Stingray : The Lethal Tactics of the Sole Survivor
by Peter Lance
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 December, 2000)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $12.75
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Editorial Review

Seventy-one million Americans watched Richard Hatch win $1 million on the Survivor television series during the summer of 2000. He was the brilliant strategist and ruthless manipulator that viewers loved to hate. Then Hatch's $500,000 book deal to spill the inside secrets of his Survivor strategies and his life story got throttled by CBS. Trampled in the scuffle was Hatch's cowriter, five-time Emmy-winning investigative journalist Peter Lance. Hatch had led him to believe that CBS permission was in the bag, and Lance had already spent months working on the book when the deal died. So Lance went ahead and wrote his own book, full of those delectably greasy little details that Survivor fans hunger for, and including his own first-person observations. He provides a day-by-day commentary on the series, exposes several sides of Richard Hatch that we didn't see, and offers disturbing evidence that CBS manipulated events and people.

Lance knew "Dickie" Hatch as a child and is compassionate when detailing his early life. Hatch was an overweight, lonely child, wearing Coke-bottle thick glasses, sexually victimized by bullies before age 10, smoking pot and cigarettes by sixth grade, and becoming a "serious drinker" as an adult. (Hatch no longer drinks or smokes.) The Stingray does not flatter the present-day Richard Hatch, however, calling him "villainous" and a liar (off the series as well as on). Lance quotes a management consultant describing Hatch as "a wild animal who went to school." "King Richard" was brilliant at winning the throne through "guile, deceit and the strength of his will," says Lance, but "he behaved like a hick on a Starline Hollywood Tour when it came to using his fame as a launching pad for the rest of his life."

Lance reveals CBS's stranglehold on the castaways' ability to earn money post-Survivor by gatekeeping every offer and rejecting all that competed with CBS programming or sponsors. He offers unsettling substantiation that CBS distorted events, shifted the sequence of scenes, and may have tainted the voting. The book's organization seems hasty and haphazard at times, with topics frequently raised in one chapter and revisited in another. But if you're a Survivor devotee, this is a must-read. The title refers to the way Hatch compared his skewering stingrays for food to his treatment of the other castaways: "Stab. Blood in the water. Bye bye baby." --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Ruthlessness common denominator of winning
What aggressive capitalism has always taught is that it is ruthlessness (often accompanied by the hard hearted deception and immorality, or inhumanity) that determines the winner in a game of winner take all - the one that equates with being a sole survivor. Above all, it make be the distinction of why most women do not succeed, and why they reach a point where morality and integrity are not worth sacrificing - for the win. For women who are able to yield, or are so ambitious that winning is everything, they tend to exist among the more predatory alpha males who reside among us, often doing quite well, it seems. Often characterized as the pirannas they are, however, they are also mocked by men for using the same methods, and inconsistent with the attributes that have been traditionally favored by men (and by women) as attractive and acceptable. But if women prefer not to be alone, why would they use these tactics to be a "sole" survivor. In fact, why would men want to be a "sole" survivor in the form of lone wolves when mankind lives a "community life?" Disassociation is not normal or healthy, and may be one of the greatest flaws of aggressive capitalism, that encourages the predatory nature of men, or of women. Harmony produces peace, not war and most prefer to live peaceful lives of pleasurable pursuits.

behind survivor
survivor, the first reality show, and still the best.
go behind the island, to find out never before known, stuff about richard, Kelly, Susan, Rudy, and the whole cast, plus tons of other info, we weren't supposed to know about.See how Rich, had the game wrapped up, even before getting on the island.I won't tell too much more, you'll have to read it yourself.

Richard's Revenge
To read this sort of stuff, you really have to be a "Survivor" junkie, and I qualify.I have been with it since the start and don't believe I have missed an episode (though some were eminently missable!).

"The Stingray" came out hoping to capitalize on first "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch's instant fame.The author's big beef is 1) CBS has Survivor cast members so locked up, it's a wonder they can even renew their drivers' license and 2) Richard Hatch "strung him along" and a $500,000 book deal sunk from sight because Richard either was unaware of the lock CBS had on him or thought he could get around it.

Mr. Lance never considers that maybe Richard Hatch was also bummed out about losing $500,000.The book is basically one long whine. Lance constantly reminds us he is a multiple award winning "investigative journalist" and Hatch is well---chopped liver.Richard is a fascinating subject, a man that has reinvented himself more times than you can count, very bright, self-destructive, and some of this information is presented.

Awards aside, this book is atrociously edited and hardly a page goes by without major typos and misspellings. The organization is non-existent. Mr. Lance is much given to "More on THIS later" type statements, only there never is any "more." The author constantly zings Hatch with "you knew how to win a million dollars; but you didn't know what to do after you got it."

Well, now it is two years later.Richard seems to be doing ok, and he has been resurrected as the Prime Survivor.All other Survivors are compared to Richard and found lacking. Latest Survivor winner Brian Haydik, who could probably give a whole new meaning to the phrase "coldly ambitious", is believed to have modeled his strategy on Hatch's game. At the time of Richard's win, he was the man you loved to hate, and Peter Lance sneered that would be his undoing.Not necessarily so.Viewers gradually realized you could be Charley-nice-guy and get booted off the island, or you could Outwit, Outplay, and Out Mean everyone else and come home with a million dollars.

