Books: Back to Basics

Postapocalyptic fiction is popular because it's always fun to imagine how you'd fare in such a situation. Truth be told, most of us would be in trouble; the modern conveniences we take for granted have shielded us from the harsh realities of survival. You can find books that try to show some of these forgotten skills - foraging, skinning game, creating shelters from the land. The vast majority have a grim tone and don't tell you anything about what to do after your basic needs are satisfied.

"Back to Basics" takes a different tack. This is the kind of book that would come in handy for second-generation survivors after a nuclear war, because it covers various skills that, while maybe not strictly necessary to your immediate survival, help to make the world a less dreary place. If you've ever wanted to create your own maple syrup, or your own toys, or even your own wind generator, "Back to Basics" has the ideas that might help you build it. There aren't specific blueprints for a lot of these (the illsutrations are more for inspiration than for construction), but it's nice to dream about making your own jellies and jams after the bombs fall.