Wilderness Survival For Dummies

by Cameron M. Smith

Your one-stop guide to surviving and enjoying the Great Outdoors

Want to know how to stay alive in extreme situations? This practical, accurate guide gives you all the expert, field-tested tools and techniques you need to survive. Whether you find yourself lost in the woods, adrift on a life raft, bitten by a snake, or needing shelter in cold weather, this hands-on resource teaches you how to stay safe (and sane), find rescue, and live to tell the tale!

Know the basics of survival — perform life-saving first aid, make fire and shelter, and find water and food

Manage your emotions — cope with panic and anger, get the "survivor's attitude," and foster cooperation and hope with others

Increase your chances of rescue — signal for help and navigate using a compass or the sky

Practice expert survival methods — tie essential knots, craft your own weapons and tools, and make natural remedies

Gain wisdom for water emergencies — stay afloat when your ship or boat sinks, avoid dehydration and starvation, and make it to shore

Open the book and find:

Common survival scenarios you may encounter

Tried-and-tested advice for individuals or groups

The items you need to stay alive

Basic orientation skills

Ways to keep warm or cool

The best methods for building a fire in any environment

What you can (and can't) eat and drink in the wild

True stories of survival

Genres: Nonfiction

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2009

Reviews

[Captain Curmudgeon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good enough, but it boils down to 1) Have the right attitude; 2) Have the right gear; 3) Take steps to not need either.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is written from an old-school military survivalist, man-against-nature approach. As such it is mostly useless. There are far better survival books than this, its is one of the worst.

[Don Alesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be on everyone's shelves and it would be a great book for kids who wish to venture past the suburban back yard.
I actually finished this book before another on cabin living. I need to state that I am not some survivalist end of the world person. My wife and I like to hike, camp, and venture into places that appear to lead to nowhere but often end up somewhere special. Sometimes things happen.
I have a lot of training in survival and wilderness First Aid. This book is a great refresher for me and a learning book for my wife. Being able to tie basic knots, easy shelters, and simple navigation in the woods are so important. This book breaks it down to simple, easy to learn steps. The chapters on First Aid and using a compass is basic and practical.
This book will be put in a waterproof bag and into my back pack. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Geoffrey Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these For Dummies Books

I know it says really not te read these books cover to cover but just use as a reference but I can do both, I think- lol! Loved this title, along with the many other For Dummies Books I have read, am reading, etc. this one goes right along with my Camping for Dummies and Fishing For Dummies, and I may hav to check out Fly Fishing for Dummies also. I believe I saw that title as well!

[Michael Murdoch]

The essential companion for a rugged outdoor excursion Whether planning an adventure vacation or just interested in survival techniques, readers will find practical and accurate information on surviving in the wild in Wilderness Survival For Dummies. From building a fire to signaling help to identifying edible plants and insects, this one-stop guide provides tested tips for surviving and thriving in the great outdoors. Readers will discover how to navigate using both a compass and the sky, how to turn saltwater in to freshwater, and how to use what you have to get what you need in deserts, forests, arctic mountains, or at sea. This book provides outdoor adventurers with the information they need to survive in extreme climates and situations. Cameron M. Smith, PhD (Portland, OR), has traveled the world's wildernesses in some of the most unreasonable ways imaginable, including dragging a sled in the arctic. He is an archaeologist at Portland State University and the author of Anthropology For Dummies (978-0-470-27966-3). John F. Haslett (Topanga, CA) is a veteran expedition leader and adventure writer. He's spent decades putting to practice the tenets of this book, and his writings have been featured in National Geographic Explorer. Smith and Haslett are both members of The Explorers Club.

[Jaguar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have time to read this 400+ page, this is a really good book for survival information. I would recommend this book, as it has information for just about everything and pretty much every climate.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely readable, full of interesting advice (which I hope I never, ever have to use), well-written and engaging.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good info.