Reviews: The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook

  • ”There is probably no person better qualified to write a book on survival than Don Mann. Don can survive anything as is evidenced by his many achievements since his retirement from the U.S. Navy SEALs. Whether it's a Primal Quest event or a remote adventure race, Don has figured out how to extract the most from himself when the going gets tough. We can all benefit from his pointers. His new book outlines the full gambit from the basics of survival to the more nuanced concepts of the psychology of survival (probably the determining factor for most of us ordinary folk). After reading this book, there is no guarantee that you'll have either the endurance or the grit to survive the most challenging scenarios, that may be unique to Don, but you'll be far better prepared than you initially were and you just might have the mindset to navigate your way out of the most difficult environments.”- by David Ayres | President - TATE, Incorporated
  • ”I've been on multiple operational deployments with Don and taken a few recreational adventure trips with him. I assure you that Don knows about what he has written in this manual. I don't mean theory or practicing survival techniques in protected environment where a time-out can be called and someone will come and provide a little assistance. Don has applied most of the things he describes in the real-world and in risky situations. Heck, he's probably done all of this stuff but couldn't share it because of the sensitive nature of his missions! While Don describes skills that are critical to survival, what you really gain from reading this manual is a sense of the attitude required to be successful in the harsh environments in which America’s secret warriors thrive.”- by John Wright, US Air Force and DoD SERE Trainer, Multiple Deployments in Support of the Global War on Terror
  • ”Survival is a skill everyone should have, but no one wants to be forced to use. Don Mann has spent the majority of his adult life in situations where the need for survival skills wasn’t just a possibility, it was, and continues to be, a reality. Don has traveled across the globe and survived challenges in every environment—whether as a SEAL on mission, or as a true outdoorsman hiking, climbing, or paddling his way in and out of danger. As you read, take comfort knowing these tactics and techniques were not written by someone who gleaned their knowledge from other books and backyard safaris…they were written by someone who has lived them, breathed them, and lived to tell about them. Thank you Don, for your dedication to helping America’s elite 'Return with Honor!'.”- by Joe Holmes, MSgt (ret), USAF, SERE Instructor, 1986-2006
  • ”The Navy SEAL Survival manual is a comprehensive guide from an expert with the experience to back it up! The Navy Seal Survival Manual is a terrific, one stop source for your survival needs.”- by Randy Spivey, CEO and Founder, Center for Personal Protection and Safety
  • ”The Navy Seal Survival Manual is a tried and true manual that every outdoorsman and even survival instructor should possess. Don Mann has assembled the best global survival manual there is today and draws upon extensive operational experience as a Seal to hammer home the lessons rather than being another checklist of skills like so many survival books flooding the industry.

    As a fulltime survival instructor, I appreciated the personal anecdotes and wealth of field-tested skills that he presents while knowing that someone with his impressive military career and fieldcraft has finely honed the art of survival forgotten by the modern world. Mann has written a book that will provide you with practical know-how and no-nonsense techniques for when the chips are down and the cold night is upon your back.”    - by Tony Nestor, Survival Instructor
  • ”Never Get Lost AGAIN! - As a former Navy SEAL, not only did I enjoy Don Mann's Navy SEAL Survival Manual, but learned several things as well. This book is written by a career Navy SEAL combat medic and life long adventure racer. He knows more about surviving in potentially dangerous situations / nature than anyone I personally know. I look forward to keeping this book readily available - just in case!”- by Stew Smith, Navy SEAL Fitness Author
  • ”Don has certainly walked the walk in his years serving in the SEAL teams. Having gone through military survival training (land / water survival, SAR, SERE, etc.) and non-military (winter mountaineering) I can appreciate the depth of knowledge within each section. Surviving life threatening situations requires something unique for each individual. Don articulates a holistic view to help educate and prepare the reader for various scenarios. This publication is a must read for anyone looking to hone their survival skills.”- by Brian Dickinson, ex-USN CSAR Swimmer, Everest Summiteer/Survivor
  • ”There are a lot of books out there written on Survival. Many of them are quite good, but their approach is course-like and often impractical. 16 years experience has told me that these books are good and bad for one reason. They do provide lots of useful information but the biggest weakness I find with survival books is that they lose one thing, focus on the subject at hand. You mostly get lost in the vast amounts of erroneous information in these books that make you forget just why you bought in the first place; to learn tips that can help keep you alive in the event that you need it and don’t have professional training and drills behind you.

    Forget Bear Grylls and his entertainment value Survival Episodes on Channel 4 and Sky Television, if you buy just one book on survival this year, make it this one!

    Don Mann is very methodical in his approach with his Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, it retains its focus on the main goal throughout; Survival with minimal effort and GENUINE information! This gives the manual a clearly focused consideration to your survival the whole way throughout.

    An intuitive read, The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook contains everything any good survivalist will look to reference in a multitude of situations. As a reference and preparation tool, it provides the reader with subtle and “to the point” information on staying alive in situations where wits, common sense and training will see you through. Even if you don’t have any training, the manual is kept simple enough that any rookie can make use of the information in the best possible way.

    In survival, improvisation is the name of the game on the ground, but preparation is the key to enabling said improvisation. With a fine-tooth comb Don has provided clear and concise pointers, how-to’s and excellent reminders for even the most seasoned of adventurers.

    Memories of arctic training and -30 Celsius Tundra conditions came flooding back as I read the arctic sections and needless to say, Don’s words all made complete sense as I recalled the Staff’s instructions being drilled over and over into our heads many moons ago on the commando arctic course.

    The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook is essential reading for any adventure racer, climber, explorer, military personnel or outdoors person; ensure you have a copy of this in your kit-bag! Everything from what to include and how to prepare your emergency kit to living off the land, from essential shelter building to personal administration and from the effects of weather to celestial and obscure navigation can be found in this manual.

    I know this is one manual I will be using for the Hellweek PT™ Baalsrud Trail Challenge to the Arctic in 2013.”    - by (Naval)Lt. Seán Ó Cearrúlláin (Rtd.) Hellweek PT™ Founder
  • ”The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook has all the lessons, reasons why and also the why not's, of how to survive when "it" hits the fan. Everyone from Back Country to the Urban folks can benefit from all the information. You just never know and like it has been said "knowledge is power". The lessons in this book can mean the difference between surviving and being home with those you love or not. Will you be part of the solution or live a life time of regret? I started reading it, but wound up studying it!”- by Jim Kelleher / Survivalist
  • ”The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook brought back some really wild and vivid memories of courses I'd been through in the military. It really captured what it was like to be there and how each evolution unfolded. Special Operation Forces (SOF) guys are pretty special just as the studies show. This Survival Handbook tells the public exactly how they are able to do survive in the wilderness.”- by LTC Blain Reeves, US Army
  • ”Having been trained by some of the most highly regarded survival experts in the US, I can say definitively that no one has more experience or knowledge on the topic of mountain, jungle, desert, sea or urban survival than Don Mann. Don’s survival techniques along with his philosophy on combat mindset have served me well in real world survival situations and life in general. The Navy SEAL Survival Handbook should be mandatory reading for anyone who spends time in the wilderness.”- by Dr. Stephen M. Erle, Director SEAL Training Adventures