Tom Brown's Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival

by Tom Brown Jr., Heather Bolyn (Illustrator), Brandt Morgan

Prepare for the worst with this practical survival guide from bestselling author Tom Brown.

Today most Americans live in the city or suburbs—a safe, comfortable life, at least on the surface. Few of us realize how close we are to the elemental struggle for survival, until disaster strikes. Yet it is possible to be prepared. In this uniquely practical handbook, Tom Brown, Jr. gives you the specific skills and detailed knowledge you need to protect yourself and those you love in almost any emergency.

• Alternative heat and light sources
• Preventing and coping with electrical failure
• Automobile survival techniques
• Protecting your home from intruders
• Unconventional food sources for the city dweller
• Surviving earthquakes, floods, blizzards, hurricanes, and more
• Guarding against urban crime

TOM BROWN'S FIELD America's most popular nature reference books, Tom Brown's bestselling field guides are specially designed for both beginners and experienced explorers. Fully illustrated and comprehensive, each volume includes practical information, time-tested nature skills, and exciting new ways to rediscover the earth around us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Reference, How To, Nature, Self Help, Science

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1986

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

[KaWoodtiereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as descriptive as I would have liked....found myself getting bored reading about descriptions of what a tornado is and so on. I would have liked to have read about more inventive survival techniques than "be aware of your surroundings". Still learned a few good things so I guess it's not a total loss

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fascinating to have a book from which to learn how to survive if all our modern amenities should cease to exist. It really makes you think in what you should place any importance or significance upon whether that be material, physical, spiritual et cetera.

[P. Es · Rating 4 out of 5]

essential reading along with "peak oil survival" and the regularly-updated online edition at www.inthewake.org

[Christine Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a community emergency response training and the FEMA manual they issue is gianormous. This book covers many of the same topics in a much more condensed, actionable format. I also appreciated that some of the clutch concepts from TB's wilderness survival book (water catchment, fire starting) were covered here again.

[H S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was included in the Tom Brown's guide to wilderness survival book that I read both very knowledgable books and I love the way the author puts himself (and you) into every situation. A very interesting and easy read!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for outdoor types and survivalist, covers the kinds of things that would be really good to know in case of natural disasters, war or apocalyptic situations.

[Indy Quillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all of Tom Brown's books, so when I spotted this one I had to add it to my collection. I'd say this is definitely not a detailed "how to survive" book for beginners - more of a reference book, or as the title says, "field guide" to keep handy for the already mostly experienced self-reliance person. That said, I did learn some new things about household plumbing and electrical systems that could be handy in an emergency. It will stay in my library.

[Darrin Scholl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply a ton of useful information

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book still holds up pretty well despite its age.