Book Review – Primitive Technology.
A Survivalist’s Guide To Building Tools, Shelters & More In The Wild, By John Plant.
John Plant has a huge following on YouTube with his channel called Primitive Technology. John makes primitive tools and shelters in the wilderness. He doesn’t speak on the videos and there is no narration. The videos and the projects are relaxing, entertaining and memorizing in one to watch.
Before we get to the book review, this review is more judged on the value for bushcraft, long term wilderness living and primitive living skills. Not just the entertaining value by itself.
John’s book is based on his projects from his YouTube channel, Primitive Technology.
The hard copy book lists forty projects, covering subjects like basic hand tools, shelters, basket weaving, primitive hunting, cordage and advanced tools, etc. It has clear illustrations and colored photographs with 192 pages.
I like that the projects have a list of what other tools you need to complete the task. E.g. stone blade and hand axe. Also, the book is very well laid out, progressing from basic to harder plans.
You don’t get advanced tips on fire lighting (A drawback of the book, is that it doesn’t mention the types of woods that would be best to use for friction fire making.) or trouble shooting of the projects, but a good solid base, and step by step instructions and basic tips. More than enough information to get you intrigued and want to go out and create some primitive items and test them out.
The simple hammer stone and hand axe, opened my eyes to how valuable these basic, but important tools are. As they are then used to fashion more advanced tools, which in turn help with building shelters and primitive items. Another way to put it is; One basic tool > helps creates next tool > helps create the next advanced tool, etc.
The water hammer, looks interesting and thought provoking. Running water fills up a log trough. Once it is full, the log tips up and raises the hammer end, the water then tips out, dropping the hammer down. The process repeats itself until your rock or material is split or crushed.
The Ondal, (In the shelter section.) which is basically a heated floor in a hut, is another item that would be great to build.
Summary – Book review – Primitive Technology.
Even if you are not into bushcraft or practicing primitive skills first hand, but just enjoy watching the Primitive Technology videos, this book is an enjoyable read.
For those hardcore bushcraft, long term wilderness living and survivalists, the book gets you excited to try building some larger shelters and semi-permanent structures. As well as tinker with primitive pyrotechnology.
Overall a great book, that will be introduced to my list of top bushcraft and survival books, because of the clear way it introduces you to building primitive tools and projects.
Primitive Technology, A Survivalist’s Guide To Building Tools, Shelters & More In The Wild, By John Plant, is available on Amazon, eBay and books stores.
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