Recommend a Book

S

sketchbag

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I'm planing on ordering Mors Kochanski's "Bushcraft" (http://www.amazon.ca/Bush-Craft-Out...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197239161&sr=1-1) and John McPhearson's "Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills" (http://www.amazon.ca/Primitive-Wild...pd_bxgy_b_img_b?ie=UTF8&qid=1197239161&sr=1-1)

But I need 1 more to qualify for free shipping, so if youve got any recommendations, either for or against let er rip!

I'm leaning towards a good field guide to edible plants, specifically one thats geared towards northern regions. But I'm open to any suggestions, even true story novels, but I'd prefer informational books that I can keep referencing.

Thanks!

p.s. already got the "SAS survival guide" by John Wiseman

*edit* Ive considered the 2nd book by McPhearson "Primitive Wilderness Skills, Applied & Advanced" and judging by the table of contents and price it's not my first pick.
 
sketchbag said:
Ive considered the 2nd book by McPhearson "Primitive Wilderness Skills, Applied & Advanced" and judging by the table of contents and price it's not my first pick.
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You're probably going to want the second after reading the first. Both are excellent books which no library is complete without...
 
Have you looked at Cody Lundin's 98.6 Degrees? It's a rather practical approach to survival, that is good, although not bushcraft.
 
How about Woodsmoke by Ellsworth Jaeger or On your own in the wilderness both are antiques but then again so is the knowledge your looking for.
 
I just bought MORS book, I am very happy with it, after reading it, I would recomend the edible plants...or any book with color photo's of plants and trees...the book gives you all the tools except a complete library of plants to study. Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olson is also a fantastic book, and the newest edition has color pics in the back also...I can't stress enough, the picture part of the learning process. Gene
 
For a recommendation like this it is helpful to know where you live. For example, if you live on the west coast, a really good book is Survival Skills of Native California, Paul D. Campbell, Gibbs Smith, 1999, ISBN# 0-87905-921-4 but anything by Richard Jamison is a good choice, for example.

Another good book is this which is in its second edition (as is the Jamison book referred to)

Doc

Actually I should revise. The above book by Paul Campbell is excellent even if you don't live on the west coast.
 
I have seen many survival books over the years, and the most comphrensive is camping and wilderness survival by Paul Tawrell, many many color photographs and whole sections on weather, edible plants, first aid, animals, you name it. It even had a very imformative section on packing your childs backpack and things to teach them.
Highly reccomended if you want 1 book for everything.
Somethin else I reccomend is wilderness living and survival skills by John and Geri McPherson, very nice transition into more primitive skills that are always a good thing to have tucked away in the mind somewhere, like knapping, cordage, pottery, baskets, friction firemaking, primitive tools, and much more. this book made me start thinking of things a lot differently, like how much we really need out there.
 
Foilist said:
Have you looked at Cody Lundin's 98.6 Degrees? It's a rather practical approach to survival, that is good, although not bushcraft.
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I recently bought this book, he writes it as if he's talking to children, I'd stay away from this one and get something an adult could enjoy. Like the SAS survival guide.
 
Thanks for all the input guys, I'll have to take a closer look at all the recommendations when I've got some more time.

Spooky,
As usual the search function isnt working

Doc,
Manitoba, but I mostly camp in the whiteshell/canadian shield territory.
 
Try this one:

Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. Not an instructional survival book per se but one that deals with the psychology of survival. Essentially, who lives, who dies and why. It is well written, insightful and darn interesting. Gonzales is one of my favorite authors and I have several of his books. Doug Ritter also recommends this book on his site, which is how I found it. Read it. You'll love it. I still refer to it from time to time or re-read favorite bits. I got mine from Amazon, but I have seen it for sale at Chapters as well.

p.s. Hey a fellow 'Toban!! Right on
 
+1 on Deep Survival. It's not a lot practical 'how-to' advice, more mindset and how people go from being in a bit of pickle to being in deep sh*t purely by not thinking things through.

I would also recommend these books about people who have survived against huge odds. They are very inspirational stories and have lots of food for thought for outdoorsmen.

'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' by Aron Ralston
'Adrift' by Steven Callahan
'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson

All classics!
 
8mmMauser said:
Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide. I think it is also one of the most recommended guides here, or at least it was when I was looking into buying edible plant guides (I bought that one, btw).
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Looks good!
:thumbup:

HEY just noticed Amazon.com price 12.21 Amazon.ca price 19.95!
Ahem strong Canadian dollar so whats up with that price?
Amazon.ca needs to expand its selection to include pocket knives etc (like the .com version) and adjust their prices.
:grumpy:
 
tholiver said:
Looks good!
:thumbup:

HEY just noticed Amazon.com price 12.21 Amazon.ca price 19.95!
Ahem strong Canadian dollar so whats up with that price?
Amazon.ca needs to expand its selection to include pocket knives etc (like the .com version) and adjust their prices.
:grumpy:
Click to expand...

th, that book by Elias and Dykeman (Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide), is a good choice.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
th, that book by Elias and Dykeman (Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide), is a good choice.

Doc
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Cool i'll have to pick it up!
I'll probably do an Amazon order next month. Over 39$ and the shipping is free! The last order i made from them got here in three days!
I just wish they'd sell SAKs like the U.S Amazon.
Oh well.
 
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