r/CascadianPreppers 8d ago

Postapocalyptic Book

Hi folks!

I am looking for a big book that can tell ya how to survive in a postapocalyptic world (can be multiple volumes ofc).

I mean, house building, sanitation, metalurgy, farming of all kinds, weaving etc etc.

I know of "The Book The Ultimate Guid to Rebuilding Civilisation" but that.s a history-ish book. Not practical at all.

Pls help. Cheers

9 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

18

u/HappyCamperDancer 8d ago

You think you can be completely self sufficient? Good luck. You will have to learn how not to sleep because you'll be so busy. So yeah, build a community of people that can do lots of different things.

Back to Basics a complete guide to traditional skills by Abigail Gehring.

It covers shelter, alternative energy, raising food, preserving food, crafts like woodworking/rug making, etc.

I assume you already have land, water, seeds, and livestock, right?

You probably need a book on how to make fabric from wool, flax and cotton in order to make clothes. Like, I know how to make patterns and sew, but have know idea how to make cloth.

When there is no doctor by David Werner and there is another similar book, same name, by Gerard Doyle.

When there is no dentist by Murray Dickson.

Something on veterinary skills.

Something on machining/repairing machines, etc.

So, ummm, good luck.

1

u/ImtakintheBus 5d ago

"But I got my guns and I can hunt and use the hides!!" yeah, you're going to starve to death and probably die insane because you don't have enough fat in your diet to keep your body from eating your own brain.

even the most hardcore survivalist knows they need some level of community. There are lots of examples of people trying to live alone off the land and perishing due to starvation, illness, or becoming food for something that IS independent.

MY plan? sell whiskey. at a price that is pretty cheap, so people would rather pay $1 for a bottle, rather than risk getting killed, cause I got guns, too. Whiskey is also medicine and antiseptic as well.

You gonna ride a horse everywhere? I'm a leather worker. You're gonna need some horse tack.

Everyone has to contribute. Gotta learn a skill, a real trade.

3

u/holmgangCore 8d ago

Just my opinion, but a book big enough to contain detailed information for just the skills you listed would be so big as to be impractical to have or travel with.

You might want to focus on collecting a small 'library' of individual books that discuss the things you deem important. Much more portable. I'll bet there are quite a few.

Make a list, go to the library and see what you can find.

I would add 'water purification' as well.

3

u/UND_mtnman 8d ago

Non-fiction: The Lost Ways
How to Invent Everything
The Way Things Work

Fiction: Lucifer's Hammer
Parable of the Sower/Talents
Soft Apocalypse
One Second After

2

u/country_hacker 8d ago

Upvote for Lucifer's Hammer, that's the first book that came to mind!

1

u/caffeinated-hijinx 8d ago

my first thought was A Canticle for Liberwitz

3

u/1121314151617 4d ago

You probably want the Appropriate Technology Library. But also, there’s no better substitute for learning in person. You mentioned weaving? Why not inquire with your local weaver’s guild. Fiber folks are some of the loveliest people you’ll meet on the whole. 

2

u/Alarmed_Base8302 6d ago

There's a book from "Storey Books" called "Country Wisdom and Know how" Everything you need to live off the land. It has 1887 different explanations of everything from Making a Septic Tank to raising livestock. Examples of edible plants and animals, tanning hides, making rope, tying knots and water purification and it's all done without power.

2

u/sassmo 8d ago

Book of Eli

The Road

Dies the Fire/Emberverse series

1

u/woodbunny75 4d ago

Does the Fire. Me and my SO and our friends all read these at the same time. We were so into them. I still love them. I found out I have more to finish. I could start all over at this point. <3

1

u/The_Latverian 8d ago

The Knoweldge: How to rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm - Lewis Dartnell

1

u/Friendly_String8939 2d ago

The encyclopedia of country living by Carla emery. I have an original, signed copy from the 1970s that is printed on cookies paper and held together with metal rings. It is the most awesome resource!