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Guts; the true stories behind
Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen

Written by Daniel Nuzzi

Gary Paulson’s unusual autobiography contains his philosophy, experiences, and is also a manual for cooking in the wilderness.  Gary has had many bizarre and exciting experiences as well as tough times.  For example, he was been in two plane crashes, attacked by moose, and participated in many dog sled races.  One plane crash took place in a violent storm in Alaska, and the other plane crash the engine failed.  Both times he managed to escape with his life.  Once he was attacked by a moose while canoeing when the moose stepped on the canoe and flipped him over.  Another time he was attacked by a moose while dog sledding down a trail.  He has entered a number of races in which he was stranded without food, water, and supplies.  Gary was an expert hunter and would survive by shooting red squirrels, rabbits, and deer.  He was able to prepare a stew from every part of the animal except their intestines and stomachs.  Many times he found dead grouse, rabbits, deer, and even men frozen to death in the wilderness.  In the last chapter in the book, he discuss many different types of cooking in the wilderness such as: plank food, spit cooking, stew making, pit cooking, and boiling. This book is like a manual for wilderness survival.

I thought the book Guts by: Gary Paulsen was an intriguing combination of a journal, autobiography, and adventure story with only one flaw.  It was too short as I would have enjoyed reading more about his adventures and even his recipes for raw meals.  I would recommend this book for all people interested in the wilderness experience.  He is an example of a modern frontiersman who tough it out with no food to eat and not much water to drink.  Gary Paulsen is a great author and a good man.

Last Updated: December 09, 2004
Yannis Grammatis