Books for the holidays

[Matt Weir]

We are away next week and traditionally I will take a couple of books to read in those quiet moments. I nipped out to Waterstones earlier and my selection for this one is...

:drumroll: Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft which completes my RM collection and Lofty Wisemans SAS Survival Handbook. The only worry I have is, will I manage to leave them alone until Saturday???

Edit: Do you read on holiday or are books the last thing you want?

 

[hammock monkey]

Hi,
it all depends on where the holiday is to me
i try to learn as much a bit about the place before i go (out of respect as well as just to get more from the place - so i enjoy my hols that bit more) so a famous local story - or collection of stories is always a winner.

i've kind of hammered those two in your pic over the years - love em! they're 2 of the best.

if you want a good story you could do worse than Ranulph Fiennes, "feather men" or "secret hunters" are both good blokes 'stories'...although he presents them as fact. With Mr Fiennes you never know.....they probably are half true.
they arent bushcraft as such, but his attitude is superb - and to me its kind of the important thing,
have a great holiday!

 

[Greg]

Hi,
it all depends on where the holiday is to me
i try to learn as much a bit about the place before i go (out of respect as well as just to get more from the place - so i enjoy my hols that bit more) so a famous local story - or collection of stories is always a winner.

i've kind of hammered those two in your pic over the years - love em! they're 2 of the best.

if you want a good story you could do worse than Ranulph Fiennes, "feather men" or "secret hunters" are both good blokes 'stories'...although he presents them as fact. With Mr Fiennes you never know.....they probably are half true.
they arent bushcraft as such, but his attitude is superb - and to me its kind of the important thing,
have a great holiday!

I read the 'Feather Men' a few years ago and thought it was a brilliant read, I didn't put the book down for 2 days!!

 

[8thsinner]

I usually do try to take a book with me when traveling, usually a sci fi favourite or something philosophically based.
However recently I have been using my archos 504, to carry and read all my pdf's, bout 200 of them survival related.

 

[Johnboy06]

lol same books im on mate. Finished essential bushcraft and read it through a few times very very good and half way through lofty's aslo very good. Its good cos ive found they have different but both valid oppinions so it doesnt feel like youre going over the same thing, tho loftys is geared towards survival " youve just crashed what do you do next " sorta thing.

 

[Matt Weir]

Hi,
it all depends on where the holiday is to me
i try to learn as much a bit about the place before i go (out of respect as well as just to get more from the place - so i enjoy my hols that bit more) so a famous local story - or collection of stories is always a winner.

i've kind of hammered those two in your pic over the years - love em! they're 2 of the best.

if you want a good story you could do worse than Ranulph Fiennes, "feather men" or "secret hunters" are both good blokes 'stories'...although he presents them as fact. With Mr Fiennes you never know.....they probably are half true.
they arent bushcraft as such, but his attitude is superb - and to me its kind of the important thing,
have a great holiday!

I was looking for something with a story but don't really do fiction so I usually include a biography type affair but the Ranulph Fiennes stuff sounds good.

 

[hammock monkey]

I was looking for something with a story but don't really do fiction so I usually include a biography type affair but the Ranulph Fiennes stuff sounds good.

he's a great bloke in my opinion - a bit stiff but thats probably his upper lip doing its thing! His walk accross the south pole with dr mike stroud is a good insight into the human mindset on that type of trip. to know about it before you set off must be invaluable.

secret hunters is a good history lesson too, although none too cheery!

feather men is great though - you'll get it on ebay for pennies, a great insight into british sf, without too much swashbuckling and ridiculous stunts. the fact that he says they're true is quite interesting. i've got a few more of his on the list to get stuck into...when i want a break from guitars i'll read "the Sett" (thinking about it - maybe its the most appropriate for this site!)


if you dont mind me asking, what sort of area are you going to?
If its a good old family hol then th Ran F is perfect, if its somewhere more remote then local books are the best bet (for me anyway - but i'm not going!)
cheers

 

[hammock monkey]

I was looking for something with a story but don't really do fiction so I usually include a biography type affair but the Ranulph Fiennes stuff sounds good.

sorry to keep blathering on!
if you want a good biography - have you read Brain Blessed?

 

[Matt Weir]

he's a great bloke in my opinion - a bit stiff but thats probably his upper lip doing its thing! His walk accross the south pole with dr mike stroud is a good insight into the human mindset on that type of trip. to know about it before you set off must be invaluable.

secret hunters is a good history lesson too, although none too cheery!

So good prep for a week of 24 hours constant company with the family eh? j/k

when i want a break from guitars i'll read "the Sett" (thinking about it - maybe its the most appropriate for this site!)

Talking about guitars (off topic alert!) I cleared the loft out at the weekend and came across my old Gibson Epiphone SG. The local guitar shop says they can sort it out for £35 so time to upset the neighbours is upon me again

 

[hammock monkey]

So good prep for a week of 24 hours constant company with the family eh? j/k



Talking about guitars (off topic alert!) I cleared the loft out at the weekend and came across my old Gibson Epiphone SG. The local guitar shop says they can sort it out for £35 so time to upset the neighbours is upon me again

yep and YEP!

 

[spamel]

I like Ranulph Fiennes stuff, but I may be a bit biased as my uncle helped him write the sett and is mentioned in the book as an RSPCA inspector. Ran wrote the foreword for my uncles book and they are still in touch with each other.

In fact, I have Rans' email address somewhere from when my uncle block emailed everyone to let everyone know his new email addy, and Rans' was amongst them!! I've never had the courage to actually fire an email off to him though!

Edit: Here is Uncle T's book, under a pseudonym as he still actively works undercover.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/07432074...iveASIN=0743207475&adid=1VVZ4N4JS2XVQAWV4E6T&

 

[hammock monkey]

I like Ranulph Fiennes stuff, but I may be a bit biased as my uncle helped him write the sett and is mentioned in the book as an RSPCA inspector. Ran wrote the foreword for my uncles book and they are still in touch with each other.

In fact, I have Rans' email address somewhere from when my uncle block emailed everyone to let everyone know his new email addy, and Rans' was amongst them!! I've never had the courage to actually fire an email off to him though!

Edit: Here is Uncle T's book, under a pseudonym as he still actively works undercover.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/07432074...iveASIN=0743207475&adid=1VVZ4N4JS2XVQAWV4E6T&

i'm impressed, as soon as my new address is confirmed - i'll get a copy. looks like a great read.
anyone who respects and cares for animals to the extent of putting their own life in danger deserves all our support. good luck to him.

 

[hammock monkey]

Matt-W,
think we might have found you a great holiday read

 

[Matt Weir]

Matt-W,
think we might have found you a great holiday read

I've just bought it I'm too weak, can't resist, must buy books!

Hey Spam, any chance of getting uncle 'Tony' to sign it ?

 

[spamel]

I've just bought it I'm too weak, can't resist, must buy books!

Hey Spam, any chance of getting uncle 'Tony' to sign it ?

I could certainly give him a shout although he does spend quite a bit of time abroad as he has a wildlife place in the Pyrenees and he does undercover work abroad.

 

[Matt Weir]

I could certainly give him a shout although he does spend quite a bit of time abroad as he has a wildlife place in the Pyrenees and he does undercover work abroad.

LOL, no worries Spam, I was thinking maybe you might bump into him at a family do or something but after reading your post above I have images of the SAS tracking him over the mountains for weeks then finally ambush him in a ravine and pull out the book and a pen, "Can you sign this for Matt please?".