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The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival: A Guide to Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Navigation, and Survival Kits Paperback – September 15, 2022

by Jason Knight (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 201 ratings
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Wondering how to stay alive and safe in the outdoors?

The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival is a systematic approach to wilderness survival designed to increase your confidence in the outdoors and teach you exactly what to do, and in what order, if you find yourself in a survival situation.

You will learn how to:
  • build shelter from natural materials that keep you warm and protected from the elements
  • find water and purify it with or without equipment
  • start campfires, even in the pouring rain, without matches or lighters
  • recognize staple wild foods
  • navigate with and without the aid of a map and compass
  • create the right type of survival kit to be prepared for almost any emergency

The techniques presented in The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival will help you see the wilderness as a community of allies ready to supply you with survival needs—from wood for a fire-starting kit to wild edible plants to sustain you. You’ll enjoy the freedom of exploring remote areas, and become a valuable resource for others.

“Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or new to the outdoors, this beautifully illustrated and masterfully organized survival guide, that simplifies Jason’s decades of experience, will be an invaluable companion!”
—Jonah Evans, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and founder of NatureTracking.com

“Knight distills core survival principles and techniques into a format that ensures the reader will gain the confidence and know-how to be prepared for any emergency.”
—Nicole Apelian, Ph.D., best-selling author and participant on the History Channel’s Alone show

“Easy. Practical. Efficient. The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival is a must have. It could save lives.”
—Casey McFarland, biologist and coauthor of the Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    164 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 15, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.39 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-13
    979-8985691801
  6. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Easy. Practical. Efficient. This is one of the rare survival guides that actually leaves the reader immediately more competent with just a few minutes of casual perusal. The concepts are superbly clear, the layout is easily navigated, and each principle is supported with crisp, well-planned photography. For those wanting to be better prepared and feel more confident on any excursion, this book is a must have. The inviting, engaging approach makes it just as beneficial for curious youngsters as it is for knowledge hungry, detail-oriented adults. Get a copy, read it, and leave it out for guests, kids, and neighbors. It could save lives."

—Casey McFarland, wildlife biologist, Senior Tracker and Evaluator, co-author of three field guides including the updated Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests

"Everyone needs to know core survival principles and techniques. In The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival, Jason Knight distills these skills and concepts into a format that ensures success. He couples this with full-color diagrams and photos to ensure the reader will gain the confidence and know-how to be prepared for survival emergencies. This book provides valuable guidance for new and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike."

—Nicole Apelian, Ph.D., wilderness skills instructor, and author of four books including The Forager's Guide to Wild Foods: Edible Plants, Lichens, Mushrooms, and Seaweeds

"Having taught survival skills for nearly two decades, I strongly believe that the skills described in this book are not simply "wilderness skills", but are in fact critical life skills that every one of us should possess. The ability to take care of one's own needs in critical situations is not only essential, but also liberating and empowering. This book is a great resource on your journey of self-reliance and self-discovery and one worth having in your library."

—Dave Scott, survival and wildlife tracking expert, founder of Earth Native Wilderness School

"Whether you are looking to deepen your connection to the natural world or prepare for when things go wrong, Jason has captured the fundamentals of wilderness survival in an easy to read and well-organized book that is chock full of useful tips. This book will certainly be added to the cannon of required and suggested readings for all of our school's staff and participants."

—Scott Brinton, executive director of CedarRoot Folk School

"The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival contains lifesaving information that's vital to have in a book, since the internet might not be there in a survival situation. There are few wilderness teachers who know their stuff as well as Jason Knight. He's written a complete guide that's 100% trustworthy. This is a refreshing book that tells you exactly what you need to know and leaves out the filler. I am positive that The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival will be the most important book that you ever own."

—John Gallagher, herbalist, educator, and cofounder of LearningHerbs

"I spend a good deal of time in some wild country, often miles from the nearest trail or road. Whether tracking, hunting or running I always have a question in the back of my mind: Am I ready if I cannot make it back? Jason's book prepares you to answer that question. This book will leave you with a practical understanding of what fundamentals you need to prioritize and execute should that lingering question become a reality. This knowledge is spoken by someone who has not only mastered these skills but also mastered how to present them as an educator."

—Brian McConnell, wildlife tracker, Master Hunter and mentor, backcountry ultrarunner

"Having taught thousands of students and read many survival guides over the years, this book does a great job introducing people to the world of survival. This guide invites readers in and provides them with the knowledge to gain new skills and build on existing experience increasing their knowledge and confidence to venture further into the wilderness safely."

