Best Reference Books

That would be my selection as it gives you the choice to survive and escape without passing the ominous engineering tests!

Same here! For gods sakes don't come looking for me! I and the world are better off with me where ever I am.

As far as survival material I don't need any. I grew up in rural ND and since day one the environment has been trying to kill me by continually cycling through all the planets climates yearly so I know how to survive anywhere now.

My survival would be like this.

Step 1; Survey the island and all I can find on and around it.

Step 2; Build shelter some place safe and preferably with a good view.

Step 3; Find stable sources of food.

Step 4; Befriend some small furry animal and name it Mr Squeak so I have a friend when I want one.

Step 5; Should anyone come around and find me I deny who I am and live happily ever after hoping my survival inventions don't give me a way as to whom I really am/was.

'Mr' Squeak? I, uh, thought maybe 'Miss Squeak' would be, ummm, more appropriate.

Well Tom Hanks had Wilson on his island so I can have Mr Squeak.

I suppose that attitude would be fine if your stranded on a tropical island and with your choice of partner. However, if the island is located in the high Arctic, rescue would be important to any long term survival. The Franklin "expedition set sail from Greenhithe, England, on the morning of 19 May 1845, with a crew of 24 officers and 110 men". They were last heard from when they sent letters home from Disko Bay Greenland. They had their ships for shelter and food in the form of fresh meat and canned goods. However, it is now believed they died a gruesome death from lead poisoning eating the canned food. I am sure the ships had many books but the books lacked good nutrition and were not very tasty.

Give me a suitable tropical island and leave me alone with a few lengths of fishing line, knife, and any non technical books that would be an enjoyable read. Are there any such islands left?

Find 'Radio Planet', a really good sci-fi story.

1. A book of matches

2. The world's thickest book, for various uses.

3. How to Survive on a Desert Island

4. Another book of matches

5. Still thinking.

I'm consumed with curiosity over your choices.

At risk of actually getting an explanation, why on earth would you need Cameron Hydraulic Data and Industrial Ventilation?

I highly recommend LynDoor™ Press Special Edition "Stranded on a Deserted Island" written just for you.

See the previous post for details. (sent on May 25th) I'm time traveling today, to see my new mansion paid for by lottery winnings.

"Next imagine that in order to be rescued you would need to solve several complex engineering related problems in you field of study."

Sounds like that bastardized "Reality TV" where you have to eat raw worms or something unappetizing to win.

With the codes that cover structural engineering and the manuals for steel, reinforced concrete and timber, five just doesn't come close.

The book Robinson Crusoe

There are some very interesting options out there. At the risk of giving away some more recent studies (I've studied in many fields) the following five make my list.

1) The English translation of the Bible

2) The English translation of the Koran

3) An Arabic edition of the Koran

4) That book with "Don't Worry" in very bold print on the cover.

5) Must concede to a book of matches.

Reasoning. The first book to enlighten me for the duration of whatever the stay may be. The second so that I might reach an understanding of the differences of the teachings and might even find a solution to share witht he world upon final revelation. The third in order to stretch my mind learning a new language using the second as reference. The fourth because it is the book of every fact known to man and every other species that ever existed and the fifth because I don't want to impale my hand trying to light a fire by rubbing sticks together to cook the manifest produce that will be forthcoming from study of the fourth book.

The unlimited pens and paper would come in handly as kindling to start with and maybe even record a journal, but would that be nearly as bad as talking to oneself?

How to Stop Imagining Things

You didn't say I'd be marooned alone did you?

1. How to Survive a Desert Island.

2. How to get laid on a Desert Island.

3. Worlds biggest Penthouse magazine subscription!

4. Worlds Biggest Book.. (toilet Paper, fire starter)

5. Chick of my dreams!

Like many others, my solution would be to escape the island not play somebody's sick game. so...

1. book on chemistry and how to make batteries or electricity on a desert island.

2. how to make an air tight baloon

3. global prevailing winds

4. astronomical global positioning

5. edible plants and medicines

Drew K

#3.

Unless your deserted island is full of warehouses and industrial suppliers, you'll need a little book on primitive mining, enriching minerals, foundry, casting, cold and hot rolling and metal-mechanics in general; and when you're ready to test your skills, you'll have to find a usable vein of metal.

Once you mastered the previous disciplines, make sure you are immortal, or have at least a few thousand years lifespan, you will need it to compensate for the lack of helpers to develop your own one-man micro civilization...

Just 1 book:

I am amused that, since this is a desert island, I see no books on how to recover/make potable water since you wouldn't live more than 3 days without it.

That's covered in Stranded On A Deserted Island For Dummies.

Chapter sixteen, I think.