Many of the interviews in this book are second-hand, even at the time the book was printed.I gave the book a second star for the occasional insights into Hatch's character. Otherwise, a waste of time.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Isbn: 1885840039
Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts    2. Performing Arts    3. Performing Arts / Television / History & Criticism    4. Performing Arts/Dance    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Survivor (Television program)    7. Television - Guides & Reviews    8. Television - History & Criticism    9. Survival skills   

101 Survival Secrets: How to Make $1,000,000, Lose 100 Pounds, and Just Plain Live Happily
by Rich Hatch Richard Hatch
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (October, 2000)
list price: $12.95
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Reviews (27)

Clever, witty, and profound
I know Rich. He's an honest, brilliant, and giving person and his book is not only a recap of his steps to success (that almost anyone can adopt) but it's also an inspiring read for corporate execs, volunteers, executive coaches, and middle managers - not to mention the mainstream John & Jane Doe. Worth more than its cover price, this is a must-read that's fun to review again and again.

Sorry Richard
Despite its 120-plus pages, this book takes about 15 minutes to read. While it offers a handful of ideas worth considering, it isn't worth the cover price. If Richard Hatch were not the winner of the first Survivor, this work would have been published on a personal Web site somewhere and that would be all. If you want it, buy it used.

More Fluffer from which to Suffer the Puffer
I was anxious to write this self-help/autobiography/shameless self-promotional piece off as an attempt to cash in on the fifteen minutes of fame awarded by the Survivor phenomenon.However, I got to tell you, this book not only contained alterable ideas for everyone but also inspired me to peruse its pages in the buff.Thank you Richard Hatch for liberating so many parts of myself. ... Read more

Isbn: 1585742082
Sales Rank: 472789
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Conduct of life    3. Miscellanea    4. Performing Arts    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Sociology    7. Survival skills    8. Television - General    9. Television personalities    10. United States    11. Biography: film, television & music    12. Body, Mind & Spirit / Personal Transformation    13. Sociology, Social Studies    14. Television    15. Popular Culture    16. Entertainment   

Survivor II: The Field Guide
by Mark Burnett
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (23 January, 2001)
list price: $14.95
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Reviews (18)

survivor - palau: country tie-ins
It seems as if Survivor will be airing yet another show in 2005 as Survivor-10 or Survivor-Palau.

I wonder how much these show actually help the host country?For example, the country domain is .pw and www.survivor.pw could be used as a fan site for Survivor-Palau.Have the show's producers considered this?

Slick and pretty, but not very interesting
As if Burnett needed more marketing for his piece d'resistance, hit TV series Survivor, here comes a pretty picture book to make you feel bad for having missed the first series. Except... Burnett should feel bad for missing the strengths of the first series' BOOK. Unlike the "Field Guide" to Survivor I, there's little interesting in the way of additional material or structural insight. If you're a Survivor fanatic, you may enjoy some banter about Australia's surivalist history and environment. If you need some toilet reading, you may enjoy the study cover and pretty pictures. If you're looking for something intelligent, exciting, and revealing, this ain't it.

Not at all like the first book (BEWARE)
If you are looking for a book like the first one detailing the original Survivor, do not buy this one. The book is informative and should of came out during the airing of the Survivor II. It does take you back to Borneo, gives you insight to why they picked Australia (and especially the Queenlands area), and some history of Australia. The next chapters tell about the personality of the survivors and their strategy to win. Where as the last chapter talks about survivor and how to become a contestant. ... Read more

Isbn: 1575001918
Sales Rank: 287537
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Movie-TV Tie-In - General    3. Movie/Tv Tie-Ins    4. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Survivor (Television program)    7. Survivor : the Australian Outb    8. Survivor : the Australian Outback (Television program)    9. Television - Guides & Reviews    10. Television - History & Criticism    11. Performing Arts / Television / General   

The Book of Rudy: The Wit and Wisdom of Rudy Boesch
by Rudy Boesch Jeff Herman
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 2001)
list price: $5.95
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Reviews (2)

Rudy endures questions and answers on just about everything
I picked up "The Book of Rudy: The Wit and Wisdom of Rudy Boesch" and immediately cringed.Here is a man who achieved a certain notoriety for being the most authentic member of the original "Survivor" show.Yes, there was the beloved curmudgeon aspect to how he was presented, but I thought it was his authenticity, the fact that you took the man at face value because you just were not going to find anything else underneath, that made him appealing.Ask Rudy Boesch what he thinks and you will get what he thinks.Take it or leave it.But when I saw this book I thought it was going to be one of those collections of quotations and aphorisms, which would strip the man down to mere words.

However, I was surprised to discover this was ot the case.What we have here is Rudy Boesch answering questions about basically every controversial topic that interviewers Jeff and Deborah Herman could come up with, from abortion to gun control and from Vietnam to George Bush, Jr.Some of the answers are brief, to the point, and probably surprising to anyone expecting standard conservative rhetoric (e.g., Rudy thinks abortion should be up to the woman).Others are more involved, evidencing that the man does not spout off about everything at the drop of the hat.He only talks in detail about things he has thought about it depth.

There is obviously some sort of agreement regarding the publication of books that Rudy Boesch signed when he did "Survivor," because the show is never mentioned, just the idea that we have seen Rudy of TV.A chapter on "Survival" is conspicuously barren of anything regarding living on an island in the South China Sea for a month.However, Rudy is here to talk about bigger and better things than some television show.I would have liked to have read more about Rudy's live in the SEALS, but you know the man is not going to talk about that, right?This one is quite simple: if you enjoyed listening to Rudy's abrasive comments on "Survivor," you will find more of the same but with considerably more depth and heart than what we say edited for television.

That's the Rudy I knew....
As a staff member of NavSpecWarGroup back in '73, I ran across Rudy many times while he was at SEAL 2. He is EXACTLY like his book. A good guy and a good example for the young guys of today's SEAL Teams to follow. If young men today want an example to follow, they would be on the mark if they used him instead of a sports figure or movie actor.

