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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
TV's extreme survival expert Ray Mears has lived off the land in the world's most inhospitable places, and Bushcraft is a coffee table-style encapsulation of that hard-won knowledge and experience. Aspiring travellers will find hundreds of life-saving tips here, and even if you plan to stick pretty closely to the beaten track (say, your garden), the specialist information contained in chapters on survival essentials like finding and purifying water, establishing fires and shelter, cordage (the joys of making your own string), and living off the land (grubs and the like), is fascinating in itself--in the tradition of TV's finest "natural history" output.
Elsewhere, Mears establishes some basic principles about equipment--with brief guides to the right sort of knives, axes, rucksacks etc--and runs through his own kit for the various climates of the world. But be warned, it's doubtful whether this information will do more than arm you with the ability to make semi-informed choices in the shop. Will this book prepare you for the world's wildernesses? Yes and no. It is an entertaining, informative introduction to the survival mindset which will have even the sofa-bound thirsting for adventure, but aside from the solid core knowledge--which regular wanderers will find pitched at roughly intermediate level--the region-specific practical information looks sketchy.
"Knowledge is invisible and weighs not at all", Mears suggests. This large-format glossy hardback book, however, packed with illustrations and colour photographs, is not designed to be a field guide. Travellers looking to pack knowledge in their rucksacks would be better served by either the Collins Gem SAS Survival Guide or Mears' own paperback Outdoor Survival Handbook, which contains much of the same basic information. These shortcomings aside, it's undeniable that something magical happens when you tap into a survival expert's ways of thinking about food, water, shelter and healthcare (feet first)--and Bushcraft is an intriguing blend of life-over-death practicality and pared-down philosophy that will shine a new light on most readers' urbanised, consumption-driven lifestyles. --Alex Hankin
Product Description
Popular survival expert Ray Mears presents a richly illustrated compendium of practical skills and wisdom, relevant not only to wilderness survival, but also urban life. The book contains step-by-step guides to a wide range of survival techniques, as well as accounts of Ray's own experiences and his bushcraft philosophy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Having seen many of the Survival TV programs by Mears, I had high expectations of this book and I was not disappointed. Instead of it being a formulaic 'how to survive like the army' style book, it is a guide on how to overcome our dependance on modern equipment to do anything more complicated than a walk in the park. Whats more, it doesnt feel like a list of facts, you feel as though he is actually talking to you face to face which makes it more interesting and memorable.
Definitely worth it, if only to find out how to get a glass of water using only some polythene and a few rocks.....
Definitely worth it, if only to find out how to get a glass of water using only some polythene and a few rocks.....
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
This is a gripping read if you are into the whole outdoors/survival thing.
It's full of practical tips on a wide range of subjects from food and shelter to clothing and equipment.
Good photographs and diagrams let you get to grips with things that come over a little complex in the text.
My one gripe about it is that it is'nt that different from Ray Mears' 'The Survival Handbook' (1994)
Having said that, i'm thoroughly pleased that i did get 'Bushcraft'...
Well worth a click on the purchase button!!!
It's full of practical tips on a wide range of subjects from food and shelter to clothing and equipment.
Good photographs and diagrams let you get to grips with things that come over a little complex in the text.
My one gripe about it is that it is'nt that different from Ray Mears' 'The Survival Handbook' (1994)
Having said that, i'm thoroughly pleased that i did get 'Bushcraft'...
Well worth a click on the purchase button!!!
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
I found virtually all of the essential information included here in Ray Mears' more recent release "Essential Bushcraft" which has to be my favourite of all his "survival" books.
The more recent presentation is by comparison a far more compact handbook and notably suitable as a companion on any expedition/trip.
Although Ray Mears here again reveals an absolutely enormous wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of survival and bushcraft, this particular book is quite hefty and more useful as a reference only.
For those wishing to carry a reference book into the field, the more recent "Essential Bushcraft" is far more suitable. Despite not being "pocket-sized" it does not take up much space.
As with most Ray Mears "survival" books, by clear step-by-by instructions the reader is led through a plethora of subjects including how to construct a shelter from the elements at virtually any time of the year in a wide variety of circumstances/environments.
The book also covers sections which deal with the many uses and natures of cordage, the use of knots, a wide diversity of cutting tools (and how they should be used correctly), first aid & personal hygiene together with a list of the essential items to be included within a survival outfit.
An entire section of this handbook is devoted to the importance of water and the dangers of dehydration. Instruction is provided in how to locate water sources & how to access and use them. Emphasis also being given in relation to the collection and purification of water.
Another section is devoted to "living off the land" which includes instruction on "foraging" and how to differentiate between food that is edible and that which is poisonous. Also included is a section allocated to fire and how to make fire by improvising with the use of unlikely raw materials.
In each and every section clear photographs are supplied to assist the reader. This is indeed another essential volume from Ray Mears for anyone interested in the outdoor life, and not just for survival purposes. A basic knowledge would do none of us any harm and this book meets this need and those who require much more. Another excellent purchase.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bleeding deadly buzz
I found this book rather useful as I have been doing basic survival stuff for some years now. I found his book to be very informative and built up my skill set for such... Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2004
Very entertaining, but not really very usefull.
This book works really well as a companion to Ray Mear's many TV series. It is full of great info on survivial techniques from making fire to building a shelter. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2004 by C. Verspeak
Fantastic!
This book accompanies Mears' television series spectacullarly well, as it's just so interesting! It's certainly given me lots of new ideas, and useful advice on equipment. Read more
Published on 24 April 2003
Well worth the read
Having done a couple of Ray's courses' the book comes across in the same informantive manner of his personal instruction, along with his sense of humour. Read more
Published on 1 April 2003 by rogdodge
Exellent
I found this book exellent, complementing his "Outdoor Survival Handbook". I especially liked the way he mentions brand names, so that you can see what actual kit he uses, instead... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2003 by "malibusurffm"
Sound philosophical and practical intro to the subject
This is not a book to pack in the day bag. It is definitely a coffee table tome, its square shape making it sit very uncomfortably in the bookcase! Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2003 by amadou
Same Info Written Before!
I was dissappointed to find that the information and illustrations in this book has already been written/drawn before in other Survival related books previously(mainly American... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2003 by "alison4050"
Do more than just survive...
Bushcraft is a first rate guide to how it is possible to survive in the wilderness - and enjoy doing so! Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2002 by "bay666"
The Tao of Survival
In this book Ray shows not only only an unparalleled expertise in his field but also a great sympathy with his environment whether that be the people or the land around him. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2002 by Craig G
Very good, but could have been better...
Having watched his TV programme on BBC2 I duly purchased this book with great expectations but despite being pleased with overall content I was left rather disappointed by the... Read more
Published on 1 July 2002 by J. Douglas-de-fenzi
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