Customer Reviews

Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is an excellent survival manual, although it is specifically focused on survival in the north woods of canada, ie. Boreal forest, or Taiga (In fact, the previous edition was titled Northern Bushcraft). The line-drawing illustrations are very good at conveying the concepts. Knife and axe-craft are a large part of this book because knowing how to work wood in these cold northern forests is key to both long and short-term survival there. But, there is also much more that makes the book a comprehensive survival guide.
Many survival manuals go over the generalities of wilderness survival in many different climates, and many others are focused on 'primitive skills' type of wilderness survival. This book is rather unique in its specific focus on the Boreal forest environment and woodcraft, but it is definitely a classic survival manual, and highly recommended.

After years of being an outdoor enthusiast, I have finally found a book that gives practical, well thought out, easy to follow explanations of techniques of survival and practical outdoor skills. All too often I have found that survival skills authors seem to simply lift a technique from a book written by someone else 20 years before. It doesn't seem to matter if it works or not, or whether the conditions have to be exactly right for it to work, they just paste it into their books. It has become obvious that most of the authors have never even tried many of the tecniques since the techniques they write about don't work or need such specific conditions to work that you never find the exact right conditions in which to use the techniques. This book is different.

Every single skill presented is detailed and clear. They have all worked for me in REAL conditions. It is obvious that the author has not only written about the skills, but has spent long hours LIVING the skills and perfecting them. There is advice and observations that I have found nowhere else, another good indication that the author has written from experience rather than from reading what other people have already written and regurgitating outdated or worthless knowledge (and knowledge that doesn't work becomes dangerous in the bush). His attention to detail (he even drew all the drawings in the book himself)and his great concern for safety in performance of the skills goes unmatched.

I would hardily recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel a little safer when they may be faced with an unexpected emergency, whether you are a backpacker, mountaineer, camper, outdoor enthusiast, or simply driving in your vehicle in a snow storm. This book could save your life one day, when you least expect it.

If you live in the northern climes you are a fool not to get this book. If you live anywhere else it will still be invaluable! Really good thorough and easy to follow instructions on axemanship, knifecraft, fire-making, shelter building, cordage & rope, bark containers, working with birch, conifers, willows, moose and snow! A bestseller in Canada, with a cult following in the US.

I don't know what to make of some of the poor reviews on this book except to wonder about the experience of the reviewers. I have 30 years of solid outdoor experience and this book is an original and Mors is the real deal. Most books on the outdoors are derivatives of military manuals written by weekend warriors. Kocahnski has been a 35+ year full time professional outdoors survival instructor and innovator since his days at the Canadian Airforce Survival School and the University of Alberta. He does things with a knife that you can't believe and teaches you how to do the same. He has the axe skills from the turn of the last century and teaches you the same. After his tutelage I leave the firestarter at home. He has knowlege of plants and bushcraft that even most Native elders have lost. No he doesn't focus on traps because most folks die of exposure and solving that issue is where he puts his energy. This is the premier book on the Boreal forest and Mors teaches other survival experts like Cody Linden or the Swedish Special Forces instructors. This is the survival book to have... can't say enough good about it or the author.

I thought the book was thorough on the subjects it covered. I am from Louisiana so most of the information was new to me, although some of it may be basic for you northern foke. The chapters on fire and shelter constuction were extensive and complete compared to the dozens of survival books I have read. Kochanski did not cover animal traps except for one for hares. The only other animal food Kochanski talked about was the moose. Still, I leared a lot about fire and winter shelter constuction. Except for the lack of information on traps and animals, I think it is a very good book on winter and cold weather survival.

The first reviewer has really said it all. I have also found that EVERYTHING in this book works. I have found myself in a few unexpected circumsatnces that have required the knowledge that this book taught me and I am here to write about it.

I hear the author of this book is writing another comprehensive and exhaustive book on the same subject. I will be first on line to pick it up if his first book is any indication of his knowledge, and I know it is.

There is a fine line between Survival Skills and Primitive living skills; each set of skills can complement the other. This book I feel complements both. I don't believe the author's intent was to write a survival book, but he has gone into great detail about certain aspects of Bushcraft. Each chapter covers a topic such as firecraft, knifecraft, sheltercraft, etc. Illustrations composed mostly of line drawings which can be somewhat confusing to novices in outdoor lore. The author does supply a few color photos in the back of the book which gives the reader a little better understanding. I have actually found some ideas and concepts in this book that I have not seen in others. The techniques I have tried from this book have worked. There is no doubt in my mind that the author has lived with these skills in the bush. Besides anyone that uses a Mora knife has to know what they are talking about. Just wish he included some of his camp recipes.

I would not suggest this book as a survival text, but would as a supplement to other survival texts to enhance your outdoor skills or if you want to study primitive living skills.

If you are addicted to Survival skills, Bushcraft and the Outdoors as I am I would highly recommend this book.

This book is outstanding. Though written as a book of wilderness living skill in the northern boreal forest, the skills can be applied to a survival situation. The book is well illustrated with clear blackline drawings and is easy to read. Check out some of Mors other articles in The Society of Primitive Technology's 'Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills.' Mr. Kochanski is one of the world leaders in wilderness living skills his dedication, research and expertise in wilderness living is recognized around the world. After reading Bushcraft and his work in other journals you'll know why.

Picked this up for my husband for Christmas. Even though he is an avid "survival" and camping guy, he learned a lot from this book. Although this is an excellent starting volume for those just beginning in bushcraft, it has enough info that seasoned campers will thoroughly enjoy and learn from it. My husband found the axe craft chapter particularly useful.

I am quite frankly surprised at some of the negative reviews of this book.
This is some of the most detailed information on survival in the bush that I have ever read. Kochanski goes into thorough and detailed delineations on
almost every important aspect of life in the bush. Granted the book is focused on the Northern Forests, but in truth these survival skills are applicable to every climate including the Desert. The difference would be to only change the nature of the materials used--but the theory and the skills utilized remain applicable to both environmental extremes.
If you are interested in a detailed description on how to actually survive and thrive in the bush, then this is definitely a book that should be both read and implemented via scrupulous practice. And yes, the information on the proper handling of a knife and its sharpening is as important as anything in any survival scenario. My personal experience in bushcraft reinforces Kochanski's comments about a sharp knife. Very few bushcrafters today know how to properly sharpen a knife. And Kochanski rightly gives a guideline as to what constitutes a sharp knife--the ease in slicing through a standard sheet of typing paper. If you cannot take a blade to this level easily, then you need to read this book. Kochanski writes from of position of being there and actively practicing these techniques. His detailed safety comments on knife, saw and axe are invaluable. This definitely ranks in the top five survival books out there.