Steve Waterman, author of JUST A SAILOR ... Read more

Isbn: 1580626130
Sales Rank: 111491
Subjects:  1. 1928-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Boesch, Rudy,    4. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Television Personalities    6. Interviews    7. Military    8. Performing Arts    9. Performing Arts/Dance    10. Television - General    11. Television personalities    12. United States   

Survivor - Season One - The Greatest and Most Outrageous Moments
Average Customer Review:
DVD (09 January, 2001)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

America has spoken. Survivor was one of the rare lightning-in-a-bottle television events that became an instant pop culture phenomenon, like Roots, the first season of Twin Peaks, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Suddenly Susan (just kidding). Sixteen contestants were left to fend for themselves on the most famous tropical isle since Gilligan's. What begins as a happy and healthy competition inexorably turns, in contestant Jenna's words, "malicious and evil." And the whole world was watching.

For devotees of the show who yearn to go back to the island, this two-and-a-half-hour video souvenir replays the most memorable moments of season 1, including all the tribal councils that sealed the castaways' fates. What makes this video collectible are the never-before-broadcast audition tapes (Susan's is a jaw-dropping hoot), as well as each castaway's parting words after being voted off the island (Stacey is particularly bitter). There is gratuitous rodent skinning, uncensored profanity (from Susan and B.B.), and nudity (unfortunately, all Richard). Thankfully, we are spared Sonja's ukulele playing.

The one mystery that remains is why the castaways didn't pull a Lord of the Flies on hokey host Jeff Probst. Even those who originally avoided the show like a rat dinner will have to admit: from Jenna's heartbreak at learning that her video greeting from home did not arrive to Susan's classic what-goes-around-comes-around "snakes and rats" speech, Survivor is compelling television. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (55)

This DVD really sucks even thow im a big survivor foan
this dvd really sucked becuse there wernt any chalanges and they showed all the votes and when he was reding the votes they skiped to the last vote plus somany intervuies with the castaways. I hope the Complete first season has challanges and all that kind of stuff.

Full season coming--avoid this
On May 18, 2004, the entire first season of Survivor will be released on a 5-disc set. The first four contain the episodes and bonus features. This is the 5th disc in the set. DON'T BUY THIS DISC IF YOU PLAN TO PURCHASE THE BOX SET.

This disc isn't as bad as most people say, but the season set will definitely be the better buy.

The Right Kind of Viewer Will Give This Five Stars
This video is an overview of the original season of Survivor with some extras as noted above.It's a good review of the two tribes that started all the hub bub, but it may not be for everybody.I encourage you to watch this Survivor video if one or more of the following applies to you:

1.You missed some of Survivor 1 but greatly enjoyed the episodes you saw.
2.You are in some type of Fantasy Bowl Survivor, either at work, with friends, or on the CBS website.
3.You're on the CBS Survivor's mailing list and get excited to see the previews for the next Survivor episode in your inbox.
4.You have ever purchased an official Survivor buff or any other type of memorabilia.
5.You want to catch the attention of someone you know to be a Survivor fanatic.
6.You have applied, or would like to apply, to be a contestant.
7.You want to re-live the Greg-talking-to-a-coconut moments.
8.You own the Survivor board game.
9.You were on the first season of Survivor.
10.You need detailed instructions on how to build a Superpole.
11.Each of the items on this list is completely comprehendable to you.

If you're only feeling lukewarm about the series, this video isn't going to turn you into a fan.I would recommend Survivor:Pearl Islands for that.:)

And now I have spoken. ... Read more

Asin: B000050XQO
Subjects:  1. Television   

Survivor - Season Two, The Australian Outback - The Greatest & Most Outrageous Moments
Average Customer Review:
DVD (25 September, 2001)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $13.49
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Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (28)

Season set coming -- avoid this
Considered by many fans to be the best season ever, Survivor: The Australian Outback - The Complete Second Season is being released April 26, 2005. This brief review of the season is ok, but the season set is definitely the better buy. The season set is six discs, one of them being this disc. DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU ARE BUYING THE SEASON SET.

HUGE Survivor fan!
Having enjoyed the whole first season of Survivor (it's not for sale in Australia.Had to buy it from here!), I would love to see the same done for ALL the Survivors starting with Survivor Australia.I missed a lot of that series, and although this dvd is entertaining, after having a taste of the FULL 1st season with everything including the full shows, interviews, behind the scenes etc - I WANT MORE! Bring out the same for Survivor Australia as you did for the first Survivor! I imagine there is an audience, so definately worth doing for all the Survivor seasons.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!Don't make me grovel... it's embarrassing!

Elisabeth Filarski.. MY Soul Survivor
elisabeth filarski kicked ass!.. oh, who evers bought it.. has it got alot of elisabeth? anyway.. i hope it works on australian dvds.. or else im gonna KICK SOME ASS! ... Read more

Asin: B00005N89A
Sales Rank: 10261
Subjects:  1. Television   

Survivor : The Ultimate Game
by Mark Burnett Martin Dugard
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (12 September, 2000)
list price: $17.95
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Editorial Review

After months of tighter-than-CIA secrecy, here is the exclusive inside story of the TV smash Survivor. Its creator, Mark Burnett, calls the show "Gilligan's Island meets Lord of the Flies meets Ten Little Indians meets The Real World," but you knew that. What's new about this book is the view from the other side of the lens. While the contestants gobbled wriggling three-inch beetles and savaged each other, Burnett and company were feverishly running the show and writing this tell-all account. It gives you a better feel than TV can for the natural setting: pristine beaches infested with skin-burrowing bugs that scarred "coquette" Colleen for life; Malaysian field rats attracted by the survivors' food and crawling over them all night; six-foot, yellow-and-black-banded sea kraits (snakes) devouring the rats; 300-pound pythons reeking of rotting meat, poised to drop from trees and eat people.

