books which strike a chord - make you stop and think.

Bury my heart at wounded knee by Dee Brown. Find out how the civilised white man raped the natives that only wanted to live in the world, not own it ! it's a real eye opener.
 
Pack and rifle by Philip Holden, A great story about a young fella culling deer in the mountains of New Zealand in the 60`s
 
"The Mighty 10 Guage" by Ballistic Products. Makes me stop and think that I can't wait for September the 1st.
 
"Colony Earth", and "Gods or Air and Darkness", both by Richard Mooney. To think we are the only life form in the Universe is pure arrogance.
 
One of my other passions is collecting old big game and stalking books. By that I mean books published prior to 1900 and just after.

Just bought the classic book "Trekking the great thirst" in excellent condition, plus have first edition copies of Maneaters of Tsvao and pattersons other book in the Grip of Nyika.
Reading these old books brings one back to a time long gone and never to be repeated, plus they are a good investment in my opinion.
 
Swallows and Amazons........ led me into a life of camping and setting fire to things, fishing, self reliance ..... simple things in life - a bit rose tinted spectacles, but there you go! Where the motorbikes, beer and parties came in, I'm not quite sure:-D
 
One of my other passions is collecting old big game and stalking books. By that I mean books published prior to 1900 and just after.

Just bought the classic book "Trekking the great thirst" in excellent condition, plus have first edition copies of Maneaters of Tsvao and pattersons other book in the Grip of Nyika.
Reading these old books brings one back to a time long gone and never to be repeated, plus they are a good investment in my opinion.

One of my passions also! You should get in touch with Frank Holmes - he trades in the genre

S
 
Swallows and Amazons........ led me into a life of camping and setting fire to things, fishing, self reliance ..... simple things in life - a bit rose tinted spectacles, but there you go! Where the motorbikes, beer and parties came in, I'm not quite sure:-D

Swallows and Amazons was a family favourite. A great claim to reflected fame was that my parents live two doors down from the boy that played Roger in the 1974 film version of Swallows and Amazons.

Two Little Savages 1903 by Ernest Thompson Seton was the book that did much the same for me...

"This is one of the great classics of nature and boyhood by one of America's foremost nature experts. It presents a vast range of woodlore in the most palatable of forms, a genuinely delightful story. It will provide many hours of good reading for any child who likes the out-of-doors, and will teach him or her many interesting facts of nature, as well as a number of practical skills. It will be sure to awaken an interest in the outdoor world in any youngster who has not yet discovered the fascination of nature.
The story concerns two farm boys who build a teepee in the woods and persuade the grownups to let them live in it for a month. During that time they learn to prepare their own food, build a fire without matches, use an axe expertly, make a bed out of boughs; they learn how to "smudge" mosquitoes, how to get clear water from a muddy pond, how to build a dam, how to know the stars, how to find their way when they get lost; how to tell the direction of the wind, blaze a trail, distinguish animal tracks, protect themselves from wild animals; how to use Indian signals, make moccasins, bows and arrows, Indian drums and war bonnets; how to know the trees and plants, and how to make dyes from plants and herbs. They learn all about the habits of various birds and animals, how they get their food, who their enemies are and how they protect themselves from them.
Most of this information is not generally available in books, and could be gained otherwise only by years of life and experience in suitable surroundings. Yet Mr. Thompson Seton explains it so vividly and fully, with so many clear, marginal illustrations through the book, that the reader will finish "Two Little Savages" with an enviable knowledge of trees, plants, wild-life, woodlore, Indian crafts and arts, and survival information for the wilds. All of this is presented through a lively narrative that has as its heroes two real boys, typically curious about everything in the world around them, eager to outdo each other in every kind of endeavor. The exciting adventures that befall them during their stay in the woods are just the sort of thing that will keep a young reader enthralled and will stimulate his or her imagination at every turn."

Alan
 
Operation Galia Robert Hann. End of War action in Italy. One of the troopers was a friend of mine. Well worth a read and comparison with Bravo Two Zero.
 
Pack and rifle by Philip Holden, A great story about a young fella culling deer in the mountains of New Zealand in the 60`s

Darn, exactly the book I like reading, so I had quick google, next thing I know I've bought it and down loaded it to my phone...
 
Hi

I second - Holdens The Deer Hunters and Pack and Rifle; and recommend -

Jim Corbetts Temple Tiger, Maneating Leopard of Rudraprayag and Maneaters of Kumaon;
Peter Beards The End of The Game: The Last Word from Paradise;
Tony Henleys - Round the Campfire;
Tony Sanchez-Arinos - Elephant Hunters - Men of Legendampfires in the Canadian Rockies.

.....much food for thought....

L
 
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The Eye of The Wind by Peter Scott, excellent book that got me interested in wildfowling.

The ABC of Shooting by Colin Willock, read and read again as a lad and learned a lot from it.

The Gun Punt Adventure By Colin Willock and Jack Hargreaves led me to building a single punt when I was sixteen.

Kenzie the wild goose man. They were made of stern stuff in the "old days"


Recent books, in no particular order.

Once upon a Tide by Godfrey Sayers, An excellent book about the North Norfolk Coast and all those who are part of it.

Isolation Shepherd by Iain Thomson, About the life of a Shepherd in Glen Strathfarrar in the 1950s.

Calum's Road by Roger Huchison, About a man called Calum MacLeod who built a road on his own by hand on the Island of Raasay.

The Shining Levels by John Wyatt, About a Lancashire lad who found the Lake District, he eventually ended up as the chief ranger of the LDNP.

The Tartan Pimpernell, Donald Caskie, My wifes great uncle, it tells of his work in helping allied soldiers and airmen in occupied france in WWII.

Macleod's Law, by Roddy Smith a pal of my Sons, a good but short read.

"Joss" by Keith Richardson, a great book about one of the greatest Fell runners ever, Joss Naylor a true legend.

Beneath the Black Water by Jon Berry, A story of a mans pursuit of Ferox Trout in and around the Highlands and beyond.


Cheers

A.M.
 
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