Good survival book

[Bread is People]

Greetings fellow survivalists, as someone who has been interested in and honed a few skills in wilderness survival over the last 2 and a half years, I would definitally recomend the book SURVIVE! by Les Stroud, the former host of the show on Discovery channel called Survivorman. It is hands down the most "realist" look at the subject and the most well organized. I first thought it was some kind of gimmic or money making excuse, but it is definitely worth reading if you take this subject seriously or just like to be informed.

Just my 2 cents, anyone else read it?

[Ziptie]

I would also like to recommend the book "6 ways in, 12 ways out" organized and published by the U.S Rescue and Special Operations Group. Rock solid group of gentlemen of the highest order, and the book is a no-frills goldmine of the absolute essentials. http://usrsog.org/

Ziptie

[HCPrepper]

I just finished reading Survive by Less Stroud, trully a great read !!! Has lots of tips and keeps you well interested throughout the whole book, well put together. I would highly recommend this book be added to a collection. Got mine through Amazon Books for a mear $12.99

[Curry]

I read it back when the book came out. I thought it was a great book, lots of ideas, and humor to keep you going. This reminds me I need to go back and skim over it again. Thanks!!

[WillBrink]

I just finished reading Survive by Less Stroud, trully a great read !!! Has lots of tips and keeps you well interested throughout the whole book, well put together. I would highly recommend this book be added to a collection. Got mine through Amazon Books for a mear $12.99

What does Less have to say on firearms? Unlike some, several of his shows have him with a firearm.

[dmanflynn]

What does Less have to say on firearms? Unlike some, several of his shows have him with a firearm.

I noticed that too, one time i think he had a pump action rifle, almost like an older Winchester. I could be wrong though, its the episode where him and his friend are out there and he lets his GPS die and has to give off signal shots.

[texasrangers]

There's at least three episodes where he has a gun. One with a friend in the Canadien wilderness I believe he had a shotgun and his friend had some type of carbine - I thought it might have been a pump. When he's in the ice covered arctic he had a nice bolt gun for protection against polar bears. And in another arctic episode that was in the summer he had a shotgun. Looked like some kind of mossberg camo 12 gauge. I am definitely going to get this book. I am a huge Les Stroud fan and I'm ashamed I'd never heard of it.

[LiveFreeOrDie2111]

All of these are great books, while nothing quite compares to SERE school and first hand experience in the field, common sense is always the best guiding stone.

[ZoneOne]

Having taken many of his courses, I would highly recommend Tom Brown Jr's book "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival"

It's very informative, well laid out and you will walk away with a wealth of knowledge.

But like others have said, reading about it doesn't mean you can do it. With any of these books, you should develop your own curriculum that can help guide your training program.

[LoboTBL]

Books are essentially tools and thus can be used correctly or incorrectly. I would say that applies to all the books that have been mentioned...if you get my meaning.
Anyone who has actually ever come through an actual survival situation shares one common trait with every other person who has done so. The will to survive. They may have done several things wrong or not made the best choices along the way, but they did have the will to survive and the mental toughness to persevere.
A person can have the "end all - be all" survival book in their bag or back pocket or whatever...if that person does not have the will to do what it takes and not give up...he will die.
That said, the U.S. Army Survival manual is an exellent reference guide. I would also recommend the Foxfire series which covers more information than I can recall at the moment. A few subjects that come to mind are soapmaking, tanning hides, preserving foods, distilling alcohol and natural medicines and remedies.