New Book: The Survival Handbook in Association with the Royal Marines Commandos

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Just a quick heads up. Bought a copy of this new book today, and haven't had chance to read much of it yet, but at first glance I'm very impressed...
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OKQqGQIKL._SS500_.jpg
Very dodgy macho cover, but contents and diagrams (as you'd expect from Dorling Kindersley) are very comprehensive, I think it could become a future classic...
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9781405322362L_003.jpg

9781405322362L_002.jpg

Looking forward to reading it.
 

SMARTY

Nomad
May 4, 2005
382
3
60
UAE
www.survivalwisdom.com
I know the fella who wrote this book, he is a very well respected military survival instructor. The book has input from lots of the military survival schools in the Uk and elsewhere. A very good book with the proceeds going to a very good cause.
 

g4ghb

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 21, 2005
4,320
246
54
Wiltshire
I met the Author at the outdoors show when we asked about the Sea King hellis and he seemed really nice and very knowledgeable

He was the Head survival instructor for the Marines I believe but was very approachable - failed in his recruiting skills though mind you! ;)
 

Rebel

Native
Jun 12, 2005
1,052
6
Hertfordshire (UK)
When I saw that book it looked kind of familiar so I went to my son's room and looked at his books.

Well I don't have the same book but there's another similar book that I do have from DK called "The Commando Survival Manual" by Hugh McManners. It has what seems to be similar content, such as using and making a bow drill, building a shelter, foraging, etc.

ISBN 0 07513 0083 7

Again it's not as macho as the title suggests and has, like all DK books, excellent pictures.
 
H

He' s left the building

Guest
I had a scan of this book in Stanfords recently, I was very impressed by both the content and the presentation.

In addition to the illustrated techniques, I found that it wasn't simply a re-write of previous publications, the text had been brought up to date and was based on sound principles and reasoned thinking.
 

malcolmc

Forager
Jun 10, 2006
245
4
73
Wiltshire
www.webwessex.co.uk
Been steadily work through the book for a while now and, although there are references to the way the military do things, its firmly aimed at civilian needs. At the moment I’m reading the section on navigation and I think there are some quite serious issues with this material. Is there anyone else with this book who’s finding the same? I am concerned enough to be considering emailing the author but given his experience I’ll like confirmation on my take before I do so.

Thanks.
 
Been steadily work through the book for a while now and, although there are references to the way the military do things, its firmly aimed at civilian needs. At the moment I’m reading the section on navigation and I think there are some quite serious issues with this material. Is there anyone else with this book who’s finding the same? I am concerned enough to be considering emailing the author but given his experience I’ll like confirmation on my take before I do so.

Thanks.
I haven't read that chapter yet but I'll have a look. Do you thnk it's just bad advice, or serious errors?
 

malcolmc

Forager
Jun 10, 2006
245
4
73
Wiltshire
www.webwessex.co.uk
I haven't read that chapter yet but I'll have a look. Do you thnk it's just bad advice, or serious errors?

I think some of it may be just misprints (a compass bezel marked in degrees with a break in the number sequence and the last number greater than 360 [the scale is not mils]) followed by hurried proof reading. A little more of concern are things like the repetition of a common misconception on how to triangulate your position; you are not necessarily inside the triangle formed when the three bearing lines do not cross at a point - the error in the bearing may be either positive or negative and in the field you don't know which, best allow for both, IMHO.
 
May 7, 2009
6
0
Hampshire
Hi there and thanks for the kind words on my book. I think Ray Mears said that writing his first book was like giving birth and I now fully appreciate that statement!

malcolmc: well spotted with regards to the incorrect degree markings on the compass bezel, this was indeed an illustrator error and has been picked up for the second-print.

With regards to the representational triangle formed when plotting 3 back-bearings, the original text I wrote did explain the possibility of a positive or negative error, depending on factors such as: accuracy of the bearings being taken and transferred to the map, individual compass error (ICE), the scale of the map and even the thickness of the pencil mark being used to mark the line on the map (again depending on map scale). Unfortunately, as I came to learn, despite one's best efforts to explain everything in detail there is a constant battle in fitting all of your words into a certain space, in this instance there just was not enough room to include all of the text. In reality, if you have taken 3 bearings from 'seen' features you are probably going to be able to work out where you are in relation to the 'triangle' but I take your comments and will flag this up to amend the wording on the second re-print (subject to winning a fight with the editors:eek:). Many thanks for your comments anyways.

Just to let you know that the example pages of the book shown at the first post (above) and one of the linked pages are actually 'knock-up pages' that were used when designing the book and not the actual pages of the finished book.

Once again, thanks for your comments and just to let you know that I don't receive any royalties from the sales of the book, they go to the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Association to help our servicemen and women.

All the best
Colin
 
Dec 16, 2007
409
0
I have had this book for a while now and have gone through it but studied the bits that I want the most from.

I find it is good and up to date with equipment that we have all got in cluding the 58 poncho which all I used to use it for was a wet proof or basha, now it's a bed low down or on the a frame.

This I think may replace the SAS hand book for the future bushcrafters outthere.

Top book.
 

JonathanD

Ophiological Genius
Sep 3, 2004
12,809
1,479
Stourton,UK
Hi there and thanks for the kind words on my book. I think Ray Mears said that writing his first book was like giving birth and I now fully appreciate that statement!

malcolmc: well spotted with regards to the incorrect degree markings on the compass bezel, this was indeed an illustrator error and has been picked up for the second-print.

With regards to the representational triangle formed when plotting 3 back-bearings, the original text I wrote did explain the possibility of a positive or negative error, depending on factors such as: accuracy of the bearings being taken and transferred to the map, individual compass error (ICE), the scale of the map and even the thickness of the pencil mark being used to mark the line on the map (again depending on map scale). Unfortunately, as I came to learn, despite one's best efforts to explain everything in detail there is a constant battle in fitting all of your words into a certain space, in this instance there just was not enough room to include all of the text. In reality, if you have taken 3 bearings from 'seen' features you are probably going to be able to work out where you are in relation to the 'triangle' but I take your comments and will flag this up to amend the wording on the second re-print (subject to winning a fight with the editors:eek:). Many thanks for your comments anyways.

Just to let you know that the example pages of the book shown at the first post (above) and one of the linked pages are actually 'knock-up pages' that were used when designing the book and not the actual pages of the finished book.

Once again, thanks for your comments and just to let you know that I don't receive any royalties from the sales of the book, they go to the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Association to help our servicemen and women.

All the best
Colin

Welcome to BCUK Colin. I picked up your book, and let me tell you that I was very impressed. Lofty's book has been the at the top of the tree, and against which all other books are judged. I think that the your book and the way it is presented, has not only succeed in competing with LW's book, but beaten it. This is the new standard on which the others will be judged. Congratulations. The ease of use and picture content are absolutely superb :You_Rock_
 

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