I can think of only one Paulsen book that I put down without finishing, because I wasn't in the mood. His stories are amazing, and never more so than when he writes nonfic. What a hard life to live, and what a life he's made of it.

The late Gary Paulsen was such an incredible storyteller, I'm in awe. These short snippets are by turns sad, moving, gross, and laugh-until-you-cry funny. Not really a single cohesive narrative, but a great way to spend an hour or two.

Gary Paulsen is a welling person. He is someone who will give his time to help people. He just a great person. The story of his life was a adventures. For him and his wife to give there time is so nice. His story was a good well to relate to Hatchet. -Mya

Interesting read! Quite a wilderness man in modern times. His own adventures in the woods were used as fiction in his books. Not that the books were factual, but the skills used in the books for survival were some that he had used in the wilderness.

I loved the Hatchet books when I was younger, and got them for my younger cousin for Christmas. That's when I saw this book. My husband and I are in our 30's and we both enjoyed this book. I have dyslexia which makes reading laborious and not something I look forward to. But Gary Paulson writes very clearly and makes you feel like you are watching the story, rather than just decoding letters and words. The experiences he talks about from his real life are incredible. I would recomend this book to anyone regardless of age or gender. Keep in mind though, some of the stories talk about people dying in tragic manners. It is a great companion book to read after the he Hatchet searies, but you don't need to have read those books to enjoy this one.

I've been a boy scout, Eagle Scout, a camper et' cetra:  I have not 'lived' and existed only on what I could get 'outdoors' in a wilderness.  I have not ate guts, eyeballs or entrails to live.  I am not an outdoors man and didn't understand what it would take to become one!

Living 'off the land' in a wilderness takes more than I ever knew!  MUCH MORE!  The book GUTS spelled that out clearly for me as it will for any reader.  I learned by his narrative and experiences, and I hope I never have to become self-dependent in the wilderness. I greatly enjoyed and  became wiser  by reading his book and of his experiences!

This book gives a great background to the Brian stories

If half the stories Gary Paulsen tells in Guts are true, then that man has led one amazing life.  Guts gives great insight into why and how Paulsen was able to write books like Dogsong, Hatchet, and the rest of the Brian series and have it feel so organic.  Turns out he lived many of those experiences.  For a Paulsen fan, this is a must read.

This, along with Paulsen's other books, are wonderful for turning non-readers into lifelong readers!  Start your reluctant reader with this book, and I'm betting your young person will joyfully read all of the books!

Excellent book in good shape.

My son is a reluctant reader but absolutely LOVES Gary Paulsen's wilderness stories. Before he read this book, he had already read the HATCHET series, and I think this story is more interesting if the reader already has some background on Paulsen's "Brian" novels. GUTS is basically a series of essays about Paulsen's real-life experiences growing up hunting and fishing and and learning to live in the woods. There is plenty of adventure and interesting information, too. My son's favorite section is about how Paulsen made his own bow and arrows and learned to hunt without a gun.

The reading level is about right for a third- or fourth-grade reader, although the subject matter will interest boys from 8 to 80. It is gritty, but frankly that's pretty much what gets my son to read at all. He wants stories about survival and bush life and animals and hunting, and this book delivers all of it. I would highly recommend this book (as well as Paulsen's novels) to anyone trying to get boys interested in reading. Paulsen's novels really grab them where they are: they want to learn to be men and to live meaningful lives. So much of what is read in schools these days does not appeal to active boys, and I think they begin to feel that reading doesn't apply to their lives and interests. And GUTS is so interesting that I don't mind listening to my son read it out loud, night after night (although I make him read the "eating eyeballs" parts silently!).

Wow, what a book.  This very open account of Gary's life really makes you appreciate the wonderful details he always puts in the Brian books.  Gary lived most of the experiences he gave this most loved character.  I read this book to my 12 year old son (already a fan of the Brian Books) and he was absolutely rivited.  He didn't think that he would care for a biography, but he found out differently.  In fact, reading this book has gotten him intersted in the biographies of other people, as well.  WOW!  You will not regret purchasing this book.