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Star Wars
How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills
The Star Wars galaxy is a dangerous place. Be prepared!
Would you survive in the spice mines of Kessel?
Could you escape from a giant space slug?
From tackling extreme weather and finding shelter, to avoiding social pitfalls, learn what to do to stay alive in a galaxy far, far away.
© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
Would you survive in the spice mines of Kessel?
Could you escape from a giant space slug?
From tackling extreme weather and finding shelter, to avoiding social pitfalls, learn what to do to stay alive in a galaxy far, far away.
© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2019
36 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 18, 2019
In 2001, Chronicle Books released The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide. It’s a beautiful, large-format hardcover with content designed to look like an Audubon sketchbook. Each page features hand-drawn animals from the Star Wars galaxy, with handwritten information about their activities and biology. There is nothing in the book that takes the reader out of the in-universe nature of it—everything (except the Star Wars in the title) is made to look as though this is a book someone in the SW galaxy created. There is no mention of movies and no stills from the films. That thorough integrity, and the care with which the content was produced, make it one of the best SW books.
The main problem with How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks is the lack of that integrity that makes The Wildlife of Star Wars so great. The title is funny, but the rest of the book usually isn’t, and Christian Blauvelt’s book can’t decide what kind of book it is. The title makes it seem like a SW version of Worst-Case Scenarios, but that’s not really what it is. (The section on "How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks" is a small, 43-word summary of what the Rebels do in Return of the Jedi.) A lot of the writing feels like a travel guide to the SW galaxy, but it’s not entirely that, either. The layout looks like the “visual dictionaries” that DK publishes a steady stream of, but this book lacks the abundance of information connected to each photo.
To be really great, this book needed to pursue a more focused theme and design. It would have been fun to see a SW travel guide done in the style of a vintage Baedeker, for example. Or designed to look like it’s all being read from a datapad within the SW galaxy. But what we have is a disjointed hodgepodge of layout: stills from the films and the animated series; cartoony illustrations of characters; infographic visuals. The sidebars and sections of each page give no indication of the order they should be read, and really it doesn’t much matter anyway.
The timeline is puzzling, too. The book is written as though from within the Empire era (original-trilogy characters are featured the most; sequel-trilogy characters not at all). But then why are there crashed Imperial ships on Jakku? Why mention the New Republic reestablishing the senate?
Aside from the design the other major flaw with this book is the size. Typically, DK books are oversized, which makes it fun to look at all the details on each page. This book is tiny, but it looks like it was designed to be larger. The text is very small, and some of the pictures are indistinct. It’s just not much fun to read.
Overall: fun idea, poor execution.
The main problem with How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks is the lack of that integrity that makes The Wildlife of Star Wars so great. The title is funny, but the rest of the book usually isn’t, and Christian Blauvelt’s book can’t decide what kind of book it is. The title makes it seem like a SW version of Worst-Case Scenarios, but that’s not really what it is. (The section on "How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks" is a small, 43-word summary of what the Rebels do in Return of the Jedi.) A lot of the writing feels like a travel guide to the SW galaxy, but it’s not entirely that, either. The layout looks like the “visual dictionaries” that DK publishes a steady stream of, but this book lacks the abundance of information connected to each photo.
To be really great, this book needed to pursue a more focused theme and design. It would have been fun to see a SW travel guide done in the style of a vintage Baedeker, for example. Or designed to look like it’s all being read from a datapad within the SW galaxy. But what we have is a disjointed hodgepodge of layout: stills from the films and the animated series; cartoony illustrations of characters; infographic visuals. The sidebars and sections of each page give no indication of the order they should be read, and really it doesn’t much matter anyway.
The timeline is puzzling, too. The book is written as though from within the Empire era (original-trilogy characters are featured the most; sequel-trilogy characters not at all). But then why are there crashed Imperial ships on Jakku? Why mention the New Republic reestablishing the senate?
Aside from the design the other major flaw with this book is the size. Typically, DK books are oversized, which makes it fun to look at all the details on each page. This book is tiny, but it looks like it was designed to be larger. The text is very small, and some of the pictures are indistinct. It’s just not much fun to read.
Overall: fun idea, poor execution.
March 2, 2021
Cute and attractive little guide of, mostly, well-known Star Wars facts.
