Desert Survival Handbook

I was born and raised in Arizona, but we moved away for about ten years, so when we returned to the desert southwest, I thought I should get a book to brush up. I chose this one partly on its brevity, and partly on the reviews. My review ends up being mostly in response to the review by "Peter." This book is NOT a cyclopedic live-off-the-land survival book, it is a basic stay-alive-till-rescued handbook, and the author says this repeatedly throughout. I thought this quote from page 71 sums up the intent best: If you are intrigued with living off the land by 'root cooking and bug eating,' there are many manuals and guides available. This book's primary emphasis is on getting you home. Understand that, and you will find this book really gives you all the mental tools to be ready, to survive, and to get rescued. You just have to supply the physical tools and the mind to put them all together and use them.

I bought the DESERT SURVIVAL HANDBOOK by Charles Lehman while I was in the Mojave Desert, just for the heck of it, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of practical, life-saving information in it. I even read aloud some parts to various family members, including the tidbit that eating actually dehydrates you (I had no idea). This was a short, easy-to-read, handy little book that you should definitely take with you on a trip to the great outdoors. It's a great gift for that guy/gal who loves camping or hiking, or for anyone you know who drives through long stretches of desert. For better mileage, I'd stick this book in your bathroom as the "bathroom book," especially if you have a big household or get a lot of guests. You never know who might need info like this one day to survive. Plus, it's interesting!

This book is a basic necessity regardless of where you live. It contains practical ways of dealing with and preparing for critical situations, and makes you realize just how easy it would be to find yourself in those situations. If you are going to leave your house, have it in your car. If you are going to go to the park, have it in your lunch bag. And, for goodness sake, if you are going to venture out more than a few minutes from the general population - car, foot or bike - have it close at hand.

This is it, the original desert survival book, written by the man who did all the field research himself. Buy it, read it, and keep a copy in your car. It's full of useful information which may save your life.