Bushcraft books - the top five listed, described with links

Bushcraft books – the top five
by VEG-HEAD on JUNE 23, 2010 - 0 Comments in SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Living hand to knife

Bushcraft experts recommend the following titles for someone with a general interest, each designed to offer a different approach – and with minimal overlap between each book. Please add your suggestions in comments at the end of this story.

1. Bushcraft: outdoor skills and wilderness survival – by Mors Kochanski

If you were only to get one book this would be it, it’s not too dense and it contains a wealth of information you just won’t get anywhere else. It deals with a myriad of skills from crafts to cooking to tree identification and tools and does a good job of illustrating what a wide subject bush lore is.

2. Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills by David Wescott

This one focuses on the primitive aspect and deals with many crafts made with stone tools. It is certainly still relevant if you’re using modern tools and contains more inspiration and ideas for projects than any other book I’ve ever come across. There is a second volume which is just as good as the first if you enjoy it.

3. Camping and Woodcraft; A Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness: by Horace Kephart

This is a veritable encyclopedia of information of early 20th century woodcraft and camping. It contains huge amounts of information on practically every subject under the sun and notably, a good section of recipes. Maybe not one to read from cover to cover but an excellent resource book.

4. Indian Fishing: Early Methods on the Northwest Coast by Hilary Stewart

This book shows you the sheer range of things which can be crafted from nature using only simple hand tools. It covers nets, spears, hooks and all other methods of catching fish as well as the related art and cooking techniques. More than any other book this shows you an end goal for your knife skills and a true element of wilderness living skill. There’s a preview on google books and Mungo has discussed the book on his blog.

5. Cache Lake Country: Life in the North Woods by JJ Rowlands

A modern Walden. The diary of a timber cruiser who spent a year living in a cabin in the Northwoods. It contains a huge range of nature observations as well as stories and has some beautiful woodcuts. Although it is a journal in includes plans on how to carve different items, fashion moccasins and sleds and cook various meals. It’s truly a must-read for anyone interested in wilderness living.

From woodcrafterslog