From the Publisher
“A great book, full of interesting and fun facts about our not-so-dangerous housemates on planet earth.” —Damien Caillaud, professor of anthropology, UC Davis
“In a world that too often attempts to entertain with sensationalism and hype, Rob and Haley’s new book offers a refreshing blend of science, reality, and common sense on interacting with the interesting wildlife that share our planet. But perhaps the biggest reward of reading this book is that it will absolutely make you a smarter and more sensible person who in turn can safely explore the wilds or inspire creative conversations about all the nature craft and interesting biology you’ll learn within the pages. So in the end, this book delivers what few others can… It will actually make your life richer in both knowledge and how to confidently embrace our great outdoors.” —Dan Bertalan, award-winning author of Nature Comes Killing
“The Nelsons have mastered the art of storytelling in short science videos and now bring their artistry to book form on a topic that everyone should pay attention to—how not to get eaten!” —Roland Kays, director of biodiversity, Museum of Natural Sciences
“I'm always looking for books that broaden the scope of tone and topic to more fully engage my students, so as an educator and an amateur wildlife enthusiast, I love the gap that this book fills when it comes to lively wilderness survival. This book is a welcomed reawakening to students whose reading lists are all-too-commonly bogged down with outdated and boring topics, and it speaks to the vivid, inquisitive type of biology that kids are used to before we steal it away to hand them a common core textbook. From the perspective of an English teacher, it feels like the Into the Wild that Chris McCandless wishes he could have lived to write.” —April Noethe Wolford, high school English teacher, Sparta Wisconsin
“For any outdoor explorer, the personal experiences that Rob shares in this guide should be as important a take along as water, bug spray, and a good map. Even if you don't plan to come face-to-face with a water buffalo any time soon, the personal experiences in this guide will help prepare you for all kinds of outdoor (mis)adventures.” —Jim Brady, biologist
“Wow! This is a book every young adventurer should have in their collection. Rob Nelson’s ability to make science sound like a casual conversation makes this a fun, breezy, exhilarating and informative collection of some of the worlds most charismatic and feared animals. Having this book in your backpack just may save your life one day.” —Jesse Weiland, national park ranger
“You might never be stung by a Portuguese man-o-war or chased by a polar bear. But it doesn’t matter. Rob Nelson will have you hooked as he weaves stories with facts from what seems like every corner of the earth. His book is an awesome gathering of fascinating survival tips and practical advice for anyone who steps outdoors. Knots, shelters, knives, and animal attacks...need I say more?!” —Chris Morgan, bear biologist and National Geographic explorer and TV host
“A captivating read full of useful tips on how to enjoy and interact with nature while avoiding troublesome encounters with wild animals. It provides a balanced, commonsense perspective of 'dangerous' wildlife from bears to sharks, mosquitoes to jellyfish, and is peppered with delightfully quirky illustrations! Written in an engaging style, this fascinating and informative book will be a great addition to any nature buffs library.” —Dave Abbott, Sharkweek cameraman
“The natural world often gets bad press, most of which is not deserved. Rob and Haley have done an amazing job dispelling some of the great wildlife myths. This a welcome addition to anyone's book collection!” —David Bodenham, ecologist, Eco Sapien
“Listen. If I were to be stranded in the wilderness, there's nothing I'd rather have with me than Rob and Haley. But carrying two full grown adults would be A LOT of weight for the ol' backpack, so I'm uber stoked that they've condensed their survival brains into this incredible, easily transportable book.” —Dustin Growick, science communicator extraordinaire and DinosaurWhisperer
“This is a must-have for any budding biologists, wildlife lovers, or future nature-show hosts! I wish I had this book when I was growing up and plan on stealing my kids' copy of it to serve as a quick reference guide for future adventures!” —Pat Spain, National Geographic biologist, Beast Hunter
“I spend my life in remote places and see people do incredible things and live a full life. I’ve also seen a man put his hand inside a volcano and recoil in surprise that it was hot. Both of these sets of people can glean something from this book. Well-written and beautifully illustrated, this book puts fact before fiction with survival scenarios. We have a warped sense of danger. Where I’m from, up to ten people die each year trying to put on socks. It’s great to see a book showing us what the dangers really are and how to survive them if we encounter them!” —Huw James, adventurer
“Part ‘what happens if?’, part survival book, part fact-packed treasure trove about the wild and its wildlife! Just brilliant. Not only would I have loved this book as a kid, I’d love to read it now!” —Greg Foot, science broadcaster, BBC
“Wild pig attacks on humans are rare, but can be deadly. Rob Nelson’s advice can keep you safe when it comes to these pigs.” —John Mayer, biologist and wild boar expert
“Rob Nelson says mother nature is not out to kill you, and he should know. He's given her many, many chances. Part survival guide, part science lesson, and part campfire story, this book provides an entertaining look at dozens of ways people can die in the wild. Rob and Haley dig into the facts behind each of these threats and provide practical advice for surviving them. They also include hair-raising tales of Rob's own brushes with mother nature that will help make this book an engaging and educational read for nature-lovers of all ages.” —Nick Whitney, shark biologist, New England Aquarium
“Listen to Rob & Haley when it comes to close encounters with nature and wildlife. Their book takes the right approach: gathering the facts and presenting them in a fun way so the reader can make their own decisions when it comes to interacting with the wild.” —Greg Weiss, survival instructor
“As a scientist, I’ve relied on Rob’s experience and advice for how to tell stories about the natural world. Now he’s brought his experience and advice together for an expert, honest, and entertaining guide to interacting with nature. And it’s excellent!” —Adrian Smith, entomologist, NC State University
“Informative, entertaining, and relatable: all in one book.” —Casey Parker, mosquito biologist, University of Florida
“Highly recommend! This book, written in easily understandable and thoroughly entertaining language, is an entertaining read even for someone who doesn’t like nature, and Rob’s use of personal stories and anecdotes keeps the reader glued to the pages.” —David Coyle, biologist, Clemson SC
“Our understanding of nature has been hampered for centuries by myths and misinformation guided mostly by fear. In this book, Rob Nelson takes a different approach than most others, by using both science and entertainment to help us gain a better understanding of the species humans fear the most and provide tips should you ever be lucky enough to encounter one of these species. In addition to providing some of his own scientific knowledge, the species accounts were reviewed and edited by experts and researchers from around the world. The stories, images, and graphics are unique and help make this light-hearted survival guide worth the read.” —Dustin Smith, herpetologist, NC Zoo
“What a great book! The Nelsons expertly blend fascinating wildlife and nature facts and serious wilderness survival techniques with a healthy dose of fun and humor. Even if you’ll never face any of these animals or survival situations in real life, you’ll learn a lot and be entertained no matter what your age.” —Naturalist David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation
