chapter on Knots and Lashings is particularly useful for a makeshift clothesline.

[Christine Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read Tom Brown guides and the discipline he's put into learning and rehearsing how to manage when the SHTF, I picture the Overly Manly Man meme disparaging whatever first world problem of the moment I've decided to fixate on... Also possibly because his illustrations all look like mustachioed 70's porn stars as rendered by a grade schooler. But be that as it may, good content.

I felt like the premise in The Knowledge is more plausible-- that we should get good and resourceful about upcycling the remains of our crumbling civilization vs. starting from square one of fabricating our own arrowheads and cordage from scratch, but I get TB's point that you may not always have your elaboratel appointed bugout bag at arm's length when you need it and knowing how to derive tech from the ground up in a pinch is a confidence boost.

[Branden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a "survival guide," per se. If that's what you're looking for go check out the SAS Survival Handbook, by John Wiseman. This book is about staying out in the wild ("thriving," as opposed to "surviving") using skills handed down via hundreds of generations of the indigenous Native American hunter-gatherer societies. Exceptionally informative and written in an entertaining fashion as well. Five stars.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by an experienced woodsman, this is a great guide for learning how to spend time stranded in the wilderness without dying from starvation or exposure, but that's about it. Truthfully, though, that would be a hell of an accomplishment for most people. Hence, just focus on the basics with this book, and learn how to build a raft out of turtles and back hairs in later editions...

[Josh Balisteri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that influenced me heavily as a child.

[Don Gubler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I’d had this 50 years ago. Not the no holds barred school but the respect for the abundant earth view. Nice.

[Df3photo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must have for anyone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors or has an interest in nature survival.

[Cai Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Survival techniques. I'm beginning to think I need yo

[Jeff Budds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timeless guide to survival in the field. Far superior to any of the more recent, television-inspired books on wilderness survival. It's out of print, but available via online second-hand book sellers. Buy it. Study it. Survive.

[Dyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference book and also an interesting read. A lot of very useful information and has really decent drawings of how to do various bush skills. There are some very basic but need to know skills along with the more risque type skills for people who are a bit more adventurous and wish to try something different. There's information on wild edibles, various shelter constructions, various types of animal traps and such. A very good book overall.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good survival book; it focuses on understanding and being a part of the wilderness rather than fighting it... as fighting against the wilderness uses up too much precious energy when things really get nasty.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this topic fascinates me, it doesn't really apply to my current situation, and I had to give up reading the book in favor of others that speak directly to what it going on in my life now. May pick up in the future...

[Burkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid useful info, not as good as a real teacher, but a whole lot more accessible.

[Dawn Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty practical. Not so easy to put into use. An old Boy Scout Handbook has some equally great stuff in it, too.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for living close to the land. My "bible" during a few escapist years. Every human should know that they can...

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite

[Leslie]

Animals are not uncomfortable living in the wilderness. Living in harmony with nature doesn't have to mean wandering around soaking wet in the rain looking for berries....

[Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best primers in survival ever written. Tom Brown teaches survival skills as well as ethics and proper interaction with nature.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get past the obviously made up stories about his childhood then this book is a great resource for wilderness survival.

[Asaucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been skimming through this one for a few weeks, picking out skills/projects to use for camping trips. First excursion out: tomorrow morning.

[Jared Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

my survival bible.

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is possibly unmatched for survival skills in North America. Trap making, Botany, shelter tips, etc.

I've used it since I was a boy.

[Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and informative. I am glad I own this so that I can read and reread it over and over. I should like to memorize many sections.

[Slim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best true wilderness survival guide available.

[Mike Capanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Brown jr is the ultimate teacher . Not just physical skills . He teaches way more . Read all his books

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

613.69 Field guide to wilderness survival techniques