Desert Survival Skills

July 1, 2000
Every year people die in the deserts of California, the Southwest, and northern Mexico. Alloway's goal is to show how these deaths can be prevented through the use of desert survival skills. He covers survival in a logical and sequential manner, starting with "Intelligence: The Ultimate Survival Tool" and continuing with more specific topics such as survival kits, water, fire, shelter, tools and weapons, traveling, and wayfinding. Throughout, he liberally sprinkles true survival stories, which reinforce the need for acquiring desert survival skills. Illustrated with line drawings, photographs, and maps, the handbook includes a brief glossary and over 50 selected references. Alloway is employed as an interpretive naturalist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the Chihuauan Desert, has worked with the U.S. Air Force on survival skills, and is a veteran of search and rescue-all of which explains why his book is authoritative, comprehensive, well written, and entertaining. Recommended for all public libraries in the region, large public libraries in the rest of the country, and academic libraries.-Thomas K. Fry, Univ. of Denver Lib.