Editorial Review

The bestselling book for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is.

In this digital age there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun--building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes.

The completely revised American Edition includes:

The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The Five Knots Every Boy Should Know
Stickball
Slingshots
Fossils
Building a Treehouse
Making a Bow and Arrow
Fishing (revised with US Fish)
Timers and Tripwires
Baseball's "Most Valuable Players"
Famous Battles-Including Lexington and Concord, The Alamo, and Gettysburg
Spies-Codes and Ciphers
Making a Go-Cart
Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary
Girls
Cloud Formations
The States of the U.S.
Mountains of the U.S.
Navigation
The Declaration of Independence
Skimming Stones
Making a Periscope
The Ten Commandments
Common US Trees
Timeline of American History

Reviews

My 6 year old went nuts for it., May 15, 2007
I bought this book after seeing the author on the Colbert show (or was it the Daily Show?). I loved the idea of the book and ordered it from Amazon immediately.

On arrival if found it exceeds my expectation. It reminds me a lot of the Popular Mechanics books from the 30's & 40's that I found in my grandmothers attic when I was a kid.

The style is archaic, which is part of the charm. My 6 year old son, who really isn't into "chapter books", went nuts for this book. I think this mostly had to do with the title, but as we scanned each chapter together he seemed to get more and more excited.

Before his bed time we read "coin tricks", "Girls" and he started planning how to get the badges found in the back of the book. He managed to learn the "French Drop" and proceeded to show everyone his new trick. Tomorrow he wants to hear about hunting and cooking rabbits.

My wife was a bit nervous about the book, especially after seeing the section on hunting and cooking a rabbit. But I think she liked the section on "Girls" and she realizes that this book is targeted to boys, not Moms.

It's definitely a hit. I will be reading chapters out of it to my son for some time to come. But I don't mind and will probably learn a thing or two myself.

Update:

It's more than a year later. The book is dog-eared, dirty and worn but my (now) 7 year old still reads and loves this book. I doubt there is a better review you can get from a 7 year old.

A Breath of Fresh Air, May 30, 2007
I have been thoroughly enjoying the book, as has my son and thousands of boys (and dads!) in Great Britain and the US. What is it about this book that brings such excitement to so many?

If I had to offer my opinion, I would say that the appeal of this book is that it does not ask any boy to apologize for being a boy. Our culture is infested with the demand that boys forgo their God given call to grow up to be men, largely because we have adopted an unhealthy view of just what a man is. Whether our example be found in Homer Simpson, Ray Romano or the dad on Family Guy, men are portrayed as selfish imbeciles in a large portion of the media. Women are shown to be compassionate and intelligent, and they are usually given the role of the one who fixes the problems created by men. I have no doubt that most women are compassionate and intelligent, but the common negative portrayal of men is presented far too often, and frankly I'm tired of it.

This book has a different take on what it means to be a boy, which is important because boys grow up to be men. From a biblical standpoint, men are meant to lead their families and churches by serving them. Where can you find such a concept on the television? You can't. This is yet another reason to get this book in the hands of a boy and his dad and get them outside to explore the world, whether that be an excursion in the woods or even just in the back yard. But how does this book portray a boy? What ideals are encouraged?

I'm glad you asked.

I simply cannot take this book section by section. There are instructions meant to get a boy started in tying knots, making a bow and arrow, fishing and many other activities. These are expected out of a book about being a boy. But included with such topics are other mini-chapters about the wonders of the world, grammar, historical battles, understanding latitude and longitude (something I never grasped in a classroom), the Declaration of Independence, poetry, Latin phrases, literature the Ten Commandments and also how to talk to girls.

I mention talking to girls last, not because it is the last topic, but because I would like to highlight it for a moment. The first piece of advice about girls is to listen to them. The second is to avoid a long string of nervous jokes by listening to them. I'm sure that my wife wishes I had this book as a child! After this, romance is mentioned. Buying flowers is often not a good idea if you are young, because the girl will know your parents purchased them. I wouldn't have thought of that. Anonymous valentines are a good idea, due to the suspense the girl will have trying to figure out who's eye she has caught. Vulgarity of all forms is to be avoided at all costs. Respect for girls is given the utmost priority.

Is this what is so dangerous about this book? Is it the high value the authors place upon girls or is it the very fact that they say that girls and boys are not identical? Is it the suggestion that every boy should have band-aids available for the inevitable mishap, because our bodies do heal? Or is it the way this book portrays a healthy boy in a way that expresses both a boy's natural desire for adventure and the ideal of respectfulness for others? I really can't say for sure.

If I had to pick one way that this book is considered dangerous and why it has met some opposition, I would say that it is because The Dangerous Book for Boys resonates so well with dads who can only wish such a book was available to them when they were growing up, and because their sons by and large are reveling in the contemplation of spending Sunday afternoons and long summer days with their dads, rediscovering what it means to be a boy with their father acting as the primary instructor.

I give this book my highest praise and encourage every dad to buy it for their sons. If you have a boy, you really need to get this book. If you don't have any boys, I'm sure you know somebody who does.

Pride of Ownership, May 10, 2007
Some books you hang onto because they are useful, or well written, or happy memories are associated with them. And then there are the select books that are so handsome, you keep them because of pride of ownership. THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS is a keeper in all these categories. It is so durable and well designed, it is an absolute pleasure to hold and read.

As to its actual contents, it sits at the pinnacle of nonfiction for early teen and 'tween boys, alongside The Big Book of Boy Stuff by, er, yours truly. Anyway, the chapters in DANGEROUS BOOK are a glorious, encyclopedic hodge-podge. They range from the historical ("The Golden Age of Piracy") to the esoteric ("Grinding an Italic Nib"!) to the quite daring ("Understanding Grammar").

My kudos to the Brothers Iggulden for this retro look celebrating the secrets of boyhood. And again, neither gender nor age should restrict its readership; this book looks great sitting on anyone's nightstand.

It's too dangerous!, June 13, 2007
And great for it!

It's dangerous because it brings back values from a time when personal responsibility was assumed, not assumed to be absent. Hunting with airguns is dangerous, but teaches that meat doesn't arrive on Earth wrapped in clear plastic. Anything to do with spies is dangerous, but codes and invisible inks are fun, can be used responsibly, and are an important part of history (n.b. the role of espionage in the American Revolution). Doing things with electricity like making batteries, electromagnets, and pocket lights is dangerous, but teaches some of fundements of the technologies that drive the modern world. Soccer is dangerous, I've seen kids break bones playing it, but it is good healthy fun, and the kids who broke bones openly and loudly resented having to sit out games while they recovered. Girls are dangerous in so many ways, but when treated with respect can make life better. Grammar is dangerous, especially in the hands of an attorney, but creates quite an advantage for those who master it.

All these things and more are discussed, and alternatives to XBox, Gameboy, PlayStation, etc are offered. This book is incredibly dangerous to proponents of a 'managed society' where everyone is protected from everything, and everyone is free and happy in exactly the proscribed fashion. And I'm OK with this. Because "the Dangerous Book for Boys" also encourages responsibility, manners, education, self-reliance, creativity, and a host of other values that receive lip-service but little actual support in mainstream America.

Several reviewers have expressed their displeasure with the phrase "for Boys". Get over it. Get some perspective; if this is the most important thing you can take a stand about, go visit a third world country and watch children walk half a mile for water every day. Who cares what it says on the cover? I bought it with a blond, blue-eyed, [...] girl in mind, and she loves it. If it is such a heartache to you, quit whining and write "The Dangerous Book for Girls" while my daughter reads this one.

For the rest of y'all, get this for any boy or girl of any age. This book is excellent and an investment in the future.

The Dangerous Book for Boys, June 16, 2006
I bought this book for my nine year old nephew. When the box arrived and I opened it, the appearance of this book literally took my breath away. It is a large, beautifully fabric bound book with gold leaf lettering. Very retro and charming. Looks like it could have been pulled off of a bookshelf in the 40's. As I watched my nephew thumb through the chapters I saw and felt his excitement as he found sections on fossils, baseball, knots, bows and arrows, pirates and so much more. He is very excited to try everything he found!! I'm a woman in my 40's but I want a copy for MYSELF!!! Buy this book...you'll be glad you did. Oh, and go ahead and get that extra copy for yourself while you're at it.

If only..., May 1, 2007
My mom wouldn't let me go to summer camp because she thought I would drown in a lake. Consequently, I couldn't use a power tool until I was twenty-five years old. And I still can't tie a decent knot. If only I'd had this book! Especially the chapter about girls. Absolutely crucial information for any boy and it's written by witty and learned authors. I've already bought a copy for my three-year-old son. N. Smith author of Stolen from Gypsies.

Perfect for moms of boys, April 18, 2007
As a mom of two boys (who happened to grow up in a household with three sisters and no brothers), I needed this book. Sometimes I am at a loss over what skills to teach my boys. How to tie knots, play chess, shoot marbles, skim rocks, build a go-cart...it's all in here. With diagrams and sketches, the book feels like a manual you'll return to time and time again. It even includes poems every boy should know, such as Whitman and Frost. Would make a wonderful Mother's Day or Father's Day gift for parents of boys.

A great book for bonding!, May 20, 2007
I got this book for myself [mom of a girl] because I used to be quite a tomboy as a child and my daughter seems to be heading that way too:) But, I am planning to get this for my dad for Father's Day so he can try some of the skills in this book with my younger brother. Its a great book...in an age where most kids' idea of fun is staying indoors and either being glued to the TV or playing video games, this is a timely reminder that the greatest joy in life is to exercise the mind and hands in healthy, intelligent, adventurous pursuits, preferably outdoors! The skills covered in this book are diverse in levels of difficulty, but all of them are unique and though some may seem quite dated , it is also refreshing to come across a few from my childhood days:) Highly recommended for the young and young-at-heart!And the lovely red cover with illustrations is an added bonus!

Not just for boys and their fathers!, May 16, 2007
I bought the UK version of this amazing book two years ago--and amazing it is! History, sport, battles, nature, girls, grooming, science, knots, magic tricks. . .it may *look* a bit nostalgic, but it's very, very applicable to every boy's life. . .and his mom's and his sister's, too. I loved, loved, loved this book (60 year-old-mother of a daughter here) and would give it 10 stars if allowed! Delight your boy--or girl--young or old--with this thrilling book! On my shelf right next to the Harry Potters and the Enid Blytons! ... Read more

Editorial Review

For Any Climate, in Any Situation

Newly updated to reflect the latest in survival knowledge and technology, the internationally bestselling SAS Survival Handbook is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. From basic campcraft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster, this complete course includes:

Being prepared: Understanding basic survival needs and preparing essentials, such as a pocket survival kit.

Making camp: Finding the best location, constructing the appropriate shelter, organizing camp, and creating tools.

Food: What to eat, what to avoid, where to find it, and how to prepare it.

First aid: A comprehensive course in emergency/wilderness medicine, including how to maximize survival in any climate or when injured.

Disaster survival: How to react in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters and hostile situations—and how to survive at home if all services and supplies are cut off.

Reviews

Survive- anywhere, June 18, 2009
No need for a long review here. This book was written by a professional soldier who was in the SAS, or the Special Air Service. For those not in the know, that's an elite unit of the British Army trained to carry out operations in ALL parts of the world. Eventually, the author became a survival instructor to the SAS, so you can be sure that this guy knows his stuff.

The book covers all you'd ever want to know about the essentials of surviving in climates such as: the polar region, mountains, seashores, islands, tropical regions, or even at sea. Here's few of the many topics the book covers:

-food, what you can and can't eat
-animal tracking with numerous pics
-color pics of edible plants
-pictures of traps and how to trap things
-how to handle animals you've killed for food
-how to make a camp and various shelters
-knot tying pics
-first aid
-color pics of medicinal plants
-picures of dangerous/poisonous critters
-things to have in a survival kit

A very handy resource for anybody who enjoys outdoor/wilderness activities, it's just a darn good thing to have around in case of emergencies- or even just to look at the pictures! Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem that is interfering with your outdoor activities.

Best survival guide, September 16, 2009
I own and love this book. It is a super comprehensive guide to surviving all sorts of extreme emergencies in a variety of geographic zones and climates. Plane crashes, car crashes, getting lost in the wilderness, tsunamis, earthquakes, terrorist attacks - you name it, book covers it!

The author is an authority on survival, being the former survival instructor or the British SAS special forces troops, which operate around the world, from arctic to desert zones, and from big cities to remote jungles. Tone is very down-to-earth, and straight to the point. The book is easy to read and understand and does not assume or need any prior knowledge of military and survival techniques (which is the author's background). I am a former search-and-rescue team member and trained wilderness first-aid responder, and I find the information in this book first rate.

The content is very densely concentrated, so reading it once will not make you an expert. To make the best of this book, you need to practice some of the survival techniques. The best way is probably to go camping and backpacking, but you can try a lot of them in your own backyard.

The book overemphasizes outdoors survival (what plants to eat, how to fish and catch animals), which is due to the author's background as a special forces soldier. For more on urban disaster preparedness, read Cody Lundin's book "When All Hell Breaks Loose". Unlike Cody Lundin and many American survival books, the SAS Guide is refreshingly free of political statements and sticks strictly to the topic of survival :) The SAS Guide is about surviving a relatively localized and temporary emergency (measured in days, not years), and assumes you will eventually be helped, rescued or return to civilization. If you are interested in long-term survival of a total global catastrophe (aka "survivalism"), this is not the best guide.

It is such a great book that I am planning to buy more copies, to keep in my car, take when traveling, and give to friends. Highly recommended!

This is the book to beat!!!, August 21, 2009
First, someone left a 3 star review because of illustrations. That is SO reckless that I almost feel it's got to be someone who supports the competition. The illustrations are great with great written details.

Now, I won't go into the obvious about the book because others have touched on the excellent details on survival within the book. You WILL enjoy reading this book and you WILL learn survival techniques and you WILL create yourself a survival kit as a result if you don't already have one.

However, here is one thing I actually was VERY impressed with about this book. The QUALITY of the book. The book is SOLID. The spine of the book is VERY strong and the pages are not cheap recycled type of rough paper. They are quality semi gloss type of thick pages that will likely last a WHILE under normal use.

I bought two, one for myself and one for my son. I think I'll make this a holiday/birthday gift for friends and family for a while. I want EVERYONE I care about to have this book in their life.

I got mine... did you get yours? Run, don't walk.

In need of an editor, August 4, 2010
The content of this book gets five stars for being neatly organized and helpful, however this edition is in serious need of a revision.

My first indicator was the introduction to the book. It mentions the Berlin Wall coming down in 1999. An oversight like this is inexcusable and sent up warning flags right away as to how many eyes had actually read the book from cover to cover (as I'm in the process of doing).

The text is written in a British style (SAS, of course), which will take some getting used to for US readers but isn't a big deal. That said, I've still had to re-read several passages due to poorly assembled sentences which lack proper punctuation. Has this guy ever heard of a comma? They can be a lifesaver to a reader. Again, not to be a grammar snob, but if you want to use this as a quick reference in a time of need, the last thing you want to tackle is a confusing run-on sentence. Those are my major gripes.

Best book of Survival, but..., October 27, 2009
This book is really amazing, the best in his category, but I'm really disapointed with this revision edition. The book is the same than the older version. If you had the older one don't buy this one, it's the same. I can't find significative changes in this revision.

great starter book, July 20, 2009
More than i expected, i havent seen the other books in this category to compare, but this one seems like a good buy imo. I've only read the first 4 chapters & have leared quite a few new things already. i've only camped a little when i was younger so im no expert. From skimming the pages it has decent pics on plants to avoid, eat, etc, definately not as good as a dedicated herb book, but decent enough to give u an idea what to look out for. I noticed it had a chapter on telling directions etc by the stars/moon, didnt read it yet, but random thngs like that made it a great buy for me personally.

Excellent Information, July 10, 2010
As an Eagle Scout, I decided to purchase this book as a condensed means to information when I go out camping. Though I have done more then my fair share of camping and backpacking, its extremely difficult to keep this information memorized unless you are backpacking very regularly and using this information. Its got excellent information and detailed diagrams of everything from building a shelter to typical plants that are edible or not. If you are an avid outdoor backpacker, I highly recommend this book.

Can You Survive?, March 5, 2010
Hey!

This is the book to read if you want to know how to survive high-risk, difficult situations. Chances may be good you never have to use the information in here, but it certainly can't hurt, and in the current economy, the information may come in handy in a non-survival situation.

I've read a lot of Survival Handbooks, and I like the variety of information in them, but this one is the one that I really had to have. The information goes a little deeper, and it all is laid out in a attention grabbing way. This one also hase the broadest range of subjects, attempting to cover more survival situations than most books. And it does a pretty decent job of covering them, too. However, John "Lofty" Wiseman hasn't been in the SAS for a very long time, so the modern methods they use aren't going to be in here. But it is a great reference to use on survival methods, and I intend to learn the skills they mention.

Hope that helps all you potential customers, and happy reading!

Luv ya,
Tashi :)

Covers just about everything...., April 12, 2010
This was a very good read, but not the kind of book you read and your an expert at surviving in the Artic Shelf. Excellent information, the only two areas I could see improvement on were, shelter building, and edibles. With only a few ideas on temporary shelters, I felt it kind of lacking as that situation could very well be in order if survival is threatened. Also the author's suggestion of eat and "pray" method leaves a little to be desired, but it seems to have worked for him, and he has very high credentials. Overall though, one of the most comprehensive survival books out there, but don't leave it all to one book. Supplement this guide, with shelter building, and a book solely on wilderness edibles to make yourself the most rounded survival instrument you can be. Also in regards to my opening sentence, you WILL NOT be an expert on any survival book, unless you try the techniques outlined, before you need them!!

great book., February 5, 2010
ive read several pages. im using as a reference book and highlighting things important. i was shocked that he thought of the idea that even a condom was a good tool to carry/hold water. in an emergency situation, its good to know these little things. but the book shows pictures also of things like poisonous plants or weeds and what to avoid ingesting in the woods. just so much information in this book. im keeping it in my emergency bag(for the future..lol)but i need to store it inside a ziplock bag. well worth the price paid for this book!! enjoyable reading ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Daring Book for Girls is the manual for everything that girls need to know—and that doesn't mean sewing buttonholes! Whether it's female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. But it's not just a guide to giggling at sleepovers—although that's included, of course! Whether readers consider themselves tomboys, girly-girls, or a little bit of both, this book is every girl's invitation to adventure.

