Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You’re on Your Own

I own James Wesley Rawles's other book "How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It" as well, and if you're just beginning your disaster preparations or if you want to refine your organization that is a better book as it covers a wide range of topics. "Tools For Survival" is a technical book in that it discusses in detail the physical tools one should keep on hand, how to care for those tools, how to shop for them so you're getting the best value for your money, and the importance of building your skill set to use these tools. He discusses everyday tools for woodworking, welding, building fences, to weapons such as knives, guns, crossbows, and even speaks of do-it-yourself at home dentistry. It is dry reading, but nonetheless an excellent resource to keep on hand for many reasons. The most important lesson learned from this book is that for centuries people have lived without electricity, and their tools, while crude, still reflect understanding and intelligence, and many of those tools will be just as vital should the grid go down when a disaster strikes.

Excellent book. Goes step by step, topic by topic as to the various items you would need ina grid down scenario. Strange, many of the items lists were everyday tools of say our grandparents. For example, a hand crank drill or a butter churn. Just think what would the Amish use to do the job (as they are 'supposedly' not allowed to use electricity. And then, practice with it. Don't just put it in a box labeled "when power goes out". Use it, be familiR with it. Rawles is an excellent author and I would encourage anyone to look at his other books as well.

Updated version of Mel Tappan's 'Survival Guns' that was published more years ago than I want to admit to. Impressed that Mr. Rawles gave credit to Mr. Tappan and a couple other authors, you don't see this integrity in many authors these days. Have several other books written by Mr. Rawles and this one is a real keeper (not that his other books were not educational - although fiction - or are they?) but this particular book gives direct step by step advise from hands on experience if you should need it. For those who may already have these skills at one level or another, it provides points to ponder and sound reminders to keep you safe. Worth not only your money, but your time to read it and you must read it cover to cover in order to gain the knowledge and thought process that is contained in the book.

If you are familiar with the writings of JW, Rawles, you will undoubtedly have previously encountered a sample of the wisdom contained in this book. Particularly if you own or have read "How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It". However, "Tools for Survival" contains information not previously published in his other books. Names, descriptions, and reviews, as well as a few pictures and numerous sources are included in the text. Many of the items described are hard to find, as they are no longer widely used with the availability of power tools. But that is the point is it not? I am only about one third of the way through this book and I feel as though I have purchased perhaps one of the most useful books in my library. The only books ahead of this one would be the instructional books describing how to use the tools and subsequently the experience I would gain from actually using them. I highly recommend this book for purchase by anyone who wishes to learn what tools might be needed in a grid-down disaster situation.

Great book, author knows his stuff.

For those who do not/have not followed Rawles on his SurvivalBlog.com web site for any period of time, one of the precepts he espouses is "have a list of lists". The idea is a solid one--you a list of the lists of the things you have (or need) to prepare for bad times. It keeps you organized, since you know what you have, how much you have and where it is, or you know that you need it and have yet to acquire it. Tools For Survival is one of those lists--a list of the tools a family or a group of families would need to have in the event of a long term situation where outside help was not available. (Picture Hurricane Katrina, except help didn't show up for months instead of days.) The book is a comprehensive survey of all areas that would need to be addressed in such a situation. In this book Rawles goes over each major grouping of tools in short form. It isn't meant to be an in depth study of any of the area covered. For example, the archery section is roughly 13 pages long and covers what is known as "traditional archery" (basically, long and recurve bows). He covers very basic information on bows, arrows and how to use them. And here is one of the problems: outside resource materials are relegated to a relatively undifferentiated lump in an appendix. They aren't organized by chapter or subject, but by who suggested them. They would be far more helpful if attached in a paragraph or two at the end of each chapter. especially since chapters in this book can be read individually as needed. In another area, covering hand tools, Rawles makes a mistake that simply has me scratching my head. When saying, "You should have one of these", rather than giving the reader a manufacturer and a model number so we can find it ourselves no matter when we read the book, he relies on the SnipURL service, which is an ephemeral Internet-based URL shortening service. I've just checked over a dozen of the included URLs, and the majority are now defunct. The reader is now in the position of knowing that they need spare 120 VAC duplex outlets (for instance), but not knowing which ones the author suggests or why. These two issues combined they make the book less useful than it should be. For someone like me, who has some skills in every area the book addresses, this isn't an insurmountable problem. But for someone new to preparedness or someone who lacks skills in a given area, these problems will render the book far less useful than it should be. Rawles should address both issues in a future edition.

Very practical tips on prepping tools. A very good 2nd book to his first one on how to survive the end of the world. How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times I would also encourage people to check out this book on practical preparation steps by a different author. Are You Ready?: A Preparation Plan for the Days to Come

A very good book. I think it's great for a man. I am not mechanical or technical so i couldn't use the ideas in the book, but i saw that it's a great book. I gave it to a friend who would appriciate it more. I couldn't afford to buy all the stuff i needed too., but i give it five stars. A great survival book.

ya. Nuff said. Buy the book. I don't care about your thanks. Just buy it. You need it.

I jave been a fan of Rawles' work for some time. The book is a great starting point for homesteader as it discusses what you need t9 successfully bug-in in a small-holding setting. However many piece of information doesn't apply to us in Britain. The guns chapter and many other recommendations of particular makes and models that are very pricey or hard to find in the UK. To sum-up a relevant book but not all of it is applicable to us in the UK.

Rawls rocks.