Self-sufficiency by John Seymour

[JohnRio]

A very comprehensive book, with beautiful, detailed pointilist illustrations. Written by a man who really lived the life!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Book-S ... 176&sr=1-5

[Le Mouse]

There's a newer version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1405345101

I was given it for my birthday a couple of years ago - one of the best presents I've ever received!

[JohnRio]

There's a newer version:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1405345101

I was given it for my birthday a couple of years ago - one of the best presents I've ever received!

Yes indeed, I have the older version, so that was the one I could vouch for - good to hear the new edition is just as fab!

[Carrot Cruncher]

I have the new version in Hardback and found a version of the old one on a torrent site which now sits on the ipad

An excellent overview of things although not as in depth as it could be in certain areas but I suppose he never intended it to be that in depth as the book would have to be 10 times the size

[JohnRio]

I have the new version in Hardback and found a version of the old one on a torrent site which now sits on the ipad

An excellent overview of things although not as in depth as it could be in certain areas but I suppose he never intended it to be that in depth as the book would have to be 10 times the size

Besides it's usefulness, sentimentally, I think there's two things I love about it, first it's the "can do / have done anything" attitude, secondly it's very 1970s British in outlook, reminds me of when I was a kid and watching "The Good Life" on telly.

[diamond lil]

Oh I like the sound of that actually, but its out of my price range on Amazon just now.

[the-gnole]

Didn't he eventually give up the life though, IIRC he went on to writting books and running courses and left the "Self-sufficient" life he had lived for some 18 years so he could tell others about it, then didn't have the time to do what was needed to be "self-sufficient". Sad, really sad that he drifted so far away from the life style, but a huge benefit for us as we can now read his books, we have a copy of the 1973 version "Self-sufficiency" and also the later "Complete guide to Self-sufficiency".

[Bladerunner]

I asked wifey for this for my birthday. She got up, walked to the bookcase in the conservatory and gave me a copy of it saying "Happy Birthday".

She had had it for years before we met but we have that many books I had never seen it before, DOH!

Be Lucky (and observant)

[JohnRio]

Didn't he eventually give up the life though, IIRC he went on to writting books and running courses and left the "Self-sufficient" life he had lived for some 18 years so he could tell others about it, then didn't have the time to do what was needed to be "self-sufficient". Sad, really sad that he drifted so far away from the life style, but a huge benefit for us as we can now read his books, we have a copy of the 1973 version "Self-sufficiency" and also the later "Complete guide to Self-sufficiency".

He lived it for 18 years! I'd say that was pretty well road tested!

Heck, I lived in odd situations (caravan and narrowboat) for just over 5 years in all, and I learned a lot about what you really need and don't need to live, thrive and survive* - I wasn't even focussed on prepping at the time either!



(*Blues Brothers quote).