The Survival Handbook

The Survival Handbook (1991) – Jim Aitken and John Muston
New Orchard | ISBN: 9781850791713
Condition: Good | Sold by Crappy Old Books

Survival. That most fundamental of human activities, practised successfully by our ancestors for hundreds of thousands of years before somebody invented central heating, supermarkets and the reassuring certainty that a takeaway pizza could be summoned without leaving the sofa. Unfortunately, modern civilisation has left many of us spectacularly ill-equipped to cope with anything more demanding than a power cut, a cancelled train or the horrifying discovery that our mobile telephone has no signal.

Welcome to The Survival Handbook, Jim Aitken and John Muston’s practical guide to the ancient art of staying alive when circumstances have taken a distinctly unpleasant turn.

The wilderness is a magnificent place. Majestic mountains, beautiful forests, sparkling rivers and enormous open spaces offer a refreshing escape from the pressures of modern living. Unfortunately, nature has never shown much interest in whether its visitors are comfortable, properly dressed or capable of distinguishing an edible plant from something likely to bring their expedition to a regrettably premature conclusion.

Survival requires knowledge, preparation and the ability to remain calm when everything has gone spectacularly wrong.

Finding or constructing shelter, maintaining warmth, locating drinking water, obtaining food and navigating unfamiliar terrain are among the essential challenges of wilderness survival. Each sounds perfectly straightforward when discussed from a comfortable armchair, but matters become considerably more complicated when it is raining horizontally, darkness is approaching and the only equipment available consists of a damp box of matches and a biscuit.

The great irony of survival training is that many of its most important lessons concern avoiding the need to survive in the first place. Sensible planning, suitable clothing, proper equipment and an understanding of environmental hazards are considerably preferable to discovering through personal experience how unpleasant hypothermia can be.

And while wilderness adventures may look wonderfully romantic in photographs, the reality frequently involves insects, blisters, unsuitable weather and the gradual realisation that the picturesque stream beside your campsite has apparently been adopted by every mosquito in the county.

A handbook of this kind offers an engaging introduction to practical self-reliance, resourcefulness and the importance of thinking clearly under pressure. It also provides a fascinating reminder of how much knowledge earlier generations possessed simply because everyday life demanded it.

Published in 1991, the book belongs to an era before smartphones, GPS applications and portable satellite communicators became commonplace. Its advice should therefore be read with an awareness that equipment, emergency procedures and medical guidance have evolved since publication.

Nevertheless, the fundamental principles of preparation, sound judgement and respect for one’s surroundings remain as relevant as ever.

This 1991 New Orchard edition, offered in Good condition by Crappy Old Books, is an appealing acquisition for outdoor enthusiasts, campers, hikers, bushcraft beginners and readers fascinated by the practical challenges of surviving beyond the conveniences of civilisation.

An entertaining and useful addition to the bookshelf, particularly for anyone contemplating an ambitious expedition into the wilderness.

Because the great outdoors can be an immensely rewarding place.

Provided you remember that the wilderness has absolutely no obligation to reward you.

And unlike a disappointing hotel, you cannot simply complain to reception when the roof leaks, the heating fails and something enormous starts making noises outside your bedroom.

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