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After Armageddon, what five books would you choose to help your small band survive?

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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:24 PM
Original message
After Armageddon, what five books would you choose to help your small band survive?
A catastrophe ends civilization and most of humanity, you and a small band of others are left basically in a wilderness, you only have five books left but they can be any five books you wish.

What would your five books be and why would you choose those books instead of others?

I'm riffing on the OP the other day about what five people you would choose to be with you after civilization ends.
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GreenPartyVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
1. Something about back to the land living so I can grow food and animals, something about herbal
medicine, one on general survival and first aid, maybe a cookbook so I don't kill us all off with my back to the land food, and a basic science textbook so people don't go back to thinking rain is angels crying.
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rampart Donating Member (192 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #1
20. a set of "foxfire" books would be perfect

http://www.baproducts.com/foxfire.htm
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:49 PM
Response to Reply #20
29. Oh no, now you've hooked me!
Just found the first three books for download and am reading right now. What a treasure!
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enough Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:25 PM
Response to Reply #1
24. My parents and parents-in-law used "Five Acres and Independence in the 1940's",
and my husband and I used it in the 1970's.

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Acres-Independence-Handbook-Management/dp/0486209741
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Dreamer Tatum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:30 PM
Response to Original message
2. Dianetics, the Bible, Atlas Shrugged, Beezus and Ramona, and The Bridges of Madison County.
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XemaSab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:26 PM
Response to Reply #2
25. Sub in "The Secret" and "The Rules" for the last two
and you will have all the foundations to build a perfect society of assholes. :hide:
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #25
36. It would be a perfect foundation for societal suicide
A perfect storm of greed, superstition and wilful ignorance.

No thanks.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 10:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
35. "Dianetics"? Are you serious?
My mother gave that to me one Chistmas when I was about 15- she knew nothing of Scientology. But I read a few chapters and was SERIOUSLY creeped out.

Also, AYN RAND as a useful author for rebuilding a society? Get real. That's the SURE WAY to repeat history in a hurry - unless you plan to use it as a cautionary tale.
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Lyric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:32 PM
Response to Original message
3. Books about field medicine/surgery, subsistence farming,
survival skills (finding/making potable water, basic shelter, defense, hunting methods and tools, etc.), a book about how to create and operate a basic smithy (for making tools and defensive weapons), and an enormous volume of classic literature, philosophy, and poetry.

The first four would be books to teach HOW to survive.

The last one would be to remind us why we should bother.
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uncommon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Excellent answer.
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. My brother has this one, I'd consider it..
http://www.amazon.com/Henleys-Twentieth-century-formulas-processes/dp/B0007FNUH8

And I have this one, another I'd consider..

http://www.amazon.com/Rodales-All-New-Encyclopedia-Organic-Gardening/dp/0875965997
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CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:35 PM
Response to Original message
4. Letters From a Nut, Oh! The Places You'll Go!...
...Old Man and the Sea, The Little Prince and The Alchemist.
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Ezlivin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:35 PM
Response to Original message
5. The Bible and the TV Guide
Is all a lot of other people read, but not me.

I would have:
I added Don Quixote because you need some literature to keep civilization going and it is a damned fine book.
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:41 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. LOL... I had Pancho Sanza quoted at me the other day here on DU.. n/t
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Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
8. Fahrenheit 451, The Jungle, A Handmaid's Tale, 1984, The Catcher In The Rye.
nt
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w8liftinglady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #8
32. we like the same books!
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. A book each on:
Farming
Basic medicine
Small engine repair
How to use heavy equipment
How to sail
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OnyxCollie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:49 PM
Response to Original message
11. The Road.
No other books are necessary.

After reading that, you'll kill yourself.
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:50 PM
Response to Original message
12. One book to rule them all...
my Nook, which holds all books.

Gee, that was easy!
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:51 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. And when the batteries go dead in a few days..
Then what?
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:56 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. The batteries are user-replaceable...
and by then I'd have read how to make a solar cell for small batteries.

Really, I couldn't choose.