Except for the crew's hands-down favorite, U.S. Air Force survival trainer Gretchen ("She was wholesome, she was a survivalist, she looked great in a bathing suit"), most of the contestants were nice as pythons. Laid-back Gervase said, "Nothing's dumber than a woman, except maybe a cow," amusing "alpha male" Joel and enraging Jenna, Colleen, and Gretchen (IQ 142). Greg, who stank more than others because he slept in the jungle and got more bug bites, infuriated show host Jeff Probst. Despite "long nights cuddling with Colleen," Greg betrayed her to flirt with the aptly named winner, Rich. "It's like a kitten you find," Greg says of Colleen. "You give it a name, like Fluffy ... you're starving. So you look right in the kitten's eyes and break its neck. Nothing personal." The authors compare gay Rich and homophobe Rudy to the Odd Couple, and Dirk and Sean to "a pair of Malaysian field rats trying to stand up to a yellow-banded krait. The krait, of course was Susan."

The Pagong tribe was young, strong, lazy, and quarrelsome--"MTV's Beach House." The Tagi were older, but a far better team, and so more successful. And the most consistent, cynical, and adaptive contestant won.

Survivor is not just great gossip; it's the most fascinating and massively popular psychology experiment ever conducted. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Survivor; a "novel" idea
First of all, don't bother purchasing this book until you have seen the series "Survivor: Borneo", because, basically, the book won't have the same meaning to those who have yet to see the series on which it is based (What are you waiting for? Go watch it!). For those who have seen "Borneo", this is an ideal way to relive the moments of Pulau Tiga seen from an entirely different perspective; that of the producer, Mark Burnett. Burnett describes the activities of island life as they occured on the island, making this a descriptive insight into the personalities and personas of each of the 16 castaways as pictured by Burnett. He covers the backround of each "character" by actually attempting to see things from that survivor's point of view. The description of many of the things not shown on TV is quite interesting (to say the least), with backround information provided on the technicalities of the shoot and island living (including not only the cast, but the crew as well). I was extremely disappointed by the rather abrupt end to book, and that the final tribal council, one of the most pivotal moments of the entire series, was so swiftly covered, without even remarking on Sue's "Rat & Snake" speech (Oh good God, you just gotta see it!) or the other jury members' votes. (Now I'm told that all this comes in Burnett's next book, the Survival Guide for the Autrailian Outback. What in God's name is the point of that!). The interview with the million-dollar winner (the sole suvivor) is interesting, but could hardly be called "in-depth". The most important thing about this book, though, is Burnett's analysis of each of the castaway's mentality and strategies, and, like me, those of you who have seen the show and have appreciated the castaways' outer values will be most intrigued by the psychology of their mentality Burnett discusses here. This book is an absolute must-have for any Survivor fans (and any Colleen Haskell fans like me!), but will still be better appreciated by those who are actually familiar with the entire "Borneo" thing.

Great book for a survivor fan!
I loved this book. I bought it used off of Borders and had my doubts about it. But it came through. I was written by Mark Burnett while he was on the island as the filming progressed. Mark wrote about the game itself along with insights to what happens behind the scenes. Although the sotry is basically a recap of the show, it also give more. I learned many things like- the production crew and the castways know each other by names and intermingle and also I learned more about each castaway and his or her ideas about the game going into it and afterwards. I totally recommend this book for any fans (and even non-fans!)

A little thin on excitement
I thought this book would be a bit spicier than what can go on TV, but I found details and stories to be a bit thin. It was as though the book was an after-thought to the hit show; another piece of merchandise not quite up to snuff. Not a bad book, but I think it could have been better. ... Read more

Isbn: 1575001438
Subjects:  1. Performing Arts    2. Performing Arts/Dance    3. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    4. Survivor (Television program)    5. Television - General    6. Television - Guides & Reviews    7. Television Plays And Programs   

The Survivor Manual: Based on U.S. Armed Forces Survival Techniques
by Mark Burnett
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2001)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $14.95
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Reviews (1)

Very Well Done...Just Know What It Is BEFORE You Buy It!
This is an awesome book. I am 15 and have read EVERY Survivor book. This book is NOT about the television show. Yes, it is endorsed by the television series and all but it is a life saving book. This is similar to the Boy Scout Handbook but with a Survivor twist. Mark Burnett ONLY wrote the introduction, he did not write the WHOLE book. Another thing that this has is illustrations of what you need to do to survive. This is a great book if you are planning on camping any time soon because something could go wrong and at your fingertips you have ALL the resources you need to survive. I totally recommend this if you camp. But if you are a couch potato and don't plan on leaving any time soon you really don't need this book. Unless you are going to choke on a potatoe chip, then you can read the section on Choking and the Heimlich. I know I didn't spell that right. But this book is a great edition to the survivor fans library. Buy It! ... Read more

Isbn: 0312284217
Sales Rank: 137855
Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Military    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Performing Arts    5. Reference    6. Safety    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Survival skills    9. Television - General   

Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life
by Mark Burnett
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (12 September, 2001)
list price: $22.95
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Reviews (9)

Daring experiences and autobiography come alive
Author Burnett is behind the "Survivor" television series and is a fine TV producer, but he has his own story to tell, and Alan Shearman narrates it in Dare To Succeed. The author's daring experiences and autobiography come alive under Shearman's hand.