Reviews

A wonderful book for young girls (or boys) - you'll love it as much as your kid!, November 9, 2007
This is the perfect book to share with your daughter/ granddaughter/that special girl you know who is a tween or young teen. It has just the right mix of articles - informative, fun, and stimulating! When the "Dangerous Book for Boys" came out I wished for a version for girls and this book is as good as the one for boys if not better.

When you first flip through its pages it will remind you of the time you were her age. You probably read a book almost like this but not quite. I say not quite as this book does a perfect balancing act between skills and general knowledge, between techniques we learned from our grandmothers and the ones that became popular later. It tells you "how to press flowers" but also "five karate moves". "Make your own quill pen" is preceded by "how to change a tire". I remember reading a book almost like this in my childhood. I dearly treasured that book till its pages were yellow and stiff into my college days. I spent many afternoons after school experimenting with the projects. I remember the bitter candy apples I made from a recipe in that book, or the quill pen with which I wrote my "secret language" notes for my friends and this book brought back those memories. With more words than illustrations, the Daring book for Girls will encourage the girl who reads it to use her imagination.

This book will appeal to the "girly-girl" in every girl with the sections like "Palm reading", "Hopscotch", "Princesses today" or "Boys"; to her sense of adventure with articles like "Going to Africa" (short section on each country), "Hiking", "Reading tide charts"; and to the "builder" in her with sections like "Building a campfire", "Tree swings", "Every girl's toolbox". There is a ton of useful information and facts in this book too for those rainy or quiet days - "from French terms of endearment" to "Queens of Ancient world" to "Women Inventors". Sports are covered too - basketball, softball, netball, bowling, playing cards and more.

My daughter was thrilled to get this book. I wasn't sure she'd like it as much as I liked my childhood book. But she began her next project "how to tie a sari" in minutes and over dinner started telling me about the women inventors in the book. We have now designated this book the "mother-daughter time" book. Each weekend, we pick up the book and try something new! What a great antidote to the "Mom, I'm bored" refrain!

Some are activities she can attempt on her own and for others like building the ultimate scooter she will need help as it requires some sawing and drilling. It is a challenge for me too as I've not really attempted to build anything from scratch before. I'm ready with my saw and drill and as excited as her to begin that project!

This book gives just the right kind of stimulation for a younger girl's (or boy's) curious mind and their thirst for new knowledge and skills. This book will also grow with the reader as it gives practical advice and even contains chapters like "Stocks and shares" and "Negotiating salaries." This book is therefore highly recommended and will make a great gift for a 7-14 year old.

Sparking Imagination, November 12, 2007
There are certain things that every girl should learn in her young life, like how to press flowers, what games to play at a slumber party, and how to put her hair up with a pencil. You know, girly things. But they also need to know things like salary negotiation, self defense with karate, and how to change a tire.

She'll get that and more in The Daring Book For Girls, by authors Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. This wonderful collection of projects, primers, and practical advice is so compelling and fun to read that I found myself browsing through it for hours after my daughter went to bed.

The letters of Abigail Adams, the history of women in the Olympics, making a lemon-powered clock... The book is packed with stimulating knowledge and activities. It's sure to stir my daughter's imagination for years to come. The authors have wisely designed the book to appeal to a wide range of ages, from 8 to 18. I'm well beyond those years, and NOT a girl, and even I'm envious of the new worlds of information that will be introduced to my daughter through these pages.

If you're the parent, or grandparent, of a girl, think twice before you spend your holiday money on some new toy or electronic gadget. The Daring Book For Girls will be the gift that gets the most attention this year.

If you have a daughter, buy this book!, November 8, 2007
I don't know what I like better -- The Daring Book for Girls or the fact that it's written by two women I greatly admire, Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz.

Written as a sequel, of sorts, to last year's The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Daring Book for Girls is a compendium of activities and information to help today's girls rediscover that there are ways to have fun besides shopping at the mall, watching Hannah Montana or IM'ing their friends.

As the mother of a seven-year-old daughter, I was thrilled when I learned that the founders of MotherTalk would be writing this book and couldn't wait to see what it would have in store.

When it arrived, my daughter and I were both very excited because it's just got so much STUFF! Where to begin? There was so much to take in after I was done ooh-ing and aah-ing over the beautiful teal cover with the sparkly silver letters (yes, that did appeal to the "girl" in me!)

How to make a lemon-powered clock (really!)? Reading the chapters on women who were pirates and spies? How to make a tree swing or check out the list of books "that will change your life?"

Aimed at the "tween" girl market, it is perfect for that age group, billing itself as the book "for every girl with an independent spirit and a nose for trouble."

If you're the parent of a daughter who could use a little nudging to take off the headphones and get a little fresh air, then this book is just what the doctor (or Santa) ordered. There are so many great craft ideas and topics to spark the imagination of a girl it's hard to know where to start.

Since the book's release, some commenters have questioned whether this type of book can really have an impact on the way our daughters are socialized today -- can we really hope that a book that is an homage to our childhoods in the 1970s will be the tonic that will drag our girls out from behind the laptops and forsake the sassy outfits?

Can it really get our girls away from the world of Libby Lu parties, Bratz Dolls, and questionable Halloween outfits?

Is it too much to take the feminist optimism we had as girls of the MS. generation and help our daughters discover that they can do "boy" things, too? I think it's imperative. At seven, my daughter is already succumbing to the phenomenon of boys having too much sway on her budding self-esteem. If a few of the activities in this book can help boost her already waning self-confidence, then I'm going to go for it.

Perhaps it is too much to expect that one book can start a new feminist wave for our daughters of the 21st Century. But if we don't start somewhere, who will?

As a parent, I can't be responsible for reclaiming the girlhoods of all the "tweens" in America by making them turn off the Disney Channel and sit down to make a quill pen or learn about Queens of the Ancient World. But I can start with one excited second-grader and I'm planning on doing just that.

What I can do is take one second-grade girl, who is chomping at the bit to dig into the activities in The Daring Book for Girls, and help her discover things she never thought she could do. And I can make sure other moms know about it, too.

fantastic book for all kinds of kids, November 13, 2007
I am a fifth grade school teacher, so I see a lot of books meant for kids who are growing up. many of these books, especially the books geared for girls tend to be very dramatic, social survival guides that delve into the social ins and outs of growing up at younger and younger ages.

This book rises above all of that in the same way that the Dangerous book for boys (also a staple in my classroom) did. It tells kids that it is OK to be kids, it is OK to have a lot of interests, from sports to science to history to literature, to enjoy life by doing.

when I discovered this book on amazon I looked at the table of contents and was delighted at what I saw; the rules of basketball, how to tie a sari, campfire songs and many more topics. I called the girls in my class over, some who are jocks, some who are girly-girls, some who are science minded, and our social butterflies. accross the board each and every girl found something to love about this book, to the extent that there was a fight over it when it arrived in our classroom.

I am convinced that if there were more books like these telling kids to be kids and live life rather than play video games or watch TV all day, the world would be a better place.

The Daring Book for Girls, January 2, 2008
I picked up this book in the store and realized it is representative of what I learned as a girl scout brownie (friendship songs, how to make bracelets, etc.). Maybe this is what girls wanted to know in the fifties, but it seems terribly silly for girls of this era. The boy version, amusing and easy to read, included intelligent and interesting information: how things work, mechanics, astronomy, herbology, entomology, how to make a treehouse, etc. I bought the boy book instead.

My recommendation: Scratch out "Boy" on the title, write "Girl" instead, and give the "Dangerous Book for Boys" to your little girl - she will get much more out it, actually learn something meaningful/useful, and enjoy herself in the process.

I know I did.

A Wonderful Book, November 5, 2007
This is not a girly book. It's not sexist or anti-male. It's a book full of fun, wonderful, clean adventures and lots of useful information for girls of all ages. And don't girls need all the help they can get? I sure wish this had been around when I was a girl.

The book begins with all the essential gear girls just have to have. Included are a swiss army knife described as a key tool for survival, a bandana to keep your head cool, rope and twine to help learn about knots, a journal (that's a big one), a hair band for girls with long hair-- duct tape, to fix almost everything, and patience--which is described in the book as a quality and not a thing.

The book tells girls to not try and be perfect. (Good for all of us.) In the face of frustration, your best tools are a few deep breaths, and remembering that you can do anything once you've practiced it two hundred times. Isn't that wonderful advice? Girls especially are sort of perfectionists. As girls, we tend to think we have to be better and never make a mistake. This books helps girls to discover they don't need to be perfect BUT that if they keep trying, they'll be great!

Highly recommended.

Highest Compliments Department, October 28, 2007
One of the highest compliments the author of a book for younger readers can get is from a parent who says, "I wish there had been a book like this when I was a kid."

My guess is that authors Buchanan and Peskowitz will hear this a fair amount from older readers who fall prey to their daughters' nightstands. Despite its sidekick status as the companion volume for the extraordinarily successful The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Daring Book for Girls more than holds its own. Like the boys' volume, this one has a great, retro design, and handsome interior layout.

But content is where the Daring Book really shines. It has terrific pacing, as the chapters alternate between activities and interesting information about history and culture. The underlying emphasis is on being active and (dare I write it?) daring. There's a can-do tone that informs Daring Book that I found really admirable... and my guess is that boys who voyage beyond its front cover will as well. Terrific work! See also The Big Book of Girl Stuff, the best book for this readership that I've ever written. :)

"Daring Girls" Lives Up To It's Title., December 1, 2007
This book celebrates the fact that you can change a tire,be good at math,play softball & still be a girl,which I think is great.So I bought it out of both curosity & admiration,(although I figured there'd be one eventually)that there is now a female equivalant of "Dangerous Book For Boys" Also,the hand-clapping songs,daisy chains & the infamous "Bloody Mary" legend brought back many fond memories for me. I just wish the book had more art projects,but perhaps in the the next book(?),they're will be. Also,the book has a slightly slapdash feel to it,one topic follows another without rhyme or reason. For example: how to make a book cover follows an article on Cleopatra,follows an article about how to deal with boys(which btw,is both sensible & age-appropriate).I feel the book should have catergories,but that's an adult P.O.V., not one of a tween girl(whom this book is definately aimed at) Also,I spotted a few typos,though my spelling isn't the greatest at times (as you can see here) OK, but I'm nit-picking. The over-all spirit of the book wins you over & definately would make a cool gift for a "daring" girl(or mother/aunt/ big sister of one:-)!

Equal to or better than the Boys' book...., November 3, 2007
... depending on whether you prefer hunting and tanning (boys) or jump-rope and karate (girls). Much of the content in the Daring Book for Girls is very like the content in the Dangerous Book for Boys, with slight variations which are nice if you happen to have both. If you are a parent wondering whether to buy this for your daughter or go with the boys' book because you think it might be better, rest assured, this one is every bit as fun, adventuresome and fascinating as the boys' book. I have a young daughter and bought the boys' book before I knew there would be a girls' one; now I have them both and side-by-side I can say this one at the very least lives up to its predecessor, and in my opinion surpasses it, although both are excellent.

There are things in this book I'd completely forgotten that I did as a girl. Remember four-square? Elastics? Daisy-chains? Friendship bracelets and hand-clap games? And there are some fascinating tidbits in here, too; did you know Julia Child was a spy before she became a famous TV chef? Who would have thought it? There's a neat section on "Vedic math" tricks, which are something I've always thought amazingly cool and useful. And another neat thing is the international flavor of the book; living in the U.S. but having grown up in New Zealand, it's a real treat to see netball included here among the ball/court games, right between basketball and korfball!!

Really, moms and dads, do your girls a favor and buy this book, it's worth every penny (for the nostalgia factor alone, hehe).

A wonderful treasury of fun knowledge and women's history., November 16, 2007
I have a daughter who considers herself to be at least two things: an intellectual and a tomboy. This book satisfied both!

Fun, useful 'how to' information such as how to build a lemon clock, how to play tetherball and how to press flowers, written in a concise, very readable way. Information about women in history is also in the book, along with the periodic table of elements and information on how to build the perfect scooter.

I think this book would appeal to anyone; boy, girl, man, woman...of any age, who just likes to learn and do new things. It's a book you can read cover to cover as an adult and both become a bit nostalgic and enlightened at the same time.

Wonderful! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in). ... Read more

Reviews

More than a hiking narative., May 10, 2000
This is much more than a travelogue of two neophyte hikers on the Appalachian Trail, and readers looking for a blow by blow account of the travails of Bill Bryson and his companion, Stephen Katz, will be disappointed. Hiking provides only a backdrop to a heartfelt discourse on the social condition of America, local history, the environment, and the complexities of friendship. The pretext for the book was Bryson's return to the United States after twenty years in Britain, and his interest in "rediscovering America" after such a lengthy absence.

The vast majority of the reviews of the book cite its hilarity (one reviewer called it "choke-on-your-coffee funny"), and indeed there are very many funny parts. However, the deeper I got into the book, I detected a strong shift in the author's sentiment from satire to deep introspection. His observations became more acute, more angry, and more individualized as his long hike constantly brings to his mind the fragile environment of the Trail, the insanity of bureacrats entrusted with the AT, and his own personal limitations.

This was my first encounter with Bill Bryson, and while I found him entertaining, a beautiful writer, and an astute observer, some readers will be put off my his sharp satiric wit. It is certain that he will offend somebody. A friend of mine, who also read the book, was very much upset by the fact that Bryson and Katz didn't hike all 2,200 miles of the Trail, and that somehow their "failure" should prevent the telling of the story. This is utter nonsense and just throws more manure onto the present dung heap that has accumulated from the participants involved in peak bagging, wilderness races, and experiential therapy groups.

Bryson and Katz at least tried to hike the entire AT, and they returned from their hike as changed men who learned many lessons about the wilderness and friendship. Towards the end of the book, the two men are talking about the hike. When Katz remarks that "we did it," Bryson reminds him that they didn't even see Mount Katahdin, much less climb it. Katz says, "Another mountain. How many do you need to see, Bryson?" I agree with Katz (and ultimately Bryson). They hiked the Appalachian Trail.

I strongly recommend it to anyone, February 7, 2000
A Walk in the Woods is a travel memoir on the Appalachian Trail, one of America's greatest hiking routes. The author, Bill Bryson lived in England for 20 years and came back to the United States with the urge to go on a long hike. Stephen Katz, an old college friend, and a former alcoholic accompanies him. Both men are out of shape, and beginners at hiking, so it is a wonder how they can endure such hardships along the trail. They had to carry a pack that contained their tents, food, water, clothes and other items. Katz and other interesting characters provide the book with much comic relief to keep the reader involved. At some points in the book I was laughing out loud. Along the journey they meet many people including Mary Ellen a slow-minded woman who follows them around, and Beulah, a fat woman with a very angry husband. The commentary about the long, rich history of the Appalachian Trail brings insight on the wilderness that we hardly know about. It also speaks for the preservation of the forestry and animals that we take for granted in the city. After reading this book I have more appreciation of the wilderness, and an interest in going hiking myself. One downside of the book was that some points in the book the author expanded the book with knowledge that made it a little less interesting, then the actual story. But I liked how Bryson went back and forth to discuss his journey and the history, creating a balance of interests. This book will offer something to any type of reader because it is funny, and contains a lot of historical information, and is interesting enough to keep the reader to keep going. But for someone who wishes to go on a hike, this is not a how to guide. It is also not an amazing adventure of two men and the great outdoors. What this book has to offer is an entertaining journey of two regular guys, who decide to go on a hike along one of the most difficult trails in the United States. I am highly recommending this book, and it will truly leave the reader entertained.

Interesting history of the trail, second half less compelling than the first., September 23, 2006
As both a Bill Bryson fan and a long distance hiker myself (although I have not done the Appalachian Trail yet) I really expected to love A Walk in the Woods. I was a little bit concerned, since when my partner handed it to me (he finished the book first) he said, "I don't think you're going to like it..." But still, I was really looking forward to reading it.

For the first half of the book, I also really did enjoy the book. I wasn't bothered by the fact that they were unprepared or out of shape. Nobody is really prepared for their first long distance hiking trip until they are a few weeks into the trail. I remember my own experience of staggering along under my overly ambitious pack. I also enjoyed that he talked honestly about the experience of hiking, and I liked the way that he interspersed history and facts about the trail with the travel writing.

The second half, however, got much less interesting. The day trips and the abortive Maine portion were actually kind of disheartening. The whole feel of the prose got sort of mean spirited. He didn't have to walk the whole trail to feel like he walked it, but I honestly would have preferred to see him expand the first half and leave the second half out completely.

There is still quite a bit of good stuff in here, particularly if you are interested in the southern part of the trail. There is also quite a bit of truth about the culture of the long distance hikers. I laughed quite a bit while I read. I guess that the complaints boiled down to not quite being as good as it could have been.

Laugh out loud funny!, January 8, 2000
Very seldom do I read anything that makes me laugh out loud. To do so more than once or twice in a single book almost never happens. With "Walk," I became almost hysterical over certain chapters - in an airport, no less, while waiting for my flight. People must have thought I was nuts! Anyway, this is the story of two middle-aged and out of shape men (Bryson and his buddy, Katz) who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. The AT is the third longest nature trail in the US, stretching from Georgia to Maine, along some incredibly rough terrain. Not all of their journey is rustic, however, as they often take a break to spend a night in the closest little town off the trail to have a shower, sleep in a "real" bed, and wash the grime from their clothes. It is during one such trip to the laundromat that Katz has a rather interesting encounter with 300 lb. Beaulah, her extra-large-sized panties, and a washing machine. Aside from the comical adventures, Bryson also has a great deal to say about the AT itself, and in particular, how much the National Parks Service needs a giant kick in the pants to help preserve these Trails.

It's not only funny, it's educational., March 19, 2007
Bill Bryson has a great sense of humor and an excellent, precise way of expressing it. My husband had just had heart surgery when I started reading this book. I was concerned that my LOL while reading A Walk in the Woods might disturb him as I sat next to his hospital bed. However, on the other hand, I thought it might expedite the healing process. He told me later he heard me laughing and it made him feel better. So, there you go, Bill, your book is good for heart patients!!

