Essential BushCraft & Emergency BushCraft

By: Buck Johnson

Narrated by: Christopher Lawson

Some say it's survival of the fittest. What it should be is survival of the prepared, and here's why...

Are you tired of living in a world where humans have lost all kinds of consideration to mother nature, having become infinitely indulged in the concepts of profit and greed?

Do you find attractive the idea of living on the edge with only the bare minimum, wanting to experience the ultimate satisfaction that comes from being creative and resourceful in the wild?

But while you’re marveling at the beauty of Mother Nature, she is plotting your demise.

Approximately 140 people die in US national parks every year from drowning, falls, heat or cold exposure, and wildlife.

Mother Nature is ruthless just as much as she is beautiful, and she doesn’t forgive mistakes.

A nice camping or hiking trip can turn deadly in seconds. So much can go wrong when you venture outdoors, and it doesn’t take a lot for you to be thrown into a life-threatening situation

Essential Bushcraft & Emergency BushCraft is the only survival guide that will equip you with both: Skills to survive any outdoor emergency, and mental strength that will help you stay calm and poised during life-threatening situations.

Inside, here’s just a fraction of what you’ll discover:

• Why bushcraft is the answer you've been searching for to become completely independent and easily survive on your own in the wilderness
• Exactly how to begin your preparations to survive in nature, even if you've never been outside the city in your life
• Step-by-step guidance on how to acquire all the essentials with nothing but your wit and your hands
• What exactly your relationship to nature could be if you take the time to understand its endless secrets and hidden gems
• Straightforward techniques to build your own tools and finally become the engineer of your own life
• The empowering skills you will get once you master the knowledge and mysteries of all the wealth of the earth
• Simple mental reprogramming exercises the Navy SEALs use to fully control their minds and emotions in emergencies
• Techniques used by various special forces units that develop observational skills
• A detailed list of personal protective equipment (PPE) you should always carry to survive in the wilderness
• A guide on how to perform a physical examination of injuries on yourself or someone else for worst-case scenarios
• Techniques for treating all types of mental and physical injuries, from cuts and fractures to strokes and seizures
• Expert advice on how to deal with emergencies caused by predators, insects, and plants
• Bonus: How to survive 5 life-threatening scenarios that can happen anywhere, such as a car accident

Bushcraft is not just about surviving in nature; it is about adopting a new way of thinking.

©2020 Elijah Sarge (P)2020 Elijah Sarge

Poor and Outdated Advice

I didn't make it far into this book as the amount of bad or outdated advice made it not worth continuing. I'm a fairly experienced camper and outdoorsman with about 30 years of experience and have spent time performing Search and Rescue, been in ROTC, CAP, and the scouts as a kid. I believe there is something worth learning from other bushcrafters and picked up this book as something to casually listen to while in the car. As much as I wanted to keep listening so that I could make a full list of what I disagree with, I just don't have the free time. Here's my short list:

1. Author recommended cotton clothing. My take: there is no scenario where I'd recommend cotton clothing. In every case there is a better option wether we are talking about extreme cold or extreme heat. I've been in numerous situations where cotton not only failed to provide any benefit, but actively made my situation worse. Cotton can essentially never get wet or it will chafe and put you in a position where it will be better to be naked than wearing cotton. As many other outdoorsmen say: cotton kills.

2. Author referenced a military pack, or military style pack. My take: Most military gear stopped being useful for bushcrafters and outdoorsmen sometime in the 90s (give or take). Military gear has different requirements and purposes that are often at odds with bushcrafting. Compared to what you can buy at any outfitters today military gear is heavier, less efficient, and less useful than an equivalent modern pack.

3. Author recommended 3-4 MREs in a bug out bag. My take: As with note number 2 above, military gear is often a poor choice compared to civilian market offerings today. 3-4 MREs take up substantial space and weight in a pack. Also, I've run into numerous issues with expired, or partially expired, MREs and MRE heaters not working for unknown reasons. For packable emergency food I'd go with freeze dried offerings (home made or commercial) which are light and only need boiling water to become edible again (or cold water if you're just that desperate). Add a Firebox stove to your kit and you can easily boil your water too; plus the stove is reusable where MRE heaters are not. The commercial food is also easy to heat in it's pouch and reseal if needed, and as an easy way to leave no trace. MRE pouches don't reseal and can be both messy and bulky to pack back out.

At this point I stopped listening as I wasn't getting anything positive out of the book and I value my time. If you read this book I would highly recommend taking its advice with caution and reading other bushcraft books before depending on the knowledge in this one. In the 70s or 80s this book, at least what I've read of it, would have been useful (even with some issues); but not today. The fact this advice is being given in a book published in 2020 is deeply concerning.