Customer Reviews

The Log Cabin: An Adventure in Self-Reliance, Individualism, and Cabin Building

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

 

 

I am currently building a Cabin and found Len McDougals book intresting. Whatever his publisher paid him for this story could not be enough money for me. Having previously lived in Michigan for 23 years, it brought back some fond memories of both camping and the bugs. I will most likely purchase another one of his books.

I just got back from 3 weeks at camp for Pennsylvania's bear and deer season. While at camp, I had the opportunity to read several books that were in the camp "library". This is one of 3 Len McDougal books I read during my stay. I was disappointed in this book as I feel the author was not all that isolated and in fact had way to many modern tools and conveniences at his disposal. Being able to drive into town at will was just too much. I don't think the early homsteaders had that choice. Modern firearm, tools, and other top of the line supplies made his "adventure" so much more pleasant that it was for those who had to do it for real. Had he stuck to the tools and hardships of others before him then I might have been impressed.

One thing I noticed is someone mentioned in the book actually has a review here too, in fact a number of reviews of Lens books. Further research reveals that this person is Len McDougal's business partner. It makes me suspect of her glowing reviews of his books.

Good read, but I wish it had more specifics about how Len built the cabin. More pictures of the progress and more detailed diagrams etc. Len has a very confident writing style which I can see people seeing as arrogant. I still admire the man for what he accomplished with an ax!

This was one of the best books I have ever read. Len did a great job in relating all of his experiences in both an entertaining and informative way. This book inspired me to learn more about the author and search out other books he may have written. In doing so, I found out that Len actually lives in Paradise, Michigan and runs a wilderness adventure business in between writing assignments [Timberwolf Wilderness Adventures 906.492.3906]. This said, I actually visited Len this summer (2005) and took his 3-Day backpacking and survival course - wow, what a great time! The things I learned about building shelters, catching game and what plants are beneficial to survival cannot be matched through just reading about it - Len is an author who lives it everyday. I am amazed at how much information Len was able to pack into a 3-Day trip. Actually, it felt much more like just having fun with good friends vs. me being there to learn - Len's outdoor knowledge seems to sneak its way into every conversation. I plan on visiting Len this winter for his snow shooing/winter camping course and if I am lucky, we will take out his resident sled dog team. Read the book.

This book is awesome. I cant imagine many have done this before and i'm glad Len not only did it, but documented it as well so we could all experience it. I couldn't put it down and (unfortunately) finished it in 2 days hungry for more.

I thought this was an amusing read, but you've got to take it with several, rather large, grains of salt.

First, it is very important for the prospective reader to understand that Len is a professional outdoors writer, and creating and writing about these adventures is his stock and trade. It's interesting that Len chose to include the word self-reliance in the subtitle. As other reviewers have pointed out, Len spends much of the book away from the cabin visiting friends or sleeping in his van. He's able to drive back and forth to town at will. He complains about lack of money, and not having access to candy and snack foods. He eats store bought macaroni and cheese and celebrates with Jack Daniels. While most of the self-sufficient lifestyle folks would not see this as true self-reliance, one must admit that Len is free to set his own definition on what "self-reliance" means to him. Lest we forget, he was successful in supporting himself for a year without working a job.

Another area of potential concern with the reader is in the construction of his cabin. Len uses green (freshly cut), unpeeled logs placed directly on the ground. This would give most cabin builders fits, and all but guarantees the cabin will survive only a few years before becoming a neat pile of insect/worm food. But did Len achieve his goal to construct a comfortable dwelling that would last for the 1 year duration of his experiment? Yes he did.

Lastly, through much of the book Len seems to overly dwell on "manly" topics. He talks at length about which brands of hiking gear, guns, and ammo he's selected. He talks about make, model, caliber, grain, and bullet composition in almost nauseating detail.

To sum up, there are many books available in the "one year in the wilderness" catagory. This is NOT one of the better ones.

I received this book in the mail on a Friday and finished it by Sunday! McDougals' whole experience in the woods was absolutely fascinating! Order this book right now, you'll love it!!

Probably most people have fantasized about what it would be like to build and live in a log cabin the way our forefathers did, but almost no one ever does. Len McDougall did, and the stories he relates of that experience are just incredible. The brutal labor, swarms of biting insects, the injuries and loneliness, encounters with dangerous animals, and the sheer unfettered freedom he found all make this book a must-have for anyone who reads.

I would easily recommend this book. I am planning to build my own log cabin in Virginia this coming year and McDougall's book was detailed enough that his experience will help me. It was interesting that he undertook the cabin building with sort funding and leftover materieals. He derived pleasure from his own labor but also shared the negative aspects of the process. Reading the book was like being along for the ride. I didn't think he manufactured the story or shaded it to make a more interesting story out it. He was faithful to his building task. I liked that he hauled in his food. There is something about living-off-the-land kinds of stories that are too sanctimonious. Give me a can of beans and a can opener, I'm not into roots and shoots. What I would have liked was to feel a sense of personal growth, or maybe even spiritual growth from McDougall's year in the woods but I don't think that happened for him and hense it did not happen for this reader. He feels to me like a lost soul who will forever vacilate between his love of the nature his need for civilization.

I bought the book used and am glad I did so. The book was a quick read and very interesting at the start but by the second half it became more about how great Mcdougall thinks he is and less about the outdoors and cabin building.I was suprised that Mcdougall could fit thru the cabin door with the ego he sports.