Bill and buddy, Stephen Katz, the only person to take Bill up on the offer to join him as he hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1997?, began their odyssey on March 9 (this just happened to be the day I began reading the book...2007). The laughs came early and continued throughout, though parts of the book are more history and information than comedy. I took notes in these sections.

Both Bryson and Katz were out of shape when they hit the AT, but Bill noticed his body slimming and becoming more svelte right away (one thing I looked for, but never found, was word on how the adventure affected Katz's weight and figure. I would've been interested in knowing that). The men hiked the AT in two segments and, incidentally, did not hike the entire trail, which they decided was okay. I agree. At any rate, they hiked a few weeks in pre- and early spring and again in the heat of August. While they were off the trail, Bryson took day trips to walk parts of the AT between where he and Katz left off and the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Maine they planned to hike in August. This book not only tells the tale of two men attempting to walk the 2,200 miles of the AT, but is full of history lessons, geological and geographical information, stories of lost/doomed hikers, and social intercourse (i.e., the more than rude, self-centered, and boorish hikers the boys meet on their next to last day on the trail the first time).

This book is a good companion so read it slowly, digest it thoroughly, and you will enjoy it immensely.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Nature writing and a travelogue with "oomph"!, August 18, 2007
Perhaps it was a fit of angst dealing with his own personal version of a mid-life crisis that led Bill Bryson to tackle the challenge of hiking the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail! It was certainly a solid understanding of his own personality and clear recognition of his own physical and mental limitations that prompted him to invite his friend, Stephen Katz, an overweight and out of shape recovering alcoholic with an inordinate fondness for snack foods and cream soda to accompany him on this daunting challenge. The demands of the AT ultimately proved too much for Bryson and Katz who sensibly (and with an almost relieved sense of philosophical acceptance) decided to abandon the notion of a complete through hike. But the resulting story, drawn from Bryson's daily journal of the summer's efforts, is an overwhelming success and pure joy in the reading.

"A Walk in the Woods" is an extraordinary, entertaining travelogue on both the AT - the Appalachian Trail - and the people and places of small town America that dot the trail's path along the eastern seaboard from Georgia to Maine. At the same time, it is much, much more. Bryson is scathing in his political commentary and almost enraged criticism of the ongoing state of mismanagement and the sadly misguided policies of both the Parks and Forest Services of the US government. "A Walk in the Woods" is also a deeply moving introspective examination on the nature of friendship, family, perseverance, joy and despondency. As he and Katz amble along rock strewn trails dappled with sunlight broken by the leafy forest canopy, Bryson frequently, effortlessly and almost without our even noticing the change, wanders metaphorically off the main trail and onto a side path of lightweight but nonetheless informative and educational sidebars of nature writing on an amazingly wide variety of topics. Glaciation, bears, bugs, ecology, continental drift, hypothermia, hypoxia and weather are only a few examples of the topics which he elucidates for the lay reader with his clear, concise prose.

Then there is the humour! It is perhaps an understatement to say that, in this regard, Bryson has a rare gift. He has treated his readers to laughs originating in every imaginable corner of the vast world of humour - wry sardonic wit; biting satire; slapstick; self effacement; sarcasm and insults; fear; and even extended comedy sketches worthy of stage or television. His description of the astonishingly stupid and entirely self-absorbed fellow hiker Mary Ellen who has the annoying habit of constantly clearing her sinuses with a grating honk is definitely laugh-out-loud material.

Pure entertainment and enjoyment from first page to last. I believe Bill Bryson would consider it a compliment if I suggested that "A Walk in the Woods" is the first book I've ever read with a smile on my face during every single moment of the reading. Highly recommended - even if you've never spent a single night under nylon in the woods.

Paul Weiss

Funny and informative., February 27, 2002
Bill Bryson's travel writing has influenced my personal life in no small way. His 1989 book "The Lost Continent" (which I first discovered in 1996 and have since revisited many times), documenting his (mis)adventures driving cross-country in the United States, played a significant role in my own decision to hit the road and see this fascinating nation for myself. (Coincidentally, I am currently writing this review from Iowa, Bryson's birthplace and frequent target of his signature dry wit.) Having spent the greater part of his adult life abroad in England, Bryson returned to the United States with his family several years ago, settling in a small town in New Hampshire, to rediscover the land he'd left as a youth. He has since written two books about his time spent in America, one of them being "A Walk in the Woods", Bryson's account of his experiences hiking the renowned Appalachian Trail.

Considered by many to be the Holy Grail of hiking trails in the United States, the Appalachian Trail runs approximately 2,100 miles long, stretching from Georgia to Maine and passing through 12 additional states along the way. Every year, hundreds of people attempt to walk the entire length of the trail from beginning to end, with only a small portion of them successfully completing the endeavor. Known as "thru-hikers", the majority of these aspiring individuals underestimate the sheer scope and arduousness of the undertaking. Most drop out well before the halfway point. Those who persevere are treated to extreme temperatures hot and cold, gruesomely harsh terrains, unrelenting winds and rainfall, a wide variety of wild predators, and some of the most awesomely scenic sights of natural beauty on earth.

Bryson begins his own trek along the Appalachian Trail admittedly inexperienced and somewhat out-of-shape. Accompanied by an oafish college buddy named Katz with whom he shares a decidedly odd love-hate relationship (it often feels like Katz's sole purpose in being there is so that Bryson will always have someone to make fun of), the two set off with full backpacks on what promises to be a journey filled with humor, wit, insight and adventure. Along the way they encounter other hikers (some highly eccentric in disposition), endure the hardships of bad weather, visit neighboring small towns, and cover more ground on foot in a scant few weeks than most of us will in an entire year. Eventually they end their first phase of the hike in northern Virginia and part separate ways. Bryson continues to investigate key points along the trail in short spurts over the next several months, embarking on daytrips and brief overnighters in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New England. In the last section of the book Bryson and Katz reunite to tackle the final hundred-mile stretch of the trail in Maine. Although Bryson never actually completes the entire length of the trail in true "thru-hike" fashion, he explores enough of it from enough different places to ensure that his description of the Appalachian Trial overall is valid and well-informed.

If you have read any of Bryson's previous books, you will be familiar with his penchant for digressing from the main line of action to muse on various tidbits of history, factoids and trivia. In one paragraph he'll be admiring the splendid view from a mountaintop; in the next he's providing an overview of the trail's origins. Some of this information, especially when it pertains to the ecological aspects of the Appalachian Trail, is genuinely fascinating. Bryson is also well-known for his wry and witty observations about virtually everything he encounters: from the exasperating science of shopping for hiking gear, to the shoddy upkeep of certain portions of the trail. Though not as laugh-out-loud funny as some of his other works, there are plenty of moments scattered throughout the book that will inspire a hearty chuckle. He also does an admirable job of conveying the beauty and grandeur, not to mention the less attractive elements, of the Appalachian Trail. Although you never obtain a true sense of actually "being there" from reading his descriptive passages, Bryson nevertheless provides an adequate depiction of what it must feel like to embark on this epic journey.

There is something agreeably comforting in reading a book by Bryson, who comes across as a friendly, educated, next-door-neighbor type of guy who would make a fine traveling companion. His informal, chatty writing style is ideally suited for a warm, lazy summer's afternoon sitting on the front porch with a glass of lemonade by your side. It's a pleasant, light reading experience that provides equal doses of laughter and insight. Although "A Walk in the Woods" is not particularly romantic, it is affectionate and sentimental in the right places, and may very well inspire me to someday throw on a pair of hiking boots and head off for a little 2,100-mile walk of my own.

You will LOVE this book!, November 18, 1999
Fair Warning -- do not read this book while commuting - you will be laughing so uncontrolably you will risk being committed by your fellow commuters. I have loaned this book to 3 friends - in each case, the spouse was so intrigued by the constant belly laughs that they also read the book before returning it. One friend bought copies for Christmas presents. The appeal is that universal. I dare say even those with no interest in backpacking or the Appalachian Trail would find the book highly entertaining.

Laughing out loud while I'm riding the train, April 7, 2007
I'm about 2/3 of the way through this amazing book and have to let everyone know that you need to read this one. I have been reading it during my train commute, grinning from ear to ear, and cackling out loud every few minutes.

The book alternates between a hilarous telling of a lengthy hike along the Appalachian Trail by the author and his out-of-shape buddy Stephen, and a well-researched description of the AT's construction, history, & ecology. The stories of their hiking-gear research, the author's deathly fear of bears, and their run-ins with neurotic fellow hiker Mary Ellen had me in tears.

This book ties with "Catch 22" as the funniest I've ever read, just ahead of Palahniuk's "Lullaby".

Half good read, half disappointment, August 30, 2004
If you are looking for a book that describes the experience of hiking the ENTIRE Applachian Trail (a.k.a. "the AT," per hiking lingo)in a year's time, then do NOT read this book.

Yep, you read that sentence correctly. This is NOT that kind of book.

Knowing this one important fact in advance (as the book jacket copy does not disclose this), then you won't be disappointed as I was when I hit the point, midway through the book, when Bryson and Katz, a friend from high school days who decides to accompany Bryson on the AT, make the decision to stop at Front Royal, Virginia, part ways for a few months, and then resume the hike later that same year in Maine's Hundred Miles Wilderness. (They don't even bother to hike the entire segment from the start of the AT to Front Royal, getting into a cab at one point to take them further along the trail.)

The first half of the book is incredibly funny and educational as Bryson prepares for the hike and begins to learn about the history of the AT. He also begins to face the truth of what it means to make this type of journey. Hiking the entire AT in a year is, after all, not your typical Sunday afternoon hike or 3-day backpacking holiday in the Sierra Mountain range. The piece on the dangers of bears is especially fine writing, and places the issue of bears in the larger context of the wilderness lands that surround us, even in large urban centers. Bryson skillfully weaves current events, history, and anecdotes about the AT.

However, the quality of the book suffers once Bryson and Katz finish the first part of their great adventure. Bryson's writing almost mirrors the disappointment he must have felt, knowing he wasn't going to finish the trail but still had to complete the writing of this book. The writing in the second half is sketchy and almost haphazard, seemingly written in bits and pieces that lack the loving flow, attention to detail, and story-telling that mark the first half of the book.

This is my first book by Bryson, and I may pick up another of his books, although I'll probably borrow it from the library rather than buy it. "A Walk in the Woods" is probably best saved for readers who already know Bryson's work from other books and are already-won fans of his writing style. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told -- Aron Ralston's searing account of his six days trapped in one of the most remote spots in America, and how one inspired act of bravery brought him home.

It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him.

It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall.

And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that.

What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories. ... Read more

Reviews

Compelling, riveting tale of survival and human strength
I agree with the last reviewer. The fact that Aron Ralston used poor judgment, i.e. hiking alone and not telling anyone where he was, only makes his story more compelling. Hasn't everyone made a huge mistake that leads to a painful, regretful plight?
Calling the media sensationalistic,in this instance, is just plain silly--amputing one's arm in order to save one's life IS a sensational, highly unusual event. I don't think the media or Aron is making it anything more than what it was. The charge that Aron is self-promoting is just as ridiculous. After you read the book, you will see that Ralston is a humble person with great integrity and strength. He is simply telling his own, true, unbelievable story. Bottomline, this book is incredibly well-written, moving and not to be missed.

Must-read literature
Aron's story is intelligent, sincere, warm and at many times, funny. As amazing as the story of his ordeal is, what is nearly as amazing is that something this well-written was created by the person it involved, not a ghost writer. It is nothing short of fine literature, not to mention an obviously compelling story.

Aron inspires us all. He shows us that a motivated person can save himself, and that the force of life can beat unbelievable odds against the force of death. ... Read more

Editorial Review

THE “EXTRAORDINARY” (Booklist) #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER—THE “HARROWING” (The Washington Post) SURVIVOR’S MEMOIR YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

Aron Ralston, an experienced twenty-seven-year-old outdoorsman, was on a day’s solitary hike through a remote and narrow Utah canyon when he dislodged an eight-hundred- pound boulder that crushed his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. Emerging from the searing pain, Aron found himself completely stuck. No one knew where he was; no one was coming to rescue him. With scant water and food, and a cheap pocketknife his only tool, he eliminated his options one by one. On the fifth night, wracked by delirium and uncontrollable shivers, Aron scratched his epitaph into the rock wall, certain he would not see daylight.

Yet with the new morning came an epiphany: if he could use the rock’s vise-like hold to break his arm bones, his blunted pocketknife could serve as a surgeon’s blade. . . . ... Read more

Reviews

one of the best books i've read., December 17, 2010
I'm not sure who these reviewers are who have such pity for Aron Ralston, or who think he's a "dumbf--k" for his risk-taking, or who think he hasnt learned something of crucial importance from his experience at Blue John Canyon. Either they missed the point of this incredible story, or I did. Given how deeply this book touched me, I'd say it's a safe bet that it wasnt me that missed the point.

The story of his saga in the canyon is retold in this book in often excruciating detail, to the point where I sometimes found my hands clenching, my heart pounding, my eyes welling with tears as he reminisced, hallucinated, struggled with things that seem to me the very core of being human - in particular, discovering a greater appreciation for the people we love.

I would recommend this book to all but maybe the most squeamish of individuals, and even then I would suggest sucking it up and reading it anyway. This story is inspiring in so many ways. Totally worth reading.

Aron, if you're reading these reviews....thank you. Your suffering was not in vain, my friend. And i thank you for sharing it with all of us.

A Fabulous Compendium of Adventure Stories, December 14, 2010
This book was well written and a great read. I was delighted by the central story's backdrop of numerous other contrasting adventures Mr. Ralston experienced scaling mountains in the wild on his own - in the winter. I was wowed by the unexpected depth and breadth of his numerous solo expedition experiences. I particularly enjoyed the bear-stalking story from the Tetons.

Mr. Ralston is a person singularly intent on achieving his goals despite any extenuating circumstances. And he pays for his myopia - dearly. The numerous messages to readers are self-evident within the storylines of his tales: leave your food accessible, get stalked by a bear; lead your friends down a chute with questionable snowpack stability, almost kill one of them; canyoneer in a remote area without notifying anyone of your whereabouts, lose an arm. One thing I think we can all admire about Mr. Ralston is his relentless (albeit at times thoroughly reckless) pursuit of high adventure in the great outdoors, a sentiment many of us stubbornly harbor in our modernized cyberspace world.

Thank you for your stories, Mr. Ralston.

Only 12 hours to read this good book!, November 22, 2010
Aron Ralston is a gifted writer and a very adept and prolific climber/mountaineer/canyon explorer.
It was impossible to put this book down, once I got my reading underway. Ralston alternates between his BlueJohn Canyon mishap, and his vast prior experiences in the wild. There are many stories of Ralston being out in the wilderness and he is careful to include all sorts of details. Sometimes - if you were to ask my opinion, he includes way too many technical details ... not every person reading this exciting book will appreciate all the dry techie details but it's doable.
He does include a special mountaineering glossary in the rear of the book, which is very handy.

What I was interested in most however, was understanding the inner psyche of Aron - I wanted to understand the mental process he had to undergo in order to sever his right forearm....once he was trapped deep within a slot canyon, with no chance of somebody coming along to help. He being right-handed, his right hand was the more valuable of the two hands he could have lost.
Fate dealt him this hand, and with great stamina and stoicism, he had to do the deed.
And he had to do it with a very dull knife - which was a gift given to him by his own mother. So, on one hand - she should have splurged and bought him a top of the line knife, not a cheapie.
But on the other hand, had she not have given him this cheapie knife, he would have died at the hand of the rock. So it is seen that his mother handed him back his life - during a very dark hour of choosing.
The woman who birthed him 27 years earlier was the same woman who inadvertently handed him back his life, when it hung by a fragile balance. Oh, the irony of it all!

Nurses would attempt to understand his psyche by assigning him a self-mutilation nursing diagnosis, as approved by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Assocation of America.
Self mutilation related to right hand pinned by 800 pound (immobile) boulder while canyoneering, as evidenced by (self) amputation of right distal forearm.
The goal would be that he would not place himself in any other similar area of risk ever again - but we all know that Mr. Ralston is out there still; engaging full-heartedly in mountain climbing and whatnot. The question is, is he full-hearty or fool-hearty? The jury's still out on that one.

I am glad that Mr. Ralston survived this terrible ordeal. Why he didn't join up with his two angel friends of Blue John Canyon, Meghan and Kristi, when they met on the trail earlier on that fateful day - I will never understand - but I do beleive they were sent there by God to intervene with Ralston, but he stubbornly clung to his lonely pursuits.
I guess all things happen for a reason, but I fail to find any such reason to justify the sacrifical offering of ones' right hand?
The price was too high.

I just feel so sorry for the man, but he's alive and well and he's loving his life, so that's really the most important thing of all.

I hope he does all he can to protect the rest of his 3 surviving extremeties.

I highly recommend this interesting book; I also saw the movie, 127 Hours and I highly enjoyed the visual journey of the beautiful, otherworldly Utah Canyon Wildnerness. The red rocks are so gorgeous, and their spooky names add a frightful dimension to the experience of being out there in the desolute rock valley. The ancient maroon-colored pictographs etched on 300 foot-tall canyon walls add to the mystery of ancient peoples who once inhabited this desolate region. And to think that the 800 pound chokstone rock was around to silently witness all of that...but it remains to this day - motionless and aphasic.

Both versions of Ralstons's story are excellent stories - the book is able to explain vastly more vital information in it than the movie. I love both equally because they are unique ways to spin the yarn.