This Book is a great edition for Survivor Fans
This books is a great book. I don't like the fact that on EVERY page of the book it either says Eco-challenge or Survivor. This is also a biography of him as much as it is a self-help book. Very interesting reading. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Adrenaline rush
Mr. Burnett is a true adventurer and someone to be admired.I am inspired not only by his ability to reinvent TV programming, but also by his drive to create and build the best expedition race in the world.This book is a great read for everyone, including adventure racers, producers, parents, corporate executives, college students and more. ... Read more

Isbn: 078686849X
Sales Rank: 125247
Subjects:  1. Personal Growth - Success    2. Psychological aspects    3. Psychology    4. Self-Help    5. Success    6. Self-Help / Success   

Survivor: The Official Soundtrack to the Hit CBS TV Series
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 August, 2000)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

Now that the Survivor television spectacle is over and done--evil Richard having snatched the coveted million bucks--legions of fans are undergoing Survivor withdrawal. What to do with our Wednesday nights now that we can't watch a bunch of unwashed folks eat rats, scratch bug bites, and scheme behind each other's backs? How about recreating a Survivor scenario in your living room? Load up on sand, rice, and rodents, invite a few friends over (you can vote them out by midnight), dream up a few immunity challenges, and play the Survivor soundtrack to fully capture the effect of the island contest. With the new-agey drums and chants of the main title theme, "Ancient Voices" (the extended version included here!), the pomp and circumstance of "Big Drama," the thrilling trill of "Survivor Yell," and the suspense of "Tally the Vote"--all culled from the show--you can recall the best days of the Tagi and Pagong. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (47)

SURVIVORISHOT!
Well done Russ Landau & David Vanacore! This cd is absolutely brilliant!! The tribal beats and world rythym are complimented really well by the various vocals on the tracks (especially 'My Tribe'). Both 'Ancient Voices' and 'Ancient Voices-Extended' are incredible pieces of music and are without a doubt the best tracks on the CD (Though 'Tally The Votes' and 'Survivor Yell' are right behind them). 'Buzzed' is a little annoying (It's the same flippin' beat over and over again), but you've still got 18 others to choose from. It's amazing; you just put the CD into your player and you're transported right back to Pulau Tiga, (though it's a pity Colleen isn't here with me! What can I say; she's hot and so is this disc!) Even if your not a fan of the show, or you've nver seen it before, this CD is well worth the price, purely because it's GREAT MUSIC!!

Calling All Survivor Fans
To all the fans of survivor..........

You will LOVE this c.d. If ur as great a fan as me u cannot live without this music.I'd say its the next best thing to the show. There are so many moments reflected in this cd that u will recall from the show it is worth EVERY PENNY of the price! I listen to this cd everywhere and never get annoyed of the songs. If this review relates to u u should really consider buying this cd!!!

Survivor the Soundtrack
This cd is a very good cd to use with the survivor the board game
it comes complete with many wonderful tribal songs including the theme. ... Read more

Asin: B00004XSRQ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores    3. Television Soundtracks   

Survivor Game
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Editorial Review

You won't have to eat live insects, sleep among Malaysian field rats, live onan isolated island for 39 days, or even endear yourself to Sue to enjoy the Survivor BoardGame from Mattel. Based on the wildly popular first season of the Survivor TVseries, this multiplayer (four to eight adults) game adopts the basic premise of theshow as players rely on quick wits, as well as pure luck and the collective vote of theTribal Council, to become the game's sole survivor. With a plastic replica of the island ofPulau Tiga as its centerpiece and cardholder, the game is played on an illustrated gameboard and comes complete with 168 game cards in three different categories of questionsand riddles, as well as some Pictionary-type cards. The game also includes a special die,10 playing pieces and stands, nine erasable voting cards, an erasable pen, immunity idol,and an instruction sheet. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (35)

This game is SOOOO much fun!
Survivor is an awesome game! It?s not a Risk-like game, where you pummel each other for hours, or a monopoly-type game, where a veteran player camps sets up and just banks off of everyone else. It?s a game that requires a strategy and ability to improvise. It changes every time you play.
You break up into two teams, and go through a round of 'team play', in which you attempt to gather items that will help you out later. Once around the board you begin team play.
'Individual play' begins the free-for-all, in which you all attempt to get around the island to earn immunity. If your tribe did well in team play, you and you former tribe mates will have an edge over the other tribe?s players. Whoever gets to the finish line first can not be voted out that round. At the vote comes the strategy! If you merely vote by yourself, you put yourself at risk of leaving quickly, but if you and one or two other players vote the same way, you can assure yourself a chance to win. Winning immunity is important, but if you win it to often, people will gun for you early. After a player is voted out, the remaining players start the race around the isle again. When only two remain, the players voted out vote on who is the ultimate survivor. And then, you don?t win a million! (The only thing that really disappointed me.)
Here are my tips for playing to win...
1. Stay under the Radar
If you?re the type of player who does the 'Carlton' every time
you take a country in risk, TONE IT DOWN. People WILL vote
you out if you are annoying them.
2. Get an Alliance early
Get an ally or two as soon as possible. I've seen people
voted out with only two votes in the 1st round. (He who wins
immunity holds the tie-breaker) The best way to protect
yourself is to get as many votes on another player as
possible.
3. Use 'Tribal' Unity
Another way to get safely through early stages is to
your tribe to stick together in the vote. If you can manage
this, you can 'Pagong' the other tribe. (Vote them off one
after the other) After you thin down the other tribe, you
can use them to remove any 'threats' from your own tribe.
4. Honesty is the best policy
In my playing, I found if you LIE, you LOSE. Remember, the
players you vote out have the final say. If you give someone
your word you'll take them to the final two, you better do
it. You need 3 votes to win, and you just lost one. Better
yet, don?t promise much, and never give the final two promise
unless you a) totally trust them, or b) your in real
trouble.
This game is well worth the $6. Enjoy, and click yes if this review helped ya!

