Literature relating to self-sufficiency/survival

Anyone read anything good lately or have a favorite book on the topic?

Recently I read The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert and I found it rather intriguing. It is a true story told as a sort of living biography about Eustace Conway, a man who from a young age, despite an "average" suburban upbringing, decided to live off the land quite primitively...down to trapping the fur to make his own clothing and living in a tepee. It was written more like a novel than a guide on survival but it was enjoyable and inspiring nonetheless.

 

I remember at primary school our teacher reading us My Side of the Mountain that caught my imagination for a few years. I only have a patchy recollection of the book these days. Maybe I will have another look at it one of these days.

 

Living the Good Life 1 and 2 by... some people. A couple. Don't remember their names, but I have the two books and they are very informative. It's about a couple who basically drop out of society (not in any "hippy term" though) during the depression, or shortly after I think, and live self sufficiently. It reads rather text book, kinda boring with little emotion, but still a good read.

 

I just finished reading the last american man as well. I had a mixed bag of feelings on that... it's like... he's got the lifestyle but still hasn't opened his heart and learned to love and accept people.

Primitive people had problems in their society too. Escaping babylon isn't as simple as just living with less.. it's also learning to love.

 

Hey there, if you want a great how to book, then get Tom Brown's Field Guide Wilderness Survival... a must have for learning or honing skills from making fire or shelter, to eating plants and using them as medicine and material, such as making rope.
And another I've kept for years, it may be a bit hard to find, but very much worth it... the original Boyscouts Fieldbook, it covers many things to help you be more prepared either with or without camping gear and tools.

 

you should read into the wild by jon krakauer, i just picked it up today myself. sounds like a good book.

 

The New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency - John Seymour (British)

Had this book for a few years now, its great. Packed with down to earth information on everything from growing your own veg to keeping pigs and chickens. Good information for any smallholder.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Complete-Self-sufficiency-Realists-Dreamers/dp/0751364428

 

I have the John Seymour guide to self-sufficiency not the new one but the original and it's great, I highly recommend it and it has lots of pictures and step by step stuff.

I would also recomend a book called Country Wisdom and Know how, on the same lines as John Seymour's, more detailed in somethings and less in other areas.

Into the wild is a good book and the movie is great, saw it in theatres and just came out on dvd a little while ago, I recommend that also.

 

Passport to Survival Esther Dickey When All Hell Breaks Loose Cody Lundin www.alssadventures.com