I wish Mr. Ralston and his family all the best.
Thank you, Mr. Ralston - for sharing your story and hopefully many young men will hear it and take precautions and tell someone WHERE they are headed before they leave the house, tell them WHEN they will be back and WHO they are going with. Most importantly, it's always best to hike with buddy or 3 or 4. Hiking solo is really asking for trouble, so - take a friend, people!!!!
Take a friend, take alot of food and water, and remember to pack that Swiss Army Knife in your pocket!!!
Guess what my 2 sons are getting in their stockings this Christmas? SWISS ARMY KNIVES!!!! Yes!
That's the most popular gift under the tree this year. Merry Christmas to all!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reminiscent in both spirit and design of the beloved Whole Earth Catalog, Country Wisdom & Know-How is an unprecedented collection of information on nearly 200 individual topics of country and self-sustained living. Compiled from the information in Storey Publishing's landmark series of "Country Wisdom Bulletins," this book is the most thorough and reliable volume of its kind. Organized by general topic including animals, cooking, crafts, gardening, health and well-being, and home, it is further broken down to cover dozens of specifics from "Building Chicken Coops" to "Making Cheese, Butter, and Yogurt" to "Improving Your Soil" to "Restoring Hardwood Floors." Nearly 1,000 black-and-white illustrations and photographs run throughout and fascinating projects and trusted advice crowd every page. ... Read more

Reviews

Very interesting, very thorough, great reference, April 30, 2005
If you could gather up the wisdom of the many generations of farmers, ranchers, outdoorsmen, homesteaders, and mountain-men and put it into a book you would end up with a book like this. While this is not as thorough as the multi-volume sets like the older Foxfire series, it is one of the most complete single-volume works available. The text is small in order to cram all the information into this oversized almost 500 page book but it is still readable and very interesting. The book is divided into the six major sections of animals, cooking, crafts, gardening, health and well-being, and home. Each of these major divisions is subdivided into multiple more detailed sections. For example, the animals section includes information on attracting desirable animals such as humming birds, building bird shelters, feeding birds while preventing squirrels from robbing the feeder, getting rid of problem animals, taking care of your pets, herbal treatments for dog problems, rabbit husbandry, horsemanship, raising chickens and ducks, beekeeping, and butchering. Each section is similarly detailed with the gardening section being particularly large. Country Wisdom and Know-How is an indispensable reference volume for anyone interested in country living and is highly recommended.

Full of Fascinating Information, April 14, 2006
This is an odd book for someone to buy that lives in a major metropolitan area. However, if you are interested in how things used to be done, and/or are looking for more control over the products that affect your family this is an interesting read.

PROS:
1. Nice collection of feline information. From building a cat tree, to giving your cat pills, and teaching your cat tricks.
2. Very detailed information on gardening.
3. How to make homemade candy including salt-water taffy. Who knew?
4. Significant section on Preserving, pickling, canning and distilling.
5. Natural Home Remedies for many common ailments.

CONS:
1. The print is very, very, very small. Expect to use reading glasses.
2. I would have preferred a hardback, but that wasn't an option.

Overall, a highly recommend for those that are lacking in how to do things that our parents and grandparents took for granted.

Great book - Text is sooo small, December 28, 2004
I got this for xmas 04. I have looked at a few subjects and the amount and depth of facts on so many subjects is very impressive. 500 pages and the book is huge. The font/type size is really small which adds to the size of the info but it is really kind of small to read. Its a good thing Im nearsighted..
I read about raising ducks. It was so much info - very interesting and complete.
Recently I bought Readers Digest Back To Basics at a library book sale. It is also really good although maybe not as in depth it is really good and the illustrations are better. I like both books.

Great Info but Greatly Disappointing Book, March 9, 2008
A huge compendium of information from animal husbandry to construction and crafts to gardening...even how to recipes. That's the good news. I have great admiration for Storey Books and own many of their products. This book, however, is not up to par with their other products.

The publishing (not by Storey itself) leaves much to be desired. I'm surprised Storey put their name to it. I'd have gladly paid triple the price for a better quality soft-cover or hard-cover books with good quality pages and larger print...even if in several volumes. In fact, that's exactly what Storey should do with this and the similar "Survival Wisdom" book. They would be great hits and huge sellers. So what if it's a collection all in one book. The brown paper cover and lighter-than-newsprint pages require extremely delicate handling, and the tiny print is almost painful to read.

Much, if not all, of this book's contents are from the Storey "Country Wisdom Bulletin" series. It would ceratinly cost more, but a set of the bulletins may be the better option.

Overall, I'm disappointed. Regardless how potentially useful the information in its pages, this book is not a prudent buy.

This book is responsible for me moving!, March 28, 2008
Our copy of Country Wisdom & Know-How is very worn and tattered but still remains the focal point of our coffee table.
I discovered this book at a Barnes & Noble while living in the city. Was attracted to it because of it's paper-bag-like cover. Even though I lived in the middle of a city, in an apartment, I bought it anyway. My wife and I became hooked! Fell in love with the idea of having a hobby farm because of this book and packed up and moved to the country.
Everything you could think of is stuffed into this book, from Beekeeping to butchering chickens to building a compost bin. The book it's self is huge, but the print is very small. The "organic" looking cover doesn't last long. But the material inside is awesome.
Since this book, my wife and I have started a small side business keeping honeybees and selling our honey at farmers markets. We also enjoy making pickles, canning, raising chickens, and watching our daughter grow up in a world much richer than what we had in the city.
Highly recommend this book for any city dweller interested in starting a life in the country. It's a reference you'll never live without!

Good Book, Small Print, September 11, 2007
I agree with a lot of the reviewers that the print is small. But this book is packed with tons of info about country living. After having lived in the city for years we now live in the country and have found a lot of helpful hints. It's divided quite well and particular topics are easy to locate.

A mixed bag, September 14, 2009
I originally intended to leave a scathing review, but held off until I was in a better mood. There is a lot of good information in this book - printed in tiny text on very large pages. This is not a problem for my 20/10 vision, but may be an issue for some. I really like the info about cheese and yogurt making. The gardening and animal sections are good solid starting points although leaning a little more towards conventional methods. There are lots of good recipes. (Perhaps a few too many.)

My problem is that in between the good information, there are a lot of perfectly useless topics such as training your cat, feeding birds, stenciling, busy-work crafts, etc. These are not awful subjects to read about, but this text devotes way too much time to such superfluous pursuits. Before you think I'm cold-hearted, consider the fact that there is 3 times as much material about feeding birds than there is on raising chickens. Then consider the title of the book and you tell me...

Great if you are looking for a overview of many subjects to get started with.

Great resource - very small print, March 12, 2007
This book is filled with a lot of information and I believe a great resource. It includes a great deal of details on all topics listed. This book was a present for my father who has retired and working to "live off the land". He was very impressed.
The only draw back is the small print -

Even my grandma was amazed, April 27, 2007
This book is filled from cover to cover with great information on how to do things yourself. I love learning about how to do things the old-fashioned way. With modern technology so easy to crash, I feel safer knowing that I can survive on my knowledge a little better after having this book. Some of the ideas my grandma could even remember doing with her grandma. There is something to say about the strength of time honored tradition.

Good Content, Bad Packaging, January 7, 2010
I am sure that the information in this book is excellent, as I have read other Storey guides before and found them very helpful. However, when the other reviewers comment on the size of the font and the quality of the paper, they have a very legitimate complaint. The font is miniscule, and the paper is thin and flimsy. Also, the large size of the book makes it difficult to pick up and flip through. As someone interested in the aesthetics of a book as well as the content, I would have to say this is a very poor design. I would rather pay more and get a book I could read more easily. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The ultimate global game revealed!

The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Geocaching, Second Edition is a comprehensive, yet entertaining and easy-to-understand book for getting started and having fun with geocaching-the high-tech version of hide-and-seek for global positioning system (GPS) users. In this edition, two new tools of the game-Waymarking and Wherigo-are included.

• The Geocaching website, which began operating in 2000 and is owned by Groundspeak, Inc., is the first and currently the largest website devoted to Geocaching
• Today, well over 800,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the pastime
• Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica
... Read more

Reviews

Great book about geocaching, July 4, 2009
Tells everything you need to know about geocaching. The "Complete Idiot's Guide" series is usually very well written, and this title is no exception. Written by the editors and staff of [...], the people who started the whole geocaching craze in the first place--who better to write a book about the subject? Well, ok, if they couldn't write, then they might not do a great job, but I think that the book is very well written and organized. It probably contains more information then you want; I skipped over some of the map stuff, but I know where to look if I ever need to find an exact GPS coordinate on a paper map. The chapter "Choosing a GPS for Geocaching" actually did help me decide which GPS to buy, the chapter "Geocaching Tips and Tricks" gives good advice from people who know what they are talking about, and the "Resource Directory" points you to lots of websites that cover every aspect of the game. Very comprehensive, you won't be dissapointed.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Geocaching Second Edition, October 11, 2009
This book gives a simplistic, direct and user-friendly guide to people who are interested in the relatively new sport of geocaching. It is written in such a way that one is keen to go out and try it, given the understanding of how it came about, the knowledge of who is involved, and the feeling of outdoor freedom that supports the environment in its pursuit. Also, knowing that there is a world-wide interest and support group to join in with, or that you can be as individual as you like with this sport, is refreshing, and this is reflected throughout the book.

Learning geocaching, April 2, 2010
For someone starting out geocaching this is a must have. It gives the rules and teachs you the lingo. A must have!

A Good Start If Wanting To Learn Geocaching, May 17, 2010
Being that I've been geocaching 5+ years. A lot has changed thru the sport of geocaching, somethings were removed and some new things added. This book explains a lot of it. A good book to give for yourself or to the geocacher in your life.

Disappointed, September 5, 2010
I have always found books in the "Complete Idiots" series to be extremely helpful. This one is the only exception. One of the earlier reviewers said the book probably contains more information than you want and I agree with that. I found that the book contains a lot of technical details about GPS technology and geocaching that are interesting, but not useful to a beginning geocacher. I expected the book to be like other "Complete Idiot" books and be targeted at the beginner and I found little practical information for a beginning geocacher. What I expected to find is much more practical advice about finding caches, like examples of places caches are hidden, what a geocache container looks like and how to get advice from other geocachers when you are stuck. Pictures of typical geocaches would have been helpful. Pictures of containers used for geocaches like bison tubes, film cannisters and magnetized containers would also be helpful. The cloverleaf technique on page 87 is interesting, but so far I have not gotten it to give me any better accuracy. The chapter on selecting a GPS Receiver was too generic for me to select a specific unit, but it did give some good ideas to think about. Because units change so frequently, it will probably always be impossible to have any more than generic advice in this chapter.

I gave the book a rating of 2, because while it gave interesting ideas to think about, I just did not find it to be practical enough for a beginner. It frustrated me because the beginning information I need, is not in the book. This is where I expected to find it. I would suggest this book to someone who is interested in an overall look at geocaching or someone who wants more details about it, but not a beginner who is looking for tips that will help them be successful quickly. Normally, in "Complete Idiots" books I find a good bit of information to make beginners successful, but not in this one.

Very helpful and informative, November 24, 2009
We are just getting started geocaching and this book was very helpful and informative. I would definitely recommend this book for a newcomer to geocaching.

Geo book, November 30, 2010
The book is ok. Most of the info is available of the geocaching site. However here its in one ez to read book. Geo.

Good for beginners, July 14, 2010
I bought this along with the eTrex Venture GPS. I have been geocacheing only a few months and found this book explained everything that I needed to know to continue and enhance the experience of geocaching. I recommend this book to all new geocachers as well as those who have been at it a while. You just might learn something ou didn't already know.
This book offers so much more info than what I had found on the internet, even on the geocache.com site handled by the same folks who worte this book.

Great Guide, February 3, 2010
This is a great guide. It is written by the people who started geocaching. This is a great "sport" and easily explained in this book. Great fun for kids and families too.

Good start guide to the world of Geocaching, January 26, 2010
We bought this item for a family member who loves the outdoors and has not experienced geocaching. I thumbed through the book and found it to be just what we were hoping it would be, a good beginners guide. He and his family have started geocaching and found the book helpful. I recommend this book and geocaching to everyone. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling phenomenon The Daring Book for Girls is an even more daring guide to everything from making a raft to learning how to play football to the art of the Japanese Tea ceremony. This second volume, with all new original material, promises to be even more of a daring adventure than the first. Girls will learn how to surf, get horseback riding tips, make a labyrinth, find out about April Fool’s Day history and pranks, how to organize a croquet tournament, find out about cowgirls, the Nobel Prize, being a detective and much more! Just as packed with creative and exciting material as the original, but twice as fun, this book will be beloved by all Daring fans everywhere!

Reviews

A Treasure, & an Antidote, June 11, 2009

Honestly, I want to hand this book to every girl I know, and the boys as well (pink typeface and Girl label be damned, this book is a powder keg of information and ideas for any kid). I am pleased that it covers so many topics I want my kids to know well, e.g., batik techniques and history (p.99), commonly confused words like imply and infer (p. 141), and the specifics of quality private eye work (p. 177).

What I truly appreciate, and what makes the Daring books transcend the How To label, is the activities' historical and often rebellious context. Why should our kids want to know how to waltz (p. 78)? How about because it was considered scandalous -- the dancing partners touched! And vulgar, forbidden -- it was easy to learn and didn't require a dance master!

Mostly, I am dazzled by the amount of good, hard, enticingly written information amassed in the Double Daring book. I want kids to know everything in it. I want them all to know exactly who Eleanor of Aquitaine was, and how startling her long, accomplished, independent life was compared to most women of her era. I want them to know the fundamentals of rhetoric, how to make a raft, the story of Ada Lovelace, how to join the circus, how to say thank you in scores of languages, how to make snowglobes, how to conduct an orchestra, and how to make rope ladders.

The Double Daring book is buoyed by positivity, and focuses on cultivating competence, independence, willingness to experiment, and open-ended fun. It provides multiple short biographies of women whose lives exemplified these attitudes. These role models are an antidote to heavily-marketed (and in some cases marketing-originated) books like The Clique series, which my daughter and her friends crave, and in which junior high-aged girls live lives of insecurity, negativity, and cruelty, while obsessing about label-spangled fashion, unrealistic body images, and social machinations. Ptui.

If you want your girls to value knowledge and abilities like they do store-bought items, get them The Double Daring Book for Girls. I truly believe it has the power to inspire and edify any child with a curious mind, while simultaneously countering media-induced materialism. It is a treasure.

Everything you forgot that you needed to know -- and more!, July 6, 2009
How can you not like a book that tells you how to dye your hair with Kool-Aid, how to make a lava lamp, how to perform a Japanese Tea Ceremony, what the meaning of courage is, how to catch a fish, how to run a magazine, how to be a private eye, how to become President of the United States, all about the Underground Railroad, how to dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe, how to shoot pool, how to say no (and how to say yes), and -- for pete's sake -- how to run away and join the circus. And that's less than 10% of the topics in the book. The information in here is terribly important, it is positively invaluable lore and instruction.

I defy anyone to pick up this book and tell me that they made it through reading the Table of Contents without smiling, reminiscing, and also being intrigued. It's a seemingly random collection of really neat stuff that you find you are thrilled someone had the time, energy and brains to actually document. It's the stuff that's told around the campfires, discussed over dinner tables, and taught over sidewalk chalk in the driveway.

Get it for your daughter, get it for your niece, or get it for yourself. It makes a wonderful addition to any girl's book collection, and when you give it was a gift, you will know that you've struck gold.

Awesome book, May 22, 2009
Rarely does a book come along that makes me wish I were a kid again. This book by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz does just that. I absolutely loved The Double-Daring Book for Girls.

Chock full of daring information, ideas and stories, this beautiful hardback would have occupied me for at least a whole summer when I was a kid. From "How to Paint a Room" to "Putting on a Show" to making your own "Worry Dolls," I would have disappeared into the daring world of ideas and instructions for putting those ideas into action.

I am thrilled that my six-year old daughter will have access to this book. It's just the antidote to video games that we need in our family.

A great "Go To" book about everything!, November 23, 2009
There are plenty of nice reviews for this book already on Amazon, so there isn't alot more to say except *Buy This Book*, you wont be sorry! My 16 year old daughter very rarely has the time or inclination to read, and she loves this book! I started flipping through it and I found myself REALLY enjoying myself and learning about things I had forgot about or never knew! Its a really great book!

Road-testing the Japanese Wrap, May 29, 2009
As a fan of the first "daring" book (my neice ate it up as a Christmas present) I took two minutes to learn one of the "DOuble-Daring" activities to test its usefulness. I chose the art of Furoshiki, in which you wrap up various objects in a simple square cloth. Specifically, I tried the two-book carry wrap, which seems appropriate for Amazon (and for me, a voracious reader).
Results are here, at my blog [...]

I Double-Dog Dare You, May 23, 2009
What can we learn from this? Teach your girls how to play pool early (page 194 in The Double Daring Book for Girls), so they can hone their skills and put the other suburban moms to shame someday.

Check out the Daring Book for Girls web site for more info on these truly fun and uncommonly intellectually stimulating books. I'm going to get back to boning up on my two-letter Scrabble words (page 34) before my daughter and I review what to do if we're caught in quicksand (page 83) and she figures out the steps to take to become President of the United States of America (page 153).

http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/juggling_life/2009/05/i-double-dog-dare-you.html

fun stuff to do together!, May 21, 2009
This book is an encyclopedia of fun! The directions are simple and clear, the materials are not complicated, and the illustrations are colorful sketches of girls doing everything fun. It's got a multicultural twist too, so it can appeal to anyone. Black, brown, tan and ivory girls are playing lacrosse, hoola hoops, football, cards and cricket together.

Up-to-date yet old-fashioned adventures!, April 17, 2009
My daughters have been poring over this book ever since it came in the mail a few days ago. My older daughter received the first book for Christmas, and at first glance wasn't too impressed. But I knew what would happen... and sure enough, it did! A few days later she came carrying it into me with her fingers in several pages. "Mom, did you see what is in this book?! I had no idea that's what this was!!"

