Good books?

clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
6,901
Ok long story short, things in my life happened that have given me the free time I always wanted to really get deep and explore. but my outdoor skills are mediocre and always want to learn new things. what books would you guys recommend for learning skills I may need on long treks and overnighters that I finally have the free time to do. I have basic skills and the basic kit. I know one of my weaknesses is plant identification. I would really love to have the knowledge of plant life I see in your posts, like pitdog and mistwalker just off the top of my head. I will have more alone time and really be able to take it all in. so what wilderness books should I pick up to read during the free time I'm not in the woods?
 
Hey Clich, bushcraft and wildwood wisdom, complete guide to tracking as far as plants though I don't know, I am pretty lacking there myself but those are good to start with. Tons of useful info in them.
 
Wildwood Wisdom, and SAS Survival Manual are good ones.

005-25.png
 
Last edited:
Peterson field guide to edible wild plants, the Author is Lee Allen Peterson.

It's probably not the best or most comprehensive source, but it is very user-friendly and gives you tips on ID'ing the plants, with emphasis on how to spot dangerous species.

Also, the Audubon field guides are good books for ID'ing just about everything.
 
I'm reading Mors Kochanski's book right now (Bushcraft), and there's a ton of information in there for me as a newbie. I imagine there's a lot in there even for the advanced, but it all depends on just how much you want to do in the wilderness I think.
 
Have you read any of the usual suspects like Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski , SAS Handbook by John Wiseman, or Wildwood Wisdom by Ellsworth Jaeger?

As far as plant ID I am terrible so I am sure there is someone to give you better advice than I. I have heard good things about Edible Wild Plants: East & Cen Peterson Field Guide by Houghten Mifflin. Natures Garden and Natures Harvest by Samuel Thayer seem to be highly recommended. I do not have those books in my library yet so I am only going on what I have heard/read after I purchased a couple of plant books I was not satisfied with.
 
XnYtzl.jpg


the mors kochanski book is there, I really like the "Bushcraft" by Richard Graves. the others were just interesting, and I just got the Foragers Harvest so I'm not sure how I'll like it.
 
WOW Capt. That is an awesome list.

Thanks for reminding me that I need to find a copy of that Graves book too.
 
I'd like to find the right plant ID book myself...but for a general outdoor book the Airforce survival handbook is hard to beat.

I'd also go with a first aid book...and for some interesting "in between study" reading check out Skeletons on the Zahara.
 
I'm thinking that something written for your region of the world would make the most sense. This is my latest regionally appropriate book.
IMG_4868.jpg
 
Clich, some of the above books are great - Graves (which is available as a free download), Kochanski, but this is one you don't want to miss.

Doc
 
Here's a few good ones I've rad and a few I'm looking to read, and here's links to a couple the look really informative about plants,shrooms, etc, a pretty old bushcraft book from the 60's and an all around 'survival' book that is said to cover just about everything wilderness
http://www.amazon.com/Camping-Wilderness-Survival-Paul-Tawrell/dp/1896713009/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338394278&sr=1-7
http://www.amazon.com/bushmans-handbook-practical-direction-emergency/dp/B0007IYVQ4/ref=sr_1_66?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338393262&sr=1-66
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Edible-Plants-Mushrooms-Fruits/dp/1599218879/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338392786&sr=1-10
511QEbvfdRL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg51rLuM7b8eL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg41Vy9-8EtFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg51BIa95olaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg51ArhvlFgbL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Also check out Kephart's book Camping and Woodcraft-A handbook for vacation campers and for travelers of the Wilderness, Cliff Jacobson's Camping's Forgotten Skills, or Woodcraft and Camping by Bernard Mason. I've only skimmed them all but they are very good from what I could tell
 
Last edited:
Hells yeah. Amazon has an amazing collection of wilderness books. If you do a search for Bushcraft, survival, or wilderness living you will get dozens if not hundreds of options and at pretty sweet prices.
Captain Airyca said:
oh snap! I'm totally picking that one up! Amazon is way to easy to buy stuff from with one click...
Click to expand...
 
What about some fiction? Authors who have no experience at all writing about what they do not know. What possible use can that be? Their imaginations somehow bypass their inexperience. I find them far more interesting to read to.
 
I just realized that Nessmuk, Kephart and Mason all have books titled Woodcraft and Camping or Camping and Woodcraft, I guess its a pretty broad title so it can be used for a wide range of wilderness topics but it sure is confusing,lol. Just thought I'd point this out
 
ok bushcraft, wildwood, ultimate guide to wilderness living, and the foragers harvest are all in my shopping cart. any i missed that is a def must have that these books wont cover?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top