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Ellsworth Jaeger
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Wildwood Wisdom Paperback – January 1, 1992

by Ellsworth Jaeger (Author), Lloyd Kahn (Introduction)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 511 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    520 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shelter Publications
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1992
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.25 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0936070129
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0936070124
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shelter Publications; 2nd edition (January 1, 1992)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 520 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0936070129
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0936070124
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.25 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 511 ratings

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Ellsworth Jaeger

Ellsworth Jaeger

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
511 global ratings
Great book
5 Stars
Great book
I rebought this book for my husband as it was one of the books that got destroyed in the house-fire. He absolutely loves this book!
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Top reviews from the United States

David
5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2012
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An ideal book, written by a master. No, it's not perfect, however no book is. It lists a lot of skills, and is useful for that. It doesn't list enough skills. You need to read other books, including  Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness   Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival , at least. You need to spend a lot of "dirt time", practicing the skills. The most important survival tool you have is your intuition- and you develop this by asking questions. The only really good book I've read on that is  Quantum Power Questions . Asking useful questions may be the heart of survival.  Journey to the Ancestral Self: The Native Lifeway Guide to Living in Harmony with the Earth Mother (Bk.1)  fleshes out some of what this book doesn't cover.  Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign  is one of several tracking books that are useful.  Shadow Strategies of an American Ninja Master  also covers information that would be useful, as you expand your skills. If you want to expand into the spiritual side of survival, I would recommend reading Jose Stevens' Secrets of Shamanism: Tapping the Spirit Power Within You,  Redneck Shaman , You the Healer: The World-Famous Silva Method on How to Heal Yourself and Others , The Physics of Miracles: Tapping in to the Field of Consciousness Potential , and  Theta Healing: Introducing an Extraordinary Energy Healing Modality  at least. The woods are beautiful, and this book is, also. I note related books because that is the most useful part of a review for me. I have found gems that way. I encourage others to do likewise.
8 people found this helpful
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Wayne Comet
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historic publication on bushcraft
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016
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This is a great guide for those that have an interest in nostalgia and the old time bushcraft techniques. I glossed through parts of this book, because much of it was information that I wasn't interested in, or that didn't apply to me, such as making buckskin clothing, or primitive furniture for example. Still, there is a lot of great information here, and one never knows when it might come in handy at some point.

While the book was written in 1945, it's not as dated as anticipated, and much of the information contained within is timeless. Still, there were some procedures outlined that are now considered less than effective. As an example, the emergency procedure for dealing with pit viper bites is now considered out of date.

My rating is based on the following:

I did not feel that it was fair to rate a classic such as this by modern standards, as it would not be an equitable comparison against a modern publication with updated information and full color pictures. There were only sketches in this book, and although they were useful sketches, they are typically not a substitute for high resolution photographs. However, considering the time that this book was published, this would have added significantly to the costs of this publication, so it is easily understood why such an addition was omitted. Rating this book for its usefulness at the time that it was published, I feel that it is fair to give this classic book a 5 star rating.

Just bear in mind that some of the information is dated, so my recommendation would be to seek out an updated publication on first aid and edible and medicinal plants with actual color photographs to supplement this book.
14 people found this helpful
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AshleyAnn
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it's weight in gold, silver and platinum. You know for survivalists to trade when the economy collapses.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2016
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My parents loved the informative guidelines set forth in this classic. It's practical in realistic settings and situations making it invaluable and a necessity; even in sissy lightweight backpackers packs!!! Worth every ounce. No one takes these things to consider anymore. When heading into the backcountry, even if just in a state park, your situation can easily become a survival scenario, and without the basic knowledge set forth by Mr.Jaeger you could easily become another suburbanite statistic.

With all of that said I've looked at other books, forums, video series...list goes on, and the quality is always either questionable, downright insane in it's paranoid babbling and obvious catering to the failed Y2K crowd or (since I backpack) it caters to backpackers who spend thousands of dollars on top shelf equipment which ultimately fails/needs replaced in the long run.