So when the sequel came in the mail this week, she immediately nabbed it! She likes the cover colors better on this one... and the fact that it's all-new information. She's already been plotting out all the things she wants to try this summer! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In 2003 David Miller, a 41 year-old engineer, quit his job to backpack 2172 miles from Georgia to Maine. His story is told here in Awol on the Appalachian Trail, an outstanding contemporary account of hiking on the A.T. It provides a vivid description of the Appalachian Mountains, the small towns threaded together by the trail, and people met along the way. Abundant photographs complement the book's exacting prose. This book puts the reader into the shoes of the long distance hiker, and draws parallels between lessons learned on the trail and challenges of everyday experience. It is entertaining and funny, insightful and informative. It is about liberation, motivation and perseverance. This book is for anyone who has ever wanted to break free from routine, anyone with a desire for adventure. ... Read more

Reviews

I've read many maybe most of AT Trail books out there...., June 11, 2006
and have found this to be one of the best among them. Strong writing and accounting from all of the parts of the trail make it a great book for those armchair AT Hikers like myself. It is a nice mix of everyday life and what it takes on the trail, trail relationships (some good, some bad), and various observations on life and the trail. What makes it all that more surprising is it is a Self-Published book. It is definitely worthy of a more tangible publishing house.
I have read other books that generalize large parts of the trail and spend more time on the spiritual, philosophical part of why they are doing the trail but David Miller does not make this a predominant part of the book. Additionally I appreciated hearing about parts of the trail that most books seem to skip and it is a timely account from the year 2003.

I also recommend Mic Lowther's book, "Walking North" for another nice combination of trail accountability and philosophy. Bill Schuettes "White Blaze Fever" is good for a great "nuts and bolts" account of the trail.

Required reading, September 11, 2006
'Awol on the Appalachian Trail' is, quite simply, a wonderful book from start to finish. I have to say that it is one of the most enjoyable, honest, and inspiring accounts that I have read in a long time. This is the best book on the AT that I have yet found.

David Miller / Awol describes his thru-hike on the trail from Georgia to Maine in vivid detail; you really do feel like you are on the trail with him, sharing the highs and lows of the challenge. The conditions of the hike, the fascinating people that he met, the personal and physical challenges, and the gorgeous scenery are all poured into the pages for the reader to soak in.

Although I have not hiked the trail myself, I imagine that this book is as close to doing it yourself as it comes. His ability to narrate the trials and tribulations without downplaying or changing the finer details was appreciated, especially for someone like myself who aspires to one day rise to the challenge of the AT.

The companion web site is fantastic, putting the book in perspective with a wide array of dazzling photos. I found myself referencing them many times as I read new sections of the book.

This book inspired me to take the challenge of hiking the AT and change my life. How many times can a book do that?

Final thoughts -- highly recommended. 5 stars.

Cubicle dweller finds freedom on the Appalachian Trail, February 26, 2007
In 2003 David Miller is 41 with a wife and three young daughters. He rejects his computer programming job, and with the consent of his family, starts up the AT. Thus the title.

Near the midpoint of the story, there is a quote: "too much hard work, too much pain, too much time away from my family ..." but he continues. This is a success story. Though he does not say so, David is one of the stronger AT thru-hikers, big miles, day after day. All the usual injuries occur, but these are endured, rather than used as a reason to leave the trail. There is a community of hikers, and the sharing of intense experiences day after day is almost addictive

The reader begins to get a feel for the rituals of shelters and in trail towns. After reading the book, a potential AT hiker should feel much more comfortable with what they are going to encounter. As I read the book, I kept visualizing the AT trails vs the ones I have hiked in California and in Europe - the AT seems much more difficult, though you have more frequent opportunities to get off the trail.

The overall tone of the book is strongly positive. That's a little difficult to explain, since there is a lot about hardship, but trust me, you will understand when you read it.

I recommend this to any long distance hiker, and particularly to someone planning to walk the Appalachian Trail.

Spot On, September 1, 2006
I thru-hiked the AT myself in '02 and can tell you this book does a great job of relaying what the experience is all about. David does a great job of balancing his account without getting too whimsical or too grounded. If your looking for an honest account of the rewards and hardships that one gets when they drop out of society for months and hike over 2000 miles, then you've found your book.

Wish it didn't have to end..., March 27, 2007
I've read many AT related books during my preperations to thru-hike the AT. This one is easily one of my favorites! David seems to fill the void between books that are all about the trials and tribulations of the trail and those that are like reading a stereo diagram. He brings the trail alive for any reader to experience. Little hints about water, conditions, health, and of course FOOD. The details are mixed with just enough "from the heart" moments that I found myself dissappointed the trip was over because I was enjoying his hike so much. It made me want to leave for the trail yesterday. I would most certainly call this a must read.

Stepping Out Without Skipping Out, February 18, 2007
To read this story is to live a vicarious adventure. Pick up the book, and boom, you're there. You feel the mist in your face, the cold mountain air in the morning, the sights and sounds of the wilderness, the rough, uneven terrain over root and rock, the smell of plants and earth, the taste of spring water, the setting sun chucking its final spears of the day into pastel clouds on the horizon, the taste of camp food, the familiar smell of sleeping bags and drying socks, and the weariness of body that imparts a sound sleep (or not).

At times you're a solitary soul traversing the length of the Colonies from South to North, alone but for the company of your thoughts, and the family back home that is pulling for you, waiting for you, loving you from afar. Other times you feel the comraderie of intersecting lives on the same trek, and the shared experiences along your way. "Oases of civilization" dot the journey, replete with many ordinary and some strange characters, and urban adventures that stand in stark contrast to the life that lies just beyond the town, where the trail picks up and nature reigns again.

The book is this and more. You finish the book and the pervasive thought that transcends even the wonderful story, the description of Pop Tarts surviving a nasty fall, the love of nature and humanity, and the overpowering sense of accomplishment but not wanting it to end, is the thought that this was an ordinary person stepping out without skipping out. This thought that a regular person with a regular life and responsibilities can accomplish this extraordinary thing, starting with resolve and a few unsure baby steps, is a thought that lingers long after the book is back on the shelf. This thought is like a small voice telling you that he did it and I can do it, too. It's not about hiking the Appalachian Trail any more, even though it could be. It's about taking chances in life and realizing that the biggest chance we take is failing to take a chance, failing to live and do things that really are possible, that are worth doing.

Inspirational Read!!, July 22, 2006
A fantastic in depth examination of physical and mental survival under the most demanding tests offered the common person in our modern age.

David (Awol) had me watery eyed at the very beginning when he said good-bye to his family to begin his thru-hike of the AT, then once again as he helped his youngest daughter finish the final climb with him. From that point on he had me walking invisibly right beside him for the rest of his 146 day ordeal. His accounting of injuries, the people he met along the way and the trail itself made me feel like I too was thru-hiking from Georgia to Maine. His well written accounts of his experiences, both physical and mental, inspired me to do better in my own daily life routines.

Most of us will never hike the AT, many will never see any part of it, but reading this book and enjoying as I did will sufficiently fulfill one's inner desire to thru-hike as a white blaze purist along side Awol, Ken and Marcia, Biscuit, Section 81 and all the other heroes you'll meet.

Thanks for the excellent adventure and advice for life., May 13, 2006
While this book is an excellent story of adventure and achieving the admirable goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, it is also a wonderful look at why one might want to embark on such an activity, and what may be gained from the effort. Those considering hiking the trail will gain much to prepare them for the hardships and increase their appetite for the rewards. Those who have never considered such an endeavor, may soon find themselves thinking about it.
It is rare to find someone capable of describing an experience such as this in such a rich and meaningful way. The author obviously learned much from the many physical tests and social interactions along the way, and found enjoyable ways to pass these lessons on to the reader. I recommend this book to anyone contemplating the AT, any other trail, or just continuing the trail of Life.

A busy bloggers opinion on Miller's AT sojourn, March 10, 2007
Miller's book kept me entranced from the first chapter and I read non-stop for a couple of hours. Not only was the description of the sometimes colorful characters he ran into on his sojourns amusing and poignant but his thought process appealed to mine as it bought to mind my own thoughts while I was out there. The first three chapters were particularly appealing to me as I had been out there in the same region and it seemed, like just yesterday that I too had walked this way. When he says "Alone, cruising serenely through the woods, is a situation that nurtures emotional liberation. In the bustle of everyday life there is no time for frivolous thoughts", I recalled the stressful time that I was going through with my divorce prior to my hike and remember how the AT was my head clearing mission.

As his journey along the trail we feel the distance he has put between him and the distant outside world, and how satisfying it is to sometimes put all our worries aside, and just live for today when he confides "In suburbia the din of traffic, machines, and the voices of other people were the norm. I didn't feel harassed by noise. In the forest I appreciate the quiet and the clarity of thought that it induces. It is a welcome unanticipated benefit. I feel unstressed, fit, alert and invigorated ..." He goes on to reiterate these thoughts a little later when he adds "...I have come to recognize that most of what is memorable and pleasing about my time on the trail are ordinary moments in the outdoors......It is fulfilling to be saturated with the sights, sounds and smells..."

For those uninitiated in the AT, and for those that have hiked on it themselves, the book captivates and enthralls, and we are as excited as Miller is when he reaches his goal at Mt. Katahdin and completes his 2170 mile thru-hike from Georgia to Maine.

Mark Sadler www.mps1956.blogspot.com

Take a hike!, May 3, 2006
Most of us will never have the opportunity or the inclination to do what David Miller did -- quit his job as a software engineer and take off on a 2,170 mile trek across the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. This is a well-written account of that 5-month trek, offering a wealth of information and colorful anecdotes for the serious hiker and armchair traveller alike. We meet colorful characters on and off the trail, encounter a few dangerous critters, and agonize with David when weather, homesickness and physical afflictions get him down.

Anyone contemplating a hike on the AT will find David's book to be an invaluable resource. But even someone like me, who will never take that hike, will be entranced by this lively and thoughtful account of his experience.

Mike Perez ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 4, 2009
THE BOYS' BOOK OF SURVIVAL is a uniquely comedic book that can help young boys face any situation - from a zombie invasion, to a school dance, to landing an airplane.

There are many educational tips in this book that can be used in real life if one every got lost or stuck in a forest or was in any other dire situation. There are also impractical, yet funny, tips on how to survive alien invasions and disastrous pimples.

Guy Campbell writes witty and useful tips that will keep the reader wanting more. This book is a very quick read and the great illustrations by Simon Ecob only enhance the book's overall satisfaction.

And don't think that this book is only useful for boys; being an 18-year-old girl, I found this book very helpful, as well. I learned how to survive many dangerous situations, such as walking into quicksand or confronting a bear.

No matter your age or gender, this is one fast and funny read.

Reviewed by: Steph

Great Book!, August 28, 2010
My 8 year old son absolutly loves this book, its his second copy. His first copy got left out in the yard and got soaked. He was just torn apart about it so I went on Amazon and got his second copy. Its a great book for kids his age and good reading.

My son love this book, November 30, 2010
I bought this book for my 10 year old son. And
He love the book he thought it was funny too..
I like the fact that because is for boys it got his
Attention to read it : )
Anything that brings a smile to your child
You got to love! Great book! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Following the success of The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (more than 150,000 copies sold!), this ruggedly handsome hardcover collection brings together new and classic advice from Worst-Case experts to help readers master the manly arts from wrestling an alligator to calming a crying child to extinguishing backyard barbeque fires with all the contents fully searchable on an accompanying CD. ... Read more

Reviews

The range of scenarios that can be survived makes for a lively addition to many a general library, September 11, 2010
Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Man Skills packs in over 500 pages of manly survival scenarios and new advice for modern perils. From survival times in various degrees of water to how to obtain an emergency reservation or apologize when you haven't done anything wrong, this offers a range of survival skills plus a searchable DVD. The range of scenarios that can be survived makes for a lively addition to many a general library.

Great graduation party gift, July 5, 2010
I have bought a number of these books to give out as High School graduation gifts to my son's friends and they love it! It is a great alternative to giving just another gift card.

Great Book!, December 15, 2010
Product arrived quickly however as a gift I was hoping not to have indents on both sides of the book like it was used or prior ownership.
Could be just the way the book is supposed to be but other than that it will make a great gift. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Do you really need to buy this book? You gotta ask yourself one question: Are you going to be ready when the sh*t goes down? Here is a quick checklist:

1. Have you dug up your wife's rose garden and built a fallout shelter, equipped with a prison where you can lock up annoying family members?

2. Have you mapped out an escape route to your safe zone?

3. Is there a vehicle of death sitting in your garage?

4. Have you filled your go bag with all the needed instruments, including waterproof matches, postapocalyptic goggles, and at least one sexual party favor?

5. Have you learned how to milk various types of animals, including a giraffe?

As you can see, you need this book more than you even know. Without it, you're roadkill. Lucky for you, Forrest Griffin is the perfect apocalyptic chaperon. When he was in the womb, his mother had visions that the world would soon crumble, and Forrest would be the messiah of all mankind. He learned of these "visions" at the age of ten, and although they led him to believe that his mom had just been watching Mad Max and eating bad Mexican food, nevertheless he began his postapocalyptic training—a part of which involved his becoming a proud member of the Webelos, which is just one step below Boy Scout. And you know what the Boy Scout motto is. (Well, I hope you do, because Forrest doesn't have a clue). Another part involved hoarding ketchup packets, which he sucked down in the darkness of his room while listening to Nine Inch Nails. Hey, don't judge . . . hoarders are survivors. Just look at squirrels, they have been around longer than sharks.

If you want to survive the end of the world, and then avoid ending up in a government holding pen suffering from a bunch of diseases and listening to crying babies, you've got some skills to master. But don't worry—Forrest has you covered. From spotting the signs of the global downfall, to alienating your loved ones now so they don't come looking for you after, to hot-wiring a car to starting a religion in your own image, he provides you with all the hot knowledge you need to survive the downfall of civilization. Simply put, this is the most important book about the apocalypse that you will ever read by a UFC fighter from Georgia.

Reviews

Yeah...I read it...irreverent and funny as hell!, August 13, 2010
This is definitely a book for the 14+ - 40ish guy crowd or any woman that really likes UFC. I went to a book signing on Long Island where Forrest spoke and took questions for about 45 minutes. I have to say, he is a naturally funny guy - like stand up funny with a small crowd. He has a great sense of timing and humor...which probably means he's a heck of a lot smarter than anyone realizes...making him a dangerous man to tangle with...even before the 'stuff' goes down. This is NOT a book for anyone under 14 - language and situations are for adults only.

I think he admitted that this book didn't take all that long to write, and it shows. But this isn't a book anyone is going to read for the literary value, unless they get to twenty by counting on their toes. It's a great read for anyone with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD); Forrest throws in little 'Forrest Factoids' and 'Fortune Cookie Wisdom' paragraphs whenever the mood strikes. These paragraphs kind of act like little mental speed bumps, and they either enhance the story or sending the reader into deep thought while contemplating all the wisdom. It doesn't take that long to read either - which for me, was a blessing.

Probably the funniest thing about the book is that it actually has some good advice - like what vehicles are the best to commandeer (hint: avoid tractors), and the importance of weapons (for protecting your stuff). I could have done without the knowing that Forrest attempted to milk penguins when doing research for this book; sadly only a nuclear explosion (nearby) will erase that from my memory. I hope the penguin wasn't traumatized...or at least not as bad as Forrest when he saw a freshly killed deer stuffed into the trunk of a Lincoln Continental.

The best thing you can do is buy the book here on Amazon. I paid full price, and man, am I stupid.

Love It!!! Forrest is Hilarious!!!, August 5, 2010
Another great read by Forrest Griffin...I enjoyed this one as much as his first book, "Got Fight?". Griffin has a knack for telling a story and the man is funny as hell. I found myself laughing out loud while reading it. If you enjoyed his first book, this is a must buy!

Exellent toilet reading, October 25, 2010
This is a very funny book! Has made me laugh out many times. Besides, it might very well come in handy some day.. I am already contemplating my vehicle of death.. Oh yeah.. I bet you'd like to know why and what that means!?

Buy the book!

5/5

very funny, September 17, 2010
very easy and fast read. very funny for a guy who gets punched in the face for a living.

If you don't think this is funny you're dead, August 5, 2010
This guy is brilliant (it's bs that his iq is 86). I haven't laughed so hard since I was reading Nat Lampoon in the subway in the seventies (people did move away from me at the time).

Lone Dissident, November 12, 2010
I can't understand why this book has received so many positive reviews. Did we read the same book? Has my sense of humor gone missing? Am I the only one who feels duped for buying the book?

Reading this book is like listening to someone make fart noises. Let me explain. The first one might make you laugh, the second one might make you giggle, the third one might make you grin, but by the fourth hundred fart noise - well, frankly, any person would just be annoyed. And this is how this book began and ended for me. The opening pages were funny with vintage Forrest's "Fortune Cookie Wisdom" and his opening disclaimer. That made me laugh. The proceeding quiz about "mainliness" made me giggle. The next chapter about Ragnarok and "The How to Kill a Supernatural Wolf" made me grin. But the last 120 pages of this book, my friend, were difficult to get through.

You might be the kind of person that still laughs after six hours of someone making a fart noise. I sure as hell am not. What bothered me most about this book is that at times Forrest appears to really get serious about some issues, namely religion. Would anybody in a religious congregation take a kid making fart noises seriously about anything? What if he were really earnest? All the more pathetic.

Lastly, I have to say that Erich Krauss is actually a respectable MMA author. I am a big fan of his OTHER books. But it makes me wonder what he is trying to accomplish (apart from making money) by signing his name to such inane literature. And if making money is his only motivation, then he obviously doesn't care about the art of writing. Respect the art Erich!

Stay away from this book!

Typical Forrest, September 30, 2010
Typical Forrest. Self-depricating, smart, and slightly off his rocker. If there is a handbook for the Apocalypse, this is, without a doubt, the guide for survival, and then some. The must have book of the year in my opinion. Gotta love Forrest! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Wonderful Story Masterfully Written, July 4, 2007
"Wow. What a book." These are the words that I breathed out when I reached the end of Merle's Door.

Ted Kerasote is to writers what Mozart is to composers. His writing is that good. If he were to write about how the grass grew in his yard over summer, I have no doubt it would be a page-turner.

But that's not the story he wrote. This story is so much more. This unforgettable story begins when a big golden dog emerges from the dark to introduce himself to a small group of people camping in the desert. One of those people was Ted Kerasote, and the dog went home with him. As the story unfolds, we are taken on an amazing journey that goes well beyond "a boy and his dog."

Good relationships are built on mutual respect, and this relationship was better than most. This book is the story of that relationship. These two were the best of friends, and this account of their life together shows how each grew and learned from the other. Love, patience, and understanding are evident throughout the book.

