The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

For the category Reference of the 2022 NONFICTION READER CHALLENGE, I chose The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht, 1999.

The disclaimer at the beginning of the book starts: “When a life is imperiled or a dire situation is at hand, safe alternatives may not exist. To deal with the worst-case scenarios presented in this book, we highly recommend – insist, actually – that the best course of action is to consult a professionally trained expert. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNDERTAKE ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK YOURSELF.” (upper-case in book)

Presumably the idea is to undertake the activities described in this book only when you are in the respective worst-case scenario. Fortunately, I have never been in any of these scenarios (at least not yet), but I was interested to see what some of the scenarios were and what is recommended. I started skimming through this book in a bookstore, and ending up buying it to continue reading.

The book is organized as a reference, with each “scenario” on a two-page spread, with first a list of important points, then a short text of further information, and ending with a simple visual illustrating what was described. The short, simple instructions seem very easy to carry out.

The scenarios are organized in five sections (with a few examples of each):

1. Great Escapes and Entrances
• How to: escape from quicksand; break down a door; hot-wire a car
2. The Best Defense
• How to: fend off a shark; escape from killer bees; deal with a charging bull
3. Leaps of Faith
• How to: jump from a building into a dumpster; jump from a moving car
4. Emergencies
• How to: perform a tracheotomy; identify a bomb; deliver a baby in a taxicab
5. Adventure Survival
• How to: land a plane; survive an avalanche; survive when lost in the mountains

Some of the scenarios seem particularly unlikely (How to leap from a motorcycle to a car – when would anyone have to do that other than a film stunt person?). And a few others were strangely specific (How to deliver a baby in a taxicab – is that different from delivering one in another kind of vehicle or anywhere else?). However, some of them really interested me.

Since I like to hike and go long-distance trekking, I paid more attention to entries like how to escape from quicksand, a charging bull, a sinking car, bees and how to treat a leg fracture, frostbite, and avoid being struck by lightning.

Oddly, the information for the scenario How to Avoid Being Struck by Lightning was contradictory. In listing “safer locations” to find, it says, “If in an open area, do not lie flat – kneel with your hands on the ground and your head low.” But there is a drawing of a man on his hands and knees, with head down, and the caption is, “In an open area DO NOT lean on your knees and hands. Squat to minimize contact with the ground.” (upper case in book) Perhaps this was an editing oversight. And there is a long list of places to avoid, but no mention of where you should try to seek shelter.

However, the information for How to Survive When Lost in the Desert and When in the Mountains was similar to the advice about being lost in the book I read about Wayfinding (post on September 20, 2022). All three sources in some way say to stay put (or ‘do not wander’) if you have lost your bearings.

So this book seems useful to refer to before taking a trip or undergoing an activity where any of these scenarios could occur. After reading the entire book, it would be too difficult for me to remember the specific information for any particular scenario. But the information was very interesting to read in any case.