Do you watch The Colony? The ones who did best tend to be the ones who already had skill sets well in place beforehand. Basic farming skills, making alcohol for fuel, basic carpentry, armed services skills, nursing skills, small engine repair, etc.
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Fumesucker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:11 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. I'm a bit on the McGuyverish side myself..
Dana Carvey said he patterned his Garth Algar character after his brother, Brad, who "could repair a nuclear reactor with bubble gum and a paper clip"..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Carvey
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:16 PM
Response to Reply #19
21. Being married to an engineer...
who fixes damned near anything, it's difficult to imagine a world without duct tape and paper clips.

:hi:
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SidDithers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:53 PM
Response to Original message
14. Depends on the apocalypse...


Sid
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Dappleganger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 12:58 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Ha! That would be along my line of thinking...
Zombies are the best because you can always HEAR them!
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SidDithers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:05 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. Did you ever see this from the fine people at Cracked.com?...
http://www.cracked.com/article_15643_5-scientific-reasons-zombie-apocalypse-could-actually-happen.html

Funny stuff. :hi:

Sid
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damntexdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:05 PM
Response to Original message
18. Big thick ones with lots of pages ...
for kindling.
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GreenPartyVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #18
27. Oh, I was thinking of that other reason you would want lots of pages. LOL
:hurts:
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TrogL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
22. Factual information
  • The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
  • a reference book on materials and/or architecture
  • a textbook on farming methods including animal husbandry
  • Grey's Anatomy
  • a listing of naturopathic cures (eg. willow bark for headache) written by someone who actually understands pharmacology
    		•
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    cleanhippie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:20 PM
    Response to Original message
    23. The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God by Carl Sagan
    Thats #1


    #2 - God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Richard Dawkins

    #3 - The Complete Guide to Small Scale Farming: Everything You Need to Know About Raising Beef Cattle, Rabbits, Ducks, and Other Small Animals (Back-To-Basics)

    #4 -Growing Your Own Fruit and Veg For Dummies by Geoff Stebbings

    #5 - Building Your Own Home For Dummies




    I would hope to get many more, but if I have only 5, this might be the ones.
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    hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:26 PM
    Response to Original message
    26. Five books made of dark chocolate.
    The human race is essentially extinct. The handful of humans left may as well enjoy some chocolate. If they're smart they'll eat it before the bears arrive.

    "Yum, humans, the other pink meat."
    (photo: wikipedia )
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    WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:36 PM
    Response to Original message
    28. Gardening by the Square Foot
    by Mel Bartholomew

    When God was a Woman by Merlin Stone

    The Diaries of Anais Nin

    Circle of Song by Katie Marks
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    guitar man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:54 PM
    Response to Original message
    30. Hmm
    I think I'd like to have

    The SERE manual

    USMC winter Survival Guide

    High Yield Gardening

    Harley Davidson Sportster Repair Manual

    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
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    Godhumor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 01:58 PM
    Response to Original message
    31. Only need one: "Be Ready When the Sh*T Goes Down: A Survival Guide to the Apocalypse"
    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UyE1BPO7L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

    Image obviously stolen from Amazon. But that is the greatest book cover ever.
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    Geoff R. Casavant Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 10:27 PM
    Response to Original message
    33. I think at least one would be the Boy Scout handbook.
    There are chapters on outdoor cooking, shelter building, first aid, and so on.

    I also have a book called Back To Basics, which is all about simple living.
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    Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 10:33 PM
    Response to Reply #33
    34. That's good
    I remember my Boy Scout manual. It was thick and LOADED with tips on everything from boating to being a good citizen. With lots of advice for survival in harsh conditions.

    I wish I still had it.
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    Geoff R. Casavant Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 11:57 PM
    Response to Reply #34
    39. Me too.
    Fortunately I have nephews who are Scouts -- I need to see if they can score me a copy.
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    kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 10:52 PM
    Response to Original message
    37. Sun Tzu, the Art of War,
    Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer,
    The Farmers Almanac
    Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
    The Bible
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    FedUpWithIt All Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-22-10 11:14 PM
    Response to Original message
    38. John Seymour's The Self Sufficient Life and How To Live It
    The SAS Survival Handbook. A really good plant identification handbook. Many Wonderful Things by Robert Huffman and Irene Specht. The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
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