At times, this book is humorous, and at other times it's instructive. But always, it's interesting. One of the lessons Merle taught Ted was that great things can happen if humans will change their behavior instead of always trying to change the behavior of their dogs. The prevailing wisdom is that dogs must be trained and molded a certain way, and treated as though they have no independent powers of judgment. Merle proved this isn't so wise.

The problem is that people don't let their dogs grow up. They make the dog into a perpetual child, and then are surprised when anxiety surfaces in the form of behavior problems. But how would you feel if you always had someone telling you what to do, and not letting you make any decisions on your own? This treatment, while often well-intended, disables a person. It disables dogs as well.

Ted suggests loving in a different way, one that provides more personal freedom and is less about controlling the dog. He says, "His (Merle's) lessons weren't about training, but about partnership. They were never about method; they were about attitude."

The partnership between these two took them on a far different path from one they would have taken if, for example, Ted had decided to make a bird dog out of Merle. Rather than make Merle into something to fit a desire of his own, Ted allowed Merle to be himself. And in so doing, Ted would eventually find his own deep needs met in ways that he could not have predicted. This made for a story worth telling and one definitely worth reading.

In addition to providing us with a wonderful story masterfully written, this book presents an impressive amount of science and technical information on a range of subjects. The list of sources runs 15 pages (in small print, at that). Yet, none of this seems out of place. Whether it's a quote from a biologist, an explanation of cognitive maps, or a summary of experiments with dolphins and mirrors, it's all good and it all fits. The wolf research is especially interesting. For anyone wishing to look up those facts after finishing the story, the extensive index will prove helpful.

This book has 18 chapters spanning 364 pages. Not a single one was wasted.

Even if you have never loved a dog, read this book, June 29, 2007
First, the cold facts. Ted Kerasote has an uncanny ability to mix the sociology and history of dogs with humans and the very personal story of his life with his extraordinary Labrador mix, Merle, and makes it work like no other dog book I've read (and that's a lot of books). He is such a good writer that it's fun to read science part. But what really makes Merle's Door sing, or howl, is the poignant love story of Ted and Merle as they get to know more about each other over the years. Merle's story as told through Ted, who can put the words on the page since Merle could not, rings so true. When you read this book you are reading the story of two friends who share a life of adventure and love that is simply all too short. Millions of humans have had loving relationships with our canine halves, and never has it been so eloquently distilled in a single volume as this book. Read it, shed some tears of joy, give it to your friends, this is a magical book.

The most touching book I've read in a long time..., July 10, 2007
I bought this book knowing nothing about it or the author. I love dogs and had the love of my life dog pass away about 2 years ago. I've read Marley and Me and other dog books, but somehow they didn't come close to expressing the bond between man and dog as this book does so flawlessly. I read the book right away as we are now raising two puppies and I thought the book would be instructional. Wow. Although the book is instructional, it is so much more than that. This book touched me like nothing has in a long time. I finished it last night and I still can't think about it without choking up. What a life! It makes me want to go put my arms around the author and tell him I understand.
Bravo!! Well written. 5 stars. I loved it. I wish I had known Merle.

hard to apply, October 15, 2007
As a dog biography, Merle's Door is both humorous and tear-jerking. The ending definitely calls for tissues.

But Merle's Door is not simply a dog's biography and can't be judged merely on that score. It also attempts to be something of a treatise on dog behavior, and the biography is excerpted and annotated with reports on dog behavior and research. And the title of the book itself "Lessons from a Free thinking dog" implies this isn't a mere dog's tale, or the reader isn't supposed to take it as such.

The book tries to be two things, then, and one tends to hamper the other. The behavioral treatise on dogs interrupt the flow of the biography, and tend to be a little boring. And this is from someone who read all of Konrad Lorenz as a teenager. The behavioral asides seem somewhat cherry picked -- that is, rather than be a true behavioral treatise on all dogs, they are used to support some point that the author wants to make toward his own theories based on his one single dog, and all other evidence to the contrary being ignored. To generalize from a sample of one never makes for good teaching or good lessons.

The point of the "open door" policy in a nutshell seems to be that if dogs had their freedom to roam, and make their own decisions, that would resolve a great deal of the undersocialization, underexercised, overly frustrated aggressive dog behavior we see in many dogs. He uses Merle as an example of this perfect dog. But aside from the fact that very few people can live in a purported dog utopia like Kelly, the reality beyond Merle himself wasn't quite as rosy, if you read beyond Merle. And Merle himself was just very, very lucky.

The first day that the author brings Merle to Kelly, he lets this dog, that he doesn't know an awful lot about, out free to roam. Two hours later the dog returns. In that time, Merle could have been shot by a rancher for cow or sheep running, as other dogs later were, and as Merle would have done. He could have been hit by a car, as other Kelly dogs were. Merle proved to be car smart, but the author didn't know that when he let him roam. He could have gotten into fights and injured -- or even killed. He was later taken to a vet to be stitched back together after one of these fights. He could have been picked up by the dog catcher as he also later was. Nor did he know how good the dog was with children, and a dog that had run down other prey animals might need to be evaluated in that regard. These are all dangers that could happen to dogs everywhere, and that some fall prey to. Isn't that what we protect our dogs from? And they do happen to dogs in Kelly.

For the open door policy clearly doesn't work for all dogs in Kelly, the ones who were hit by cars, picked up by the dog catcher, killed for harassing livestock, or who were caught up in dog fights. Merle was lucky, particularly in the beginning. But Kelly was also small enough that he managed to scrape by.

I'm not seeing any magical lesson there for the dogs or dog owners of Kelly, or for those of us outside of Kelly. Further, there were property owners in Kelly who were apparently bothered enough by free ranging dogs to call in the dog catcher. If you look at the total picture, and not just Merle, the lesson of Merle's Door is thus hard to see. Merle was a stable dog, probably partly because of his breed as much as his upbringing. Labs and retrievers aren't very territorial, and are bred to be social around a "camp". The open door policy that worked so well for Merle and the author and sounds so tempting, didn't work so well for all the dogs in Kelly, or for all the people in Kelly. But it probably wouldn't work for all dogs even as well as it worked for Merle, even if they had his genetics. And as you expand in size of towns, you exponentially increase the interactions and the problems. Take the other case of the tiny village in France who also had very social free roaming dogs. The author makes friends with the "mayor" dog of that town and compares him to Merle and uses him as a similar object lesson and example. Yet when he goes back, that dog is no longer there. We don't know his fate. The author doesn't seek to find out his fate. He's only used as an example when he fits the premise the author is painting -- when that dog disappears, the author uses the next dog in that village as a perfect example.

In addition to the risky lessons Merle learns for himself, unsupervised, we also get some rather horrific recountings of the author teaching him not to run cattle. And even more disturbing was the use of the shock collar to teach him not to accept filet mignon handouts from a neighbor who was over feeding him. I won't debate the use of a shock collar, and clearly the author felt it was justified. But the recounting of how he used it for this purpose sickened me.

So Merle's Door inspired a jumble of reactions in me -- humor and sorrow, disgust and at times, sheer disbelief in some of what was purported. At one point the author implies that because Merle eats bits of elk and meat (though he seems to live largely on kibble) he has higher status than other dogs in the village. But that's just the author's impression, and I think, fed a bit by his own ego. My dog is entirely raw fed, prey model fed, no kibble at all, but I wouldn't make that supposition for her. I feed my dog that way for health reasons, I don't get any egoboo out of it. I don't know of any research or science that supports the claim of higher status on prey fed dogs. Those sorts of claims permeate the book and leave me skeptical of all of it, even though I really enjoyed the tale of Merle's life.

But that's Merle's Door, a mixture of dog biography, cherry picked quotes from dog behaviorists, and personal assumptions. It's interesting and at times heart-rending, and sometimes hard slogging through the excessively scholarly parts. It's not one to swallow uncriticaly. But if you can't whole-heartedly love the book, or accept the author's claims without a grain of salt, you can love the dog. As the author did, even if you can't agree or could ever follow his methods of caring for him. Or believe there are any great lessons there for other dog owners. As a dog biography, it works for me. The lessons were harder for me to divine. And because of that, I give it 3 1/2 stars.

Explosively Superb!, September 10, 2007
This book was UNBELIEVABLE. This was quite possibly the best book I have ever read. It was so intelligent, interesting, well written, suspenseful, insightful, heart rending and hilarious. I was up half the night AFTER I finished it contemplating its many facets. I cannot recommend this enough. Make no mistake, this is a story of deep, life changing friendship that few, if any, of us ever experience in our lives with anybody. It is a love story, and a tale of life's deepest lessons, told with such flair you cannot stop reading. Ted Kerasote is a man I would really like to meet. He is insightful and above all one of the most compassionate people I have ever read about. And what a life, full of excitement and adventure, and Merle is along for every experience, contributing his unique input at every opportunity.

I also admire a tale about letting your dog be a DOG and not treating it like a stuffed animal....i.e. carrying it around in a pocketbook like a fashion accessory. I only wish I could provide my dogs with a mountain range teeming with wildlife and a town full of other friendly people and dogs to romp with off leash.

I was literally sobbing at the end, and I felt this book opened my eyes in the sense that it brings home a point we all know but seldom think about. Life is so, so short for all of us, and if we pay attention, we can make sure our time on this earth is filled with happiness, earth shattering love, beauty, peace, and deep meaning if we let it.

View from near by, July 14, 2007
Kerasote's writing is exquisite, the story poignant and Merle was a great dog. I would guess that somebody will fault the book for being too anthropomorphic, but I'd suggest that those folks get a dog and make him or her part of their lives and see if it doesn't all make more sense, then.

I live just across the Jackson Hole valley from Kelly, the hamlet where Merle was mayor. I know a few of the people who pass through the book's pages (although I've never crossed paths with Kerasote). The detail and depth of the author's description of the physical environment in which he lived with Merle is a great delight, too, and adds another good reason to spend some time with the book.

Magnificent, December 6, 2007
I am a bit surprised by some of the negative reviews of this book, especially the chap that suggested that you "skip this book." If you skip it you will have missed a gem. It is not a dog training book or a "treatise on animal behavior" as someone suggested. It is the telling of a thirteen year relationship between a man and a dog and the life that they shared together. The author intersperses the narrative with research that support his observations over the years. He makes no attempt to state that his research and conclusions are absolute or scientific findings;just the results of asking questions and having a curious mind. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be left with a special feeling of being allowed to vicariously share the life of Ted and Merle. Anyone who has loved and lost a great, special dog will understand and cherish the book.

Read This Book, June 18, 2007
This book is superb. The writing is flawless, the information is solid and the story is powerful. It is funny, unselfconsciously honest and touching, but never maudlin. I didn't want this book end.

Amazing, July 20, 2007
I really like biographies: Potter's Nimitz, Edmund Morris's The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex, William Manchester's MacArthur. Ted Kerasote has written my favorite so far. Merle's Door is a brilliantly written biography of someone I'd never heard of, the author's best friend, a Lab mix dog who found him on a trip in the American wilderness. In this book, we are privy to a wonderful lifetime relationship between the author and Merle, the Freethinking Dog from the point of view of both. Kerasote, like T. Roosevelt, is an informed naturalist who has a reverence for our beautiful world and a keen desire to understand it. Dog books generally pull heartstrings. So true in Merle's Door but Kerasote very effectively touches both the reader's heart and brain. Ted Kerasote in this book recalls conversations between his dog and him, translating for us Merle's part. This is not Lady and the Tramp. Kerasote peppers throughout the book scientific sources from archeology, anthropology, psychology, and biology that are clear and as interesting as the love story itself. He challenges in a convincing way conventional thinking about and practice of keeping dogs. I think anyone who has ever loved a dog who reads this book will feel validated concerning conversations (two-way) they have had with their own dogs. For some people, this biography will likely serve as a self-help relationship type of book (watch out Dr. Phil). I truly enjoyed this book.

Insight not found in other "dog" books, August 7, 2007
Ted Kerasote, in his moving novel, "Merle's Door", allows us a window into the mind and soul of his companion of 13 years, Merle. Merle enjoys the freedom that few dogs ever have, and in his stunning masterpiece, Kerasote manages to let us really "see" and feel the emotions that Merle is feeling. This book is special because Kerasote, due to the geographic location in which he makes his home, is able to provide Merle with the freedom and decision-making capabilities that are not part and parcel of the life of most American dogs who live in an urban setting.

Those of us who have opened our hearts and our homes to these precious family members, will relate to the deep love and compansionship that develops between Merle and Ted. Although our dogs may not have been privy to the many adventures that Ted and Merle shared, they are no less loved.

This book is a treasure, and everyone who loves dogs should own a copy. It's a book that I have no doubt that I will re-read in the future. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are plenty of books about coping with adversity.But isn't until now, with WHO SURVIVES, that we discover the human factors that determine survival.It's a combination instruction book and security blanket that blends compelling true stories with cutting-edge science to deliver some of the most important lessons we'll ever need to learn.

The book will:
--list the most important traits necessary for survival (e.g., adaptability, tenacity, faith)
--identify the 5 types of survivors
--debunk myths (like only the strong survive), explore the frontiers of survival science (How much strain and punishment can a human body endure?), and introduce readers to counterintuitive thinking (Ever heard of posttraumatic growth?)
--provide a Survivors Tool Kit, including an online test that measures one's Survivor's Quotient

Each one of us eventually joins the club of millions who face life's inescapable tribulations and tragedies. WHO SURVIVES is the companion we need to prepare us for and guide us through the worst. ... Read more

Reviews

Life lessons, January 26, 2009
Here's a club everyone wants to be a member of. It's probably human nature to wonder if you have what it takes to survive in a crisis. This thought-provoking book not only profiles dozens and dozens of people who have done just that, it also gives you a way to grade yourself on your likely survivorship, and tips on how to raise your score. You even learn which seats on an airplane are the safest (be near an exit, and forget about that window seat).

The three rules of the Survivors Club, according to author Ben Sherwood, are that everyone is a survivor, one person's crisis can't be compared to another's, and people are stronger than they know. Attitude has a lot to do with it. If you see yourself as a survivor, you'll likely be one.

You learn many of the reasons why people do not survive. One is called the Incredulity Response -- people simply don't believe what they are seeing. Two gripping stories bring this idea to life. In the first, a car-ferry sinking in the Baltic Sea, many victims didn't move or try to get out of the sinking ship, but were rather "frozen to the spot" looking like "marble statues, pale and immoveable." 852 passengers died. In the second story, a fire in London's Underground train station killed 31 people, with many commuters marching "right into the disaster, almost oblivious to the crush of people -- some actually in flames -- who were trying to escape."

"Brainlock" is another reason some people in crisis die. They respond to the shock of the situation by forgetting to think. "Under stress... people often display memory problems. They seem to forget what they're supposed to do." This isn't good if you're skydiving. As Sherwood puts it, "panic is the archenemy of survival."

The final section of the book is devoted to helping you understand your own survivor potential, with quizzes to take and a website to visit.

Reading this book will make you think about how you live your life, and ways to ensure you can keep on living. It's fascinating.

Here's the chapter list:

Prologue: Brace for Impact
Introduction: The Survivors Club
Part 1: What It Takes to Survive
1. A Knitting Needle Through the Heart: The Three Rules of the Survivors Club
2. The Statues in the Storm: Why So Many People Die When They Shouldn't
3. Ninety Seconds to Save Your Life: The Wrong (and Right) Things to Do in a Plane Crash
4. The Organ Recital: Who Lives and Dies in the ER
5. The Supersonic Man: How Much of Life (and Death) Do You Really Control?
6. Rescued from the Lion's Jaws: Prayer, Miracles, and the Power of Faith
7. The Dancer and the Angel of Death: How Did Anyone Survive the Holocaust?
8. The Science of Luck: Why Good Things Always Happen to the Same People
9. Hug the Monster: How Fear Can Save Your Life
10. Too Mean to Die: Does the Will to Live Make Any Difference
11. The Resilience Gene: Who Bounces Back and Who Doesn't
12. What Does Not Kill Me: Why Adversity is Good for You
Part 2: Are You a Survivor?
13. The Survivor Profiler: Discovering Your Survivor Personality
14. Your Survivor IQ: What Type of Survivor Are You?
15. Your Survivor Tool Kit: What Are Your Top Three Strengths
Afterword / How to Eat an Elephant: The Lessons of the Survivors Club
www.TheSurvivorsClub.org
Appendix A / The Science of Falling Cats (and Babies)
Appendix B / The Arithmetic of Dying Too Soon

Live Longer!, January 26, 2009
In America, life expectancy is 78.14 years. If you would like to live longer, read this compelling self-help book. It's loaded with detailed research material and anecdotal tips on surviving--what to do when: being impaled with a foreign object, finding yourself lost in the woods, experiencing an airplane crash, having a heart attack, or making a trip to the ER.

Many topics are covered with proof that they help people live: the power of prayer, managing fear, the will to live, and having good genes. Adversity can work to make people appreciate life and have a better perspective. Daily joy can be experienced after a traumatic episode.

Offered are such informative chapters as: The Survivor Profile, Your Survivor IQ, and Your Survivor Tool Kit. I suggest using this volume as a resource tool. Though it is interesting enough to be read straight through, I want to keep it around to refer to often.

I give it a B or B-, August 14, 2009
This book was alright. I finished it, from beginning to end, which is an accomplishment in and of itself proving that if anything, the book was an entertaining read. But after a while, Sherwood seemed to repeat the same points over and over: have faith in some form of divine authority, be positive, and be on the lookout for lucky opportunities. And that is what made the book lose points, in my opinion. Everybody knows that already!

I enjoyed reading the plentiful anecdotes, but I felt disappointed by the title of the book, for the book didn't really share very many tips or science about survival, other than the three points mentioned in the paragraph above. What also made the book lose credibility was the test offered online after completing the book. Though Sherwood raved that this test was the "real deal" and as accurate and scientific as psychometrics gets, to me it seemed no more relevant than an online personality quiz or a horoscope reading in a women's fashion magazine. The results bore little resemblance to me. Rather, it sounded like feel-good babble.

Maybe if I hadn't been egged on to take that test I would have respected the book a little more. That and the lack of MORE case studies and science rendered this book nothing more than another hyped up opinion piece.

