Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

This is a great outdoors book. Almost everything it covered, it did so with depth. You could tell nearly every step of the way that the author had true knowledge of what he was talking about.One of the reviews says this book is unorganized about how information is displayed. I would say that is entirely false. The only thing that is a little out of whack is the pictures, often you will see explanations pages before or after the coinciding picture. I would also like the the British style of weight&measure to be converted to the American way. A third addition may well be in order.The author organized the book as so. Fire, Axe, Knife, Hand made cordage, Shelter, Uses of some common trees, then the Moose&Hare(rabbit). It has some rhyme&reason...... Generally most important thing is learning how to make a fire, next you should know how to safely and effectively use Axe&Knife, learn how to make cordage, then with this knowledge you can make a shelter..... It makes since. The three tree sections are Birches, Conifers, and Willows which are nice, but I backpack mostly through the Tahoe area which is 99% pine and 5 variations at that.The only really disappointing sections were on the Moose and Hare. I just didn't get it. Maybe where he lives they are super common, but not here. Also I didn't feel his advice on tracking and skinning were very useful, just not enough pics, and not enough information in general.I did enjoy this book, most serious in depth book on BushCraft I have read. I definitely recommend this one far above the likes of WildWood Wisdom. I felt like this book was not made for kids, lol. I know of no other book that discusses in more depth Axe&Knife safety and efficiency, Fire section is huge too. The author is also a decent writer, not amazing, but above the average. Five Star book all around.

Mors Kochanski proves through this book that he is a fine bush crafter. Even if you have a substantial library on this topic, you will enjoy this one as well. Cover, binding and paper are of substantial quality: that is 'all good' since the book is meant for rereading and using in preparation for outdoor adventures or for 'taking along' if you are not 'going light.' The covers on my 'new edition' are rounded on the outside edges to aid in slipping in and out of a pack or pocket. The highly informative text is accompanied by many instructive black and white line drawings. This edition also includes a lovely color photo supplement at the back. For sure, there is plenty of explanation of techniques for fire-starting, knot tying, shelter building (in every season), and for using the ax, the saw and a good knife. Unlike the vast majority of books, Mors gives a lot of attention to the 'bush' in bush craft. Northern trees and shrubs are presented and their special uses explained. There is even an explanation of how to smoke-tan a moose hide!What the book is NOT is an explanation of camp cooking equipment or recipes; what tents and clothing and bedding to take along, finding and using water sources, water purification methods or path-finding and navigation. It IS a fine book and has brought great enjoyment to many readers and bush craft practitioners.

Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival BY Kochanski is a must have book in your library.I have read many books by different authors, dvds, you tube videos ... Many of the "authors" out there basically rehash the same old same old.But not Kochanski. He is a handful of experts that live what he teaches. His book does not cover every aspect of bushcraft or even survival, but provide few fundamental coverage in depth:-fire craft-axe craft-shelter...Kochanski offers a keen insight based on many years of cold wilderness living into those fundamental areas. The section on knife craft alone is worth the cost of the book.In addition to the book, I actually have his dvds and the pamphlets. I got the pamphlets as a pocket guide (there is a lot of over lap between the book, dvd and pamphlets, but I can't take the dvd or the book to the woods.). The dvd is an excellent visual companion to the book.The drawings are clear and frequent with very descriptive verbiage. I was not ever lost when I encountered new concepts or techniques (and there are lots of new concepts and techniques, at least for me).One of the main thing that stands out with Kochansy's method is that he is systematic and explains the fundamentals then demonstrates the technique in step by step drawing and descriptions.There is a lot of wisdom on these pages. I will never sell this book!

"Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival" is an indispensable companion for anyone venturing into the great outdoors. Its comprehensive guide offers a wealth of knowledge on essential survival techniques, from building shelters to foraging for food. The book's clear instructions and detailed illustrations make mastering wilderness skills accessible to both beginners and seasoned adventurers. With its emphasis on self-reliance and resourcefulness, "Bushcraft" equips readers with the confidence and expertise needed to thrive in any outdoor environment.

The basics of using a knife, an axe, and creating cordage and shelter in the woods. It's not the Holy Grail some other reviewers make it out to be, but it is a very good book. The improvement I would like to see in the book would be to include actual photographs versus using line drawings for illustrations, although most of the line drawings are sufficient. Additionally, you need to identify trees by type without any help from this book, so if you can't do that, you will need to get the Field Guide to North American trees or something similar. If you do not live in the Pacific Northwest, you will have to figure out on your own which trees in the east or south substitute for the trees mentioned in the book.