December 26, 2019
2019 was a weird year on Earth so I've decided 2020 should be spent traveling the galaxy. With a little help from Christian Blauvelt I now know it is a dangerous place and I won't be able to breath the atmosphere inside the guts of a space slug. This book is just the right size to hide inside of a cloak in case I need to reference it quickly while hiding in an alley from the bounty hunter who will be no doubt chasing me after I annoy a Hutt. Filled with tidbits from befriending Ewoks to which casino I'll never have enough credits to gamble in (Canto Bight) I now feel as if I have a better idea on what I should and should not do. Visual aids abound throughout. Now the real question arises…. Where am I going to find my very own Wookie travel companion who won't decide to rip off my limbs when I forget to make coffee in the morning?
January 18, 2022
This is a great book for any fan of Star Wars to dip in and out of. That's what I've been doing, just picking it up when I have 5-10 minutes, reading another section and quite often giggling out loud at the jokes and 'Easter eggs' within. Makes reference to all three trilogies and more besides, with a good wacky sense of humour throughout. I'm sure I'll take another look at it in the future. A fun read :)
February 2, 2021
A nice quick read for any fan. It has some good information that's interesting but a lot of the info is stuff I already knew from watching the movies. It's written in a funny way though so I still enjoyed it.
I would have liked a more in depth look at everything but you get what you see with this. I probably won't reach for this again but it'll stay with my Star Wars books just in case 😁
I would have liked a more in depth look at everything but you get what you see with this. I probably won't reach for this again but it'll stay with my Star Wars books just in case 😁
October 7, 2019
This was a fun in universe perspective book looking out how freaking dangerous it is to go about living in the GFFA. And actually could be useful for reference purposes if you're a giant nerd who needs random reference about Star Wars.
October 26, 2019
A Handbook to stay alive! This book has a narration with lots of humor but also detailed facts about scoundrels, Sith, Empires and pirates. Gorgeous illustrations and nice collected information blocks about adventures in the Star Wars films and animated series. So much fun!
July 16, 2020
How do you survive in a galaxy far, far away and a long time ago? What if you find yourself eaten by indigenous fauna? Are you being boarded by the Imperial Navy? This book will help you.
August 7, 2021
Perfect book for any star wars fans in this galaxy or in any intergalactic galaxy far far away.
March 5, 2022
Hmmm, odd.
April 3, 2020
My partner picked this book up for me our last trip to the library and I was not let down. This is an appropriate for all ages type of creation and I was impressed by the way the creator weaved it into existence.
I feel like there was a lot of information, most of it generally common knowledge if you consider yourself a star wars fan. I do consider myself a fan however I have not watched the newest trilogy of movies nor any of the animated show OR the old cartoons OR any of the video games. I am seriously surprised by all of the facts I am totally unaware of in this realm. I used to be on top of my game but lost touch around Attack of the Clones.
Specifically, I seriously enjoyed the animated pastel drawings of the main characters scattered throughout the chapters, I am not sure if they are by the creator of this book or if they are just another cut and pasted image within the covers. There were several pages devoted to the scale of the monsters, contrasting the beast to a human or vehicle, these pages were some of my favorite perspectives presented by this author. In Episode One there is an epic water beast, it is referenced briefly in the movie but this book allowed me to really swallow the sheer towering difference.
Also, I had no idea there were religions in the star wars universe or pirates, nor did would I have guessed that the giant space slug/not a cave actually had a species name (an Exogorth).
I feel like there was a lot of information, most of it generally common knowledge if you consider yourself a star wars fan. I do consider myself a fan however I have not watched the newest trilogy of movies nor any of the animated show OR the old cartoons OR any of the video games. I am seriously surprised by all of the facts I am totally unaware of in this realm. I used to be on top of my game but lost touch around Attack of the Clones.
Specifically, I seriously enjoyed the animated pastel drawings of the main characters scattered throughout the chapters, I am not sure if they are by the creator of this book or if they are just another cut and pasted image within the covers. There were several pages devoted to the scale of the monsters, contrasting the beast to a human or vehicle, these pages were some of my favorite perspectives presented by this author. In Episode One there is an epic water beast, it is referenced briefly in the movie but this book allowed me to really swallow the sheer towering difference.
