"Primitive Living, Self-Sufficiency, and Survival Skills" by Thomas Elpel is a rather unique book on what you could call 'aboriginal skills', but in the author's hands, ends up being something much more. You'll find clear, well photographed and diagrammed instructions on skills like the bow-drill fire, cordage making, basket making, fishing, shelter building, but there's something else going on here - Elpel doesn't just want to pass on the skills, he wants to pass on the understandings that runs underneath and through them, so that this book becomes a jumping off point for looking at the world in terms of needs and resources - both yours, and mother earth's. Learning to build a shelter from this book, you don't just learn to build a survival hut, you learn basic principles that allowed the author himself to build his dream home for $10 per square foot, circa 1995. The point being, he's not just teaching how to survive in the wilderness, he's teaching the principles and natural laws that allow you to survive anywhere (city, suburbs, you name it) taking care of your needs for shelter, water, fire, food, so you can focus on the important stuff - leisure, something the author (amongst many others) asserts hunter-gatherers have in abundance, compared to modern folks. This is not a book to get for advanced tricks for improving your wilderness skills - it is very basic, but don't be fooled. This is an important book. Highly recommended. 8.5" x 11", 198 pages, index and bibliography. We offer free shipping on all orders over $19.94. Orders under $19.95 will have a $2.50 handling fee added.We offer free shipping on all orders over $19.94. Orders under $19.95 will have a $2.50 handling fee added. Call toll-free: 866.596.9982.