Customer Reviews

Essential Bushcraft

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It will teach you how to rough it easy in the woods and the techniques to feel at home there.
It doesn't suffer from poor drawings like most other books of this type. It is filled to the brim with clear photographs.
Worth every penny.

I have been studying, practicing, and teaching wilderness survival techniques for over forty years and own a collection of over two hundred survival guidebooks. Essential Bushcraft is, IMO, the best I have ever read. Many such books appear to be written by authors who simply rehash information from other survival books. Ray Mears clearly writes from extensive personal experience and study. I know of no other survival writer who discusses the difference between a sip well and a gypsy well or how to safely prevent a bow saw from skipping by inserting one's arm through the bow when starting a cut. These are obscure but valuable techniques known only by experts who dedicate years of their lives to learning and practicing their subject. Whether or not Ray Mears has written "The Best" wilderness survival book is surely a matter for debate, but, as far as I am concerned, anyone wishing to write a better survival guide than this has a herculean task ahead of them.

I think the book is really well put together. Great illustrations and photos. It is a great companion to his television programs. A lot of great common sense advice from an outdoor pro! Small enough to travel.

I really like Ray Mears, and his knowledge of bushcraft is remarkable, it's easy to tell that he's done his homework. My only problem was that I ordered the book on the 10th of December, and received it on the 24th. I'm sorry, but I can't believe that even if sent via pony, and rider, that it takes that long to get anywhere in the U.S. If you can't send it out right away, let the customer know, but don't say that you've sent it, and say that it's been sent out, if it hasn't.

I can not reccommend this book enough. It gets to the point, written perfectly and with simple/effective photos and drawings. It covers the essentials, the need to knows for all the enviroments of the world.

I have bought other books on the subject of Bushcraft but none can hold a candle to this one and so were traded on.

There is so much essential knowledge in this book that you will miss it at first reading. You're reading a small paragraph, and your mind says "yes, that's right..ok"..(until you stop and think) "hmmm...uhhm..I've been skipping that...missing that step, etc." This is like a Scout Handbook for adults..an absolute gem.

This book does have nice colored pictures.I have to give it good points
for this and also it is well done when it comes to illustrated points.Essential Bushcraft

Ray Mears, when compared to other survival personalities, teaches a level of detail that is difficult to find in other books. I love his sections on knife technique and cordage and he also has a good section on food (while stressing mostly on plants and mushrooms, he still has a good write-up on fishing).

One more thing that I need to comment on that makes this book great is the pictures. So many outdoor books tell you how to do stuff, but are very shy on pictures (the biggest crock in outdoor books). Not this book. The pictures are large/high quality/color photos and are scattered throughout (good choice for kids by-the-way). I own a mountain of outdoor books and this is the book that I recommend to people the most. Ray just gets it right.

One more thing. Look up "Ray Mears Extreme Survival" on Youtube if you don't know who Ray Mears is. You'll be glad you did.

This book was very informative, and had great illustrations. It had better pictures than most other survival books that I have read. The cover on the book I received also had a water resistant coating which was nice on a trip, just don't get the pages wet.

I'm just getting into Survival and Bushcraft and the likes. I bought this book in hopes to further my knowledge. I would rate this book 5 stars but CAUTION TO BUYER!: this book is for those who have a knowledge of the wilderness. This book is more Very Basic skills. Good book but DOES NOT explain a lot about HOW. I would recomend using your money for his videos. He is a very smart man about this. Book: Okay. Videos: Great. Shipping came 3 days sooner then the estimated date. Happy about that.