The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Man Skills

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks

by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht, Ben H. Winters

Following the success of The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (more than 150,000 copies sold!), this ruggedly handsome hardcover collection brings together new and classic advice from Worst-Case experts to help readers master the manly arts from wrestling an alligator to calming a crying child to extinguishing backyard barbeque fires with all the contents fully searchable on an accompanying CD.

Genres: Reference, Survival, Nonfiction, How To, Outdoors, Self Help, Trivia

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Josh Piven is a television writer and producer, speechwriter, playwright, and the author or co-author of more than twenty non-fiction and humor books, including the worldwide best-selling The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series.

He wrote the teleplay and serves as producer of Don The Beekeeper, a half-hour children’s TV show about honeybees and urban beekeeping. His most recent stage play, a holiday farce called No Reservations, had its world premiere in November-December, 2013, to great success and critical acclaim. More information. His next play is Muddled.

Josh likes to refer to himself in the third person.

Piven is perhaps best known for his famously tongue-in-cheek worst-case books, books that offer readers real-world (though often hilarious) advice on surviving worst-case situations that they might—but hopefully won’t—encounter: everything from “how to fend off a shark” and “how to wrestle an alligator” to “how to avoid the Freshman 15” and “how to determine if your date is an axe murderer.”

Piven is an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania—and living proof that English majors aren't necessarily failures.

Reviews

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book as a Christmas present for my husband. Browsing through it in the store, I thought it'd make a fun, quirky present--and it was. On Christmas day, it was passed around, as people wanted to read a few sections (e.g. pickup lines to avoid, how to drive a tank).

This book contains lots of useful information (e.g. how to fend off a vicious dog) as well as some more unusual (see tank example). It combines humour and facts, and categories range from Love & Sex and Domestic Disasters to Work and Sports & Hobbies. It's not the type of book you read from cover to cover; rather, you read a few sections once in a while.

[Alexis Vélez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro bien simpático y a la vez bastante útil en ciertos aspectos. Tópicos como supervivencia en diferentes ambientes y situaciones son muy útiles, tópicos como entrenar a tu gato para que use tu inodoro pues son bastante ridículos pero te hacen reír. Recomendado.

[Evan? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taught me how to un-clasp a bra with one hand. 10/10

[Zachary Littrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book does exactly what it says on the tin: step-by-step instructions and advice on how to do 'manly' things, from tying a tie to driving a car up a flight of stairs.

The author's keep their tongues firmly in their cheeks, genuinely describing how to discreetly pass gas in public. They also have fun by juxtaposing sections like how to apologize to your wife with how to properly sleep on a couch. While I probably won't use even 75% of the advice in real life, it's a surprisingly informative and humorous read.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readability: 7. Rating: 4. Not very good. A mix of events I don't care about, those that are trivial or are trivialized by the authors, and oversimplifications. An interesting concept that did not deliver. Perhaps it was just meant to be a mockery of old-fashioned handbooks - with poor illustrations, etc., but if so, it was an unfunny joke.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I bought this book as a joke I soon realized several of the tips apply to my job as a camp couselor. I now carry it around with me and thumb through it whenever I get the chance. As silly as some of the tips and scenarios may be, it's a nice book to have-you never know what's going to happen.

[Alvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. It has a lot of useful information (ex. the grilling section) but some sections are showing their age (ex. a lot of the work-related 'advice' can get you fired). Still, this is a useful reference.

[Barbara Paulino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually helped me with several of its facts. Recommended for the outdoorsy types.

[Dominic · Rating 1 out of 5]

sucked

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Birthday present I quickly devoured, fun times.

[Jesse Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. I was expecting for it to be a little more entertaining and a little less instructional. Totally my fault and the book is what it claims to be.

[Ioan Mosincat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and fun read, with advice ranging from very useful to utter ludicrously.

[Mason Frierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While you will (hopefully) not run into any of these problems (hence the title) in your life, this book explains to you how to get out of terrible, life-threatening situations, or simply awkward, embarrassing, or boring ones. Or, it may teach you how to do things that you never knew exactly how to do. It's a little bit of everything, and now it's all compiled in this one comprehensive book that covers a little bit of everything. I just had too many "Worst-Case Scenario" books hanging around. This just sums up all the important parts.

While the book is typically hilarious with it's over-the-top severeness and ridiculously funny illustrations, the advice is actually given from experts and is very accurate. If you read this book, pay attention, and actually run into the situation one day? This book could quite possibly save your life. You never know what's going to happen to you out there! This book is fun and educational; definitely a must-read and a good conversation piece as well.

[Kiath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously the best.

[Doug · Rating 1 out of 5]

These books were fun little quick reads, not too much substance but entertaining for an hour.

[Marc Royston · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more of a coffee table, book of humor than it is a "survival" handbook. Much of it is targeted to a juvenile audience.