I recently picked up Dave Canterbury’s latest book, essentially the sequel to his New York Times Bestseller Bushcraft 101. For those who may not recognize the name, Canterbury was the former military man partnered with Cody Lundin in the original cast of Discovery’s hit show Dual Survival. He has also starred in other television shows, runs his own survival school, and has become a prolific writer in recent years. And for those of you who aren’t sure what “bushcraft” actually is – don’t worry. It’s not witchcraft, or arts and crafts. Bushcraft is essentially a conglomeration of all the typical survival skills. But these skills are performed with the perspective of making yourself at home in the wild, rather than a tooth and claw struggle to survive. So does this book teach you how to be at home in the wild? Let’s find out.
The cover really caught my eye, and that’s why I first picked up the book. The line drawings and the design of the book made it look like one of the classic camping texts from fifty years ago. These great authors of the past are honored in the beginning of the book, which I thought was a really nice touch. After perusing the contents, I discovered this handsome little book boasted an impressive range of topics. And after reading the whole thing, I was really pleased. Topics ranged from packing up your gear and selecting camp friendly foods to foraging, hunting, trapping, game processing, and many methods of primitive cooking. Of course, an entire book could be written on each of these topics, but this book gives the reader a great foundation in the arts of procuring and preparing your own food.
The book was an easy read with lots of great drawings. An unexpected bonus was the excellent fire-starting section. The explanations of flint & steel and bow drill were wonderfully detailed. This book would make a great gift for a Girl Scout or Boy Scout in your life, and the pro tips scattered throughout the book offer useful insights for even the most seasoned outdoor skills fanatic. Nice work, Mr. Canterbury!
This very handy DIY food book retails for $16.99 in the US ($21.50 in Canada) and it would be a great addition to the library of any outdoor enthusiast.
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