The renewed SAS Survival Handbook combines classic wilderness wisdom with urban survival tips – handy for every situation.
Why a survival handbook in this day and age?
In a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable, more and more people want to prepare themselves for possible emergency situations. Whether it concerns extreme weather conditions, natural disasters or other crisis situations: basic knowledge about survival can literally make the difference between life and death. The SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman has been an authority in this field for decades, and not without reason.
About the author and the book
John “Lofty” Wiseman is not just an author who writes about survival techniques from a comfortable study. He served 26 years with the Special Air Service (SAS), an elite unit of the British Army, of which 18 years were in the SAS Survival School. In other words: if this man tells you how to build a shelter, you can be reasonably certain that it won’t collapse.
The SAS Survival Handbook was first published in 1986 and has since been updated and revised several times. The latest edition contains, in addition to the classic wilderness survival techniques, also a section on ‘urban survival’ – surviving in urban environments during crisis situations.
The book is structured in different chapters, each dealing with a crucial aspect of survival:
- Basic principles of survival
- Strategies and techniques
- Climate and terrain
- Food from nature
- Camping and shelters
- Reading tracks and navigation
- First aid and health
- Survival techniques in specific situations
- Urban survival: surviving in urban environments
- Preparing for emergencies in the modern world
With more than 670 pages in the complete edition, this is no light reading, but rather a comprehensive guide that leaves little to the imagination.
Strong points
If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it would be ‘thorough’. Wiseman truly leaves no stone unturned:
Practical illustrations
What distinguishes this book from many other survival guides are the detailed illustrations. Almost every technique is explained visually, from building shelters to recognising edible plants. The clarity of these drawings makes it surprisingly easy to identify edible plant species in the wild, for example.
Universal applicability
Whether you’re lost in a tropical rainforest, a desert, the polar regions or a temperate climate – the book covers survival techniques for virtually every environment on earth. This breadth makes it particularly valuable, even if you only have adventures in one specific area. The only disadvantage to this is that the book is a serious tome, which you don’t just take along in your rucksack.
Focus on mentality
What personally appeals to me is that Wiseman not only teaches practical skills, but also pays a great deal of attention to the psychological aspects of survival. He repeatedly emphasises that the right mentality often makes the difference between surviving and succumbing, even more than technical knowledge.
Critical observations
Whilst the book is extremely valuable, there are some points I must mention:
Overwhelming amount of information
For beginners, the amount of information can be overwhelming. It’s not a book you read through quickly; it requires time and attention to truly understand and remember the techniques. If you think you can read through it in one evening, you probably also think you can devour the complete works of Tolkien during a short lunch break.
Military perspective
Wiseman’s military background is clearly noticeable in his writing style and approach. Some techniques clearly originate from military training and are not always directly relevant to the average civilian in an emergency situation. Nevertheless, he offers useful tips for everyone.
Balance between traditional techniques and modern technology
The latest edition of the handbook pays more attention to modern technology than earlier versions, particularly in the urban survival sections. However, the emphasis is still on techniques that work when technology fails. This is a deliberate choice, but sometimes a deeper integration of modern tools (such as smartphone apps for navigation or plant identification) could strengthen the practical application.
Practical application in urban environments
The latest edition of the SAS Survival Handbook pays attention to survival in urban environments, which is a welcome addition to the classic wilderness techniques. For most readers, these ‘urban survival’ techniques are more relevant and applicable than building an igloo or catching snakes in the jungle.
Preparation for power cuts
The book offers practical advice for preparing for prolonged power cuts in urban areas. Wiseman describes in detail which supplies are essential, how you can cook safely indoors without electricity, and methods to purify water when the water supply fails. Particularly handy for when Netflix gives up and you suddenly have to deal with the real world.
Navigation in urban chaos
A valuable component is the section on navigation in urban environments during emergencies, when normal landmarks may no longer be available. The methodical approach to creating escape routes and identifying safe zones is well thought out.
PRACTISING IS ESSENTIAL
It’s important not only to read about these techniques, but also to practise them in a safe environment before they’re really needed. Knowing a technique on paper is very different from being able to execute it under stress.
Who is this book for?
The SAS Survival Handbook is valuable for different groups of people:
- Outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers
- Preppers and people interested in self-reliance
- Professional emergency responders and rescue workers
- City dwellers who want to prepare for emergencies
- Anyone concerned about increasing natural disasters and instability
- People looking for a conversation topic for a first date (although its success is not guaranteed)
The addition of urban survival sections in the latest edition makes the book more relevant to a wider audience. The practical advice for dealing with power cuts, disruption of food supply or water delivery makes the book more accessible to the average reader.
NOT FOR WHOM?
SAS survival is not a book for people who quickly seek simple tips. It requires time and dedication to process the information and demands a certain interest in the subject. For those who only seek basic information about emergency preparedness, there are more accessible (but less complete) alternatives.
The most valuable lessons
After thoroughly going through the book, these are the five most valuable lessons that Wiseman shares:
- The ‘Rule of Three’: you can survive approximately 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours in extreme temperatures without protection, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food
- Setting priorities is essential: shelter comes before food in most emergencies
- Finding and purifying water is usually the biggest challenge in a survival situation, both in the wilderness and in urban environments
- Improvisation and adaptability are at least as important as specific skills
- Preparation is crucial: the latest edition emphasises the importance of an emergency plan and basic supplies, even in urban environments
Conclusion: Relevance in the modern world
The SAS Survival Handbook is, particularly in the latest edition with urban survival sections, one of the most complete and reliable sources for survival knowledge. In a time when we’re becoming increasingly dependent on technology and complex infrastructure, this book offers a welcome reminder of fundamental skills that remain relevant, even if your main daily survival challenge is finding a parking space in the city centre.
The combination of traditional wilderness survival techniques with urban strategies makes this book valuable for diverse situations. The tips for dealing with power cuts, water shortages, and food shortages are directly applicable in realistic emergency situations that we may encounter in our current society.
It provides a sense of control in a world that sometimes seems to fall outside our control, without sowing unnecessary fear. With that, the SAS Survival Handbook rightly deserves a place in every bookcase… at least, if your bookcase is sturdy enough for the 670 pages of survival wisdom.
Watch this documentary about Wiseman
In this documentary, John “Lofty” Wiseman can be seen whilst he talks about survival techniques.