There's a lot of in-depth information in here. The author has taught survival classes - Army and other - for several years. The book covers general and specific survival techniques in multiple environments from desert to temperate to arctic to open sea, including first aid, wild food, the basics of wise survival decisions (starting with, do I move or stay here?)...and more, and more. He recommends, constantly, that you practice all this stuff _before_ you go out into the wilderness and try to use it - which is a good idea; this big, heavy book would not be a good thing to take along on a hiking trip, and would be unlikely to be within reach in an emergency situation.
Unfortunately, as I read, I got more dubious. On the few areas I actually know something about (knots, for instance), I found places where the diagram, the labels on the diagram, and the text disagree; I could figure out how it ought to go, but that's because I know that subject. What errors are there in the subjects I don't know about? Similarly, he recommends sheltering from a hurricane or tornado by climbing to the top of an underpass and tucking into the smallest space possible - something that's specifically recommended _against_ by multiple weather and disaster authorities. A few minor typos - of the sort that wouldn't be caught by a spell-checker but would by an actual proofreader - added to my concern over the accuracy of the book (though since I got the book through Early Reviewers, it may be a pre-production copy. Doesn't look like it, though - it seems to be a finished book). In the end, I didn't feel I could fully rely on the information I got from this book, which makes it pretty well useless for survival training. ( )

This book could save your life asserts the cover blurb, and indeed it could. What if you're adrift at sea in a life raft with no water? Stumble on a grizzly bear in the wilderness, or worse still, a hippopotamus? Lost in an African jungle or the Brazilian rainforest?

Do you know how to build a fire without matches, construct a shelter in the forest or the desert, or attract rescuers from a mountain top? Need to build a solar still for water, catch small birds for food, or make a gill net or a harpoon? And what do you for the inevitable burns, frostbite, snakebite, heat prostration, insect stings, and intestinal parasites?

This book is the ultimate survival guide, and of exactly the quality one would expect of a DK book. It is full of clear color diagrams, bulleted text, charts, tables, and above all, valuable information. While a softcover field guide version might be nice, the wise survivalist will find a place in the backpack for this valuable volume in whatever form. Stay - at home types will enjoy it too, as it offers a vicarious experience of potential dangers and how to face them with skill and confidence. And best part of all, it's a reference work that can be picked up and read almost at random.

For my part, next time I go on an expedition to a remote area, I will make sure to have read relevant parts of this book. In the meantime, it's awfully nice to know what to do when elephants attack, how to build make-shift snowshoes, and which insects to catch for food. ( )

One line review: It's like having Bear Grylls in a book.

More broadly... lots and lots of great information, from the very basic to the advance. And including some of which the typical adventurer will likely have little occasion to use. But as those who spend time in the outdoors know, it's important to be over-prepared.

Scout-age youth will greatly enjoy this book... it's the sort of book that lends itself to being read in short bursts. And it's a great tool for Scout leaders to use before heading out in the field.

Looking forward to the publishers putting together a "field guide"-sized version. ( )

This is a nice hardcover book. It is a bit big and heavy to carry with you but a great reference to have at home. Overall I think that it gives a pretty good feel for what you really need to know. It tries to cover survival anywhere from the ocean to the desert so it is not all applicable to any given location and it cannot go into as great of depth as a specialized book.
I don’t particularly care for the pictures style which look kind of like posterized photos but they are very usable.
So far I am pretty pleased with the layout and I like the fact that it is up to date technology wise (for the time being). Many of my survival books are from WWII, Vietnam or other distant eras so having something written with the latest technology in mind is helpful. This includes the mention of things like pocket chain saws, led lights, GPS’ and some basic information on PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons).
In this book the author attempts to cover every type of climate and although that is nice it does mean that each area is covered somewhat briefly. For example in the edible wild plants section they try to cover each of the climates, so there is a two page spread for temperate plants, another for desert plants, another for tropical, another for cold climates and another for coastal. This means that wherever you are there are only about 10 plants listed. The information on each of these is also limited because of the limited space.
Here is an example:
Desert plants – Name: Agave (Agave spp.) – Where: Southern USA and Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northeastern South America. – Identification: Rosette of fleshy leaves with sharp tip and spiny margin. Central, tall flower stalk. – Edible part: Stalk, before in flower. Buds and flowers. – Preparation: Roast the stalk. Boil buds and flowers. – Beware of: Juice from many species can cause acute contact dermatitis, with reddening and blistering lasting 1-2 weeks. Leaves have needle-like ends. – Extra information: Roasted stalk tastes sweet, like molasses.

So although it looks like a very nice book as an overview and it does have lots of great information you may end up purchase individual books that specialize on each of the different topics of interest to you. ( )

The Survival Handbook is a very thorough source for information on outdoor survival. The book gives information on how to build a shelter, find or hunt food, survive animal attacks and read maps and compasses. It not only suggests equipment but tells you how to create your own in the field. The book contains detailed color drawings that make the instructions easy to follow. It also contain situational flow charts to help you make better decisions when faced with an emergency situation. This a very useful resource for those of us who enjoy the outdoors. ( )