Tom Brown - US wilderness bloke

[Kerne]

Does anyone know anything about Tom Brown? (Not the one of "schooldays" fame )

Someone I know reckons he is the "bushcrafter's bushcrafter". Apparently he has a whole philosophy of outdoors living that derives from native american sources. Sounds interesting but is it worth buying his books etc?

Any opinions?

 

[spamel]

I've heard various things about the man, some say he is great and others say not such nice things! I'd be interested myself, the library could always do with another book to peruse!

 

[groundhog]

I read one of his books. He talks about his native american friend and his grandfather that taught them both bushcraft/fieldcraft. I enjoyed it but not as much as other books I've read and it is a bit american in the plants and resources he talks about. It was a Tom Brown Jr Field Guide called wilderness survival. It was ok but I can't recommend it too much I've enjoyed others more.

 

[Shewie]

His tracking books are a good read if you're into that kind of stuff.

Tamarack normally have a selection if you call them.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

I've heard a few comments from different sources, and none of them very good. Basically, they all questioned his credentials. There's not many Apaches in Ireland, so not sure that a scout pit (or whatever it's called) or man tracking is of much relevance. Fox walking and stuff like that just make me laugh.

 

[dogwood]

Here in the US he's a controversial, but very minor figure. I'm not aware of anyone in the outdoors or primitive skills arena here that gives him a second thought.

He has become most famous for putting out a "survival knife" that weighs 1+ pound (!!!!) and got attention when featured in a movie called "The Tracker."

He's hype and nonsense peppered with endless (and largely fictional) stories of his personal greatness. Whenever I encounter his stuff, I shrug and move on.

There are MUCH better primitive skills sources out there. Much better.

And that knife.... geez it's just so goofy...

 

[Celt_Ginger]

Here in the US he's a controversial, but very minor figure. I'm not aware of anyone in the outdoors or primitive skills arena here that gives him a second thought.

He has become most famous for putting out a "survival knife" that weighs 1+ pound (!!!!) and got attention when featured in a movie called "The Tracker."

He's hype and nonsense peppered with endless (and largely fictional) stories of his personal greatness. Whenever I encounter his stuff, I shrug and move on.

There are MUCH better primitive skills sources out there. Much better.

And that knife.... geez it's just so goofy...

That's pretty much what I heard from a well respected source as well.

 

[Toddy]

Shame too, though I agree that it's what I've heard about the man too. Self promotionist / fantacist reinventing his own origin myths kind of thing.

I know a couple of people who follow his 'path' and their workmanship is excellent but some of the neo native stuff they kind of try to base their lives upon seems kind of evangelical...........in an non religious sort of way

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Kerne]

Thanks for the comments.

I was a bit sceptical about the "native American" stuff - not that I want to diss native Americans, but it's the dreamcatchers in Surbiton (hanging next to the Tibetan prayer flags) approach that I am wary of.

Anyone reckon he is the knees of the bee?

 

[Woodwatcher]

i think the film was called "The Hunted". Also tom brown had used to teach various special forces types tracking and survival skills. ps i am new to this forum so not sure about protocol. anyway hi to one and all.

 

[weaver]

If you can overlook the hype and ignore the religious undertones there is some very good information in his earlier books. Later he began to believe his own marketing propaganda.

 

[dogwood]

i think the film was called "The Hunted".

You're right! My bad. Thanks for the correction!

 

[Mikey P]

Does anyone know anything about Tom Brown? (Not the one of "schooldays" fame )

Someone I know reckons he is the "bushcrafter's bushcrafter". Apparently he has a whole philosophy of outdoors living that derives from native american sources. Sounds interesting but is it worth buying his books etc?

Any opinions?

Personally, not my cup of tea. Bit too 'spiritual' for me a lot of the time.

 

[Asa Samuel]

http://www.tombrowntracker.com/

A little on his knife for anyone who cares.

 

[Kerne]

Personally, not my cup of tea. Bit too 'spiritual' for me a lot of the time.

http://www.tombrowntracker.com/

A little on his knife for anyone who cares.

Thanks for this - if only to confirm that this is probably not really my cup of tea either.

I met a very experienced (and good!) tracker once who said that those who stood still to feel the "spirit" of the animal they were tracking were simply mystifying the process for others. He said that if there were no signs it meant one of two things:
1. you're not yet good enough to see them yet (therefore keep practising)
or
2. the animal probably hasn't been there.

I find the outdoors as spiritual a place to be as anywhere but have yet to encounter a Dryad, Oread or Naiad (still hopefull... )

 

[robin wood]

If you can overlook the hype and ignore the religious undertones there is some very good information in his earlier books. Later he began to believe his own marketing propaganda.

There are lots of folk to choose from now but lets give the chap credit he was doing it long before most others. I read "the Tracker" first, it was published in 1978 when Ray was how old? It was a different world then. I read it whilst hitching round the US in the 80's, the follow on's were more egotistical but the field guide to wilderness survival 1987 still taught me a lot about cordage, fire, trapping etc. and it was well before most of the other stuff was written. Without Tom Brown having made a career of it would we have the others?

 

[Toddy]

I think so, all the survival books of my youth were sound; the Irish / Australian Richard Graves, Eddie McGee and the like. They didn't need to 'create' a background to justify or somehow enhance what they were teaching. They just did it

cheers,
Toddy

 

[dogwood]

Without Tom Brown having made a career of it would we have the others?

I think all the others would have existed without Tom Brown.

Here in the states at the time there were a ton of people doing similar things. Brown didn't bring anything new to the party, he just publicized what he learned from all the people teaching primitive skills, outdoor skills etc.

(The primitive skills movement started blossoming here in the 1970s, partly as an outgrown of hippies, Whole Earth Catalog, etc.)

In the late 1970s, you could have picked from no fewer than 15 different (and qualified) primitive skills teachers in Arizona alone. (That's from personal experience because I lived there at the time and knew them.)

And for general outdoors skills and hunting, you can hardly find a better place than the US and Canada because there are tons of people around willing to help. Really qualified people, I might add.

In whole areas of the country, it's just part of everyday life.

 

[Oblio13]

I watched one of his videos years ago. I remember being so put off by the sappy "fox walking/coyote learning/grandfather" stuff that I would have turned it off except for some hot long-haired brunette working for him

It was bushcraft soft-porn.

.

 

[wizard]

Reminds me of another wilderness instructor that thinks highly of himself. One of his students said she felt like everyone should wear a signal mirror around their neck so the instructor could look at himself all the time. There are some that really earn repect and there are some that go to all lengths to impress you with their BS. I know several that are "posers", I am sure there are more of them around.