Bushcraft survival wilderness living books

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Mar 11, 2023
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Are there any new books on the market worth reading?

Any bushcraft or survival manuals that aren't just a rehash of a rehash of some 1940's military survival guide?

Or, and I'm more hopeful here, any books about wilderness living, doesn't need to be a manual, in fact a good true left story would be wonderful!!

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I can't bear to read another bushcraft manual, or should I say more of the same! Seems to me bushcraft originally died after Smearsies first book, the green one, most things since then are just
 
I'm guessing you got distracted ? because you didn't finish your last

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I've been thinking about this and wanting to provide an answer for you but I feel reticent to do so in case it falls short in anyway - and I think to be honest , you maybe have nailed it in what you've said - the 1st Book by Uncle Mears probably was peak bushcraft - everything else I can think of since then is less optimal than that FOR ME.

This one seemed to focus upon and illustrate well a good range of both survival skills ( redressed as bushcraft ) , craft skills and identification tools. Good phots , decent explanations and for me at the time it seemed to be the book of the hobby and age. It helped set the tone.


Looking at my library and understanding time lines a little more and maybe some inspirations that were drawn upon I think maybe that there were some good books that were produced BEFORE this one that are worth reading - but maybe not as well produced or illustrated , colour photos in a book certainly for me elevate it one notch up.
 
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You have looked at this list, yes?

 
You have looked at this list, yes?

Thanks Chris, that is a very comprehensive list and will take some time to dissect, I already see a few old friends in there.
 
I'm guessing you got distracted ? because you didn't finish your last

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I've been thinking about this and wanting to provide an answer for you but I feel reticent to do so in case it falls short in anyway - and I think to be honest , you maybe have nailed it in what you've said - the 1st Book by Uncle Mears probably was peak bushcraft - everything else I can think of since then is less optimal than that FOR ME.

This one seemed to focus upon and illustrate well a good range of both survival skills ( redressed as bushcraft ) , craft skills and identification tools. Good phots , decent explanations and for me at the time it seemed to be the book of the hobby and age. It helped set the tone.


Looking at my library and understanding time lines a little more and maybe some inspirations that were drawn upon I think maybe that there were some good books that were produced BEFORE this one that are worth reading - but maybe not as well produced or illustrated , colour photos in a book certainly for me elevate it one notch up.
TeeDee, no I finished, I just left it hanging.
Thanks for replying though, seems we are of similar mind.
If I find anything inspirational I'll let you know,.
 
As is this one:


Though, I'll be honest, there's very little new been published since Kephart or Mason etc. - just rearranged, told in a different way, and with better diagrams/photos. All the information presented in late 20th and 21st century books and on tv has been said before in the late 19th and early 20th centuries IMO.
 
As is this one:


Though, I'll be honest, there's very little new been published since Kephart or Mason etc. - just rearranged, told in a different way, and with better diagrams/photos. All the information presented in late 20th and 21st century books and on tv has been said before in the late 19th and early 20th centuries IMO.

That maybe actually the book I'm thinking of.
 
Are there any new books on the market worth reading?

Any bushcraft or survival manuals that aren't just a rehash of a rehash of some 1940's military survival guide?

Or, and I'm more hopeful here, any books about wilderness living, doesn't need to be a manual, in fact a good true left story would be wonderful!!

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated as I can't bear to read another bushcraft manual, or should I say more of the same! Seems to me bushcraft originally died after Smearsies first book, the green one, most things since then are just

This is brilliant.

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it's interesting where all this coming from, Hoarse Kephart is definitely a source for a lot of it along with articles from Boys life magazine from the 1920-30's according to Dave Westcot and Mors Kochanski - Northern Bushcraft a must read book, thought this is where much of his thinking came from. then of course there is Larry Dean Olson, who helped to bring a understanding of flint mapping back to modern humans.
 
Hello Folks! Which edition of John J. Rowlands "Cache Lake Country: Life in the North Woods" do you like best? Which edition do you find most interesting?
 

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