Books › Survive!
Survive!
First published 2009 · 384 pages
A no-nonsense, boots-on-the-ground guide to staying alive when nature turns unforgiving.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting by a campfire with a seasoned expert who has seen it all and lived to tell the tale. The pace is brisk and purposeful, driven by a cut-to-the-chase philosophy that strips away romanticized notions of wilderness adventuring in favor of gritty, practical truths. The mood is both sobering and deeply empowering, immersing the reader in the harsh realities of extreme environments while offering the exact tools needed to endure them. The prose is direct and authoritative, yet lightened by colorful anecdotes that make the life-or-death subject matter highly entertaining. It is a perfect read for outdoor enthusiasts and pragmatic minds seeking unvarnished, real-world survival wisdom.
- Mood
- adventurous
- gritty
- urgent
- pragmatic
- Tone
- no-nonsense
- practical
- authoritative
- entertaining
- direct
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- wilderness survival · self-reliance · practical preparedness · overcoming adversity
- The writing
- Direct, anecdotal, and cut-to-the-chase, prioritizing clear instruction alongside colorful storytelling.
- The arc
- Moves from a sobering realization of nature's harsh realities to a grounded sense of empowerment and preparedness.
- Who it's for
- Outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, and anyone who wants practical, unvarnished advice on staying alive in extreme conditions.
Content notes
- animal trapping
- survival situations
- extreme environments
About the book
From the sun-scorched sands of the Kalahari to the snake-infested jungles of the Amazon, Les Stroud has made a life of surviving in the harshest — and most remote — regions on Earth.Now, the creator, producer, and host of the hit television program Survivorman transfers his decades of knowledge and experience to the pages of Survive!, a practical guide that gives everyday readers a no-nonsense look at the real world of survival.Stroud offers readers the essential skills and tactics necessary to endure in any corner of the globe, along with a wealth of insider information born of his own experiences in the outdoors and unavailable in any other book. Readers will learn:How to make a survival shelter and why a lean-to is largely a waste of time.Why survival kits are important, and why you should make your own.Where to find water and why drinking contaminated water is sometimes warranted.How to locate and trap small animals and why the notion of tracking and hunting large game is largely a pipe dream.Whether seasoned in the outdoor arts or new to adventuring, all readers will learn something from Survive!. Stroud's many colorful anecdotes and cut-to-the-chase philosophy not only make for an entertaining read, but also enhance anyone's ability to focus on the main goal when everything else has gone wrong — survival.
Description from Open Library.
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