Survivor The Board Game
This board game was the best game in the world! I have always wanted to vote someone out after watching all the survivor seasons over the years. To make this game more fun and like the show:

1. By the survivor soundtrack
2. get candles or real torches to blow out
3. get someone to be Jeff(the host)
4. you can have more players than 8 for a bigger challenge
5. play this game outside to feel like a real survivor
6. make alliances and do all that you can to win (except no cheating!)
7. Choose to act like your favorite survivor contestant or just play as yourself.
set up separate tribe areas and a tribal council area.
8. have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Game!!!!! Worth the Price!!!
I played this game with my friends and we had a REALLY good time. This game is really worth the price because I saw it a another store for a much higher price!!!! You have to collect items to survive and do many things to be the Survivor.
In the beginning, you play as teams, and then you play individually to get the idol. You must answer questions, such as riddles. The best part is voting because it is very fun. Overall, this game is worth the price on Amazon.com and is a great game. The only con is that you need at least 4 players, and an even number of players is best. Even though it says you can only have up to 8 players, you can just get small pieces of paper and color them different colors.If you buy it, I hope you enjoy it, and got your money's worth. ... Read more

Asin: B00004WHR4

Survivor Ultimate Edition
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (05 November, 2002)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $19.99
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Reviews (37)

Okay
When I first got this video game, I was really excited and I downloaded it onto my pc right away. It was fun for the first couple of weeks, but then I got to playing it all the time that I knew how to win all of the challenges, and I knew when the tribes were going to switch and merge. It became very boring. The tribal council is probably the best part of the game, because it's the only suspencful part of the game. The challenges are only for YOU to play, you don't get any help from your tribe mates. The only way to pick someone to vote off is if you don't like them or if you don't have a chance to save them because everyone is voting them off. I do recemmend this game to people who really like to play video games over and over, but I don't EXTREMELY recemmdend it!! Sorry...

This is a TERRIFIC game!!!!
I had reviewed the first "Survivor: The Interactive Game". I got it from the library and I thought that it was ok. I didn't like the survival periods. But now, to "Survivor: Ultimate". This is such a big improvment since the last game! At tribal council, the graphics are much better. And instead of a video of Jeff snuffing a torch, he actually does it!! Although, it is somewhat like the first game. It DOES repeat challenges, not always in the same order. But still. And they actually say in the manual that your alliances keep for one episode. And the alliances actually keep! If you are in the final four, if two people have a set person, that person that they planned to vote off, votes for him/herself! But overall, this is a HUGE improvment since the last game. I just wish they had one with Rupert in it! Hopefully then, he wouldn't get voted off.

Not that great
i agree, the first couple times playing are really fun.than it just gets repetive and non-challenging.i wish tribal council was more suspeseful; and i wish the allinaces actually made sense.also, i think its studpid that you are always competing against the marquesas cast.i hope a new edition comes out, hopefully it will be a lot better.i don't reccommend the game to those who aren't survivor fans. ... Read more

Asin: B00005YYAB
Sales Rank: 1049
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action   

Shooting People: Adventures in Reality TV
by Sam Brenton Reuben Cohen
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (May, 2003)
list price: $21.00 -- our price: $14.28
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Reviews (2)

An in depth analysis of reality television
If you are a college student like myself forced to write an essay about reality tv, then this book is a great place to begin your research. The authors are significantly opposed to reality tv as they draw comparisons between the genre and military torture tactics and social psychology experiments from the 1960's and 1970's (in particular, a whole chapter dedicated to the Stanford County Prison Experiment). The book primarily looks at the big two: Survivor and Big Brother. The book mentions an upcoming reality show where contestants can compete to be candidates in the 2004 election. I found this hard to believe, but sure enough, such a show is in the works! (www.americancandidate.com). How far will reality tv go? This is an enduring question through out the book- as each new show tries to outdo its predecessors. Like I say, a great book for research into the genre. It has been a tremendous help in my own research.

A Scathing, Spot-On Indictment of the Plague of Reality TV
Cohen and Brenton's book is a scathing, spot-on indictment of the sickness that is reality television. It provides a detailed look at the genre and shows its twisted roots in torture tactics and behavioral experimentation. A deliciously arch tone and rich use of language make this book a pleasure to read.

The authors eloquently point out just how deep the global culture level has sunk into the trivia of the self, "the sprawling self-obsession now so omnipresent as to go unnoticed," and how this is the all-but-inevitable birthplace of reality TV. They describe one show as "a viewing experience not unlike being trapped in an elevator with two hysterical boy bands and an angry dog", just one example (and not even the best one) of the razor-sharp sarcasm found throughout the book.

The authors' conclusion is scary and, quite possibly, prophetic. Keep an eye on reality shows from politically-driven media moguls like Murdoch for their potential impact on future elections!We need more voices such as those of the authors.They may be shouting into the wind considering the popularity of so many reality TV shows, but our society and self-knowledge is richer for them nonetheless. ... Read more

Isbn: 1859845401
Sales Rank: 502628
Subjects:  1. Media Studies - Electronic Media    2. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    3. Popular Culture - General    4. Reality television programs    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Television - History & Criticism   

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
by Joshua Piven David Borgenicht
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 November, 1999)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Editorial Review

How to Wrestle Free from an Alligator: 4. If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (for example, a limb), tap or punch it on the snout.