—Mike Pewtherer, author of Wilderness Survival Handbook and founder of Woodland Ways

"Jason's scientific and methodical approach to wilderness survival, combined with his helpful personal stories and examples, allow the reader to solidly grasp the basics of wilderness survival, so that they can take what they've learned and improvise depending upon their unique situation. This sets Jason's approach apart from others in his field. That's so important, because each survival situation, natural disaster or even backyard party have their own unique set of factors that need to be assessed."

—Kristi Dranginis, author of Identify Any Bird Anywhere and founder of BirdMentor

"Wherever you are on the journey of connecting to the earth, reading The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival will build a solid foundation for lifelong learning in how to take care of yourself outdoors."

—Carleigh Fairchild, survival consultant, participant on the History Channel's survival show Alone, and creator of the "Connecting with Place" Series

"Jason Knight has created a distilled and efficient survival book with no BS. A great book for those who want to develop a solid survival foundation and learn from someone who has lived what he's teaching."

—David Moskowitz, biologist, photographer, educator, and author of three books: Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, and Wolves in the Land of Salmon

"Jason Knight has put together an incredibly helpful and accessible guide to wilderness survival. Perfect for beginners, as well as seasoned veterans, The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival is a must have for any survival enthusiast's bookshelf. I highly recommend it."

—Nate Summers, survival skills instructor and author of Awakening Fire: The Essential Guide

"As you might expect from someone with long experience both doing and teaching, someone also articulate and well-versed, Jason Knight presents brief and crystal-clear guidance to woodsfolk of all skill levels who wish to deepen their practice of essential bushcraft. Here you find the surest path through a rapidly changing environment."

—Nate Harvey, Senior Tracker and CyberTracker Evaluator, founder of TrackersTrail

"What a visually rich, concise and well-organized concentration of knowledge Jason has compiled from his years of experience! Filled with straight forward, easy to remember guidelines with accurate and clear, step-by-step visuals, this is ideal for those just starting out, or the already experienced looking for new tips and skills. Highly recommend."

—Heidi Bohan, ethnobotany educator and author of The People of Cascadia

"This is an excellent resource for those intending to be comfortable in the wilderness for any amount of time. If everyone took these contents to heart, we would have fewer searches for missing persons, and more outings completed successfully."

—Rob Speiden, Search and Rescue Instructor, professional tracker, and author of
Foundations for Awareness, Signcutting, and Tracking

"This guide is a must-read for anyone wanting to build their self-sufficiency skills, whether or not they spend time in the wilderness. Jason Knight's approach to teaching and learning survival makes this knowledge very accessible."

—Julie Stonefelt, Park Ranger and cofounder of Wild Homestead Living

"This easy-to-read book provides you with simple to use and fun to practice survival skills. If practiced, these skills will create calmness, and calmness is the most powerful survival tool to have."

—Adriaan Louw, Master Tracker and CyberTracker Evaluator, and co-author of Practical Tracking

"I have worked with Jason Knight for many years and can attest firsthand to his expert survival and tracking skills. In this book Jason offers a comprehensive survival guide containing clearly written and pictured how-tos for all the skills one needs to tackle wilderness, or any other unexpected challenges, and come out alive."

—Dan Stueber, flintknapping instructor and founder of Thunderstones Lithic Consulting

"What makes a great survival book? Practical, no-nonsense information. You'll find that with Jason's clear expertise and instruction. The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival is an essential survival guide for everyone."

—Tony Deis, founder of Trackers Earth outdoor programs

"The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival contains excellent descriptions and photographs of the core skills and techniques that will keep you alive when the unexpected occurs in an outdoor setting. Knight's decades of experience practicing and teaching modern survival and earth-based nature skills, the clear-concise format of the book, and the quality color photographs provide the reader with detailed instructions on how to practice for an emergency
survival situation."

—Preston Taylor, biologist, Senior Tracker and CyberTracker Evaluator, and author of Tracking the American Black Bear

"The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival is just that—essential knowledge for those who enjoy spending time outdoors in the backcountry. This concise, thorough guide provides the framework for those beginning on their journey of preparedness and self-reliance."

—Chrissy Roberts, owner and director of Quiet Heart Wilderness School

"Jason Knight has the knowledge we all need and he's done an amazing job placing it in this book that is full of practical wisdom. If I were you, I'd start reading it right away."

—Victor Wooten, naturalist, teacher, Grammy-winning bassist, founder of VixCamps Center for Music and Nature, and author of The Music Lesson

"A beautifully illustrated and masterfully organized guide that simplifies Jason's decades of experience teaching the complex art of wilderness survival into a wonderfully accessible format. Whether you're a seasoned nature enthusiast or new to the outdoors, this
book will be an invaluable companion!"

