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The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency: The classic guide for realists and dreamers [Hardcover]

John Seymour (Author), Will Sutherland (Author), E.F. Schumacher (Author)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

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Product details

Hardcover: 312 pages
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley; Rev Ed edition (3 April 2003)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0751364428
ISBN-13: 978-0751364422
Product Dimensions: 27.7 x 21.6 x 2.8 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 63,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Agriculture & Farming > Organic Farming
- #6 in Books > Science & Nature > Food & Farming > Organic
- #25 in Books > Science & Nature > Food & Farming > Reference

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Product Description

Review

Everyone dreams at some point in their lives of living the good life, albeit not in terms of the BBC comedy series. In this revised and fully updated edition of John Seymour's classic guide to self-sufficiency, the dream becomes more attainable. Now running a School of Self-Sufficiency in Ireland, John Seymour is as committed as ever to living a better life, more simply, by living off the land rather than out of shops. His magnum opus covers every conceivable topic from animal husbandry and butchering, seed sowing and cropping, dairy production and food storage, rubbish and recycling. All delivered in Seymour's inimitable, occasionally brusque style, it is a mine of information artfully illustrated with the original illustrations redrawn in full colour. New material includes GM crops, urban gardens and alternative forms of energy with craft skills rounding the picture of natural wholesomeness off nicely. A classic of its time and a new classic in the making, this revised edition will encourage and assist all those aspiring to a live a healthier, more environmentally friendly life. - Lucy Watson

Product Description

Make the break, realise the dream and start living "The Good Life!" Packed with comprehensive information on all the practicals, from ploughing fields to milking cows, as well as new information on how to create an urban organic garden and harness natural energy. This new and revised full-colour edition of the illustrated classic is an engrossing read and a wonderful handbook for realists and dreamers alike.

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 149 people found the following review helpful

The 'How-to' for Dreamers 5 Jan 2004

By Gabrielle O TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

The most wonderful book, which tells you just enough about everything you might need to know.

John Seymour looks at how to be self-sufficient with whatever you have - from a window-box, to 1 acre, to 5 or 10 acres, to 100+ acres. When you are making do with a window-box, this book also provides excellent and realistic day-dreaming opportunities about upgrading to a real smallholding!

He obviously knows what he is talking about - there is no wasted space, or idle talk. Every sentence not only useful but interesting. Even the most experienced farmer could learn something new here, as the book covers a vast range of skills for life, from preparing land and growing food to butchering animals and storing food. The book is well laid-out, with line-drawn colour illustrations which are very helpful.

This book is very matter of fact and doesn't preach the virtues of the good life, but you will find yourself wanting it. It's like a detailed instruction book for something that you very much want to buy.

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81 of 86 people found the following review helpful

Brilliant, worth its weight in gold! 22 July 2003

By Mr. C. Oliver

Format:Hardcover

What can i say about this book, if you have read or seen the first this is a brilliant book, its longer, and hasnt lost any of the detail of the first one. Its full of information about skills, crops, livestock and all the things you need to know to live the good life!
Brilliant hardback book, from the guru of the self sufficiency movement, John Seymour, himself. If you ever meet this man, You will know that you have met a man thats know whats hes talking about, he has done this himself and through his writing, it shows!

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58 of 62 people found the following review helpful

For doers and dreamers 2 Oct 2003

By "3chordtricktster"

Format:Hardcover

Here is a bible for the self-sufficiency enthusiast.

If you already manage a smallholding, or if you are happy to cultivate a corner of your suburban garden, there is something here for you.

Be careful if you are still at the stage of deciding whether or not self-sufficiency is for you. Because to read this book is to be in doubt no longer and you'll be putting a For Sale sign up outside your urban abobe.

You too can live off the fat of the land!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Self Sufficiency - John Seymour, Updated

This is a very useful and informative book. It has been updated and anyone who has a small-holding, or is interested in growing, beekeeping etc this is the best book I've come... Read more

Published 8 months ago by zoom

Excellent Buy

I had this book from the library and realised that I had to have it. We are not self sufficient, make like to make our own when we can, and moving to Greece where facilities are... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Lesley Brown

Terrible Book

This is a terrible book.
The dangerous advice contained within it's pages aside, it's just a fairy story. Read more

Published 15 months ago by RealBushMan

Self sufficiency - Primer

This is a great book to whet your appetite on this subject. It offers clear information on all manner of subjects from managing all aspects of growing your own food to butchering... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Lee

"The complete book to self sufficiency" I Don't think so

I am currently "living the good life" and thought that this book might be able to shed some light on other aspects that I had not yet investigated. How wrong could I be? Read more

Published 18 months ago by Green Living

An Excellent Read!

This is an interesting and extremely in-depth title, beautifully illustrated, with a bit of something for everyone; a great read, as the title suggests, for the realist and dreamer... Read more

Published on 6 Mar 2010 by H. Melvin-Bath

Perfect!

This book is realy all you need to enter in a world of self-sufficiency, especialy if u have your own peace of land. John Seymour was a great man! Thank you!

Published on 31 Aug 2009 by M. Bulic

A bit about everything, and some thing for all

This is a great book for all the family, as there is something for everyone, it do's not pretend to go in to great depth about all aspects of self sufficiency, but manages to cover... Read more

Published on 31 Aug 2009 by Adrian Struthers

The New Complete book of self sufficiency

Excellent. Stands the test of time. Beautifully written, with compassion and humour and comlete practicality. Has everything you could possibly wish to know about self sufficiency. Read more

Published on 3 Aug 2009 by S. Q. BRATTON

THE best all-round self-sufficiency book

We bought this book for friends who we hope will love it as much as we did ours. The book gives sufficient detail on an amazing number of activities from bee-keeping to beer-making... Read more

Published on 31 July 2009 by anon

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