Rob Nelson - Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill You: A Wildlife & Bushcraft Survival Guide

Praise for Mother Nature Is
Not Trying to Kill You

You might never be stung by a Portuguese man o war or chased by a polar bear. But it doesnt matter. The Nelsons 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 attacksneed I s ay more?!

Chris Morgan , National Geographic explorer, TV host, and bear biologist

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 ad ventures!

Pat Spain , National Geographic biologist for Be ast Hunter

This is exactly what I needed as a kid and now it acts as a great reference. I make a living as a survival expert I can verify this is THE BEST info out there now on these wild plants and animals. Its fun to read and accessible for all a udiences.

Hazen Audel , survival expert and host of National Geographics Prima l Survivor

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 youll never face any of these animals or survival situations in real life, youll learn a lot and be entertained no matter what your age.

David Mizejewski , naturalist, National Wildlife Federation

The Nelsons say mother nature is not out to kill you, and they should know. Theyve 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. Its an engaging and educational read for nature-lovers of all ages.

Nick Whitney , shark biologist, New Englan d Aquarium

Listen. If I were to be stranded in the wilderness, theres nothing Id 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 Im uber stoked that theyve condensed their survival brains into this incredible, easily transporta ble book.

Dustin Growick , science communicator extraordinaire, Dinosau rWhisperer

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

Part what if? guide, part survival book, part fact-packed treasure trove about the wild and its wildlife! I would have loved to have this book as a kid! Such an engaging read, packed with top-tips from the authors close-encounters with the wild and its wildlife. Just b rilliant.

Greg Foot , science broadc aster, BBC

A captivating book for anyone who is scared of nature; The Nelsons use science and experience to demystify the animals that cause fear in people while providing advice on how to deal with potentially dangerous si tuations.

Gaelin Rosenwaks , marine biologist, The Expl orers Club

Robs life experiences have taught him not to fear nature but to respect and admire its power from afarwhen you can. When you cant, this is the book to help you navigate those rare moments, all while learning and appreciating the wild and wonderful world around us. My hearts still pounding from the sailboat story and now I want to feed a piranha goldfish.

Phil Torres , ExpeditionX scientist, Discove ry Channel

Informative, entertaining, and relatable, all in one book.

Dr. Casey Parker , mosquito biologist, University of Florida

As a scientist, Ive relied on Robs experience and advice for how to tell stories about the natural world. Now hes brought his experience and advice together for an expert, honest, and entertaining guide to interacting with nature. And its e xcellent!

Dr. Adrian Smith , entomologist, NC State University

Highly recommend! This book, written in easily-understandable and thoroughly entertaining language, is an entertaining read even for someone who doesnt like nature, and Robs use of personal stories and anecdotes keeps the reader glued to t he pages.

Dr. David Coyle , biologist, Clemson SC

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 anyones book co llection!

David Bodenham , ecologist, eco sapien

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 dont 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)ad ventures.

Jim Brady , biologist

A great book, full of interesting and fun facts about our not-so-dangerous housemates on plan et earth.

Dr. Damien Caillaud , Professor of Anthropology , UC Davis

Our understanding of nature has been hampered for centuries by myths and misinformation guided mostly by fear. In this book, the Nelsons take 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 their 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 , herpetologi st, NC Zoo

Wild pig attacks on humans are rare, but can be deadly. Rob Nelsons advice can keep you safe when it comes to th ese pigs.

Dr. John Mayer , biologist, wild b oar expert

Im 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 , highschool english teacher, Sparta, Wisconsin

In a world that too often attempts to entertain with sensationalism and hype, Rob and Haleys new book offers a refreshing blend of science, reality, and common sense on interacting with the interesting wildlife that shares 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 wild or inspire creative conversations about all the nature craft and interesting biology youll learn within the pages. So in the end, this book delivers what few others canit will actually make your life richer in both knowledge and how to confidently embrace our great outdoors.

Dan Bertalan , award-winning author of Nature Com es Killing

Listen to Rob and 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.