Stay Alive: A Guide To ­Survival In The Desert Southwest

If you thought finding out the truth about Santa Claus was a major bummer, how's about this one: rattlesnakes don't always rattle before they strike. As Preston Westmoreland, host of Stay Alive, points out, that's just one of those myths we have. Like the idea of rationing our water supply if we're lost: that myth could kill us, since it takes very little time to dehydrate in the desert (far better to build a series of solar stills to create an ongoing water supply). In addition to a thorough list of supplies that travelers should have on hand whenever venturing into an arid stretch of land, Westmoreland demonstrates a number of survival techniques (ranging from the correct way of signaling to recognizing edible plants). Incorporating interviews with physicians (who explain, among other things, why snake bite kits can be more dangerous than the snake bite itself) and botanical experts (who explain the importance of knowing the indigenous plant life--people have died from roasting wienies on an oleander stick), Stay Alive is a no-fat guide to survival basics which is entertaining, informative, and could ultimately save lives. An excellent program. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (See INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPING CAPABLE PEOPLE for availability.)