Again knowledge is indispensable and can never be taken from me, break, fail, need charged, run out of batteries or be used up. A one time fee for this book, as a gift for you or someone else is worth at least a few hundred in the "Wisdom" it holds. No zombie outbreaks, no BS what you need to know when the economy collapses, no 12 best weapons to hoard or any of that crazy stuff...just good old what to do if A, B or C happens or if you just want to go out (maybe with your kids...people still do that right??) and practice or have fun!!
28 people found this helpful
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librarylinda
4.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom?
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2010
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The book is entertaining reading but I would have liked photos and better detailed instructional drawings. The drawings were hand drawn but not very well. I believe it would be hard to identify a plant or flower from the simple and amateur drawings in the book. Overall, it has a lot of information but if you are looking for a book to aid you in the wilds or while camping, then this is not the best book for that. I would have liked it to be divided into sections that were easier to locate information and go back to refer to it. I think the author did his best but if he had photographs and better illustrations, the information presented in a better format, he would have a very valuable book.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Sencnatra
5.0 out of 5 stars Klassisches Bushcraftwissen mit tollen Illustrationen
Reviewed in Germany on June 14, 2020
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Ich bin ein visueller Lerntyp. Lange, monotone Texte können einen Sachverhalt längst nicht so gut verdeutlichen wie eine Illustration. Und davon ist das Buch voll, von vorne bis hinten. Alles mit der Hand gezeichnet, und zwar richtig gut. Viele Sachverhalte lassen sich schon alleine anhand der Abbildungen verstehen, auch wenn die Erläuterungen dazu natürlich hilfreich sind. Die Illustrationen sind nicht nur toll gezeichnet, sondern finden sich auf beinahe jeder 2. Seite, und dies meist sogar ganzseitig.
Das Buch wurde 1945 zum ersten Mal aufgelegt und gibt einen fundierten Einblick in das Leben in und mit der Natur. Vieles wurde damals selber hergestellt. Von der Kleidung über Taschen und Werkzeuge. Es sit eine wahre Freude, sich alleine vorzustellen, autark leben zu können. Natürlich muss man bedenkten, dass das Buch in den USA erscheinen ist. Im (modernen) Deutschland ist vieles davon nicht umsetzbar, dies sollte im Hinterkopf bleiben. Wenn man sich überlegt, wie wir in unserer modernen Konsum- und Wegwerfgesellschaft leben, dann haben wir uns ganz schon weit entfernt von all dem Wissen und dem Handwerk, welches in diesem Buch beschrieben wird.
Das Buch ist ein richtig dicker Wälzer, garantiert so Lesevergnügen für viele Stunden und deckt so ziemlich alles ab, was für den Aufenthalt in der Natur wichtig ist.
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Maingeot Manuel
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic
Reviewed in France on April 11, 2018
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This is a perfect summary of the native indians knowledge. The illustrations are superb and the text is the same. Fantastic.
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Teresa
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Old Fashioned Information
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2015
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This is a great reprint of a classic. I spend a lot of time in the wild and lived off grid for most of the years raising my kids, so I discovered a lot of these tips through my own experiences, but I still found this book very valuable in terms of handy tips. I have purchased a few "wildcrafting" books throughout the years and never found one that I really got a lot out of, but this one is very helpful in comparison. I love the historical aspect of it, as I always appreciate the "old ways" being far superior to the high-tech sports approach everyone seems to being going for these days. This book is inspiring to anyone who really wants the quality experience with nature, the full deal with the shivers and the swelter, the dirt and the smoke, the exhaustion and snow-blindness. Specifics on plant identification are marginally useful; better to get a few really good identification books specific to your area, as this section is very general, designed as an introduction to the idea of using wild plants four food and medicine. I found the section on eskimo mitts and snowshoes helpful and have since made my own bindings on my old rawhide snowshoes and two pairs of moose hide mitts according to these instructions. Fun and practical and I absolutely love the old-time illustrations! A good book to curl up with when you're hunkered down in front of the fire, or whiling away the time down at the fishing hole. Enjoy!
One person found this helpful
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Nic
5.0 out of 5 stars Guida affascinante
Reviewed in Italy on November 17, 2013
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Guida datata ma sempre attuale per chi voglia dedicarsi alla vita primitiva nei boschi in modo particolare. Le astuzie che vengono descritte possono essere utili per campeggiatori, boy scouts e globe trotters. Si respira nel libro il fascino della natura e della vita selvaggia che oggi si va riscoprendo.
One person found this helpful
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refugeewurzel
5.0 out of 5 stars Pleased to have this one in the library
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2013
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I have been building a personal library for a few years and this was a book I cane across in Canada. A great read, good pictures and an easy to follow, all tried and tested and inspiring all the way, how our ancestors did it in near and far history. A must have for the bush craft enthusiast and scouting dream of days in the wilds of England with much to do for free.
Summer holiday inspiration for the bored adventurer this summer. pen knife not included.
One person found this helpful
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