Books on bushcraft
Just being able to sit down and read a book in nature can be very rewarding, especially if you have a small fire and a cup of coffee going! Below is my attempt to collect some of the bushcraft books that I personally liked and got a lot out of.
Överleva på Naturens Villkor (Swedish)
Written by Lars Fält, Harry Sepp & Stefan Källman
The book is written as a fairly typical survival manual with many concrete tips on simpler techniques, mixed with a bit more philosophical reasoning. Here are thorough reviews of how you should dress and why; how best to seek and build shelter; how to navigate in a way that will most quickly and easily get you to safety; how to start a fire; etc.
The emergency kit is also an important part of survival, according to the authors. You get good tips and ideas on what you can put in your emergency box and when they can be used!
The biggest takeaway from the book for my own part, however, has been the detailed descriptions of edible plants, their nutritional content and where and when to find them!
The book is no longer in print but can be obtained on the used market.
Bushcraft 101
Written by Dave Canterbury
Bushcraft 101 is a very good book to refer to if you are at all interested in the subject. It is well written and very informative and it is noticeable that the author is knowledgeable and lives as he teaches. The tips and advice are very good and useful and I would think that even the most seasoned survivor could pick up some new information from reading the book.
The illustrations are good and aesthetically pleasing and fit well into their context. The only thing that could be objected to would be the last chapter on Trapping and processing game. The vast majority of people reading this book – an introductory book – should not go out and try to trap animals, but rather it should be a topic for the advanced bushcrafter.
The book is available at Amazon
Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft
Written by Paul Kirtley
Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft is a nice book with many good and illustrative pictures. The focus of the book is precisely the axe and how to handle, maintain, and select the right axe for each purpose. We learn many different techniques for how to cut correctly to reduce the risk of injury; how to maintain your axe both in the field, but also at home.
Paul also describes the most common types of axes that are used and when and how they are used, for example there is a big difference in both shaft length and weight of a split axe and a hand axe that is used in and around the camp for small tasks.
At the end, he also advises on several different projects you can tackle, both in the forest and at home, such as building small chairs and seats in the camp, stands for cooking, eating utensils, etc.
The book can be purchased on Amazon
