U.S. Air Force Pocket Survival Handbook: The Portable and Essential Guide to Staying Alive (US Army Survival)

Update: The dimensions are not as shown in description (6.1 x 5.6 x 8.5 inches). They are 1 x 5.5 x 8.25. So it is a "handbook" and is suitable for packing in a pack (inside a waterproof bag; 45 cubic inches).I've not compared the content to the larger book yet. Typeface is readable.=======I have the large format book and was looking at the "pocket" edition as possible a resource to carry in a pack, however, when I compare the specifications on the two editions some obvious questions arise.A "handbook", by definition, is supposed to be small. In the larger format is not small. It is a large format book. It's 8.5" x 10.9" x 1.1" (101.915 cubic inches), 596 pages, 2.4 lbs. Reasonable enough for my library.The "pocket" ... "handbook" is listed as being 6.1" x 5.6" x 8.5" (290.36 cubic inches), 368 pages (39% fewer pages), and 12.8 oz (one third the weight). So if the weight and page count are right, isn't one of the dimensions incorrect? Is it really 6.1" thick? The other dimensions look reasonable for a pocket edition.Is the "pocket" handbook missing anything that's in the larger book?Aside from whether the small book is suitable for actually carrying, the USAF Survival Handbook is widely acknowledged as being the best of all the military survival handbooks. It stands to reason that as USAF air crews can go down anywhere on the planet, it has to be comprehensive. It is unlike the usual military Field Manuals (FMs) in that it's written in plain English, not MilSpec. The illustrations are good. It covers the subject without fluff.

Updated and revised from the original manual of the 1960's. One of the better books on the subject.

Although this book is very comprehensive at nearly 600 pages and the size of a textbook, some essentials had to be cut to fit the bigger picture. For example, rather than go into specifics like how to make a splint, it will go into the practicality of making splints in survival mode and tips about the do's and don'ts of creating a splint. The english is brief and simple, so even a grade schooler could understand the concepts in this book. This is not a good replacement for a boy scout style manual in which all the steps are shown, but for those comfortable with survival and want to make more advanced shelters and traps, this can be a life saver...with some ingenuity for cut content, and an air-sealed bag.For people that need something lighter for a backpack and something more durable, I would recommend something else.

Great bookCover everything you need to know

Very informative guide on staying alive. I know this is written for us veterans so we can brush up on what we forgot ! Just kidding kiddos . . . but this book saved my bacon more than once, there is the psychological aspect to think about as well. But the important thing after digesting all of this books information, is that it can be used in everyday life too. Not all of it is do or die, but it does keep you aware just in case . .. . Love ya Candy, thank you . . .

ALOT of it is like..."wear warm clothes in an Artic condition"...Use bushes to hide from your captors"..."Try not to get discouraged if you're lost" 🙄. That being said..there's some useful info on maps and weather and knots etc. You just have to sift through a TON of common sense statements and descriptions. There's better books.

Air Force Regulation 64-4 is the world's foremost collection of survival techniques designed to keep you alive no matter what.I recommend Air Force Pamphlet 64-5 'Aircrew Survival' as companion reading.

This looks like something the government produced. The relevant info could have been condensed into a comic book. Go buy a Boy Scout handbook - this is waste of time and money. There is some useful and factual info here, but so poorly presented……. 575 pages. You will NOT carry this with you in your “bug-out bag” when survival is the mission.

This book covers everything you will want to know about survival

I especially like the first few chapters covering the mental disposition required to survive. Most often overlooked from books with 'rub sticks like this' survival manuals.

Very good book but not very "pocket/handbook". More of a normal full size book.