Also, I had no idea there were religions in the star wars universe or pirates, nor did would I have guessed that the giant space slug/not a cave actually had a species name (an Exogorth).
December 10, 2025
The perfect guide to surviving in a galaxy far far away…
Star Wars How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills by Christian Blauvelt is an inuniverse novel for how to navigate the world a long long time ago…
While this book primarily focuses on the troubles and pitfalls that might occur involving planets from the movies and some of the tv shows…the photos (some from the movies and others from other promotional materials) breaks down a helpful amount of info…
It’s a fairly broad guide broken up into chapters by subject.
What to do in certain planetary environments? What to do if you accidentally crash land somewhere? What to do if you are pursued by a dangerous bounty hunter?
Of course social skills are also included…such as negotiating with a local population…dressing the right way to infiltrate certain social hierarchies…and even know what drinks not to mix…
Economic issues such as credits, gambling, and understanding the current galactic government are also helpful for navigating the world like a legitimate being…
Some material is given to understanding the various religions you might encounter…including those tied to the force…
A hostile creature guide with size comparisons is also helpful so you are aware of some of the more common creatures likely to try an eat you..
It doesn’t have much for a hardcore Star Wars fan…and I didn’t identify any items from the old EU…but for casual or fun Star Wars fans…it’s worth a read…
Star Wars How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills by Christian Blauvelt is an inuniverse novel for how to navigate the world a long long time ago…
While this book primarily focuses on the troubles and pitfalls that might occur involving planets from the movies and some of the tv shows…the photos (some from the movies and others from other promotional materials) breaks down a helpful amount of info…
It’s a fairly broad guide broken up into chapters by subject.
What to do in certain planetary environments? What to do if you accidentally crash land somewhere? What to do if you are pursued by a dangerous bounty hunter?
Of course social skills are also included…such as negotiating with a local population…dressing the right way to infiltrate certain social hierarchies…and even know what drinks not to mix…
Economic issues such as credits, gambling, and understanding the current galactic government are also helpful for navigating the world like a legitimate being…
Some material is given to understanding the various religions you might encounter…including those tied to the force…
A hostile creature guide with size comparisons is also helpful so you are aware of some of the more common creatures likely to try an eat you..
It doesn’t have much for a hardcore Star Wars fan…and I didn’t identify any items from the old EU…but for casual or fun Star Wars fans…it’s worth a read…
February 22, 2020
Solid cliff notes guide to the Star Wars universe, from cuisine to attire to weapons to environments, and much more. The layout doesnt feel natural in terms of readability and would not have been my choice, but it does give it that "for dummies" vibe, which I think it is going for as far as accessibility. The author seemed to take liberties with some of their declarations about various species behaving a certain way based on one event or scene. Some details need elaboration, particularly when the author makes anecdotes with little context (assuming the reader knows what they are talking about). The order of the book is also seemingly random and it just abruptly ends with no conclusion. Overall, this is a comprehensive yet disheveled text.
January 7, 2023
The Star Wars universe is full of exotic perils, from hungry aliens of all shapes and sizes to planet-destroying Death Stars. This brief text offers advice on how to survive these dangers, and also offers some pointers on food, dress, religion, and other potential cultural pitfalls. The advice primarily takes the form of descriptions of the actions of the heroes of the original film trilogy, during which the book purports to be set. Basically, your best bet is to be a Skywalker. It's cute, but does not engage deeply with the canon or offer any novel insights.
September 2, 2023
Quite a meh book. It reads like a travel guide of sorts (or something like that I guess), but it's filled with so many obvious references to events that probably never got recorded in a way that would reach the in-universe public's ears to the point they'd be gathered into a survival guide that it constantly breaks the suspension of disbelief. It's a light read but I found it rather boring. Granted, that might've been in part because I went in expecting an in-universe book, which this, because of the glaring references, doesn't feel like that much.
October 13, 2023
This is a very tongue in cheek guide to surviving in the worlds of Star Wars. To an adult, it is completely hilarious, with lots of digs at the various groups in the many series. It took me so long to read because I would start giggling and have to set it aside.
For younger readers it has lots of pictures and goes into little details that were revealed in the movies, series (most of the cartoon series), and some of the book series. There are also a lot of quotes.
A real joy for simple reading. A blast for nit picking and parsing bits and pieces.
