| | |  | Renewable Energy | Home » » Back to Basics | | | | | | | Description: | | This how-to, user-friendly guide teaches self-sufficiency-covering all of life's essentials: shelter; alternative energy sources; growing and preserving food; home crafts; directions for making herbal remedies; and even home-grown entertainment. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Editors of Reader's Digest | | Hardcover:
| 456 pages | | Publisher:
| Readers Digest | | Publication Date:
| July 01, 1981 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0895770865 | | Package Length:
| 10.8 inches | | Package Width:
| 8.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.15 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 110 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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One of my favoritesJul 27, 2010
I only rate things that are very good or very bad. In this case, I have read close to a dozen books on similar topics and this is the best, with second place far behind. Great information, excellent illustrations. Buy this book before you consider any others.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 I would buy it again if I had the choice - yet not without reservesJul 06, 2010
Didn't really get to read the book but I got a thorough look from start to finish. I've been focusing on the energy generation section where I can tell that at least what water heating is concerned the book is not quite up to date (no info on vacuum tubes - which are THE solution especially in winter time; the best teaching I got on this topic was from a German site [...]). The proposed wood as fuel solution seems somewhat unrealistic for today's standards, where we, the so called "civilized society" use up more resources than we readily replace. Therefore a more realistic proposal would have been all-solar (and the connected philosophy of reducing current hogs), and wind or water as complementary sources (however more susceptible to mechanical failure because of moving parts - and at least what wind turbine + masts are concerned these are quite expensive - that's of course if you're looking for a quality solution - I wouldn't bother buying cheap stuff as on the long run it costs more). Also NO INFO ON PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICITY GENERATION - what the ...? This is the 21th century (if I remember right) !!! There should be at least some information such as cell types, yield of each type, cost, how to choose a PV panel (the more wattage the better, today max is about 200+ watts, I'd go for polycristalline, pressure resistance 5400 pa/sqm for snowy regions, 2-5 years standard warranty, 10 years @ 90% output, 20+ years on 80% output warranty), info on chargers (today's technology would be MPPT) and battery types (gel cell, AGM, lead-acid - I'd go for the latter).
However I cannot think of an aspect the book does not cover - maybe not quite in the depth the perfectionist in me would have liked, however the author has been thoughtful enough to name further resources. This is a big plus for me.
If I had the choice of buying it again with today's knowledge of it, I'd buy it without thinking twice. That is partly because I'm a city boy who knows nothing about living outside the high-rise cage.
good base but not as in debt as i was hopingJun 02, 2010
It is a good book about many areas but the instructions sometimes are lacking and not too in debth. good base for you research what you like and follow up with a book that specializes in that subject.
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third EditionMay 31, 2010
Whether you are a survivalist or you just want to know how basic survival commodities are made this is the book for you. These days it is not as easy to get your hands on many of the raw materials discussed in this book (like hunting wild game to skin, eat and make soap and leather) but if you were out in a really wild area this could save your life! There is a lot of step by step how to detail and it is just interesting to find out how things used to be done. Making soap for example is quite a process and usually in the old days they made enough to last for months! Also, who knows how to tan leather? Buy the book and find out! Want to make a log cabin ... it's in there.
Amazing amount of good usable informationMay 29, 2010
This book is awesome!! There is so much information available in this book: everything from making soap to making baskets, gardening, building your own home, it is simply amazing. This book is put together very well. It is not a story book, but a topical/reference type book. Meaning you do not need to read the entire book to locate a specific task or piece of information; if you are looking for something on solar heating, go to this page. Likewise, if you are looking for something on soap making go to this page.
This book is very well done and easy to read. You will be amazed at how much your knowledge improves with this book. Enjoy!
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