—Jonah Evans, Nongame and Rare Species Program Leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife; and founder of NatureTracking

About the Author

Jason Knight has been teaching wilderness survival skills since 1997. He has served as a wilderness skills consultant for the Discovery Channel and has been featured on NPR. He is a co-founder and instructor at Alderleaf Wilderness College, one of the leading outdoor schools in the United States offering training in wilderness survival to a broad range of clients, including the US Forest Service, the Seattle Mountaineers, and the cast of the award-winning film, Captain Fantastic. To learn more about Alderleaf, visit www.WildernessCollege.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BFHGTP38
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alderleaf Press (September 15, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 164 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985691801
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.39 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 201 ratings

About the author

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Jason Knight

Jason Knight

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JASON KNIGHT has been teaching wilderness survival skills since 1997. He has consulted as a local wilderness skills expert for the Discovery Channel and has been featured on NPR. He is a cofounder and instructor at Alderleaf Wilderness College, one of the leading outdoor schools in the United States offering training in wilderness survival to a broad range of clients including the US Forest Service, the Seattle Mountaineers, and the cast of the award-winning film Captain Fantastic. Learn more about Jason and Alderleaf at WildernessCollege.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
201 global ratings
A comprehensive introduction
5 Stars
A comprehensive introduction
Jason does a great job covering fundamental survival concepts while also giving you the practical skills necessary to endure a survival situation.A great example is the chapter about shelter. Jason covers why shelter building skills are crucial, describes several examples of a shelter, then goes through step by step how to build the simplest and most versatile type of shelter. It’s a quick, easy read and a wonderful introduction to the craft.As a side note, I vehemently disagree with the one-star reviewer who claimed Jason talks down to the reader. In no way does he do this.As another side note, I had the incredible opportunity of interviewing Jason when I was a journalist in the area. Watching him walk through the wilderness was like watching Willy wonka walk through his factory, the way he knew which plants were edible, how he could tell if predators were near by based on animal and bird behavior. This is all to say he is one of the foremost experts in the wilderness survival field and his college is doing wonders to empower people to discover they can learn how to survive on their own.
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Top reviews from the United States

Michele H. Leonardson
5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive introduction
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Jason does a great job covering fundamental survival concepts while also giving you the practical skills necessary to endure a survival situation.

A great example is the chapter about shelter. Jason covers why shelter building skills are crucial, describes several examples of a shelter, then goes through step by step how to build the simplest and most versatile type of shelter. It’s a quick, easy read and a wonderful introduction to the craft.

As a side note, I vehemently disagree with the one-star reviewer who claimed Jason talks down to the reader. In no way does he do this.

As another side note, I had the incredible opportunity of interviewing Jason when I was a journalist in the area. Watching him walk through the wilderness was like watching Willy wonka walk through his factory, the way he knew which plants were edible, how he could tell if predators were near by based on animal and bird behavior. This is all to say he is one of the foremost experts in the wilderness survival field and his college is doing wonders to empower people to discover they can learn how to survive on their own.
Customer image
Michele H. Leonardson
5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive introduction
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
Jason does a great job covering fundamental survival concepts while also giving you the practical skills necessary to endure a survival situation.

A great example is the chapter about shelter. Jason covers why shelter building skills are crucial, describes several examples of a shelter, then goes through step by step how to build the simplest and most versatile type of shelter. It’s a quick, easy read and a wonderful introduction to the craft.

As a side note, I vehemently disagree with the one-star reviewer who claimed Jason talks down to the reader. In no way does he do this.

