What survival/preparedness books do you own

[the-gnole]

So when the world has gone to hell in a hand cart and you need an extra skill apart from sailing you will use what?

I can strip and clean and re-assemble a number of Lee-Enfield bolt action rifles, stripping and assembly I do blindfold, but when it comes to making a wormery or when to plant my winter crops I tend to go look it up as it isn't something I am familiar with. I used to run rifle ranges, I was very well versed in the orders to be given, but an "aide-memoir" was always in my hand.

There are many things we may need to do which we haven't had the need to do of late, as I read else where -

"our civilisation has the benefit of knowledge that has been accumulated since the beginning of time and yet most of us are less practical than Iron Age man."

All our knowledge is tied up in books and minds, minds will go when the people do, books will be around a lot longer.

[preppingsu]

Unfortunately in this current economic climate some of us may not be able to purchase lots of books or even one or two, so by trying to learn new skills or using the internet NOW is being proactive, rather than sitting on our arses and doing nothing.
Some people are able to pick up skills very quickly because they are that way minded. Some may need the reminders a book can give. Thank the gods we are all different.

[the-gnole]

And today is the best time to learn as much as possible, tomorrow may be too late.

Charity shops and of course Amazon can be a very good source of useful books, and libraries sell off books quite cheaply

If you ask them really nicely at charity shops they may let you look through the books, or take them away before they have a clear out, I have been a recipient of such books a friend used to get for "book rescue"

[nickdutch]

So when the world has gone to hell in a hand cart and you need an extra skill apart from sailing you will use what?

I can strip and clean and re-assemble a number of Lee-Enfield bolt action rifles, stripping and assembly I do blindfold, but when it comes to making a wormery or when to plant my winter crops I tend to go look it up as it isn't something I am familiar with.

Then we have very different priorities and very different skills.
Although i am still learning food storage:
I can make a wormery and I know when to plant and harvest.
I can make a fire when needed.
I can assemble solar panels for space heating and electricity
(PV cells, but will also try and learn how to make PV cells from scratch chemicals and glass).
I know how to keep warm, feed myself economically and efficiently and how to make water.
I make my own bread in a frying pan (a round loaf not a pancake) at least 5 times a month, so that skill is sorted.
I can brew alcohol to distill.
I can create a woodgas stove from tins within a matter of minutes that means cooking is sorted and I have the right kind of pruners at hand all the time to make the pellets that are needed to work in a woodgas stove.

AND many more skills are at my disposal.

So chill out, if SHTF, i'll be fine skill wise without needing to go to a lending library.

[nickdutch]

Unfortunately in this current economic climate some of us may not be able to purchase lots of books or even one or two, so by trying to learn new skills or using the internet NOW is being proactive, rather than sitting on our arses and doing nothing.
Some people are able to pick up skills very quickly because they are that way minded. Some may need the reminders a book can give. Thank the gods we are all different.

I just hope that any community can be democratic enough to allow all points of view to be heard. I am learning leadership skills so that if the time comes, I will have my opinion heard. That's prepping too

[the-gnole]

Very good Nickdutch, but remember that you are just one person in a wider picture, and no individual will ever know enough to become a sole survivor.

There is so much needed to be able to survive and thrive that one man cannot do it or possibly know everything required to survive the first year totally alone.

I'll be interested in seeing the results of your solar panel construction from scratch, as skill well worth having.

[preppingsu]

There is so much needed to be able to survive and thrive that one man cannot do it or possibly know everything required to survive the first year totally alone.

And all the skills he is learning now will make him very desirable to any group in the future, with diplomacy being a very important one. He may also join a group that has plenty of books...

[the-gnole]

It can be a double edged sword though.

[metatron]

I tend to figure books are cheap and useful to have, you may be able to build a shelter and make a fire with one arm behind your back and blindfolded, but if the system goes tits up and doctors are no longer getting paid by the government and are charging more then you have, a few medical books are a welcoming sight as you can see if its something you should be worried about or if its something treatable by yourself, same goes for dentistry.

Other books that are useful are building things and the skills needed to do so. Right now I can't build a windmill or watermill due to planning laws and such but if the need comes I know I can.

[jansman]

So when the world has gone to hell in a hand cart and you need an extra skill apart from sailing you will use what?

I can strip and clean and re-assemble a number of Lee-Enfield bolt action rifles, stripping and assembly I do blindfold, but when it comes to making a wormery or when to plant my winter crops I tend to go look it up as it isn't something I am familiar with.

Then we have very different priorities and very different skills.
Although i am still learning food storage:
I can make a wormery and I know when to plant and harvest.
I can make a fire when needed.
I can assemble solar panels for space heating and electricity
(PV cells, but will also try and learn how to make PV cells from scratch chemicals and glass).
I know how to keep warm, feed myself economically and efficiently and how to make water.
I make my own bread in a frying pan (a round loaf not a pancake) at least 5 times a month, so that skill is sorted.
I can brew alcohol to distill.
I can create a woodgas stove from tins within a matter of minutes that means cooking is sorted and I have the right kind of pruners at hand all the time to make the pellets that are needed to work in a woodgas stove.

AND many more skills are at my disposal.

So chill out, if SHTF, i'll be fine skill wise without needing to go to a lending library.

I think that is a VERY commendable list of skills.

We all have different skills,all useful to any community. We have to co-exist and cooperate. You can do what you do,I am a Slaughterman/Butcher. Some can strip and clean antiques.
One never stops learning.