Once again, I encourage all future readers of this book to get it from their libraries; or if you absolutely MUST own a copy, get it used and at a cheap price.

Stay awake nights.... learing how to survive!, July 20, 2009
I heard the author being interviewed on a syndicated news talk show. After listening to the first few minutes of the interview, I was convinced I needed to purchase this book which I did, then I recommended the book to my book club. I have never felt compelled to contact an author but after reading this book I did. After locating Ben Sherwood's email address, I emailed asking if he would agree to a telephone interview/conference with our book club. Much to my surprise he graciously agreed!

After reading the book, each book club member had a list of comments and questions. Mr. Sherwood spent over an hour answering our questions and provided more details about some of the survivors featured in the book. It was a fascinating experience. Each of us was enriched by this experience and as far as reading retention is concerned...? We will not soon forget the valuable lessons gleaned from reading this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the skills required to survive some of life's most challenging events. This book isn't focused solely on how to survive a plane crash or other catastrophic events, rather, it teaches how to survive ALL life's challenges large and small. It provides an interesting quiz to discover your strong personality traits or attributes and the ones that could use a little help in improving. Who among us wouldn't find this information useful? Who knows, perhaps it could save your life! Definitely worth purchasing, but please don't let this book simply gather dust on the book shelf, read it, learn from it and then pass it on to those you love.

Pros and Cons of The Survivors Club, January 14, 2010
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and learned some important things from it, especially the value of being prepared to act and move decisively in an emergency, and not "freeze". With so many illustrative survivor tales, its an engrossing read. I am glad I read it, but it is really a "story book" and not a scientific study. Recommended despite some weaknesses; just keep your expectations in check. Its the kind of book you may want to refer to again, from time to time.

PROS:

Extensively researched and well written with many detailed accounts of true survivor tales
Easy to read and structured to allow the reader to select portions out of sequence if he/she wishes
Contains some good life advice in the book; from the value of optimism and laughter to being aware of context, to where to sit (or not sit) on an airplane to improve your odds of surviving a crash
It passes the "common sense" test; it mostly hangs together pretty well


CONS:
Its way short on science, despite its sub-title that promises ".. Science that Could Save Your Life"
The web-based Survivor Profiler is a disappointment. It did not yield any new insights or suggested courses of action; its mainly a gimmick
It overplays the fact that people who face and conquer terrible challenges usually emerge stronger; we already knew that, though the examples are often compelling.

The Survivors Club book review, March 1, 2009
Fascinating book. Heard the author on a National Public Radio program and was intrigued to get/read his book. I am a career military veteran (fighter pilot) with significant survival training and found this book: (1) an easy read; (2) compelling in its practical lessons to be learned; (3) a primer for anyone about to take an airplane flight, an extended drive, or finds oneself in the Emergency Room (victim or family member). Though many anecdotes of the author's research deal with severe physical tragedies many experienced and survived, the mental aspects of survival are not to be overlooked. When this book is read from that perspective, the chapters are instructive to develop mental plans for potential future shocks which inevitably will come in life, professionally and personally. This is a quality book and well worth the read--highly recommended.

Paramedic thoughts..., February 5, 2010
I have read so many survival books and none compare to this one. Most others read like an instruction manual with a very short opening chapter on positive attitude. Survivor Club however takes more of a scientific approach to survival. All the quizzes and experiments throughout make it personal. You learn a great deal about yourself. I am a paramedic and we are trained to remain calm and aware in any situation. However I showed this book to my colleagues and was surprised at how unaware even we can be at times. It also gave me great insight into human nature. It is nice to have an idea how the general public will react to emergencies and survival situations. I recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for survival. You will not be disappointed.

Misleading Subtitle, March 15, 2009
This book is little more than a string of feel-good anecdotes that are occasionally, but rarely, stitched together with a little science. More often than not, faith in god and miracles is given precedence over information gleaned from scientific research.

Sherwood candidly admits his own belief that many survivors' tales are the result of godly intervention, and he offers up page after page of anecdotal evidence for this assertion. But when it comes time to deal with the science of survival, Sherwood is quite dismissive of facts that undermine his beliefs. He will admit, for instance, that peer-reviewed, double-blind studies have found no evidence that prayer affects the recovery of hospital patients, but he does so in a single sentence at the end of a half a dozen anecdotal tales attesting to effectiveness of prayer. And even then he downplays the significance of the studies by saying only that they "seem" to show that prayer has no effect.

Sherwood also demonstrates that he doesn't understand statistics. On p.134 he tries to prove that faith in god is a key factor in survival by stating that as many as 75 or 80% of catastrophe survivors cite a higher power as a reason for their survival. He seems naively unaware that at least 75 or 80% of all human beings believe in a god that takes a hand in their daily lives. His statistic, therefore, proves the opposite of what he intends. Survivors are, in fact, no more likely than any other randomly selected group of people to cite god as a reason for their survival.

My advice to Mr. Sherwood is that he remove the word "science" from the subtitle of his book. My advice to readers seeking reliable information on survival is to skip The Survivor's Club and read either Deep Survival by Lawrence Gonzalez or The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley. Both are excellent.

A life changing book recommended for any survivor, December 17, 2009
I am a survivor of a different sort, and I now advocate for other survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This book had very little to do with these sorts of survivors, but at the same time had everything to do with the skills and traits every survivor must use to not only survive but thrive no matter what the situation.

The point made by the author over and over again is that the people who most often survive are the people who CHOOSE to survive. Resilience is another factor that can determine which people survive and which people give up.

If you are a survivor of any type of abuse, sexual assault, or domestic violence this book could be the most important book you will ever read.

Disjointed...the author has a point? and it is....?, February 21, 2010
I think the author published this book merely to procure a revenue stream from book sales. The provocative and misleading title is great marketing, though. It certainly duped me into picking up the book at my local independent bookseller yesterday. I was unfortunate enough, during my perusal, to land on the 2 or 3 paragraphs (on different pages throughout) that made it seem worthy.

The "stories" within are disjointed, incomplete vignettes of the wandering thoughts variety. Very annoying to read as "stories" jump back and forth. Much of it isn't even stories of survival. The author clearly thinks that a 3-4 sentence summary about an event can constitute a survivor's story. This is the TV/Hollywood script sound bite presentation masquerading as a book. Teasers I believe they are called. And that is what this book is. As they say in Hollywood...Get me rewrite!!!!

How Bob has survived, if this is the way his brain computes, can only be attributed to...luck. How he even got this published can only be attributed to...connections.

Distill down the 383 pages to actually USEFUL advice and you'll have a maximum of (and I'm being extremely generous) 3 pages that might be worthwhile. Who cares if the author knows honcho Jeff Zucker and believes Jeff to be the most courageous survivor. Ever. Nothing more than name dropping or ego stroking in that bit. Puh-lease! This book is just a bunch of snippets presented in a haphazard fashion with not enough information or background to even keep the reader fully engaged on any story. I had to skip large swathes of the book within each chapter, which is saying something because I am a voracious reader and can usually engage if there is actually something interesting and/or informative about the words. Bob finds a way to disengage even me.

I will save you $14.99 and disclose all the "secrets" the book reveals: 1. Sit within 5 rows of an airplane exit, 2. Be situationally aware of your surroundings, 3. Make sure you WANT to live - keep repeating that mantra in the face of insurmountable odds, 4. Maybe you'll be lucky and survive, in spite of (or because of) your DNA, your optimism, your new-found believe in God or other higher deity at the moment of your peril etc., 5. Make sure that when you have a heart attack that you are in a Las Vegas casino and finally 6. if you're anything other than healthy and fit 16-19 year old male, then you're doomed and don't even think about being a survivor.

That No. 6 theme is pervasive throughout the book. Maybe this book would appeal to that age/gender group. Bob was there once.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Not a how to, but a good read filled with idea, November 3, 2009
I gave the book 3 stars because I was expecting a "how to" book; this book is not an instructional at all. Rather, this book seems to be a compilation of ideas, methods, and skills that are all described very superficially.

Fun to read, but if you were going to be out in "no where" for the rest of time you'd want something far more detailed.

1994 Woodsmoke Reprinted, November 25, 2007
This is a book of collected articles previously published as "Woodsmoke, Collected Writings on Ancient Living Skills" (Menasha Ridge Press 1994). No revisions, but then the articles were good then anyway. This book is the second in which the fire piston is covered (the first that I am aware of came out in 1972). Beside the philosophy (waxing poetic) of the Jamisons and a poor bit on tracking, the book offers the reader some well laid out "how-to" information from the likes of Steve Watts, David Wescott, Jim Riggs and Larry Dean Olson. Atlatl, Pottery, blowguns, Hide Glue, stone tools and bark baskets are some of the topics introduced in this book. If you are interested in the primitive skills, this book is worth getting.

Master the Art of Survival, September 19, 2007
This is a very interesting book which describes in remarkable detail various primitive crafts and survival techniques. Skills such as making blades and axes from stone to various methods of primitive cooking are described in detail. There are sections on primitive basket making and pottery as well as blowgun making and stalking. After reading this book I was left with both a profound admiration for our primitive ancestors as well as some potentially useful newfound knowledge. Since many of the techniques described were utilized by Native Americans this book will be enjoyed by students of this subject as well as by Boy/Girl Scouts who will find many sections which they can utilize on camping trips. This book will also be enjoyed by fans of shows such as "Survivor Man" and "Man vs. Wild" and should be required reading for anyone planning to compete on "Survivor".

Overview of some primitive crafts., December 12, 2009
I can say I generally agree with the other 5 reviews prior to the date of this one. This book is a compilation of various authors' articles that have been published elswhere including in the Primitive Technology I & II (Bulletin of Primitive Technology), & Practicing Primitive by Steven Watts. Therefore the content varies from chapter to chapter some being more detailed than others. I particularly found the chapter on the Paiute deadfall & Whole-shoot Willow Baskets helpful, while some of the stories told were also enjoyable. The subtitle of the book "An outdoorsman's guide to Shelters, Tools, Weapons, Tracking, Survival, and More" is a bit misleading in that there is next to nothing gained from this book for shelters and I would take the survival part somewhat lightly. There are certainly some useful survival tips but as one reviewer said you wouldn't want to be stuck with this book in a survival situation. I recommend this book for people just starting with an interest in primitive technology or those looking for a summary or introduction to the world of primitiveness. It may also be of use to those looking for some basic instructions on basket crafts & pottery.

more of a history lesson, January 26, 2010
This book is good if you want to just sit at home and read. It's more of a history lesson than a guide. I got about halfway through it and got bored and haven't picked it up since. The instructions are a little hard to follow if you don't already have a conception of what to do already.

Interesting Return To Yesteryear....But Impractical, September 1, 2010
Hiking and camping has been a passion of mine ever since I can remember first experiencing it as a cub scout. The mountains in the north country of New England here have been the scene of many trips by me and with my family in the warmer months, as well as years of my trekking the mountains in the dead of winter. No matter how many books on hiking and survival one owns, it seems to be a subject that one can't get enough of if you happen to have a passion for it. There always seems to be something or other included you never saw before, or at least is talked about in greater detail. This Primitive Skills book goes far enough back and gets about as thorough as to diversity as one can get on the subject of wilderness survival. In fact, its better called a wilderness book on living. There is just about nothing that this book doesn't cover, or at least mention in passing on the subject of living and surviving in the wilds of any frontier. From the very beginning it assumes you have moved out into the wilds of some wilderness country and decided to stay there for a right long time. And, bringing nothing with you but a knife and a few matches. Along with the before mentioned basket and tool making, this book will tell you how to make a blow gun, and stalk your pray with it too. It will instruct you on how to make fire from scratch and what is safe to cook over it and keep it going all night. It speaks of primitive medicine in some detail, and outfitting a wardrobe from whatever you can find. And it directs one through the procedure of making all manner of shelter using the bark of trees as rope. You'll learn how to fashion fishing gear out of wild root and fish hooks made of bone. And you will even enjoy an immensely enjoyable section on how to cook some darn tasty good meals with a bare minimum of ingredients, and even show you how to season it. It is a very interesting and informative look at yesteryear when life was devoid of all modern convenience. Even some not so modern...

Unfortunately as much as I enjoy this book immensely for its being well written, and with a vast amount of interesting info, I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here that speak of it being quite impractical, and not anywhere near as instructional as one would surmise in others. Although I feel it gives one enough information on many of the subjects as to actually building or practicing what it preaches, one would still be hard pressed to find someplace anymore where much of what you learn here could be put to any real use. Not a whole lot of lonesome hills and prairie left anymore where one can chop down trees at will, chisel away at rocks, or go running around with blows guns hunting down your dinner. Even if you are interested in a lot of its more congenial teachings, (like leather work or tool making), one would still have to pursue the subject deeper than this book offers to really know and understand what you're doing. Unfortunately as interesting as this book is, its most definitely written about a time, place, and era that just doesn't exist anymore. As much as I personally am enjoying it very much, I would recommend it only to those that long for a full flavor of yesteryear, and how it was living back in the real old days when we needed much more in the way of skills to just survive. A very interesting and downright fascinating book for those simply yearning for the nostalgia of it all...

ok, August 13, 2010
kinda more stories than a survival guide ok for tender feet.
pretty much a field and stream perspective only more feminine.
if you want something more serious get the sas survival handbook it is awesome.
and quite literally gives info to survive anything you could ever encounter.

A little too much emphasis on the spirituality of the matter but, great book regardless., June 30, 2009
A little too much emphasis on the spirituality of the matter but, great book regardless. I personally prefer "to-the-point" descriptions. But I'm sure other readers will benefit from the holistic approach achieved in this publication.

quality over quantity., November 7, 2010
This seems like a survival book, with the bare minimal in mind. The fire starter is especially crafty. This is not a huge amount of info, but instead a focus on a few very affective strategies for living off the land. There is a great amount of effort made to convince the reader to value these traditions. Not what your regular know-it-all survivalist would approve of but those with actual experience probably will.

Primitive Skills and Crafts, Amazon Books, October 10, 2010
This is a great book for varous groups to learn basics for survival. An introduction to woods skills and such for the average person; once one has mastered these basics, one can go on to more advanced skills from here. I taught my young children right on thru their teen years with this type of a book, learning also, my own self how to keep warm, start a fire, catch food and so on as we learned together on weekends used for camping trips around the wilderness areas of the U.P. of Michigan.

For even more advanced skills, I would suggest other reading material procured from Amazon and from off the home computor. Skills such as edible foods to be found in the wild, shelters that will survive storms and extreme cold, medicinal plants and so on.

For anyone wanting to sharpen their survival skills in an uncertain world, start reading and preparing now. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Includes new case studies and survival scenarios

The experts' survival techniques, based on John 'Lofty' Wiseman's 26 years in the SAS

Practical, easy-to-follow advice with diagrams and color illustrations

*Visit the Apple iTunes store to be fully equipped with the SAS Survival Guide iPhone App.

Reviews

SURVIVAL THRU THE S.A.S. GUIDE/HANDBOOK, April 14, 2010
I have followed this book and its editions for the past 20 years. I have looked but to no avail, I cannot find a book that will match the conciseness, detail and knowledge that exists within these pages. You do not want to find yourself stranded with your head in the clouds and not knowing what to do to stay alive. The author goes to great pains to describe and map out step by step directions on such topics as orienteering, finding and managing resources however limited they may be and identification of hostile/toxic flora & fauna. Believe me, that does not even scratch the surface to the gems inside this guide. I believe it is every man ( and woman's) responsibility to be prepared for the worst case scenario. It will not only save your life but the lives of your loved ones and your fellow survivors. Not only that, guys will be able to impress their girlfriends and wives when they become the hero of the day by exercising the knowledge and skill set they learned from this valuable literary resource. Buy one for your self and copies for friends and relatives.

all you'd ever need, in a size that works, June 26, 2010
there's a great many really great books like this out there. I have a few good ones on the shelf...including the full sized version of this...but they aren't WITH me...and thats really the problem.

The small size means it fits in my daily EDC bag - so it's WITH me. ALL the time. That's about the best use - it's there when you need it, hope you never do...but if you do...it's there in your pack. no excuses not to have it with you when this book is so small and light.

excellent content, tiny size, September 1, 2010
I already reviewed positively the full sized book. Only thing I would add here is that it is the same content, but packed into a tiny size so you can take it with you anywhere. I have one in my car, and another copy for when I travel.

This is the type of book that comes in handy when you are dealing with an emergency far from civilization, or when emergency services can't respond. Very comprehensive, yet easy to carry and keep with you.

Excellent resource!!!!, November 13, 2010
For such a small book this thing has almost everything from the large version. The only noticeable differences are where there was a whole list of options, like types of camp fires in the big book, there are only the most useful in this mini guide. Like other reviewers note what makes this book so great is that it is small enough to slip into your pack and forget about it. You could have the most comprehensive survival book in the world and it would be worthless if you didn't bring it with you. The only thing I don't like about this little guy is the fact that the cover turns to mush if it gets a little rain on it. It really should be made more like a field guide with a plastic cover. The way I solved this problem was taking packing tape and doing a self-lamination job on the cover. Now I like it much better because I don't have to worry about it. If you decide to do this just use some 3M (or similar quality tape) because the cheap stuff gets all sticky in the heat and over time. I consider this right up there with water, whistle and emergency blanket as a must have item in my backpack. Just as a side note - The Amazon price is not discounted for some reason so you may want to find a coupon and buy it in a traditional book store. I paid 4 bucks for mine.

love it, December 25, 2010
I am extremely fond of this book. It's a great addition to my survival kit (bug out bag) that I am building. I enjoy looking at the pictures, (colored pictures) and learning about the things inside. The size is something to consider though. Sometimes, for some, it is potentially hard to read. But, then again it fits into smaller survival kits very well. In my kit, size is not a problem so it doesn't necessarily matter, but it is great to stick in your pocket. Even if you know everything inside that book, it's great to pass time with. Especially in a survival situation. For the quality, the topics it covers and how it covers them, as well as the price it is a great buy. Don't forget this next time you need a good gift :p

Very informative, December 3, 2010
I just skimmed through this, because it is a present for my dad. It seems to be very imformative. I love how small it is, and I did not realize it would be that small. Hope he likes it!