Though it's being marketed as a humorous title--after all, it's unlikely you'll be called upon to land a plane, jump from a motorcycle to a moving car, or win a swordfight--the information contained in The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook is all quite sound. Authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht consulted numerous experts in their fields (they're cited at the end of the book) to discover how to survive various and sundry awful events. Parachute doesn't open? Your best bet for survival is to hook your arms through the straps of a fellow jumper's chute--and even then you're likely to dislocate both shoulders and break both legs. Car sinking in water? Open the window immediately to equalize pressure, then open the car door and swim to the surface. Buried in an avalanche? Spit on the snow--it will tell you which direction is really up. Then dig as fast as you can.

Each survival skill is explained in simple steps with helpful illustrations. Most stress the need to be prepared--both mentally and physically. For example, to escape from quicksand, you will need to lay a pole on the surface of the quicksand, flop on your back atop the pole, and pull your legs out one by one. No pole? No luck. "When walking in quicksand country, carry a stout pole--it will help you get out should you need to."

Hopefully you'll never need to know how to build a fire without matches, perform a tracheotomy, or treat a bullet wound. But in the words of survival evasion resistance escape instructor "Mountain" Mel Deweese, "You never know." --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Reviews (195)

Interesting, but too short and thus overpriced
Disregarding the probability of your engagement into those life and death scenarios (unless you are Bond or Bourne), the topics are very interesing. Please read the "See sample pages" for a quick look of what those "tips" refer to. However, I have a serious complaint about it. There are only 40 "How to" in this handy book. For the price of it, 40 more should be included. I didnt suppose to pay nearly fifteen bucks for a book which I could finish within an hour.

Kill two birds with one stone!
Turn otherwise wasted down-time into a great learning opportunity.Although there is no specific advice for how to kill two birds with one stone in the book, our bathroom guests have enjoyed learning about other survival situations while attending to their duties.

A sturdy cover and compact size makes this book especially suited to a harsh bathroom environment.Highly recommended!

Instructions on day to day life, well maybe not day to ....
This handbook gives the reader instructions on aspects of everyday life from how to deal with a snake bite to how to jump from a motorcycle into a moving car (something most people do quite frequently).How to hot wire a car or kick in a door is a must for any want to be criminal.Some of the things in here you're not real likely to use but it is interesting to read up on how they are done.

Lot of things you're more likely to be taught the correct way when partaking in the activity itself by actual instructors such as what to do if your air tank doesn't work while scuba diving but for people never likely to partake in some of the activites in this book who may be interested in what if questions then this book can suffice.It is pretty unlikely you are going to whip this little book out of your pocket as you are plummeting to earth when your parachute doesn't open and things like that but this book is an interesting read on what the ideal thing to do is.

A better book is the later version of this by one of the same authors of this book called The Action Hero's Handbook which also includes a lot of humour and acts as if the reader wants to be an action star in movies. ... Read more

Isbn: 0811825558
Subjects:  1. First aid in illness and injury    2. Form - Essays    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Humor    6. Reference    7. Safety    8. Survival skills    9. Wilderness survival    10. Sports   

US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
by Department of Defense
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 January, 1992)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $12.71
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Reviews (28)

Weapon X
As a US soldier this is the perfect book to hone up on your survival skills. As a civilian it may have some of the base facts, but some of the military "jargon" might confuse you. AS well as the enviroments depicted in the book. How many civilians are going to get lost in a hostile enviroment in the frist place. I highly recomend it for the military minded and experienced camper/hiker.

Awsome Book
This book is awsome, and although some people dislike the military references (using you gun, hide from the enemy)i thought it was interesting and sometimes a bit humerous. I gave this book 5 stars because it is EXACTLY what a military survival book should be. Now, if it was written SPECIFICALY for civilians i would give a worse score becase of the military reference.

The thing i disliked about this book the most was the lack of information about surviving in what i consider a "normal" envirement. It has the desert, arctic, and tropical, but i want to know how to survive in the wilderness where i live (Northern MN). I was also disappointed with the plants. I know that they were having to cover the whole world pretty much but i would have liked it better to have a few more plant descriptions as only about 4 of the plants listed live were i live. I would also have liked to have a better description of how to prepare the plant (the most tastey way possible with little supplys so that you don't end up spitting it out cause it tastes like ****.

Overall: Great for the military, entertaining and very informative for civilians but doesn't cover living/surviving in the Deciduous and Coniferous forests very well. I wouldn't recomend this to someone who wants information about edible plants as it has very little. For that i would recomend the Peterson Field Guide To Edible Plants (i own it, its very good, but i have trouble making any of the food taste good).

Good except for Jungle/Desert Survival
The U.S. Army field manual on Survival is a good basic guide, standard reading for our troops, and unlike some survival manuals, it is fairly well written and organized.I have yet to find a survival enthusiast who didn't have this book or Greg Davenport's Wilderness Survival in their personal library, and that tells you something.One of the bigger drawbacks to the book is its sketchy coverage of jungle and desert survival - for these areas you'll definitely want additional reading on these topics, as there's a lot more information to be had!If you're interested in those environments,Jeff Randall's Adventure Travel in the Third World book is excellent for jungle survival, while Mark Johnson's The Ultimate Desert Handbook is definitely the best desert survival book out there. ... Read more

Isbn: 0967512395
Sales Rank: 4298
Subjects:  1. General    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Military    4. Reference    5. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills    6. Survival skills    7. Dept. of the Army    8. FM manual 21-76    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Survival    12. Survival after airplane accide    13. United States    14. Wilderness survival   

