I bought this book long ago just before I started high school. Like many around that age I was beginning to rebel and seek independence. This book profoundly affected me in ways I did not imagine until much later.
On the surface it goes indepth very clearly about the most basic survival skills. Think not broad, but deep. This is a refreshing contrast of many, MANY other “highly lauded” survival books that have a plethora of topics specific to a wide variety of biomes, but almost nothing about how to actually DO it. This book by contrast shows a few objects and techniques but REALLY goes into detail the hows and why’s. I am confident anyone anywhere in the world can take at least some of the techniques from this book (save for extreme climates like the Sahara desert or Arctic tundra) and live comfortably.
What really makes this book special is the philosophy contained inside. The author is adamantly in favor of returning to a generalization of living, meaning one only lives truly free when they are able to live entirely off the land. Others think themselves to do this, but in truth rely on petrochemicals, animal labor, conveniences of modern industry at some level. Even metal tools are a dependence, unless you yourself mine, smelt, and refine the ore. (Very unlikely!)
The book puts it best, if I may paraphrase: Just KNOWING these skills frees one from the dependence of our hyperspecialized society. When you practice these skills, you are doing something universal that transcends culture or language, something our entire human species has done for the overwhelming majority of our lifespan. Regardless of your view of the future or where we’re going as a species and planet, regardless what you do for a living or where you live, you owe it to yourself to reconnect with our human lineage by practicing these skills. It brings such reward that it defies words.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
A very informative and useful book for learning primative skills.
I have been interested in learning primitive living/survival skills and decided to give this book a shot. I was happy with the "how to" aspect of the individual chapters. Each chapter has Information and pictures that detail various skills needed. I would buy this book for the first 5 chapters alone. The next 5 are a bonus, and have excellent information as well. I have used the information in these chapters to tan a deer hide, learned to build (and have used) traps, learned to make cordage! I am not a big fan of the authors writing style, but that's just me. I am used to book like the SAS survival guide. Over all, if you give the techniques shown here a try, you will learn a few things about primitive living yourself. Today I am working on knaping some obsidian with the info in this book.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2008
- Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2013
