John McCann's survival kit article in November's Field & Stream has been discussed in a previous string.
For those who have read McCann's, "Build the Perfect Survival Kit" what do you think of the book? Is it worth the price? After all, Doug's articles are up to date, in-depth and cover about all the bases. I'd hate to purchase a book that's just a rehash of other's work.
Comments ???

Bought the book about two months ago (from Amazon.com; $9.50 + $3.50 shipping).

Expectedly, it contains information we?ve all seen elsewhere, but I wouldn?t especially characterize as ?just a rehash of other?s work.? Consider that among the most popular threads here on the forum are those discussing kits, their contents and methods of carry. I seem to learn something from every one of them. Same held true with this book, for me anyway (YMMV). No huge revelations, but I did learn a few things. It?s pretty well illustrated with B&W photographs.

The initial appeal was that the book focused soley on kits (from small- to vehicle-size), rather than lots of discussion on how to use the gear. Often, survival- and preparedness-related books seem to be the other way around.

I discovered some gear that I wasn?t familiar with before. That?s good, I guess, but then, do I really need encouragement to spend more money on this kinda stuff?

And being ?portable,? it serves a great purpose for me. When accompanying my wife on her weekend shopping excursions, it helps fill the time while I wait patiently in the car. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What the heck? Redundancy is my middle name when it comes to flashlights, knives, ferro rods, and water purification. Why should my library be any different? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Recently finished it. Need to add it to the book page one of these days when I have a spare moment. Essentially, there's little or nothing there that cannot be found here on ETS, often in greater detail and in some cases, more up-to-date information. The latter being a primary reason I've never done such a book myself. Perhaps stupid on my part, but that's another issue. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> On the positive side, it's pretty good for what it is and a lot easier for many to read through than wading through the many pages on this site. So, you have completeness and depth vs. compact and less deep, up-to-date vs a bit dated in some cases, and difficult to read on the john vs easy to read on the john. It would be a good gift to someone who isn't online or just isn't interested in taking advantage of online sources for this information.

Hmmm, looks like I'm halfway towards getting that review done. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

For a long term member of this board, it's an iffy. I got it over the summer, and the biggest thing I got from it was a different perspective on the making of kits. For example, I don't think I remember him mentioning the Sparklite, but mentioned items I hadn't seen and ideasI hadn't had. I never would have started one of my current projects if I hadn't seen his M-6-based kit, and I hadn't thought of his walking stick kit. I have a few grumbles, but that is a matter of opinion on which widgets are better.

For someone who isn't as hard core as we are, or at least doesn't want to spend days and days reading the website and months of crawling through the boards, this will be almost, if not just as good. For those who aren't sure of how to package, the book does a very good job of showing some ideas.

What it doesn't discuss is the bug-in gear most of us maintain. The lack of 72-/96-/120-hour house kits was very obvious to me, but they are covered well enough in hundred, if not thousands, of books.

If you are looking to give a gift of preparedness primers, this and the newest, paperback size of the SAS manual are a great set.

I bought the book and recommend it, but then, I'm a gear junky and love to get new ideas. The only fault I find with the book is the lack of color photographs, it would be a little easier to pick out the items in the kits if they were in color. I think it's well worth the price.

I agree, this book is worth the price. I too did not find anything earth-shattering about his kits, but the fact that he has produced actual kits from A to Z is quite impressive in itself. His knife recommendations did not jive with my views, but overall he has done a service with this book.

This will become dated (and I know my vest kit is better than his <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> )but I recommend this book....as I recommend reading Doug's extensive pages.

Many cultures produce incredible works of art and then deliberately include a small flaw. The rational being only God can create perfection and this insures our humility in spite of great talent. I called my work perfect once. It was a treehouse in my grandmother's back yard. I climbed down to answer the call to dinner, put hands on hips and pronounced to the heavens ' It's Perfect! ' A few seconds later this low creaking amplified into a resounding crash of timbers and plywood.It's a decent book, hubric title <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If you enjoy reading about the subjects posted on this forum, then this book will appeal to you whether you are a beginner or a so called expert. The book is well organized, well-written, and well-illustrated - albeit in black and white.

This book is definitely worth the money and would make nice gifts for those you care about. For those new to the subject, reading the book will be a far more efficient use of time than searching through scores of web pages and sifting through thousands of postings for potentially useful information.

This book sounds perfict for the newbie to ETS!

I bought the book and have looked through it. It is not really a page turner. It is more of: what item or kit am I interested in at the moment. It is the only book I have seen specifically on Survival Kits. It is interesting to read different web sites and see what items are common and what are different. This book had just about all the ideas you will see in any web site compiled into a book. I like it!

