Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Most books about survival and outdoor skills don’t become “bestsellers”. But somehow Bushcraft 101 made it onto the 2014 New York Times list of Best Selling Sports Books. Why was that? In our opinion this book was popular because it’s a good, basic beginner bushcraft/wilderness survival book that can also be enjoyed by an experienced outdoors person because of the author’s credentials, writing style and content. Written by Dave Canterbury, known to many people as one of the original two survivalists on the TV show “Dual Survival,” where he was teamed with Cody Lundin (Dave was the one that wore shoes), the book focuses on Dave’s view of bushcraft; a view that means taking advantage of what nature makes available to you and using a minimum of gear to survive and thrive in the natural world, carrying “the knowledge and skills needed to create items straight from the landscape”. The main way that Dave’s book differs from the first two books on our favorites list is due to his focus on the skills necessary to thrive in the woods – not just the skills essential to surviving in the wild in an emergency. Because of this much of the book is based on Canterbury’s “Five Cs of Survivability” – items chosen since they are extremely hard to make in the wild and directly impact controlling your body’s core temperature. Dave’s Five Cs are: 1) Cutting Tools – to manufacture needed items and process food 2) Covering Elements – to create a microclimate of protection from the elements 3) Combustion Devices – for creating the fires needed not only to preserve and cook food, but also to make medicines and provide needed warmth 4) Containers – to carry water over distances or to protect collected food sources 5) Cordages – for bindings and lashings The book also shows how Dave has a “systems” mindset (e.g. never carry anything unless it can perform multiple functions). The book has sections on: Gearing Up Your Pack Tools Rope, Cordage, Webbings, and Knots Containers and Cooking Tools Coverage Combustion In The Bush Setting Up Camp Navigating Terrain Trees: the Four-Season Resource Trapping and Processing Game Appendices Conserving and Utilizing resources Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants Bush Recipes Glossary Dave’s detailed section on Tools is especially helpful for people new to camping. We also like Dave’s “Four Ws” relating to setting up a camp – Wood, Water, Wind and Widowmakers. Having 256 pages, measuring 5½ x ¾ x 8½ inches and weighing ~10 ounces this is probably a book that you learn from but do not take on the trail with you. Although shorter than all of our other recommended books, Bushcraft 101 is not intended to be all encompassing – since it is only intended to cover the “20 percent of bushcraft that is of the most value”.