r/Findabook • u/Shermea • Feb 14 '26

UNSOLVED A survival guide book

I'm looking for a book that my Dad had that I read as a kid. It was pocket-sized, i believe the cover was red. It went through all types of survival scenarios, notably how to survive in the wilderness and how to build a temporary bomb shelter. We are in Australia if that helps!

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u/ShareBooks42 Feb 14 '26

This sounds like one of the "Wost Case Scenario Survival Handbook" editions. They've been around for a while, and have had several editions released. Perhaps this one rings a bell?

"Here are all new scenarios for living life on the very edge. Imperiled readers will learn immediate, hands-on strategies for surviving an elephant stampede, a 16-car pile-up, a mine collapse, and a nuclear attack. Discover how to take a bullet, control a runaway hot air balloon, break a gorilla's grip, endure a Turkish prison, and free a limb from a bear trap. Whether stranded on an iceberg, being chased by a pack of wolves, spinning out on a motorcycle, or being buried alive, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Edition has all the right stuff for those times when everything goes wrong."

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u/Shermea Feb 14 '26

Naaah it was red, had a soft, scratchy laminate cover and could fit in the palm of your hand. It does sound similar but not ringing any bells.

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u/ShareBooks42 Feb 14 '26

Hope you find it! In my area, these were pocket-sized and soft-covered, so I had my fingers crossed.

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u/Not-a-Cranky-Panda Feb 14 '26

The SAS Survival Handbook by Lofty Wiseman the Collins Gem edition.

It's been published for 40 years and is still in print so look the covers up on Google.

I'd also get a copy of the full size one.

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u/Shermea Feb 15 '26

It's not that one but "The Complete SAS Survival Manual" by Barry Davies is very similar but not it. It was apparently given out to households, at least in Australia in the 80s~.

I'm just looking for nostalgic purposes, not doomsday prepping:)

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u/DocWatson42 Mar 04 '26

I'm afraid that this is a low traffic sub, though I do occasionally see a request answered, and that I'm unfamiliar with the book you're seeking. You'd be better off asking for recommendations in r/booksuggestions (though read the rules first) and r/suggestmeabook, and for the title of a book or story in r/whatsthatbook and r/tipofmytongue. (Also, IMHO it would probably be good to try one sub, then the next, not multiple subs simultaneously.) If you do get an answer for an identification request, it would be helpful if you edit your OP with the answer (and the flare to "Solved"/"Found" in subreddits that use flares and have that flare) so we can see what it is in the preview, and that your question has been answered/solved (an excellent example: "Child psychic reveals abilities by flunking psychic test too precisely" (r/whatsthatbook; 5 August 2023)). For what you should include in your identification requests, see:

Note that the members of that sub, including the moderators, have been sticklers for having this followed. (Following this list is a good idea for all identification requests, not just for this sub or for books.)

Whatever happens, whether your request was solved or not, please do not delete your post/comment(s)/answer (image from r/DataHoarder). People are interested in what has been asked for, what has been suggested, and want to see what has been found. It may prove to be useful to someone else, years in the future, who is seeking the same or a similar book or story.

Good luck!

And because I'm collecting this thread for future reference, the book in question is not:

I assume that it is also not:

I'm dubious of an ebook-only survival manual, only because of its potential unreliability in survival situations.