Wildwood Wisdom

by Ellsworth Jaeger, Lloyd Kahn (Introduction)

This historical guide, originally written in 1945, includes information on making fires, canoeing, using axes and knives, and crafting shelters from hand-gathered materials. Readers also learn about clothing, gear, and useful plants. This book also is an account of life in the 1800s, when survival in the wild depended on one's skill and ingenuity.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature, Reference, Crafts

520 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

Reviews

[Maureen Sautter]

Great book, with instructionals from old times about how to make your own (eg moccasin patterns, making fires, identifying animal tracks, etc...). Makes me want to live in the 1800's again (laughing).

[Timothy Oldfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift in about 1967, when I was a teenager. I’ll admit I was not much of a reader then, so LOVED ALL THE ILLUSIONS! It was inspirational for me.
🏕
A few years later I was living in my 18’ Sioux-style tipi and reading voraciously for about five years on a Broad range of subjects (including other books enhancing survival skill by authors like Larry Dean Olsen, Bradford Angier, Tom Brown, etcetera).

Wildwood Wisdom and the Boy Scout Field Manual were my first two books giving me confidence to go camping/hiking on my own in any season, although I now prefer to enjoy sharing the adventure 50+ Years later. I still have my copy.
😄👍

[Michael McCue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best ever book about nature, outdoors, woods crafts, Native American crafts, wild foods ect.
A bit like another of my favorites, Two Little Savages by Ernest Thompson Seton but more detailed on how to actually do things. Someday I will actually make the Kentucky Burgoo Stew in a cast iron pot over an open fire outdoors. I think I will probably never make the moose hock moccasins though.

[Avis Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of a boy's-own-guide to the outdoors, but the author goes way beyond the usual book of this type with his countless explanations and illustrations, and Wildwood Wisdom is something of a classic.

[Anoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of cool stuff...kinda wish I had more opportunities to practice it! but Hardtack is kind of gross...I could try adding some spices! Now I really I wish I had more opportunities! Argh!

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read if you enjoy the outdoors and the old ways of doing things. There were some manly men back in the day.

[RONALD PEYTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my dad's books, a childhood favorite of mine, I have my own copy.

[James Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of the ‘old school’ outdoor books. Easy to understand and a pleasure to read, with lots of good, relevant information.

[Lnsimon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most comprehensive bushcraft and indian lore books available. Jaeger covers everything from bushcraft to hunting to making clothes like the Native Americans.

[Juli Anna]

Just skimmed this one because boy are these illustrations racist.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read. Lots of fun illustrations. Makes you appreciate the work that goes into making things from scratch.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my school library when I was in 7th grade, and I renewed it several times. The illustrations were great.