My biggest beef is that I don?t agree with many of the items he shows in his kits. For example if you look at the compasses in the different kits they keep changing. Most people need a good base plate compass and a good pocket compass. I also hate the Starflash signal mirror. I gave mine to one of my sons. The glass ones are so much better. The only good plastic signal mirror I have used is the Ritter PSP mirror. The hooded Space Blanket is too small to make a shelter you can lie down in and be protected. The regular HD Space Blanket is barley large enough.

Clearly a lot of research went into this book and it is well worth owning and reading. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Chris,

I don't like the name either. But publishers have editorial carte blanche. My original title was "Be Prepared to Survive: The Complete Guide to Making Your Own Survival Kits". In their infinite wisdom, they named it "Build the Perfect Survival Kit". I agree that there is no "Perfect" survival kit, and for the record, I never intended that to be the title, nor do I believe the book will provide that end. As we know, especially those on this site, that all survival kits are ongoing works and, at least in my case, never done. As a side bar, to another person's comment, I submitted the book with color photos, and again, in the publishers infinite wisdom, elected to use B&W (I'm sure for cost considerations). Just thought I would set the record straight.

Fox10

Fox,

First off, welcome to ETS and secondly thanks for the extensive work that you did to produce that book.

It is good to know the inside stuff about the publisher, but regardless of the title or the B&W you obviously took a ton of time and effort to do that book.

Schert,

Thanks for the kind words. I rarely post, but wanted to set the record straight in regard to the "Perfect" controversy. Chris seemed to get the impression that I thought my kits were perfect, and that wasn't the case. Heck, I'm just a country boy trying to do good.

Fox10

I am glad you are here...doing homework or spreading the news it is good to have you here.

Editors make their choices to sell....I bet this title moves more copies than the original...even to folks like us the "perfect" business is always a bit dicey.

I bet each of us could find something we like better in our kits or some technique or specific kit that you did not cover....but hey that is what a second edition is for eh? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No, I was just funnin with you.

Mr McCann, let me thank you for the inspiration for my current kit project. If I had npt seen yours built on the M-6, I wouldn't be working one built around a more universal stock-mounted carrier, and a sling with a bunch of pouches on it that can go on any rifle or shotun with a proper stock.

Maybe you should consider writting an "e-book" that would be distributed in Adobe Acrobat format and setup to NOT print. That way you could essentially keep it up to date ongoing. Mabye you could give purchasers an access code and they use a password of some kind to get the latest version. Just a thought. I think people would pay for such specific up-to-date advice. Just a thought - as if you don't already have enough to do.

ironraven,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad I could give you an idea you could expand upon for your own needs.

This was the reason for my book. It is supposed to get your mental juices flowing. Most people who are not survival kit aficionados indicate that the book is very helpful. However, from the "experts", I keep hearing things like "I don't understand why he selected certain items for certain kits". I didn't "select" them. I am trying to get people to select their own items. Also, trying to get people to look at the size of different items, and the container they plan on using. Then select the type of component that will fit the container. They are all just examples of how a kit "could" be built. The only kit in the book that I actually built for me was the large "H.A.W.G." pack, and of course that has changed many time since the book went to print. The book is an exercise, not gospel. I'm glad people disagree with the specific components. They should. They should be selecting components that they are comfortable with and that work for them; not me or someone else. Then package them in containers that work for them; not me or someone else. If people who read the book do that, then I guess my mission was a success. Again thanks for the vote of confidence.

Fox10

Kentk,

Your right, I'm much too busy. Besides people already have ETS for ongoing support. The book is really for all those people who don't have time to live on the web. Somepeople actually still like to read. For those people, my book should be helpful. But thanks for the idea.

Fox10

Mr. McCann,

I add my appreciation for your efforts as well. Your responses are likewise informative here, and provide a valuable perspective to your authorship.

I agree that it is important to focus on the intent of the article and the book; which, like this forum, are intended to get people thinking about such things, and not hung up on the details so much. I believe you accomplished your objectives as stated quite well. Good job, and don't be such a stranger here and post a little more often. We like to hear from "professionals" who are willing to share.

You are willing to share with us, aren't you? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If you're interested in fitting out an M-6 combination gun, take a look at the following web site:
www.savage24.com
Click on the M-6 links.
Personally, I much prefer the Savage 24 in 20 gauge. With a 22 WMR upper barrel and a careful selection of ammunition, you're equipped for just about any reasonable type of game. The 24C "Campers" model, altho 22 LR/20 ga, has the advantage of stock ammo storage and 20 inch barrels.

'There is nothing so frightening as ignorance in action"

Actually, I'm planning on using an AR-7, with a shotgun shell holder with a flap on it to carry a SAK and some tubes of supplies. I'll be using a sling that will be laced on the barrel when needed, rather like the leather handgaurd on the supressed Sten from WWII, which will have a couple of small pouches attached to it.

The joy of this is that it can be very easily adapted to any rifle or shotgun.