The Art of Survival by Cord Christian Troebst (1965)

Translated from the German by Oliver Coburn

I picked up this book at my local used-books store for cheap while on my wilderness-adventure kick. Not only have my wife and I gotten hooked on the various true-survival shows that have been such a hit this past decade, but we’ve also made hiking and camping a passion, not merely a simple hobby. The more I’ve gone out into nature, the more I’ve wanted to learn, and this outdated yet fascinating book gave me lots to chew on.

Troebst fills each chapter of his book with innumerable anecdotes which are both exciting and educational. Sometimes in these stories, the players die, while in others, they survive. Although the careful reader can figure out why some died and some did not, Troebst doesn’t always expound on the details. In fact, it’s his lack of summary and bulleted “how-to”s within each chapter that date this book (and perhaps this reader). Why authors in the 60s hadn’t yet figured out the power of lists, I can’t know, but The Art of Survival would have been twice as effective had the author used such tools.

As I read each chapter, I jotted down a number of notes which I now share.

Chapter 1: “Should We Train for an Emergency?” – Clearly the author thinks “yes”. He relates a handful of disasters where the majority of deaths could be blamed on “human failures, i.e. carelessness, indolence, or negligence.” What’s better than living our lives fancy-free is that we study and be prepared, for only such training for emergencies will leave the careful planner who’s caught in a disaster with “exemplary discipline and unselfishness” and “mental preparedness.”

Chapter 2: “Learning to Survive” – He references the growth of survival schools, particularly in the U.S. during the years following the Korean War, in which a higher percentage of men (38%) died in captivity than did in the years from the Civil War to 1952. He describes the forms that such training takes, especially in the U.S. Air Force programs.

Chapter 3: “Survival in the Desert” – Some recommendations I’ve drawn from the text: 1) Travel at night and sleep during the hottest hours. 2) Water is in the plants, not the ground around them. 3) Bury yourself into the cool sand. 4) Gorge on water always; reserving water won’t save you. 5) Leave notes and markers for yourself and for others, especially at night and during sand storms.

Chapter 4: “Survival at Sea” – The biggest dangers to fear include exposure, dehydration, salt, sores, the sun, sharks, and fear. However, realize that you are surrounded by food, and with the help of rainfall, survival is possible with a little “courage, good sense, and the ability to help oneself.”

Chapter 5: “Survival in Snow and Ice” – I love how this is just a collection of survival and non-survival stories. All are snippets and only the best merit more than two pages. He emphasizes the need to build snow caves, stay dry, and explore one’s surroundings. Don’t wait for help: “March out of the cold.”

Chapter 6: “Survival in the Tropics” – Beyond the dangers of insects, it’s almost laughable how pleasant he makes the tropics appear. One could summarize his thoughts: “Enough food; easy travel; snakes and beasts will fear you and flee; just go for it and don’t worry! Keep moving to the coast, and all will be well.” He encourages his readers to eat bugs and monkey brains, which are really quite pleasant! This is the shortest chapter of all, because, well, what’s the big deal? He has so many stories of Japanese holdouts from WWII who have survived for many years on Pacific islands.

Chapter 7: “Survival after Plane Crashes” – The general idea is to leave messages and venture out. Learn about your area and don’t expect to be rescued.

Chapter 8: “Today’s Rescue Equipment” – This whole chapter is outdated by the most technologically advanced fifty years in the history of mankind, so it’s not really worth reading.

Chapter 9: “What Man can Stand” – As in Chapter 8, this chapter is so outdated, it’s laughable. At nearly every turn—be it human strength, the ability to go sleepless or endure extreme heat or cold—he concludes that “scientists are developing a tablet for that.” It’s the early form of “there’s an app for that.” What comes to mind is a 60s sci-fi flick with astronauts in silvery jumpsuits and coiled ray-guns dropping tablets and going invisible. Except this guy is serious.

One of my all-time favorite books is Alive! By Piers Paul Read, the story of the survivors of a plane crash in the Andes mountains in the early ’70s. Those few survived the harshest of climates by cannibalizing the dead, something that this author barely hints at. I would really like to read what he’d say about that event and what recommendations he might pull from their story!

All in all, this was a fascinating book, especially for its vast collection of survival anecdotes that would otherwise be lost in the heap of human tragedies that make up our history. I found almost every page of chapters 1-7 interesting and exciting—even if some of his recommendations are antiquated—and I think that an updated version for today could find its market safely enough.

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