As another side note, I had the incredible opportunity of interviewing Jason when I was a journalist in the area. Watching him walk through the wilderness was like watching Willy wonka walk through his factory, the way he knew which plants were edible, how he could tell if predators were near by based on animal and bird behavior. This is all to say he is one of the foremost experts in the wilderness survival field and his college is doing wonders to empower people to discover they can learn how to survive on their own.
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3 people found this helpful
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Adventurer
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical information for practical survival
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
I’ve studied many articles, pamphlets, books, and videos about outdoor survival. Most of the information I’ve come across is the same: hand-drawn illustrations of various types of shelters, fire starting methods, and lists of items to carry for survival-preparedness. To be fair, all of these resources are valuable and at least of some limited worth in a true survival situation. In truth though, much of the mainstream survival information presented and promoted falls victim to one of the classic blunders (cue Vizzini from the Princess Bride), namely that it is 1) an expansion of knowledge and creativity on a certain subject or technique, but the information and techniques presented are often not reasonably practical in a true survival situation; (e.g. they require special gear that a person is not likely to have access to, they are overly complicated techniques or require too much time to construct/use to be practical), or 2) the information is vague and the instruction lacks details on how to accurately and effectively implement what is being taught. I feel it’s safe to say that the reason for these so-called “blunders” is correlated to the teacher’s experience in implementing their own methods (aka “practicing what they preach”). Many authors of survival resources are acclaimed, respectable outdoorsmen/outdoorswomen to be sure; people who love the backcountry and spend a great deal of time in it, but who do so clad in gore-tex rain gear, packing a down sleeping bag and a jetboil with freeze dried dinners (I myself fall into this category most of the time). There is nothing wrong with this, but it begs the question: How many times have they built and used the shelters they speak of? How many times have they chosen to forego modern technology in favor of starting a fire with a bow drill or hand drill? I say this not to attack or put these people down, and I reiterate that their teachings have some value. But the best knowledge on a subject comes from people who apply their own advice and use it/live by it on a daily basis. After reading this book, it is clear to me that Jason has put together a basic, yet thorough resource on practical survival skills based on decades of real-world experience (basically synonymous with “suffering” in the survival world until you figure out the best way to do something lol). What stands out to me the most is where this book came from. Alderleaf has been around for many years and is a respected vault of information for survival skills, and based on my own personal experience stands out as having explained old techniques in a new way that I understood better, and also gave me new techniques I’d never read or heard about before. This book seems to be a rich yet concise decoction of the expansive core techniques and knowledge Alderleaf has compiled. It really is a great resource to have on hand and will make an excellent arrow to add to your quiver of wilderness-preparedness resource guides. To make one small complaint, I would have liked to see more information on “song-lining” under trailblazing methods… The short paragraph discussing it left me with a few gaps in understanding it fully; I’ll have to research that in greater depth!
17 people found this helpful
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Jenna
5.0 out of 5 stars If you are a human being, this book is for you!
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you are a human being, this book is for you! When I got into Wilderness Survival several years ago, I had this epiphany that in our society people just do not know how to meet their basic needs without relying on our complex society and all of the technology at our fingertips. But what happens in an emergency situation, in a natural disaster, or on a camping trip when your car breaks down and you are out of cell reception range and too far to walk, or you're injured out on a hike, etc? It just felt very disconcerting at that time to not know how to meet my most very basic human needs for survival, the very things needed in order to live this life. I felt so vulnerable and uneducated. Why don't they teach us these skills as children, in 13 years of grade school? So I went on a quest, which led me to a 9 month wilderness immersion course, where several weeks of that course were dedicated to wilderness survival and learning to procure my basic survival necessities. Having this information is so empowering, knowing that whatever situation you get into, out on a wilderness adventure, or during an unexpected natural disaster or emergency, that you know what to do and how to do it. And knowing that you'll be the one who has the knowledge to help those around you. If you want to know how to take care of your bare necessities as a human being, once and for all, get this wilderness survival book! This concise guide does an outstanding job outlining all of the most essentials of survival, and exactly how to meet your needs, through overviews, different methods, and finally step by step instructions. One of my favorite things about Jason Knight's survival guide is that he lays out the things necessary for survival in order of highest to lowest priority, so that when you find yourself in a real survival situation, you know exactly which thing to start working on first and don't waste any valuable time that could be critical to your or your loved ones' survival. My favorite section of the book is about survival shelters, because shelter is the absolute number one priority in a survival situation, before all else. Even with my education in wilderness survival, and as an outdoor educator myself, I still found this book a helpful guide, with little bits of valuable information I hadn't heard before, and as a great refresher for things I'd forgotten. So I would say this book is great for all skill levels and levels of knowledge in wilderness survival. Finally, I really loved how Jason shared personal accounts from his own experiences that highlight how some of the dangers of the wilderness have affected and influenced him personally, and how he has narrowly escaped some potentially serious situations. Rather than just being an expert in the field, he shows that he started out just like anybody else, without this vital information, has made mistakes at times, or experienced accidents or just was unaware of the real dangers he might encounter, and through those experiences has learned crucial lessons of survival, and it makes this book more relatable to the average person who isn't necessarily a gung-ho survivalist.
24 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Glen Longpre
5.0 out of 5 stars Applying Wilderness Survival Skills and Knowledge
Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
The manual entitled The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival: A Guide to Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Navigation, and Survival Kits by Jason Knight is an excellent introduction into the basic wilderness survival concepts/principles, determining what your priorities should be and lays out easy to learn techniques that will greatly improve anyone success in surviving an unplanned potentially life-threatening event. The manual is written in a clear, concise, logical and practical manner so readers are able to easily follow along and gain a basic understanding of how to cope with the basic needs of survival whether it happens in the backcountry or as a catastrophic event in your backyard. Jason uses photos well and uses step by step directions to clearly articulate how to perform various tasks identified in the manual. I am particularly glad to see in the front of the manual that he covers off psychological aspects of being lost and how this can greatly reduce your chances of survival if not controlled. I can speak to this personally over the past 40 years when I have been disorientated several times in non-descript terrain during cloudy or low visibility conditions. The worst thing you can do is to start doubting yourself and let panic set in. The acronym SPEAR is an excellent term to remember. Once you sit down, take a breath and evaluate your situation you can usually reorientate yourself and find your way out or take the appropriate actions to keep yourself safe. I know of several people that became lost where panic and fear have taken over and all common sense went out the door. Luckily for them they were found by others in not so good of shape, however it could have turned out a lot worse. I think anyone going out into the back country even on short hikes (hour or two) should have basic knowledge of how to survive if need be. No one plans on getting lost, getting caught in inclement weather or being disabled while on a hike, however there is always a chance this could happen. Being unprepared could result in various types of issues: the unnecessary stress on your loved ones and friends, the activation of search and rescue operations which may involve significant logistical efforts and costs or even your life.

A few things I would recommend for consideration include:
• Reference to related articles, information and other options be included at the end of each module or chapter instead of at the end of the manual.
• In some of the modules/chapters several examples of techniques or tactics were provided in detail while other modules/chapters they only provided one example or only briefly identified other options. It would help if each module/chapter include at least three practical tactics/techniques with detailed photos, descriptions and directions of how to complete.

I would highly recommend to anyone from the novice individual to the experienced outdoors person to obtain a copy of The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival: A Guide to Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Navigation, and Survival Kits Manual by Jason Knight. It is an excellent compilation of practical and useful wilderness survival information, practices, techniques and strategies that may be applied by anyone.

Glen Longpre
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5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, accessible, enticing and trustworthy: a brilliant overview of the essentials of survival.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
Clear, accessible, enticing and trustworthy: a brilliant overview of the essentials of survival. Jason Knight, a prominent wilderness skills, bushcraft and survival skills teacher and mentor, has distilled his decades of teaching experience into an exciting and pithy guide. The book is well structured and outstanding in its awareness of survival priorities and its precision of information.

It is also eminently readable. Each section starts with a story that fires up the imagination and helps highlight the importance of the information to follow. There are useful boxes highlighting and summarizing key information, and clear illustrative photos. And in demonstration of Jason Knight's depth of experience, the shelter and fire chapters, for example, include “troubleshooting” sections, generally not present in other survival books, providing tips on how to overcome common problems and increase your chances of success.

As a wilderness guide in Africa, I have had many an occasion to reflect on the importance of the skills explained so clearly in this book, which is a fine resource for anyone preparing for an outdoor camping trip, wanting to understand how to survive, or simply wanting a deeper way to engage with the wild outdoors....while also being fun to read. Highly recommended!
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Roba Fett
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the survival book I have been waiting for!
Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2022
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I was a student in Jason Knight’s wildlife tracking intensive many years ago and found him to be an excellent instructor. He has a knack for breaking complicated topics into a logical and efficient format and this has translated well into his wilderness survival guide.

I own a couple other wilderness survival handbooks, such as the SAS Survival Handbook and Les Stroud's Survive! I think both are excellent books but they almost had too much information that made it difficult to know where to start. Jason Knight’s wilderness survival guide is a perfect blend of the right amount of useful information, easy to follow instructions and helpful photos. It has a clear chapter layout that follows the survival priorities it lays out at the beginning, which is very helpful for figuring out where to start. One thing that I particularly appreciate is the logical layout, which makes it easy to follow and helps with retaining information. It starts by discussing the psychology and physiology of survival, lays out the survival priorities, then goes into detail for each one. It has a handy guide for creating a survival kit.

I highly recommend this book and think it will be useful to anyone interested in wilderness survival skills, whether a beginner or seasoned veteran.
2 people found this helpful
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N. S. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for noobs
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2024
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Short & sweet. Does the job and great starting point for the complete noob, like me who still can't manage to start a fire without chemical fire starters, not even a metal rod, but that's my failing.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excellent book
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