Practical Outdoor Survival: A Modern Approach
by Len McDougall
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1993)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
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Reviews (6)

Useful, but outdated
This book delivered less than I expected.Its chief flaws are that it is outdated, superficial and poorly organized.It begins with highly detailed advice about basic tools that outdoorsmen should always carry:knives, compasses, etc.This is welcome information, but the author put the cart before the horse by introducing this material first.What was needed was a general discussion of the challenges of wilderness survival and the basic methods needed to overcome it.Without this overview, how can the reader prepare a proper shopping list?And regarding the author's proposed shopping list, few of the specific tools he mentions are still available.So the author's list of compasses and survival knives is nearly useless.The same type of problem is illustrated by the author's strong recommendation that every outdoorsman should carry a "dog rag", because it has so many uses.But this term and the cloth it refers to are now obsolete.In fact, I was unable to find a single reference to "dog rags" when I performed an internet search.There may be a few old timers who still use this term, but that's the point:it's now obsolete!Many other sections of the book also seem outdated or superficial.For example, although the section about snares will help the reader understand their general nature, it doesn't provide enough detail so that he could actually build one that will work properly.Despite these problems, I found this book somewhat helpful.It's short and easy to read, and it provides many useful ideas about basic issues such as finding food and shelter.But the overall impression left by this book is that it is merely an expanded magazine article rather than a thoughtful and thorough discussion of methods that can save a hiker's life during a wilderness emergency.On balance, I'm disappointed that this very good author produced such a light weight book on this important topic.

This book lives up to its title.
Most of the survival books I've read focus on living like an aborigine, which is not what the average backpacker needs.I wanted a book that would tell me what I needed to take in the woods with me to prevent troubles from happening in the first place, and tell me how to get out of trouble if something went wrong.This book is ideal for civlian backpackers and campers who want serious advice about surviving in a real world survival situation.

A poor written attempt at survival (with a fancy hardcover)
Anyone who gave this book 5 stars has no idea what a good book on the subject should contain. This is a poor attempt at written survival manual at it's best. The beginning starts out with the author recommending survival knives. What about if you don't have one? then what? Your survival knife will be there where you don't need it(this is from experience of many). While other books teach you how to use natural resources for cutting tools and shelter, this guy recommends the latest high-tech compasses, navigaton equipment and blah blah... Maybe there's some marketing trick in the survival world that I don't know about. Hard to say but whoever ends up in a survival situation without all the fancy modern tools, best luck to ya! I will say though that it has a decent info on building natural shelters but just about every other author has covered it and done way better. Don't expect to learn alot here. Just the basic stuff that you probably already know. This book should be titled "Practical Camping" and should cost half the money too, even then I'd opt for a refund. ... Read more

Isbn: 1558212280
Sales Rank: 499410
Subjects:  1. General    2. Hiking    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Outdoor Survival Techniques    7. Reference    8. Safety    9. Wilderness survival    10. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills   

Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places
by Steve Brill
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (20 May, 1994)
list price: $21.95 -- our price: $14.93
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Reviews (18)

Indispensable
If you've never foraged before this is a great book to start with.I thought the layout of this book was wonderful.By putting the plants in order of season they are "ready" gets the forager more in tune to the rhtymns of the plants.Also,
he includes details on which ecosystems contain which plants.And unlike other ID books, this one is readable.I enjoyed reading about the plants in a narrative form instead of lists of uses, places where found etc..The drawings are wonderful, but anyone considering foraging should always have a cross reference.This will give you a good excuse to by an ID book with color pictures.

Well selected information and the right mind-set.
This is the best book on edible plants I have yet encountered, and I own 7.The information is really carefully researched, both by library work and extensive personal experience; lots of books propagate the errors of other references, or ignore documented risks.I'm personally a bit reserved about medicinal uses of plants (not because plant medicines are ineffective, but because they can be quite powerful) but Brill has me at least more intrigued than I have been for a while.The writing is engaging and often humorous, without obscuring a thorough coverage of each plant - where and when it is found, what parts to use and how to collect them, and finally how to prepare for eating.While I'm at it, I'll cast my vote in favor of the excellent drawings instead of photos; colors are a lot less helpful for plant identification than many people realize.

In addition to all of these merits the book teaches what I think is the ideal attitude for foraging, both directly by exposition and indirectly through organization.The attitude may be summarized as thoughtful involvement, with both the plants and the places they grow.I've seen reviews of plant foraging books that are written as though the reviewer wishes to wander outside, grab a plant, look it up to see if it is edible, eat it or not, and then go on to something else.This is a recipe for a couple kinds of trouble.First, it is risky to collect plants without taking the time to learn about them; you can't just dive in and start eating stuff without learning both the plants you want to eat and something about the plants you don't want to eat. Spend some time with a plant guide or two just learning your way around plant in general.Second, careless harvesting can damage the plant populations and the plant habitats.Slow down a bit, let the caffeine wear off, and think about what you're doing.It makes a nice change.This book is a great guide.

Where is Evelyn Dean's name?
Since having attended a fascinating lecture by the talented co-author Evelyn Dean, I decided to buy this book. I was shocked to see that the co-author's name did not appear on your web site. Please include her name as it's absence may affect the sales of the book. She continues to lecture and promote her book, and many people know the book because of her work. It is a great book, and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0688114253
Sales Rank: 12126
Subjects:  1. Cookery (Wild foods)    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. General    5. Identification    6. Life Sciences - Botany    7. Medicinal plants    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Wild plants, Edible    12. Gardening / General