Wilderness Survival by Gregory J. Davenport (2006, Paperback, Revised)

#1) This guy know what he is talking about. There is no doubt about that.

I bought this book because I am traveling 780 miles in a canoe this summer and thought, "Well, it would be nice to know how to survive if something bad happens (like a canoe getting away or getting in a close encounter with a bear). I still back up my reasoning, but this book doesn't cover much of what I hoped it would AND covers some other things in such tremendous detail, more than once, that it becomes menotnous to read.

#2) For example, he explains how to make about a half dozen shelters in the wild out of snow. Well, great... but why? Especially when it is recommended over and over to be creative and innovative and just follow the basic ideas - where many of the 'basic ideas' are similar in each example.

This would be great knowledge, if I ever have to need it. The only thing I was thinking as I read was, "Well, next time I get into a snowball fight with the kids, I'll be set on making the fort" but other than that...

#3) This is not a book to get the kiddos at Christmas. The reading level is, I'd say, around 10th grade. If you're thinking about getting your child a survival book because "Little Johnny" wants to know what kinds of plants he can eat for some reason uncomprehensible to you, this is not the book. Even as a college graduate, I find myself going back and rereading items to make sure I know exactly what I am reading.

#4) The reason I gave it a '4 star' reading is because I think the author:
a) assumes that the reader is very experienced in 'outdoor activities.
b) the author often says the same thing over and over again. Tough to read this book straight through.
c) Covers "Too Much" without much in detail. He jumps from desert survival skills to artic skills at a page turn and the reader is often left to wonder why.

#5) Finally- the best part of this book is that it does have some VERY good ideas for what to keep in a survival kit, what kind of equipment he recommends, and an EXCELLENT basic plan to survival.

--If I even have to use one thing from this book on the canoe trip, however, I'm probably about dead. This is a 'worst-case' book that, I think if I got into a positiion where anything in this book was relevant, I'd proably have died already about 40 minutes prior.

I really hope that helps you make a choice on the best survival book for YOU!