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NOT EVEN WORTH THE PAPER IT'S PRINTED ON. The rest of the book was terrible. I would not recomend this book to anyone; you won't learn a thing. I purchased this book expecting to learn something about outdoor survival, but all I found was a couple of guys that go for pizza when they get hungry. Don't waste your time. Nobody in a survival situation goes for pizza. I personally found this absolutely ridiculous. There were some good insights on how to build a shelter and fire pit, but that's it.
I read it very quickly - it was easy to read and the story kept me interested. They "cheated" - some more than others - with trips back to civilization for food, shelter, and "comfort." Much of their time was spent observing nature and doing "crafts" that are useful for pioneering, but not essential for survival. I am reminded of a childhood favorite: "My Side of the Mountain (Puffin Modern Classics)" by Jean Craighead George.Unfortunately, with the title, it is possible that some prospective buyers will take this as a guide for how to survive in the wilderness; or that the writers had had an actual wilderness survival experience. First let me say that I liked the book. That buyer would be sadly disappointed on both counts. As for survival, well, as the other critics have pointed out, they picked the time and place for their experience so that natural resources would be most abundant and the environment would be most hospitable. Rename it Woodland Experience or Pioneering Experience, and you will get my 5 stars.
He and 2 friends are trained in wilderness survival skills and want to "put them to the test." The main theme of the book is to recount that experience, with a secondary purpose being to pass along some of their tried and tested woodsman skills.My biggest objection is the misleading title. I applaud them for doing something that many outdoor-oriented people have considered at one time or another. I think some of the ethical discussions are the most powerful parts of the story. It is neither a story about wilderness nor a story about survival. All of this is very entertaining.
For entertainment value I would give it 5 stars. They did harvest lots of game and fish for sustenance, and these stories are illustrative to a point.They share their ideas, experiences, philosophies and thoughts. Assistance in the case of a real emergency was only a shout away. Also the layout was nice, with little vignettes about survival or pioneering skills interspersed with the underlying story.As you will know by now, it is the journal of a young man who intentionally attempts to "survive" in the wilderness for a long period of time. They are so close to civilization that they have almost daily encounters with the people from the surrounding area.
I beleive the only modern tools they brought were a metal cup and single knife.This is definitely not written as a survival manual, but every chapter was sprinkled with a short section on usefull skills, and you probably will learn something new.As someone who has read and studied this topic extensively, and practiced some of the skills, it was refreshing and exciting to read about people that I can relate to, who actually experienced living off the land with these skills for an extended period of time. If you're interested in wilderness and/or primitive survival, chances are you'll love this book. It's written mainly as a first person account of the experiences of some survival instructors who decided to go into the woods and experience truly primitive living, using their survival skills and experience.
On several occasions the author mentions practices that are so astute and are not mentioned in manuals like the army survival manual. This book is the perfect supplement to typical survival reading. Highly recommended for open minded people who wish to learn while enjoying a good story. The book is obviously not for everyone.like those who think they know everything. The combination of actual experience with creative ideas on tools, techniques, and tricks keeps the book interesting. This is great for those of you who are either starting out in your search for survival knowledge or have holes in your existing knowledge.
Some of the philosophical ramblings were forgettable, but several bits gave me an appreciation for our connection (or lack thereof) to nature that is missing in some survivial textbooks. This is not a comprehensive handbook, but a very nice, easy to read, introduction. Definitely recommended as an introduction. I really enjoyed this. Mostly very good explanations of some survival techniques well-placed among the story of his summer in the woods in New England.
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