Product Description

This is a handbook for life's turns for the worse. It provides step-by-step instructions on everything from how to wrestle an alligator, and defuse a bomb, to how to escape from quick sand, an elevator or a volcanic eruption.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9161 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review

How to Wrestle Free From an Alligator: 4. If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (for example, a limb), tap or punch it on the snout.

Though it's being marketed as a "humorous" title--after all, it's unlikely you'll be called upon to land a plane, jump from a motorcycle to a moving car or win a sword fight--the information contained in The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is all quite sound. Authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht consulted numerous experts in their fields (they're cited at the end of the book) to discover how to survive various and sundry awful events. Parachute doesn't open? Your best bet for survival is to hook your arms through the straps of a fellow jumper's chute--and even then you're likely to dislocate both shoulders and break both legs. Car sinking in water? Open the window immediately to equalise pressure, then open the car door and swim to the surface. Buried in an avalanche? Spit on the snow--it will tell you which direction is really up. Then dig as fast as you can. Each survival skill is explained in simple steps with helpful illustrations. Most stress the need to be prepared--both mentally and physically. For example, to escape from quicksand, you will need to lay a pole on the surface of the quicksand, flop on your back atop the pole and pull your legs out one by one. No pole? No luck. "When walking in quicksand country, carry a stout pole--it will help you get out should you need to."

Hopefully you'll never need to know how to build a fire without matches, perform a tracheotomy or treat a bullet wound. But in the words of Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Instructor "Mountain" Mel Deweese, "You never know." --Sunny Delaney

Customer Reviews

Absolutely fascinating!!
I can't *really* see why people think this book is funny - OK yeah, some of the stories made me grin quite wildly. But that is by no means a criticism; It's absolutely fascinating and gives a bit of confidence to those people who worry about everything, even the most unlikely events.

A good way to pass some time
This is a very interesting book although it is highly unlikely you'll remember the sterling advice it contains if you ever find yourself in one of the situations. It is just a fun read that you can just sit down and enjoy and then tell your pals in the pub all about.

A very useful book - if you're James Bond!
I think what I liked most about this book is its attitude that no matter how absurd the scenarios seem, normal everyday people do end up in them, and it's all about survival - living beyond - that situation. Although I may never need to know how to escape from bears or dodge a hail of bullets, it's comforting to know I have a better idea now of what do do if I did. And it's an amusing read anyway. A great stocking filler.