The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario Handbook by David Borgenicht, Joshua Piven and Ben H. Winters, Chronicle Books, 270 pages, $31.95.
The worst-case scenario is something most of us never face but many still fear. In 1999, authors Borgenicht and Piven played upon those fears and released their first book on how to survive a worst-case scenario. That book was a huge success and spawned an entire series of books that have covered a wide variety of topics.
Now drawing from the 26 different titles in the series they have produced the ultimate collection. The scenarios range far and wide and incorporate elements from both the real and the imagined.
All manner of animals are represented allowing for discussion on topics such as avoiding a charging rhino, a swarm of killer bees or escaping from a boa constrictor. Interspersed with their practical advice are plenty of comic suggestions, like having just learned how to survive an elephant stampede the next topic is how to evade a stampede of shoppers.
In the style of previous releases the scenarios are accompanied by illustrations and point form descriptions.
Chapters cover subjects related to Animal Encounters, Life and Limb, Home and Hearth, Social Scenarios, Urban Survival, The Natural World, Unsafe At Any Speed, and Extreme Emergencies.
The careful blending of interesting tips for survival and tongue in cheek humour makes all of their books enjoyable to read. What they have created in this massive collection is a perfect reference book for anyone wanting to know how to get out of almost any strange situation imaginable.
