The Log Cabin: An Adventure in Self-Reliance, Individualism, and Cabin Building

I really enjoyed this book ...... if a novice were to read this book 10 times he/she could almost absorb enough knowledge of concepts to make a go of it in the woods (with the exception of farming.....there is no farming in this book) ..... but all in all it is indeed enjoyable reading and chock full of knowledge which can be put to use(LOL, especially basic concepts of dealing with wild animals BUT please don't charge a bear) ..... a novice would do well to PAY ATTENTION when reading (drop back and reread often would be my advice) ..... as you read this try to EXPERIENCE the setting ..... use your imagination to place YOURSELF in this guys world..... you will be glad you did

I hoped this book would give me some kind of help building a log cabin. Instead, it was a series of examples of just how stupid a person can be. (...I have built up my body's tolerance to smoke, so I wasn't in any danger... duh!)If you want any useful insight into survival, or building a log cabin, take a pass on this book. If you want to see Darwin's theory in action, this can be an amusing story.

Great book.

great book

I thought this was an amusing read, but you've got to take it with several, rather large, grains of salt.First, it is very important for the prospective reader to understand that Len is a professional outdoors writer, and creating and writing about these adventures is his stock and trade. It's interesting that Len chose to include the word self-reliance in the subtitle. As other reviewers have pointed out, Len spends much of the book away from the cabin visiting friends or sleeping in his van. He's able to drive back and forth to town at will. He complains about lack of money, and not having access to candy and snack foods. He eats store bought macaroni and cheese and celebrates with Jack Daniels. While most of the self-sufficient lifestyle folks would not see this as true self-reliance, one must admit that Len is free to set his own definition on what "self-reliance" means to him. Lest we forget, he was successful in supporting himself for a year without working a job.Another area of potential concern with the reader is in the construction of his cabin. Len uses green (freshly cut), unpeeled logs placed directly on the ground. This would give most cabin builders fits, and all but guarantees the cabin will survive only a few years before becoming a neat pile of insect/worm food. But did Len achieve his goal to construct a comfortable dwelling that would last for the 1 year duration of his experiment? Yes he did.Lastly, through much of the book Len seems to overly dwell on "manly" topics. He talks at length about which brands of hiking gear, guns, and ammo he's selected. He talks about make, model, caliber, grain, and bullet composition in almost nauseating detail.To sum up, there are many books available in the "one year in the wilderness" catagory. This is NOT one of the better ones.

I would easily recommend this book. I am planning to build my own log cabin in Virginia this coming year and McDougall's book was detailed enough that his experience will help me. It was interesting that he undertook the cabin building with sort funding and leftover materieals. He derived pleasure from his own labor but also shared the negative aspects of the process. Reading the book was like being along for the ride. I didn't think he manufactured the story or shaded it to make a more interesting story out it. He was faithful to his building task. I liked that he hauled in his food. There is something about living-off-the-land kinds of stories that are too sanctimonious. Give me a can of beans and a can opener, I'm not into roots and shoots. What I would have liked was to feel a sense of personal growth, or maybe even spiritual growth from McDougall's year in the woods but I don't think that happened for him and hense it did not happen for this reader. He feels to me like a lost soul who will forever vacilate between his love of the nature his need for civilization.

I thought this book was a hoot. By the time you finish it, you feel like you know the author and understand that building a cabin is a pretty big project, particularly by yourself. He was a short drive from civilization, so I thought the whole concept was a bit unbelievable. But he did try to live and build on his own. I found the stories about dealing with the forest critters interesting. It was sad but believable man's greatest threat is still other men. Anyway, I liked his style and and read it slowly to savor it.

I don't know, maybe it is just me, but when you write reviews on Amazon of a book that you authored without telling people up front that you are said author, I find it difficult to take you seriously. Nahannia47? LMAO 😂. Loser