Survival Manuals

[mountain mama]

Which survival manual do you recommend and why?

[Rick]

I haven't read them all. So I have to say FM21-76. It covers a bit of everything. BUT!! I really like Cody's 98.6, too.

[red lake]

What about Survive by Les Stroud?

[Rick]

Not on the list.

[mountain mama]

red lake, I knew I was forgetting something *DOH*
I guess that could go under "other"
So, what do you prefer about Survive as opposed to the other books on the list?

I am an avid reader of everything and anything I can get my hands on (which the exception of those cheesy Harlequin novels, blah)...I have read most of the ones listed but am certainly curious what else is out there. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Rick]

I added it for you. If you want it deleted just let me know.

[mountain mama]

Thanks, Rick!

[tennecedar]

The Pocket Survival Guide by J. Wayne Fears. No more info than any other guide, but I like how the information is presented. Easy to read and comprehend. As an added bonus the book was dedicated to search and rescue professionals and volunteers. He is one himself.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

for the north east i would recomend Ramond mears' The wilderness survival hand book.For the southwest i would recomend a book called Bushcraft. for the rain forest or other? havent found a book

[RunsWithDeer]

What? No Bear Grylls book? lol

I voted 98.6 Degrees, because it is the only book I have.

[mountain mama]

tennecedars, when I did an Amazon search for the book, 2 turned up: The Pocket Survival Guide (2004) & The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide (2006). What is the difference between the two and which do you recommend?

erunkiswldrnssurvival, I wasn't able to find The Wilderness Survival Handbook by Raymond Mears...any links?

[tennecedar]

The Pocket Survival Guide ISBN 0-88317-305-0

He also wrote The Complete Book Of Outdoor Survival. It's more in depth and a good read.

MM send me a PM and I'll mail you a copy of the pocket guide. I have 2 of em. Keep it or share it when you're done with it.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

the pocket survival guide is a good book, i use the bushcraft book often too. the fishing and stone working chapters are informative and accurate.

[canid]

i liked the outdoor survival handbook by ray mears, but overall i'd say check out every one you can, to the extent that you are interested.

[crashdive123]

While I haven't read all of the books on the list, I would say read them all. We can always glean bits here and there from different sources. Before too long we have amassed quite a good base of knowledge.

[tfisher]

I have them all but I refer to 98.6 the most and use it to teach classes as well

[SARKY]

A Bear Grylls book would be titled "Hey, Look at ME"

[mountain mama]

lmao

Any of y'all that vote "other", please comment on which book you would be referring to....my amazon list is getting pretty long, but there are never enough books in my personal library

[crashdive123]

Mountain Mama - one of the "other" books I like is Back To Basics A Complete Guide To Traditional Skills I did get it from Amazon. It's not really what most would consider a survival book, but to me it is. With sections titled:

Land: Buying it - Building on it

Energy From Wood, Water, Wind, and Sun

Raising Your Own Vegetables, Fruit and Livestock

Enjoying Your Harvest The Year Round

Skills and Crafts for House and Homestead

[Sarge47]

The Pocket Survival Guide ISBN 0-88317-305-0

He also wrote The Complete Book Of Outdoor Survival. It's more in depth and a good read.

MM send me a PM and I'll mail you a copy of the pocket guide. I have 2 of em. Keep it or share it when you're done with it.

While I voted for Cody's Book, I also have both the "Fears" books mentioned here & have even quoted some Survival stories from the larger one that are posted on my Blog. (Cost me about 10 bucks with the S & H from Amazon.) Mors Kochanski put out "Bushcraft", which I also own. (He also authors some great little "pocket" Survival books.) Then there's also the Tom Brown books that some on this site seem to like.

I have one Book that's very comprehensive Titled: "The Extreme Survival Almanac: Everything You Need To Know To Live Through a Shipwreck, Plane Crash, Or Any Outdoor Crisis Imanginable." by Reid Kincaid; Who, when the book was published, was the physcian assistant at the Metlakatla Indian Reservation Clinic, not to mention his other credits. (It's put out by Paladin Press.) And of course there's my all time favorite, the Boy Scout Handbook partnered with the Companion Fieldbook. (Older copies.)