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Primitive Technology: A Survivalist's Guide to Building Tools, Shelters, and More in the Wild Hardcover – October 29, 2019
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John Plant, the man behind the channel, Primitive Technology, is a bonafide YouTube star. With almost 10 million subscribers and an average of 5 million views per video, John's channel is beloved by a wide-ranging fan base, from campers and preppers to hipster woodworkers and craftsmen. Now for the first time, fans will get a detailed, behind-the-scenes look into John's process. Featuring 50 projects with step-by-step instructions on how to make tools, weapons, shelters, pottery, clothing, and more, Primitive Technology is the ultimate guide to the craft. Each project is accompanied by illustrations as well as mini-sidebars with the history behind each item, plus helpful tips for building, material sourcing, and so forth. Whether you're a wilderness aficionado or just eager to spend more time outdoors, Primitive Technology has something for everyone's inner nature lover.
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherClarkson Potter
- Publication dateOctober 29, 2019
- Dimensions6.28 x 0.97 x 9.23 inches
- ISBN-101984823671
- ISBN-13978-1984823670
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About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Primitive technology is the practice of making tools, structures, textiles, and clothing using only natural materials found in the wild. The goal of this pastime is to revisit disciplines and skills that modern technology has made obsolete. Some of the projects in this book are based on techniques used in primitive times; others are drawn from my own experiences with outdoors crafting.
Growing up in a rural area of Australia’s Far North Queensland, I had an interest in science but no access to the latest technology. The systems and techniques our ancestors used to secure the basic amenities humans have always needed for survival—food, clothing, and shelter—intrigued me. I became preoccupied by the idea of making implements from scratch and living in the wilderness without contemporary resources. As most children do, I built small forts using sticks and stones; once I mastered rudimentary skills I tackled more complex structures and techniques. The next step was to film the building process, and I created a YouTube channel for all the videos. I knew that others might enjoy my hobby as much as I did, but I didn’t anticipate how popular the channel would become, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported it.
This book is a collection of projects featured on my YouTube channel, each one tested and refined over my years of honing the skills of primitive technology. The instructions and information on materials detailed in this book will help you to make them yourself. Most of the materials I use are native to Australia, so where possible I’ve suggested substitutions, but I encourage you to experiment with whatever you find in the wild. The level of difficulty ranges from easy (a few steps or materials) to complicated. If primitive technology is new to you, I recommend working with a partner on the more advanced projects.
In this book, you’ll read about the projects I came up with for my channel. One particularly vexing obstacle I had to deal with involved animal products. Because of the legal restrictions on hunting in Australia, I had to come up with alternatives for bone and leather, which was especially difficult for some projects. For example, it would have been much easier to make a bellows out of leather instead of clay, wood, and bark, as I did for the forge blower (see page 186). But discovering new ways to work with natural materials is what I enjoy the most about primitive technology. I love borrowing from the world around me to create something useful.
I hope primitive technology inspires you as much as it did me to engage with the outdoors. Thanks for watching and reading.
Product details
- Publisher : Clarkson Potter; Illustrated edition (October 29, 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1984823671
- ISBN-13 : 978-1984823670
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.28 x 0.97 x 9.23 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #82,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #32 in Nature Crafts
- #40 in Natural Resources (Books)
- #149 in Hiking & Camping Instructional Guides
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
JOHN PLANT is the creator of Primitive Technology, the viral YouTube channel with more than 9 million subscribers around the globe. A self-taught primitive technician, John has apprenticed as a soil tester, in a pottery shop, and at a powder coating factory. Since 2015, he has been running his YouTube channel from Far North Queensland, Australia, where he was born and raised.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book well-written and easy to understand. They appreciate the clear information and illustrations, which are presented in a spectacular layout. Many consider it a great value for money, especially considering the accompanying YouTube videos. The book is described as a good gift for those who love the outdoors.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the well-thought-out content, clear writing, and illustrations. The book complements the author's YouTube videos with its helpful examples and clear text.
"...Which means that other than some nifty little illustrations, longer descriptions, and a organized format there's very little new information that ca..." Read more
"I really enjoy the way the info is laid out. I feel like I'm listening to one of Johns YouTube videos...." Read more
"...Or something cool. Great Book, thks for making it." Read more
"...They are still as good as before - the only difference the first one I watched was then only a few hundred views but now the counter said 66 million..." Read more
Customers find the book informative and helpful for survival. They appreciate the detailed instructions and clear steps for building simple projects. The author's research, testing, and trial-and-error efforts are evident in the book. It describes primitive technologies that can be useful during an apocalypse.
"...Anyways this book is great for a weekend activity with the kids. Rocks and sticks are everywhere and a controlled fire is nothing to fear...." Read more
"His book and Utube channel are excellent and describe how to build survival stuff in a primitive way from my point of view...." Read more
"...In this book he details all of his instructions and thought process when creating the projects, he has done for his YouTube videos...." Read more
"The book describes primitive technologies that can be useful for every event of an apocalypse" Read more
Customers appreciate the book's illustrations and photos. They find the layout spectacular, with many pictures and diagrams to follow along. The book is colorful and thick, with clearly written text and illustrated examples.
