Since the first of the year I have been gathering up hand tools and putting together supplemental tool kits to stow in my emergency kits. These tools have, for the most part, been small, lightweight versions of our primary tools and items that I tend to use day to day while living life. My thought is “if I use them now, imagine how useful they will be in a survival situationâ€.
With that introduction, I want to tell you about the latest entry in the Backdoor Survival Prepper Book Festival 8. James Wesley Rawles, founder of survivalblog.com, is back with one of the most unique books I have seen come across my desk: Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own
What is unique about this book? It is all about tools: shop tools, garden tools, cooking tools, medical tools, defense tools and a whole lot more. It is a fantastic reference for putting together the right tools you need to get by in a world where modern conveniences, such as electricity, may not be available.
Filled with common sense (“buy used but not abusedâ€), Jim has put together a reference that will lay out what you need and why you need it. Interspersed with what I call Rawles-isms, there are lots of tips along the way with a dose of motivation. My kind of book!
Of course there is an interview with all-new questions, plus, one lucky will win a copy of Tools for Survival
Enjoy the interview then be sure to check in below to learn about the giveaway.
An Interview with James Wesley, Rawles, Author of Tools for Survival
One question on everyone’s mind is what they would do if a disaster or even a collapse occurred in their own back yard. If that happened to you, would you bug-in or bug-out and why.
In my case, living in a remote and lightly-populated region, I would definitely “bug-in” unless there was a localized disaster, such as a forest fire.
If you did decide to hunker down and bug-in, what items would you include for comfort? Or would you?
To help maintain a positive attitude in trying times, I believe that it is important to have copious reading material (a Bible and a large stack of novels) as well as some comfort foods.
Everyone has their own favorites, but keep in mind that stimulants like coffee and chocolate should be minimized, since the stress level might already be quite high. And of course the shelf life of some foods and candies are limited, so plan accordingly.
And if you decide to store any hard candies, then children must be taught to never bite down on them. Having a family dental emergency in the midst of a larger emergency would be a VBT. (A Very Bad Thing.)
Home defense and protection from the bad guys is a big deal. That said, not everyone is prepared or even qualified to use firearms. What do you recommend in that case?
Everyone who keeps a weapon for self-defense should get the best training available. I’ve often been quoted as saying: Owning a gun doesn’t make someone a “shooter†any more than owning a surfboard makes someone a surfer.
The modern world of survivalism is full of pundits, poseurs, and Mall Ninjas.
Preparedness is not just about accumulating a pile of stuff. You need practical skills, and those come only with study, training, and practice. Any armchair survivalist with a credit card can buy a set of stylish camouflage fatigues and an “M4gery†carbine encrusted with umpteen accessories. Style points should not be mistaken for genuine skills and practicality.
Go to a firearms training school like Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, or Front Sight. That training could literally save your life, or the life a loved one.
These days, it seems as though a new book about survival or preparedness is released daily. How is your book different from the others and why should we read it?
I believe what makes the book different is its emphasis on 19th Century tools and skills. To my mind, those represent the most appropriate level of technology for times when the power grids disappear.
What is your favorite survival, disaster, or post-apocalyptic film or TV show?
From the standpoint of outdoor survival, I most enjoyed the movie Jeremiah Johnson
, starring Robert Redford. The outdoor survival consultant for that film was Larry Dean Olsen, and his influence was quite apparent!
It is said that everyone has a book inside them. What advice do you have for the budding author?
My advice is to write a lot (since practice makes perfect), write about the topics that you know best, and find the best editor available from within your circle of friends. Never submit anything for publication until it has had at least two edits!
The Giveaway
The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific next Tuesday with the winner notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that the winner must claim their book within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.
The Final Word
I love the emphasis this book makes on not just acquiring tools, but learning how to use them. There is also a strong emphasis on knowledge and as Jim says, “knowledge is portable with the most important tool being the one between your ears.â€Â Now where have we heard that before.
In addition to chapters on the tools themselves, you will find suggestions for your retreat/survival library and a useful glossary. All told, this is a reference you will want to add to your collection.
Good luck, everyone!
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
If you enjoyed this article, consider voting for Backdoor Survival daily at Top Prepper Websites! In addition, SUBSCRIBE to email updates and receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.
Spotlight: Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own
In his earlier bestselling nonfiction book, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It, James Wesley, Rawles, outlined the foundations for survivalist living.
Now, he details the tools needed to survive anything from a short-term disruption to a long-term, grid-down scenario. Rawles covers tools for every aspect of self sufficient living, including:
• Food Preservation and Cooking
• Welding and Blacksmithing
• Timber, Firewood, and Lumber
• FirefightingField-tested and comprehensive, Tools for Survival is certain to become a must-have reference for the burgeoning survivalist/prepper movement.
Bargain Bin: For your convenience, here is a list of all of the books in the current Backdoor Survival Prepper Book Festival as well as a link to the books mentioned by today’s author.
Prepper Book Festival 8 – Non-Fiction
Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own
The Organic Canner
The NEW 2000-Hour Flashlight
The Garden Pool – Feed Your Family From Your Backyard Ecosystem
Survival Savvy Family: How to Be Your Best During the Absolute Worst
Doctor Prepper’s Making the Best of Basics Family Preparedness Handbook – Version 12.5
The Prepper’s Financial Guide
Saving Jimani: Life and Death in the Haiti Earthquake
The Age of Earthquakes: A Guide to the Extreme Present
Practical Prepping: No Apocalypse Required: An Everyday Approach to Disaster Preparedness
Prepper Book Festival 8 – Fiction
After the Crumble (Volume 1)
A Time to Endure (Strengthen What Remains)
Aftermath: A Story of Survival
Resurrecting Home: A Novel (The Survivalist Series)
Game Changer
Plus: The Preppers Guide to Food Storage
No list of books would be complete without my own book, The Prepper’s Guide to Food Storage. The eBook is only 99 cent plus the print version is available for less than $6.00.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shop the Emergency Essentials Monthly Specials: One of the best deals this month is the Freeze Dried Vegetable Favorites Combo which is 47% off at $84.99. Now that is a good deal.
Freeze Dried Vegetable Favorites Combo
In my own household, FD veggies are often used instead of fresh. I love that they are pantry stable and that I can simply grab a handful to use in cooking and meal preparation without having to run to the store. Green onions and tomatoes are especially useful.
This combo includes Spinach, Super Sweet Corn, Broccoli, Green Onions, Fresh Peas, and Tomatoes. Emergency Food Buckets are also on sale. All told, this month the sales at Emergency Essential are a real win!
Shop the Emergency Essentials Monthly Specials
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need something from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.
Amazon has a feature called Shop Amazon – Most Wished For Items. This is an easy tool for finding products that people are ‘wishing†for and in this way you know what the top products are. All you need to do is select the category from the left hand side of the screen.
The Amazon Top Most Wished For and Best Selling Outdoor Items
Emergency Preparedness Items from Amazon.com
Shop Amazon Tactical – Great Selection of Optics, Knives, Cases, Equipment
Amazon Gift Cards
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get $5.00 off with coupon BACKDOORSURVIVAL
Also available, the Essential Oils and Firearms Editions
Prepper Book Festival 8: Tools for Survival + Giveaway by Gaye Levy first appeared on Backdoor Survival.
Prepper Book Festival 8: Tools for Survival + Giveaway
Prepper Book Festival 8: Tools for Survival + Giveaway
#preppernews
I think that it's safe to assume that panels at trade shows are one of the best ways to advertise your company. Just take a look at places like http://gogopanels.com/ and you will see how much they are demanded and this will prove to you that panels are the real deal.
ReplyDelete