For younger readers it has lots of pictures and goes into little details that were revealed in the movies, series (most of the cartoon series), and some of the book series. There are also a lot of quotes.
A real joy for simple reading. A blast for nit picking and parsing bits and pieces.
December 1, 2024
Have to be extremely familiar with the the material that is considered Star Wars canon today and it doesn't hurt to be well versed in what has become Legends. The material is well presented but is largely just like encyclopedia entries. I'm giving an extra star more than it may deserve because I received this as a Christmas gift several years ago. I have only recently gotten around to start reading it. Not a long read but not anything that adds much to one's knowledge about the Star Wars universe.
November 23, 2019
It's fun: take it as that, and you will probably enjoy it. I liked how the various SW universe dangers were "categorized;" almost like a simplified table of contents/index of movie motifs. The page layout is what you'd expect from a website or current school yearbook (lots of sidebars, images that mostly line up to the caption boxes); an e-book version might have "clickable" parts. This is by the same author of the "Be More..." SW character series, which is quite good.
March 16, 2020
This book was a birthday gift from my girlfriend and it was a fun read. I don't normally pick up companion books to movies or tv, but I love Star Wars, and grew up watching the series and reading companion novels such as The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader and recently read The World According to Star Wars. Overall it was a fun, quick read full of Star Wars nostalgia.
April 5, 2020
A fun, humorous take on all of the dangers of the Star Wars universe and how to survive them. It is what I would call a "bathroom book" - those books you pick up for five minutes, don't read again for two weeks and then pick back up for another five minutes.
Pretty funny, very informative.
it is what it is - solid 3 stars.
Pretty funny, very informative.
it is what it is - solid 3 stars.
January 8, 2021
This is a very entertaining quick read. In the vein of survival and travel guides, this book gives fans the basics of survival in the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Is it literature? No. Is it a deep and nuanced book divulging essential secrets of Star Wars? Again, no. Did it make me chuckle and keep me turning the pages? Absolutely.
February 13, 2021
A great book is you love Star Wars like me. It's also super geeky.
An adventure book that takes information from most of the Star Wars universe suffered from all other books of its kind. That being that it becomes outdated really quickly. Now, that isn't a huge problem and the formate it great. It is a well put together book and really great for younger readers and new people to the Star Wars universe.
Overall it was great, but I felt like there wasn't anything new, just compiled information from pre exciting books, films, and shows. However, this is great for children and a must for any Star Wars collection.
An adventure book that takes information from most of the Star Wars universe suffered from all other books of its kind. That being that it becomes outdated really quickly. Now, that isn't a huge problem and the formate it great. It is a well put together book and really great for younger readers and new people to the Star Wars universe.
Overall it was great, but I felt like there wasn't anything new, just compiled information from pre exciting books, films, and shows. However, this is great for children and a must for any Star Wars collection.
December 14, 2025
This is an in-world guide to surviving all the dangerous people, creatures, and situations you might come across while traveling the Star Wars galaxy. The idea is fun, but in practice it feels like a way to rehash tons of moments from the films and TV shows along with screenshots and a few new diagrams and illustrations. Also feels like there is a heavy focus on The Force Awakens and Solo.
January 3, 2020
Fun little book about the dangers involved in the SW universe.
I've read "how to" guides that were humorous and silly... this seems to be a mix of funny and look at all the things that happened in the SW movies. It's almost a walking advertisement for the movies.
I've read "how to" guides that were humorous and silly... this seems to be a mix of funny and look at all the things that happened in the SW movies. It's almost a walking advertisement for the movies.
January 3, 2020
Just as informative as it was hilarious.Has really light a fire under me to to venture back to the written world of the Star Wars Universe.I certainly know more about everything Star Wars then i did before i read it.Knocked it down in two sittings.
September 25, 2023
If you want a sweet/corny/dad joke survival guide to the Lucasverse, this is your book. That said, in spite of all the eye-rolling it manages to pull out of the reader, its heart is certainly in the right place, and the graphic design is first rate.
November 24, 2019
Cute, but not as funny as expected from the title.
December 14, 2019
A very humorous star wars book.
December 17, 2019
Written in-universe, not as funny as one would expect but it's a Star Wars book published by DK. C'mon! You were expecting high brow literature?
December 30, 2019
A fun & silly guide to the Star Wars galaxy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews