Rating: Summary: If You're Ever Hanging From A Cliff -- Have This Book Handy! Review: If you should ever...be on Safari in Kenya and suddenly your Jeep is surrounded by charging rhinos, you'd probably quietly resite Psalm 27; but if you've read and pondered "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook", a logical way out of this tricky situation is laid out for you. -- We've all locked our keys in our car before; there are ways to get back in there and drive happily into the sunset, the tricks are reveiled here! -- I must admit that 80% of the "worst case scenarios" will probably never happen to the average person like you and me, but all the things listed here that don't "hit home" are at least rather amusing. This book makes a great gift, if not as a "little hint", then as a cute gag. I highly recommend this book to young adults, who still seem to have a false sense of "invincibility". If you think you will never be in any of these situations, sober up and read this book!
Rating: Summary: Funny and Strange Ways to Survive Review: In "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook", compilers Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht present a handful of strange and dangerous situations: landing a plane, escaping a mountain lion, jumping from a building into a dumpster, breaking into a car -- all in an entertaining way. Drawing from a list of experts (outlined in the back of the book), the reader can learn all kinds of interesting skills that, in the idea of the compilers, could save your life. I enjoyed the book, and it takes no more than 90 minutes to read. However, some sections were confusing, and some of the illustrations would not help me if I were, say, trying to spin my car to elude pursuers. I hope that I never have to jump from a motorcycle to a moving car -- but at least now I know how to do it should the occasion arise. The book does make you think about our dangerous world, if nothing else.
Rating: Summary: Be careful! You won't land a plane following this advice Review: I am alarmed that some readers seem to be taking this book seriously. I am not qualified to comment on most of the other sections but I *do* know how to land small planes and believe me you are not going to land a plane following the instructions here. I hope the rest is better, but I seriously doubt that the authors have any hands on experience.For the record, if you are worried you may have to land a plane one day there is no substitute for a few practical lessons.
Rating: Summary: A must have -- definite crowd pleaser Review: I bought this book for a friend and EVERYBODY was dying on the floor laughing. Very good and I'm sure there's some practicality in there somewhere.
Rating: Summary: Very Funny in an almost-serious sort of way Review: Some will take this book more seriously than others, but I doubt that many people "get to" try these "tricks." The book provides great entertainment, though. I read another book wherein the author -- though it is not a survival book per se -- did actually experience a few of these scenarios. For instance, there was a gator fight, and he has the pictures in the book to prove it. Other "adventures" include running for his life from the police (again, with pictures to prove it). The title is "Danger Close," and it would seem these two books go together as they are both hilarious at times, but have an undertone reality. Also, the book "Danger Close" talks about how to survive a police interrogation -- which the author did. Next we need a book on how to survive the new iron-eating termites.
Rating: Summary: Fun and informative...read this just in case! Review: This is a fun book filled with things you may have wondered about, but had no idea who to ask. It is not every day that you will use this information...but when (and if) you do, I guarantee that you will thank your lucky stars that you read this. The book is an easy read in one sitting, but also makes a great "bathroom book." While it is fun, the advice seems well researched, and will prepare you for the potential shark encouter, aligator attack, or the need to fly the plane when the pilot becomes incapacitated. Although not your average how to book...it is one I am glad to have read...just in case. Jordan Ayan - Author: Aha! 10 Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas.
Rating: Summary: Awesome! Review: This book tells you how to do everything! Break into a car, break down a door, just about everything. It is a MUST for any firefighter, police officer, or anyone else working in public safety.
Rating: Summary: W. Mitty, Here I Come! by fermed Review: This is a very funny book. Can't tell whether in each case the authors are serious or not (they seem to be); but what they have put out is grist to the mill for all the Walter Mitty's out there. No sooner had I picked up the book that I realized my pilot was dead...and I cound't fly the plane. I immediately pulled him away and took his seat at the controls. I signaled MAYDAY and requested landing instructions and soon a voice was guiding me into a flawless landing. As I was walking away from the plane, I spied a mountain lion on a promontory near my path. He looked ready to jump at me. I immediately unzipped my safari jacket and held its flaps open in order to make myself appear much larger than I really am, exactly as the book recommends on page 54. The cougar took a look, wimpered, and fled. I was approaching a hangar nearby when I saw a man in distress. He was lying on the ground, passed out, probably from an obstruction in his throat. I tried the Heimlich maneuver three times (as the book recommends, p. 88) but it did not help and I soon realized that an emergency tracheotomy was in order. I reached for my faithful (and very sharp) Buck pocket knife , and after finding the indentation between the Adam's apple and the cricoid cartilage, I swiftly made a half inch long, half inch deep, horizontal incision at that point. I created a tube by ripping the yellow cover off my "The Worst Case Scenario," rolling it to fit into the incision. The man soon started breathing. Oh, the joy of it all! Since then I have fended off a shark attack, delivered a baby in a taxicab, and survived an avalanche. All of those things and many more are there for you to enjoy. Just hope that you never start choking near a reader of this book.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining and educational, but not useful (I hope!) Review: I was given this book as a gift. From the cover and the title, I assumed it was a humourous book. I was really surprised when I started to read it, to discover that it is a serious summary of how to survive any number of disasters. Quicksand. Being eaten by an alligator. Needing to jump from one moving vehicle to another. Each of these situations is explored with an eye to helping you survive it in as good health as possible. (Some of them you probably can't survive without injury: this book explains why and how you can minimize the injury you suffer.) I was surprised by how interesting the book was. It's written in a clean, clear style, which would be easy to understand in case of emergency. My only fear is that in case of emergency, I would not have the book with me. On the other hand, the book gives lots of suggestions for staying out of worst-case situations altogether, which is certainly useful. I found this book to be an enjoyable read, and I learned a lot from it. I just hope I never have to use any of the things I learned!
Rating: Summary: This must have been MacGyver's bible Review: Seriously, this has all the information the encyclopedia left out. A scream, especially when the authors tell you things like, "the chute opening shock will be severe, probably enough to dislocate or break your arms;" or how to deliver a baby in a taxicab. The information is logical and plausible, but if you are traversing "quicksand country," or other dangerous situations described by the book, it is doubtful that you would have time to whip this out and look for instructions. But this is the kind of manual Tom Hanks would have loved to have on that desert island in Cast Away!
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