Ian Hislop's Scouting for Boys

[abominable_scouse_monster]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b007hfx3/Ian_Hislops_Scouting_for_Boys/

Robert Baden-Powell's handbook Scouting for Boys, written in 1908, may be largely forgotten today but it is one of the most influential and best-selling books of all time. In the 20th century, only the Bible, the Koran and the Thoughts of Chairman Mao sold more. But they had fewer jokes, no pictures and were useless at important stuff like tying knots.
In this entertaining and affectionate film, Ian Hislop uncovers the story behind the book which kick-started the Scout Movement - a work which is very eccentric, very Edwardian and very British.
Ian discovers that the book is actually very radical and addresses all sorts of issues that we think of as modern, such as citizenship, disaffected youth and social responsibility. He explores the maverick brilliance of Baden-Powell, a national celebrity after his heroism in the Boer War, and considers the book's candid focus on health and wellbeing - from the importance of what Baden-Powell called a 'daily rear' to his infamous warning on the dangers of masturbation.
Contributors include his grandson Lord Baden-Powell, minister for culture and former cub scout David Lammy, biographer Tim Jeal and Elleke Boehmer, editor of the re-issue of the original Scouting for Boys. (R)

 

[crosslandkelly]

Unfortunate title, but good show.

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

Yea I was quite impressed with it myself when I watched it, not exactly bushy but well worth a watch.

 

[R.Lewis]

I had a copy of this book when I was a kid. Only one of the top selling four books I can claim to have read..... Far more useful too...

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

I had a copy of this book when I was a kid. Only one of the top selling four books I can claim to have read..... Far more useful too...

In the show it says in the 20th century only The Bible, The Koran and the OED sold more copy's.

 

[dave53]

anybody got a copy that i can borrow to peruse ?regards dave

 

[Silverclaws]

I had that book, and what's more, I was in the scouts and the group I was with did an awful lot of what they called pioneering which consisted of teaching us to do backwoods camping which today I liken to bushcraft, ( yeah and we all had sheath knives and knew how to use them), as it was all making bivvies in the woods, tickling trout, snaring rabbits and all open fire cooking, that coupled with messing about building stuff out of poles and lashings, our favourite being the tri rope monkey bridge over something worth falling into like a spoggy pond or river where in teams we used to battle on the bridge to get our team over the other side to win and yes much of what we did came out of that book and others.

 

[Bowlander]

Its available as a free download on. .pdf.

Its a bit outdated but some great stories in there and the line drawings are fantastic. I particularly like the story about Stuart Winter - a murderer that was caught by a young lad using scouting skills - Winter's gibbet is still there today near Elsdon and the boys family still live in the area.

 

[sandbender]

I quite enjoyed that, thanks for posting.

[video=youtube;N388CtFGCMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N388CtFGCMU[/video]

 

[Toadflax]

I've still got my Dad's copy on the bookshelf, a bit battered, as it was printed in 1941. Seeing this program recently, inspired me to get it out and read it again.


Geoff

 

[rik_uk3]

anybody got a copy that i can borrow to peruse ?regards dave

You can pick a copy up cheaper than the return post of a borrow Dave. Its public domain now so you may well find an ebook download. Its a cracking read, should be in every bushcrafters library IMHO.

 

[roger-uk]

Its here

http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/yarns00-28.pdf

I use it quite often to get ideas for Cub camp.

The contents still appeal to children of today despite the hi tech toys.

 

[Swallow]

Thanks to scouse monster for putting this up and sandbender for the youtube link (too late to the party for iplayer).

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

Thanks to scouse monster for putting this up and sandbender for the youtube link (too late to the party for iplayer).

Aww thanks for the thank you, that just made a bad night better

 

[rik_uk3]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5668688473229660662
Full show.