Customer Reviews

The Book of Camp-Lore and Woodcraft (American Boy's Handy Book)

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I picked this up at a scout shop because I got tired of reading it online. I really like this material and think it should be in every scouter's library. There are a lot of good resources/ideas and drawings, but more importantly there is as much story craft as there is wood-craft in this book. Graphics are pretty bad but they were engravings based on sketches.

I'm really glad there are a few companies publishing these older books at a reasonable price, in this case Nonpareil Books, Godine publisher. The books is nice looking, 7.5 x 5.5 and just under an inch thick. Easy to take on trips unlike some of the oversized books I've seen. The more I learn about Mr. Beard the more I'm a fan. The last book I read of his, 'The American Boy's Handybook' (a must have for those who like the era and literature, and almost twice as thick,) was just great. Mr. Beard also illustrates the books himself. I think it's rare to see such a gifted outdoorsman / teacher etc. with such fine drawing skills. This book and his other ones are also a joy to read. His style is fun and lively and he must have been a character in person because his personality comes through in his writing. I believe he was a friend of another of America's wittier scribes as well, Mark Twain. Mr. Beards books don't suffer the same dry/boring fate of many other instructional tombs. I'll be buying these while they're still around, definitely recommended.