Survival Mindset Should Be In Every Home — A retired Green Beret living in Chester County, Pa. has written a must-read book for all who are used to a corner Wawa open 24/7.
Peter Crittenden’s Survival Mindset, A guide on What to do When Things Go Wrong, Bushcraft/Survival, Emergency Planning and Situational Awareness focuses on the mindset.
Yes, it includes very good how-tos. It describes what plants can be eaten (dandelions, yum); and animals, yes the flesh of all frogs is tasty and wholesome. It tells how water can be purified in a clear plastic bottle left in direct sun for six-hours. There are directions on building fires, tying necessary knots, and other things.
Crittenden’s main point, though, is the mental aspects summed up by the acronym S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L: Size up the situation; Use all senses; Remember where you are; Vanquish fear and panic; Improvise; Value living; Act like the natives; Live by you wits/Learn basic skills.
He gives three real life examples of average people surviving likely fatal events by using parts of S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L.
Survival Mindset is unique among fieldcraft or survival guides in that the principles of emergency planning and priorities for survival tasks and preparation are identified and clearly presented
Crittenden retired as a sergeant first class after 25 years in the U.S. Army. He was a SERE school instructor; tracked war criminals in Bosnia and evacuated missionaries from Côte d’Ivoire during its first civil war.
Crittenden was born in Australia and grew up in ex-pat communities in Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh due to his father’s engineering jobs.
He described killing cobras — the little ones — in his backyard in Bangladesh, and experienced coups-d’etat and civil wars in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand.
He emigrated to the United States and became a draftsman but didn’t see a future in it so he joined the Army in 1983.
“I found a home,” he said.
He started off in infantry in the 82nd Airborne Division, then Special Forces where he served as an engineering sergeant and then an intelligence sergeant.
After retirement, he worked as a security consultant. This is what inspired the book, which is based on military manuals and his experiences.
He says his clients often enthused about training sessions.
Survival Mindset is published by Blacksmith Publishing and can be found on Amazon. The Kindle edition is less than half the price of the traditional book but this might be a case where you want to splurge.
One never knows when the power might go out.
Straight out of “The Outlaw Josey Wales”:
“Now remember, things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. ‘Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That’s just the way it is.”
Buying several as gifts. Can’t wait to get my hands on them.