Awesome telling of life in the northern woods

There are a few books I started again as soon as I finished them. This is one. If you love nature, I have no doubt you will love this book. And because the woods go on as they always have, the book hardly ever feels dated.

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Wonderful book

For anyone interested in the north Canadian wilderness this is a wonderful book and gives lots and tips of how things used to be done and are still valid today

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As good as Proenneke's One man's Wilderness

This is probably my favorite book of all time, I can listen to it again and again. It is similar to Proenneke's One man's Wilderness, but reads more like a novel; being written by a professional author. Wonderful, rich descriptions of nature and wildlife. Practical tips and good anecdotes. Written in 1953 and describing a period before that, it is somehow a lot less dated than you'd think. I often listen to this book while falling asleep, letting the calming voice of the narrator and the poetic yet simple language soothe me. I recommend this wholeheartedly and am saddened that mine is the only review so far. More people deserve the joy this book brings!

A quick summary: Written as a 'year in the life of', but ultimately spanning many years, this book describes the life of a timber prospector in the North Woods wilderness. It follows the seasons, describing changes in wildlife and nature. It also gives some bushcraft tips. The author lives alone in an isolated cabin close by a pristine lake, but just like Proenneke (who had provisions flown in and such) he is not completely alone. There are wonderful descriptions of some of the friendships formed and renewed; most notably with an older Cree man who lives a few miles away, and a painter who lives a lake over. In the original paper version of the book, almost every page has a little sketch by that artist; often clarifying instructions to make something, or depicting an animal or plant. If you like this audiobook I recommend you get a copy of that as well (it should not be very expensive at all, esp. secondhand). In the end, the audiobook doesn't really 'lack' that part though, because the descriptions are so vivid. Plus, the wonderful performance by the narrator also adds a lot.

One last tip I would give is to not listen to the foreword and preface beforehand, and instead dive right in at the first chapter. Both these additions kind of spoil the book somewhat, including descriptions of what happened in and after the book and so on. It is just a lot better to treat those as an epilogue. If you do listen to them beforehand, the enjoyment and wonder you will have while listening to the book may be less.

Anyway, go buy it! You won't regret it. Afterwards, spread the word like I just did. :)

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Calm Camping

listened to this whilst hiking and camping on the Cleish Hills, Scotland. A great companion giving great insight to a very tasking life, brings it home on how we should be living ours lifes.

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Something different

Wonderful book on how people used to live in the wilderness with warm humour and kindness.

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overall an easy listen

some good stories, crafting advice not really suited to audible, probably better seeing items and designs in the book.

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