"...Which means that other than some nifty little illustrations, longer descriptions, and a organized format there's very little new information that ca..." Read more
"...The book also shows diagrams and pictures, so it would be easier to follow along and complete the projects...." Read more
"...All of the illustrations are color pictures...." Read more
"...Anyhow. Regardless, the illustrations in this book are good...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it unique, with good quality paper and binding for the price. The concrete recipe alone makes it worth buying. Overall, readers find the book useful and a wonderful read, providing useful information.
"...This is an Excellent book to get and I am so glad he put the book together...." Read more
"...Overall, this book was such a wonderful read...." Read more
"...Hard cover and all in color, totally worth the buy...." Read more
"...The concrete recipe alone is unique probably makes it worth buying...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's video content. They find it informative and a good companion to the YouTube channel. The book is used best with the YouTube channel.
"His book and Utube channel are excellent and describe how to build survival stuff in a primitive way from my point of view...." Read more
"...I was surprised - but John definitly deserve rhis - his youthube channel is excellent. But how about the book?..." Read more
"...I adored the videos and was happy I had run across one of his first by chance online...." Read more
"...He reports the book is a great companion to the YouTube show...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's gift value. They say it's a great gift for outdoor enthusiasts and fans.
"...This book would be such a great gift for those who love the outdoors and do not want to use animal products...." Read more
"Great book for a fan of the YouTube series! Made a perfect birthday gift!" Read more
"This was perfect for a gift for a huge fan!" Read more
"Fantastic gift!..." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for starting fires. It includes information on kilns, fire starting methods, and how to fire earthenware.
"...Rocks and sticks are everywhere and a controlled fire is nothing to fear. Respect greatly, certainly. But not feared irrationally...." Read more
"...he shows you how to make pottery the old indigenous way and how to fire the pottery...." Read more
"...Paradoxically, there is an extensive chapter on kilns and how to fire earthenware...." Read more
"...recorded the shelters, cooking utensils, hunting tools, and fire starting methods...." Read more
Customers find the book provides useful information for beginners and advanced users. The illustrations and text explanations are clear, with helpful tips added. However, some readers feel the information lacks depth, with no diagrams or depictions of finished parts. There is also surprisingly little text for most items, most with a single page spread.
"...All of this info is useful and can be practiced by anyone just about anywhere...." Read more
"...Otherwise, everything was well thought out and easy to understand. For this book, I would highly recommend it for those who are fans of John..." Read more
"...But, fret not! This non-rechargeable, analog, physical media can help replenish the skills you've seen on Survivorman, Naked and Afraid, or YouTube,..." Read more
"...pictures, basic illustrations, and descriptions there are no diagrams or depictions of any finished part such as where any holes are supposed to go..." Read more
Reviews with images
Llego muy rápido, buen producto.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2019At its most basic this is a subtitled Primitive Technologies video in paper form. Turn on the subtitles and you'll get an actual description and some additional information of what's happening. Which means that other than some nifty little illustrations, longer descriptions, and a organized format there's very little new information that can't be obtained from the PT Youtube channel. Which is why I recommend you go for the hard copy. Because if you have an electronic device to read the ebook you'll most likely you'll be able to watch the corresponding Youtube video. Having something demonstrated to you in video form will also be easier to understand as this book has plenty of pretty pictures, basic illustrations, and descriptions there are no diagrams or depictions of any finished part such as where any holes are supposed to go or what exact shape should be created.
This is not a Survival Guide but something closer to Primitive Technologies merch, something fun to buy while supporting the creator. It's also very loose with its instructions but that's okay, even though it's its big downside, thought not any fault of its creators. While the very basic descriptions of where exactly to get the materials may get annoying, it's somewhat inevitable. Publishing for a global audience does mean that material information must be generic, although this does force people to be creative and make do with what they have, a skill that will be invaluable not only in the field but in life in general.
As long as you remember that this is a very general guide to primitive creations and not an in-depth manual most of its faults can be more or less forgiven. I would still recommend that anyone who wants some actually useful information watch the PT youtube videos as they are much more useful.
Many other guides assume that you will have some modern tool before you enter the survival situation. A knife, a kit, or even a fully fueled and loaded ATV. While a survival situation itself is not ideal, being prepared is certainly not a bad thing. This book however, assumes you have nothing. Not even the clothes on your back that you can tear apart and use for a firestarter or cordage. Nothing, other than what you have already built with your hands earlier in the book.
For the amateur or casual survivalist/prepper this information will definitely be interesting. While I would absolutely not recommend deliberately surviving with nothing just because you have read a few survival guides it still teaches some valuable information that one would be well to know. Of course this will depend greatly on the type of situation you find yourself. In a personal or non-civilization collapsing emergency your absolute priority above all else, is signaling for help. Spending precious hours making a kiln will not be a productive use of your time and there more fitting guides elsewhere. I would still recommend reading this guide because knowing how to make the basic stone tools is still useful.
