Survival & Backcountry Skills

The author, who runs a school for primitive outdoor living, lives and teaches what he preaches. He includes good sections on tanning hides, primitive cooking, fire making, primitive shelters, and edible plants (this section should be supplemented with books devoted entirely to edible plants, however). Some of the descriptions are not as detailed nor do they cover as many variations as the ones in the other references on primitive skills, but his writing is entertaining and I like his wilderness philosophy.

This excellent, massive book on outdoor travel and survival is giving The SAS Survival Guide some stiff competition. It is copiously illustrated and somewhat broader in scope then the SAS Handbook.

Of the many books that I reviewed, this book has the best instructions for the primitive living skills most closely linked to your survival. If you were to purchase just one book on basic skills, I would buy this one, but each of the recommended books contains information not found in the others. The authors have practiced and lived what they teach for many years. Their book includes excellent sections on primitive tanning of hides, sinew preparation and sewing, bows and arrows, containers, utensils, tools, shelters, pottery, cordage, and fire making. Lacks information on edible plants, which is best found from a complete color illustrated field guide to edible plants for your particular area.

This is the classic mountaineer’s bible for safely traveling in rugged mountainous country. From river crossings, to scaling cliffs, to crossing glaciers, this book tells you how to do it safely, properly and what gear to have along. When I was a child, I poured over this book, and it probably contributed to me surviving my early mountaineering adventures in one piece.

This book contains many excellent articles on a wide variety of subjects. It is the broadest and most interesting of the primitive skill books that I reviewed. The articles are written by members of The Society of Primitive Technology, each of whom writes about their personal area of expertise. The authors stress that “primitive” means first, and not necessarily worse, citing bond strengths of 20,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) for some hot hide glues. It includes strong chapters on fire making, building reasonably comfortable and permanent primitive structures, glue, cordage and fibers, stone and bone tools, and various hunting implements. It lacks sections on hides, furs, pottery, herbs, and edible plants.

If having the ultimate survival kit is your thing, then get this book. Otherwise, skip it.

A classic text for traveling in the wilderness, by one of the most successful backcountry skills schools of all time. More compact and easier to carry with you than Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, but not as thorough. Contains good, practical information that will make your back country experience safer and more enjoyable.

This leading survival manual is authored by John Wiseman, who was a professional soldier for 26 years with the British armed services. John was the survival instructor for the elite unit of the British Army, the Special Air Service (SAS). His book would be an excellent addition to your personal library. Gives a great simplified overview to many subjects, but should be supplemented with edible plant handbooks plus several of the recommended books on primitive living skills, if you really want to know how to do some of the things that will count most if you someday find yourself deprived of access to modern conveniences for an extended period of time.