Books Primitive Skills & Crafts

by Richard Jamison (compiler), Linda Jamison

Here are ancient techniques that can be adapted for the modern outdoorsman—making stone blades and ax handles, cordage and sandals, cooking fires and stone ovens, trapping and more.

Anyone eager to master survival skills for outdoor vacations, or simply to find a fun new family activity for a Saturday afternoon, will be educated and inspired by the practical advice presented here by archaeologists, anthropologists, primitive practitioners, craftsmen, and artisans.

These experts help modern readers rediscover the skills that have served humanity for millennia:

Fire-making
Camp cooking
Basket weaving
Pottery making
Animal tracking
And much more

You can even learn how to turn seashells into arrowheads or make glue from yucca plants. Plus, there’s intriguing information on the benefits of a hunter-gatherer diet. More than just a how-to, this handbook provides inspiration to live life to the fullest.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Reference, Outdoors, Self Help, Sports, Recreation

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1985

Reviews

[Trey Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

More a collection of brief essays on primitive skills, rather than an instructional book. It's chapters varied from the informative (the many uses of the yucca plant, and a well-written introduction to flintknapping) to the banal (A poorly conceived treatise on emulating the diet of the caveman.)

I found much of the information presented interesting, although in dire need of more detail and less philosophizing on the state of the modern world. As much as I enjoy some of the concepts and ideas presented therein, seeing pictures of blonde-haired and blue-eyed Utahns parading around in "authentic abo gear" is just embarrassing as all hell.

[Al Lock · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting book on a hodgepodge of primitive skills and crafts. Many of the descriptions are difficult to follow and the illustations are generally not helpful. Few of the sections will help someone trying to learn these skills. The terminology is not explained and many parts require understanding the terms being used in order to even try to grasp what is being described.

[Jerianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good resource for research, but not a great book to go to when you're wanting to easily and quickly learn some old-school survival skills.

[Madalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each “chapter” was an “explanation” from a different author on their specific specialty. This compilation style assured a lack of cohesion regarding writing styles, philosophies, or ability to explain in a way the reader would understand. In addition, about half of the chapters were about basket weaving (ok, maybe not but it felt like that). Most of the authors had a very pompous “primitive is better because I say so and the average city slicker isn’t worth their salt” attitude.

[Didi Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

Curiously interesting. Definitely not for everyone, but I found it fascinating. Not sure I’ll use a lot of the information.

[Lnsimon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great info, poor organization

There are sections of this are great, but the organization is awful. It's haphazard and skips around. Worth the read.