For even the more seasoned this book will still have some surprises. How many guides will teach a person to construct a loom to more efficiently weave together cordage? Or a water-powered hammer to crush wheat into flour? While I have no doubt that the experienced survivalists will last for years in the field with what they have and nothing more, there are certain skills and knowledge that will make that experience slightly more bearable. Which brings me to my next point.
Where this knowledge truly shines is in the long term, years after even your trusty, hardy knife has long since broken or its blade sharpened so many times it's barely a nub. After all your modern tools and weapons are long gone. From dust to dust, everything will eventually break. But there is a constant supply of rocks, wood, and as long as you survive, the skills and knowledge of at least one human.
Once upon a time we had a rock. We smashed things with the rock. We tied the rock to a stick to smash things better. Then we made the rock out of hardened steel, stuck it on a massive boring vehicle and started tearing holes into mountains. Eventually we forgot about the rock. Why bother remembering them? We fly so high up that we can't even see the humble rock. But no matter what happens, no matter what the catastrophe, the rock will always be there and you should know how to use it.
Anyways this book is great for a weekend activity with the kids. Rocks and sticks are everywhere and a controlled fire is nothing to fear. Respect greatly, certainly. But not feared irrationally. Just remember to read up on your local laws before making any excursions and keep an extinguisher handy because starting a massive forest fire will not assist your survival any. Whether you're burned alive, in jail, or paying a massive fine that will leave you with no money to buy this book, make sure you stay safe and legal.
All in all this book will be an excellent supplement to the survival knowledge you already have. I eagerly await the sequels Primitive Technologies II: The Iron Age and Terraforming Mars With John Plant.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024I really enjoy the way the info is laid out. I feel like I'm listening to one of Johns YouTube videos. All of this info is useful and can be practiced by anyone just about anywhere. There has been a lot of pretenders coming out of the woodwork, but John is one of the OG Primitive Tech teachers.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021His book and Utube channel are excellent and describe how to build survival stuff in a primitive way from my point of view. I you were to survive out in the wilderness,,this will be great for you. He uses what is around him after finding what one would call a home base. Then he builds different structures to live in and he shows you how to make pottery the old indigenous way and how to fire the pottery. This is an Excellent book to get and I am so glad he put the book together. I hope he does more on Utube or something and come up with some other simple ways of survival training or just something new like traveling somewhere else and seeing how he survives in a new location. Or something cool. Great Book, thks for making it.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2019I was one of the lucky ones that watched John Plant's you tube channel Primitive Technology basically from day one. After having read this book I went back and watched some of the original ones. They are still as good as before - the only difference the first one I watched was then only a few hundred views but now the counter said 66 million views.
I was surprised - but John definitly deserve rhis - his youthube channel is excellent.
But how about the book? I kind of think a good comparison is a cookbook conneted to a coocking show. Both are good, but together they are better. If you are interested in the practical application of Primitive technology then I would recommend to buy the book, read the chapter you are interested in and then watch the relevant youtube video. This will give you a much more detailed view of how John's work. Of cause if you want to follow in John's footsteps then the book is a great checklist before youstart the work.
I used to send greetings to John when he was still blogging to tell him how much I enjoyed his channel - I will now enjoy it even more.
I find John's work amazing and recommend both this book and the youtube videos - each of them very good but together even better.
Top reviews from other countries
- Rizwan KhanReviewed in India on July 9, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book :: must have
excellent book :: must have
- FrancoReviewed in Italy on April 2, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars A good book
I love it
-
Leon R.Reviewed in Brazil on August 13, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Guia didático para acompanhar o canal.
O livro materialmente é muito bom. Capa dura, folhas de qualidade com excelente impressão.
Já o conteúdo é o que ele faz nos vídeos com o que ele escreve nas descrições, só passou por um editor para organizar para deixar tudo mais claro e didático, além de complementar com algumas ilustrações.
Agora é só comprar um pedaço de chão num cafundó qualquer e brincar de Civilization.
-
FernandoReviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Exelenente libro
Definitivamente no conocía prácticamente ninguna de las técnicas que aparecen en este libro. Está bien descrito paso a paso y con buenas ilustraciones.
- Molon LabeReviewed in Canada on November 10, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book...
Awesome book John Plant and his partners succeeded to take on the shelves around the world. I bought two books, one for me and the other to give to my best friend at Christmas. I am a subscriber to Primitive Technology YouTube channel since 2015, following every video since then. I've tried some of them in the wilderness, even if Canada's vegetation is way different than the one from Australia, but a lot of his videos can be reproduced in the summer.
I would have loved it if he had tried to do some of his tricks in a part of the australian's alps where they receive lots of snow each year. Earth is kinda frozen in the winter and you cannot reproduce a shelter the same way than in the summer. On the other hand, a lot of the tools made in wood are reproduceable here in Canada.