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Let's Get Primitive: The Urban Girl's Guide to Camping
The definitive camping manual for urban gals who appreciate sidewalks and all-night sushi bars, LET'S GET PRIMITIVE is an invitation to embrace your inner mountain mama and follow the call of the wild. A writer and filmmaker turned outdoor aficionado, Heather Menicucci shares hard-won backcountry lessons that cover all the basics—planning the trip, getting the gear, fitting it in your backpack, choosing a campsite, stocking a primitive pantry, and pitching your tent. Packed with informative illustrations, tasty recipes, campy craft projects, and how-to tips galore, this sturdy and stylish companion will encourage the most citified fashionista to get down in the dirt and transcend our ultracivilized world . . . for the weekend, at
“Working in a cubicle is as open-air as most of us city folk get, and that's no way to live. Thankfully, Heather Menicucci has offered an open-ended ticket to sunrises, sunsets, and warm, whiskey-doused sing-alongs in the great outdoors. Let's Get Primitive is an enlightening guide that will inspire you to tear down the (half) walls, delve back into nature, and dream under stars that you can actually see.”—Jeffrey Yamaguchi, author of 52 Random Acts of Everyday Creativity“Heather's book is the perfect D.I.Y. primer for any gal seeking to step away from the fray, nurture her independent spirit, and see what kind of fire and spice lurks underneath her sugar and nice.” —Gayla Trail, author of You Grow Girl
"Let's Get Primitive describes [Menicucci's] transformation from a lipstick-wearing, bug-fearing diva to an expert on backcountry camping. The book includes entertaining anecdotes and lots of advice, including suggestions for gear that will make your camp-outs more pleasant."—USA Today
“This camping guide for the urban girl is a how-to that won't weigh you down.”—Curve magazine
"Menicucci not only makes the case for why to camp, but her call to the wild is matched with truckloads of practical advice—even campfire recipes good enough to try at home. Let's Get Primitive will certainly empower you to handle bees and bears, but what makes this book a winner is that it will also make you feel better about pooping outside."—Bust magazine
Watch video of Heather Menicucci's interview on MTV Canada
Read some real-life camping horror stories here!
“Working in a cubicle is as open-air as most of us city folk get, and that's no way to live. Thankfully, Heather Menicucci has offered an open-ended ticket to sunrises, sunsets, and warm, whiskey-doused sing-alongs in the great outdoors. Let's Get Primitive is an enlightening guide that will inspire you to tear down the (half) walls, delve back into nature, and dream under stars that you can actually see.”—Jeffrey Yamaguchi, author of 52 Random Acts of Everyday Creativity“Heather's book is the perfect D.I.Y. primer for any gal seeking to step away from the fray, nurture her independent spirit, and see what kind of fire and spice lurks underneath her sugar and nice.” —Gayla Trail, author of You Grow Girl
"Let's Get Primitive describes [Menicucci's] transformation from a lipstick-wearing, bug-fearing diva to an expert on backcountry camping. The book includes entertaining anecdotes and lots of advice, including suggestions for gear that will make your camp-outs more pleasant."—USA Today
“This camping guide for the urban girl is a how-to that won't weigh you down.”—Curve magazine
"Menicucci not only makes the case for why to camp, but her call to the wild is matched with truckloads of practical advice—even campfire recipes good enough to try at home. Let's Get Primitive will certainly empower you to handle bees and bears, but what makes this book a winner is that it will also make you feel better about pooping outside."—Bust magazine
Watch video of Heather Menicucci's interview on MTV Canada
Read some real-life camping horror stories here!
- GenresNonfiction
236 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 20, 2008
Great book to give to your favorite princess who you want to take camping!
June 14, 2023
I was hoping for a practical book which included camping tips for women. Um. No. What I got was valley girl, pretentious, glamping stories with a few tips but mostly just "bring your make up and a skirt and a bottle of wine and some condoms" sort of stuff. Almost unreadable. Extremely trite and girly and wordy. It's too bad because between the lines were some good ideas, but wow, well, I'm not so girly, so this was mostly lost on me.
And that's it. I wouldn't recommend this book. You want to go camping? Read the internet. Unless you're quite girly and want to go glamping, then this is the book for you. Blah.
And that's it. I wouldn't recommend this book. You want to go camping? Read the internet. Unless you're quite girly and want to go glamping, then this is the book for you. Blah.
April 13, 2008
Working in a cubicle is as open-air as most of us city folk get, and that's no way to live. Thankfully, Heather Menicucci has offered an open-ended ticket to sunrises, sunsets, and warm, whiskey-doused sing-alongs in the great outdoors. Let's Get Primitive is an enlightening guide that will inspire you to tear down the (half) walls, delve back into nature, and dream under stars that you can actually see.
March 2, 2010
Cute. Funny. Entertaining.
I enjoyed this read a lot. I would recommend it. But you ought to know the author occasionally (and in my opinion, fairly tastefully) jokes about sex and gives instructions on how to cook with "booze." I was so low key it didn't bother me, and it was decidedly worth it for a fun read.
I enjoyed this read a lot. I would recommend it. But you ought to know the author occasionally (and in my opinion, fairly tastefully) jokes about sex and gives instructions on how to cook with "booze." I was so low key it didn't bother me, and it was decidedly worth it for a fun read.
February 10, 2008
Bring on the tent, sleeping bag, trees, and yetis! I'm 70% more motivated to go camping and 90% excited about it. The idea of digging 'cat holes' is still a bit terrifying... but perhaps I'll give it a go. And I have all the tips to ease my way from urban to primitive.
May 10, 2007
fun and sassy. i'd love to meet the author--she sounds like a real firecracker (that one's for you, r).
Want to read
June 25, 2008I'm not an "urban girl" by any stretch of the imagination. I work at REI part time and saw this book on our shelf. It looks like a great summer read - perhaps on my trip to Tallulah Gorge......
August 21, 2020
If you're a Jersey Girl thinking about getting out into the wilderness this is your book. The author moves beyond the granola and birkenstocks and tells you how it is.
July 13, 2014
great practical tips on becoming a camper. also a list of other resources to follow up with.
August 30, 2016
Useful for a beginner (ie me) but maybe too chatty for advanced campers! I guess any book geared to 'urban girls' is marketed to a presumptively chatty readership tho. :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews