Michael Sweeney is a professor of journalism at Utah State University. He is the award-winning author of the acclaimed book Secrets of Victory and of God Grew Tired of Us, with Jon Bul Dau.

This portable, authoritative survival manual offers outdoor enthusiasts as well as the practical-minded complete information for surviving every situation. Six of the world's most prominent - and at times harshest - terrains are covered in this riveting manual, which outlines survival plans with - or without - gear. Ten National Geographic explorers, grantees and photographers candidly share their own near-death stories and how they lived to tell them: a deadly snakebite while hiking alone, a 700-foot fall down the side of Mount Everest, an icy plunge into arctic water, the panic of being lost in the rainforest. The Red Cross, Army, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts contribute expert tips for each environment and condition. An appendix provides checklists, additional skills and full-colour world maps of each terrain and an index makes finding information quick and easy.