Very small but handy, November 6, 2010
I bought both this and the larger version. The larger one is superior, a bit longer and much easier to read. However, this is a very handy reference to toss into a bug out bag or kit. If you've never read it before, and can get only one, go for the larger one. If you're looking for a small, more compact reference, this Gem book is it.

good survival guide, April 26, 2010
The book was somewhat smaller than I realized. I had a bit of difficult time reading the small print in the book. But, other than that it was a good survival guide. ... Read more

Editorial Review

$14.95 gatefold paper * 1-58685-234-5 * May

6 x 9 in, 192 pp, 70 Line Drawings, 16 Color Photo Pages

Rights: W, Survival/Nature

"If you breathe and have a pulse, you NEED this book."

-Cody Lundin

Cody Lundin, director of the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Prescott, Arizona, shares his own brand of wilderness wisdom in this highly anticipated new book on commonsense, modern survival skills for the backcountry, the backyard, or the highway. It is the ultimate book on how to stay alive-based on the principal of keeping the body's core temperature at a lively 98.6 degrees. In his entertaining and informative style, Cody stresses that a human can live without food for weeks, and without water for about three days or so. But if the body's core temperature dips much below or above the 98.6 degree mark, a person can literally die within hours. It is a concept that many don't take seriously or even consider, but knowing what to do to maintain a safe core temperature when lost in a blizzard or in the desert could save your life. Lundin delivers the message with wit, rebellious humor, and plenty of backcountry expertise.

Cody Lundin and his Aboriginal Living Skills School have been featured in dozens of national and international media sources, including Dateline NBC, CBS News, USA Today, The Donny and Marie Show, and CBC Radio One in Canada, as well as on the cover of Backpacker magazine. When not teaching for his own school, he is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College and a faculty member at the Ecosa Institute. Cody is the only person in Arizona licensed to catch fish with his hands, and lives in a passive solar earth home sixty miles from Prescott, Arizona. ... Read more

Reviews

Reality at its best, August 3, 2004
Excellent book on survival. I am glad someone finally divides "SURVIVAL" from "Wilderness Living Skills" I would venture to say that most people that provide bad reviews of this book are looking for texts in Wilderness Living Skills. There are other books for that. I use 98.6 for a text book in our Search and Rescue Team training. In reality most victims succumb to hypothermia in survival situations other than trying to catch fish with a shoe string and a safety pin. It is reality at its best, presented in a humorous fashion.

Ted Fisher, Vermilion County Search and Rescue

A Fresh New Look at Survival, August 27, 2004
It's about time I pick up a book that has more than a list of survival skills. In fact, this book doesn't make any attempt to teach you how to trap animals or construct log furniture in the wilderness. Instead, you learn how to idetify potential survival situations and avoid getting into them if possible. If you do, backcountry knowledge will be helpful but it will be even better if you know how to take care of the basics such as controling fear and focusing on keeping your body at a comfy 98.6 degrees. I absolutely loved this book. There is discussion of psychology, biology, and physiology, all in a basic easy to understand format. Lundin's writing style is as if he were there talking to you. One of my personal favorites of the book is the chapter on survival kits, complete with color photographs. I thought I had a pretty good kit but after reading this, I need to make a few changes. If you spend any time in the world, anywhere, I recommend this book. If you want to know how to build monster solar stills, trap wild animals, and spear fish, look elsewhere. This book rocks!

It kept my ass alive!, May 12, 2005
Prior to embarking on a rugged solo day hike in AZ's Superstition Wilderness, I read this book cover to cover. (I'm a middle-aged, East Coast trail hiker who hasn't hiked recently, so survival was a major consideration.) My desert day hike turned into an overnight stay on a canyon ledge far from the trailhead. Thanks to Cody Lundin's book, I maintained a "party on" attitude, was fully prepared (both with equipment and mentally), and spent a fabulous night watching the stars. The right attitude is everything! Enjoyed the humor and common sense approach of his writing. His examples stick with you when you need them. Great tips on putting together a practical, personal survival kit that will work anywhere. There's now one in my pack and one in my car. Lots of useful information on how to overcome fear and keep your head.

Skewers Many a Sacred Cow About Wilderness Survival..., February 24, 2007
This book works for many reasons:

1. Unlike alot of wilderness survival books that are cut and paste jobs from military manuals, Cody's book is funny, entertaining, and highly readable while remaining on topic-hence the info conveyed will stay with you.
But don't be fooled by the gonzo approach. Cody knows what he's talking about. The first few chapters about maintaining core body temperature should probably be read more than once.

2. Cody covers the base essentials: wear proper clothing, maintain core body temperature, and prepare for the 72-hour survival window. Learning how to snare a deer, while fun, with your boot string probably won't come into play during most wilderness survival ordeals. (I did actually learn how to do this at a survival course in Virginia.)
And here's the statistical bottomline of Cody's overall philosophy: if you aren't located in the first 72 hours, your chance of survival and rescue drops to 3%. Of course this doesn't mean you give up, but that's the statistical reality.

3. Cody devotes a substantial part of the book on how to build a personal survival kit. I really like his approach: the kit should be portable and cheap; hence, you can build several, test them beforehand, easily replace items, and become intimately familiar with them. No need to buy a $120 Doug Ritter Survival Knife or $150 Delta Life Capsule unless you have money to burn or are a survival gear junkie like me.

4. And let me say one last thing...military manuals written about survival should be taken with a grain of salt; in a survival situation, your goal should be to stay loud and visible until found; in the military, even in a survival situation, our goal is to remain invisible and undetected until rescued; usually with the aid of radio and satellite.

You cannot go wrong with this book., March 2, 2006
If you are involved in *any* outdoor activity, even if you just walk to your mailbox and back, this is a book you should have.

Filled with all kinds of insightful tips, tricks, and Cody's personal take on the survival kit, it stands up better than many of the other books in the field.

What I like most is Cody's survival kit, a core to the book. It is small (fits in a fanny pack), lightweight (under 5 lbs), and inexpensive (no costs given, but I priced it out at well under $50 and that is buying much of the pieces at a regular retailer, as opposed to a discount store).

Go ahead, pick up a copy, you can't go wrong.

A great guide to getting out of a survival situation., October 9, 2006
Unless something is wrong with you, your goal when thrust into a survival situation is to get out of it as fast as you can. That is the premise of this book. You won't find detailed instructions on building and using a fire bow. You won't find recomendations on the biggest, baddest knife. The one used in the book has about a 4 inch blade and retails for less than $20. You will find practicle suggestions for fire. You will also find suggestions on assembling a survival kit that's thorough but not enormous. There is scientific discussion on the human body's reaction to the environment. All of this is presented in a humorous style. The book focuses on preparation for a survival situation and how to get out of it. Not learning flint knapping, snare building, dead falls, etc. I found the book informative and easy to read. Those offended by the few cartoon characters should get a life.

Everybody Ought To Read This First, Like It Or Not!, June 17, 2009
OK, here's the deal. If you've ever read through one of the exhaustive, "Military-FM-Type" survival manuals (some of which are really great, by the way - Lofty Wiseman's classic comes to mind), you know that they often detail a half-dozen ways to improvise and use fishing gear, maybe a dozen different snares and deadfalls, and several dozen or more species of wild edibles. Absolutely none of which are included in Cody Lundin's book.

And they darn well shouldn't be. Simple as that.

Because even a cursory glance at survival/rescue statistics will support Cody's assertion that the vast majority of wilderness survival scenarios, barring getting lost in the Amazon or something (if that's a possibility for you, by all means check out Wiseman, but AFTER you've read this -- what's here still applies), occur over a 72 hour period or less. This book is about making it through that three day period. That means that, given an average amount of body fat, you could have not eaten for a couple of WEEKS before you got lost and probably still come out okay. Food's just not an issue for short term survival, folks.

But hypothermia and hyperthermia? Now THOSE are issues, as another casual glance at the statistics will confirm. What's the number one killer? Not a failure to eat. Not a failure to navigate by the stars. Not even a failure to adequately execute a figure-four deadfall. Nope. The number one killer is a failure to adequately regulate core body temperature.

The problem is, everybody else glosses over this particular subject on their way to the really cool improvised fishing tackle and blowguns. I mean EVERYBODY. I love the books by Lofty Wiseman, Greg Davenport, Bradford Angier, and Ray Mears, just to name a few. I really do, and I think they're all worthwhile reads. But maintaining temperature is given barely a mention in these works; maybe a paragraph each for arctic and desert extremes, maybe a page or two in the first aid section. And it's the NUMBER ONE KILLER!

What the reading of Cody Lundin's book does is hammer this realization into your brain by way of repetition, mnemonics, humor, and cartoons. These things aren't filler, as has been suggested; they're part of a bona fide teaching methodology. And it's a methodology that works. The book actually affects your behavior on (or off) the trail. You'll find yourself constantly monitoring your body, your clothing, your fluid intake. If you go out with loved ones, you'll find yourself far less cavalier concerning their environmental safety. And if something does happen, to you or to someone else, you'll by God know what to do about it. All of which are Really Good Things.

So, yes, there are certainly more complete technical manuals on the market, and I urge anyone even remotely interested to check them out. But the fact is that hypo/hyperthermia isn't something that should be relegated to a blurb, like treating a snakebite or building an igloo. It's SERIOUS and, whoever you are, if you play outside you're LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ONE OR BOTH at some point. So start here. Enjoy Cody's style, or not. Laugh at the cartoons, or not. But read it, because if you do I guarantee that the information that's here will stick with you, and might just save your life.

Just the facts..., January 30, 2006
And you will get more than that in this gem of a book. This book is not about long term survival but is focused on how to avoid injury or death in a far more common scenario - backcountry emergency, the trip gone bad, etc...Well researched information on what the body requires to get out alive. I especially enjoyed the survial kit photos (well done) and descriptions. I would have to say this is one of the most useful books on the subject and from a man who has real experience to share.

Lots of valuable information and easy to understand, February 9, 2006
The goal of Lundin's book is to teach you how to survive until help arrives. As such, he doesn't attempt to teach primitive living skills. As he points out, it's not that they're without value, but the most common wilderness emergency situation is being stranded in the middle of nowhere for a few days. His in-depth explanations of how the body succumbs to hypothermia and hyperthermia are well written and serve to drive home his points regarding proper clothing and hydration. Lundin also stresses the importance of keeping your head and offers useful advice for doing so. The section on survival kits is highly informative with good logical explanations for each item included. The author provides valuable, easy-to-follow instructions in other areas as well (such as fire starting and signaling rescuers). There isn't much at all on land navigation, but then again that's not the subject Lundin is dealing with. The book, while well written and often humorous, frequently uses language that's unnecessarily raw, but given the excellent information presented, it's easily overlooked. This is a well written text that provides a great deal of information in a format that is easily understood.

A must-read for any hiker, hunter, camper, etc., August 25, 2007
If you believe the TV drama crap in the show "Man vs. Wild" where Grylls is scaling cliffs and jumping into freezing rivers, this book isn't for you because Cody Lundin actually wants you to live. The book 98.6 Degrees tells you statistically that most people who die in the wilderness die from hypothermia and hypothermia -- not from avalanches, bear attacks, etc. But most people don't want to hear this maybe because it isn't exciting enough.

I think of this book as the foundation from which all survivalism studies should start. The book really goes into great detail into the "whys" of exposure and other conditions one commonly faces in the wild. You need this information so that you can adapt and think on your own for the unique situation you may face. Cody challenges traditional survivalism manuals and has the personal experience to back up what he writes. One reviewer labeled this book as a kum-bay-ya book, but the book is exactly the opposite. The book speaks with life saving frankness and flat out tells you that you will be worm food if you make certain wrong decisions.

The book has some great color photos and diagrams as well and has perhaps the best and most thorough advice on assembling a survival kit I've seen (the book explains why store bought kits are seriously lacking). The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt the book, at times, spends a little too much time on trivia knowledge (e.g., history of the match) at the expense of more knowledge on shelter building strategies, how to build a fire, etc. I want more info on how to put the survival kit to use. I suppose that might be in a sequel to this wonderful book. Despite minor shortcomings, this book has completely changed how I look at preparing for and handling survival situations. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Includes FREE Pedometer!

Congratulations! You've just taken the most important step toward ensuring your optimal weight and better health--making the commitment to do something about it. Few activities provide as much overall health benefits as walking, and did you know that on a daily basis you probably already walk 900 to 3,000 steps, even with a relatively sedentary lifestyle?

Celebrity fitness trainer GREG ISAACS and 10,000 Steps a Day(tm) to Your Optimal Weight shows you how making modest changes to your daily routine can easily increase your walking count to 10,000 steps, helping to:

* REDUCE YOUR RISK of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and osteoporosis

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* DECREASE stress, anger, tension and fatigue

Walking not only fights the effects of aging, but it's safe, easy, inexpensive, and best of all... it works! Complete with tips on healthy eating habits and encouraging success stories, this easy-to-follow guide will outline the number of steps involved in your everyday activities--from taking the stairs at work, to shopping for groceries, to walking the dog! You can even customize your walking program to suit your current fitness level and personal weight loss goals.

The 10,000 Steps a Day(tm) program is ideal for anyone wanting to shed unwanted pounds and maintain good overall health. WALK your way to a trimmer, healthier YOU! ... Read more

Reviews

Finally, a fitness program that works for me!, January 16, 2007
I love this book! I have never been good about exercise, and usually just get overwhelmed about starting a fitness plan, or if I do, I can't stick with it. Too busy, too tired, etc. I finally gave up on my diet and fitness books (I own a ton I never use). But a friend was recently inspired to start with 10,000 STEPS after she heard the author on the radio. She said it has really motivated her, so she recommended it, thinking I could easily do it, too.

I was skeptical as always, but I promised I would try it, and we started doing some of our walking together. I wanted to post a review and let people know that this book is great! For some reason, after all the other stuff I've tried, the 10,000 STEPS A DAY plan is actually working for me. I started using the pedometer that comes with the book as soon as I got it, about a month and a half ago, and Ive already increased my daily steps to 10K, just by using some of the super easy tips and suggestions he gives you. I especiallly like how simple the book is to follow. Unlike some of my other ones, the author doesn't seem to ask too much of you at once. He makes you believe that just simply walking really CAN help you get healthy. After about 6 wks, I not only have more energy, am in a better mood, etc., but I've miraculously lost almost 5 POUNDS already! And it really doesn't even take much time out of my day. Counting with the pedometer really helps me to know when I need to do something more to get my step count up for the day. There is SO much great info about how even the simplest changes can help (incl. eating tips, like replacing soda with tea, how to eat less salt, sample menus). After I do this a bit longer and hopefully see more results, I am going to try to start some of his strength training exercises, too. I have so much more energy already, just from the past 6 weeks, it doesn't feel as overwhelming anymore to think about gradually adding a few strength exercises during the week.

After only 6 weeks and minimal effort I already feel like I found something I can stick with, finally! It's been a little cold lately, but I'm able to use my husband's treadmill on bad days to keep my step count up. I love this book and would highly recommend it to anyone frustrated like I was. Another thing is it's small and portable, so I always have it tucked in my bag. When I have a few extra minutes, I always manage to find another helpful tip to keep me motivated. Different things work for different people, but I really would encourage anyone to try this. If it's working for me, it could work for anyone! I don't know if I'll ever get so crazy about exercise that I become a gym rat, but walking is SO easy for me, and if I'm dicsiplined about it, it really does help. Also, on each page the author mentions www.tenksteps.com. I discovered that there are more of his tips there, and there are also a few people on the program who are keeping a blog about their progress, which is also encouraging to read now and then. Mr. Issacs, if you're reading this, thank you! What else can I say? BUY THIS BOOK!

Easy way to Health and Fitness, March 24, 2007
Anyone can use this book. It is written in a friendly, easy to read and understand style. Easy to get started on a life-long healthy activity that anyone, any age, young or elder, can do. We all feel better when we exercise and this is an inexpensive, easy to do it. The information, instruction, advice are great. We loved the quotes too. Highly recommend this book to purchase and use.

Great Book, Great Program, Poor Pedometer, March 1, 2008
The information in the book is easy to follow and I have already started losing weight on a 10,000 steps program. However I am using a different, inexpensive pedometer because I found the pedometer included with the book counted every jiggle of my leg as a step - over counting steps by the thousands. Book is recommended, pedometer is not.

A good choice for the information, May 20, 2008
It would not be appropriate for me to try to walk 10,000 steps a day at this point in my life. I'm 67, have bad knees and arthritis. I had knee surgery a couple of years ago and that did get me off the walker and cane, but I'm still not normal for a woman of my age.

The book is great because it doesn't take it for granted that you are 35 and just a bit under-active. There is information in there even for people like me. And even a surprise because it turned out that I had already progressed into the moderate activity range, if only just barely.

The book explains how to find your own baseline. Where you are now. It explains how to set up a reasonable goal for increasing activity. And how to do that even if you are never going to run a marathon.

Nothing new to a regular exercises, May 1, 2008
I bought a pedometer and wanted to add 10,000 steps a day to amp up my exercise routine. It suggests you wear the pedometer for 2 weeks to get a baseline steps per day. I bought the book and was ready to get started and I was not interested in waiting for 2 more weeks. There was nothing new to learn from this book except how many step a minute you can count for other exercises. I teach 8 water aerobic classes a week and wanted to now how to count that. My summary of the book is "skip the book, buy a better pedometer and start walking 10,000 or more steps a day:.

A Helpful Healthy Journey, December 17, 2007
This book not only provides insight on "How to Get to YOUR Optimal Weight", it also provides so many helpful things to gain better health. I am grateful for this book because it is helping "me" to gain perspective on becoming a better, much leaner, and healthier person. The contents have inspired, motivated, and encouraged me to continue on my Healthy Journey!!!

Pretty good incentive..., March 29, 2009
Too much information in this tiny little print booklet but there are portions that give you that much needed incentive. The pedometer included is the most basic so I gave it to my granddaughter for her first one. Just OK overall. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Next EXIT helps you find gas, food, lodging and any other service you may desire before you exit the interstate highway. Anyone who travels needs this BIBLE of the interstate highways in the car. ... Read more