Product guide

Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills

Complete: Back to Basics is a broad illustrated guide to traditional and self-sufficiency skills, from food preparation and keeping chickens to hand-tool projects and building methods. Its range suits readers exploring several practical topics, though the 528-page format is a substantial reference rather than a short, focused manual.

At a glance

Covers a wide range of traditional skills, including dyeing wool, grafting trees, raising chickens, preserving food and making cheese.
Description promises projects with step-by-step sequences, photographs, charts and illustrations.
Includes both small craft activities and ambitious building projects such as log cabins and adobe-brick homesteads.

Price

$40.79Save 15%

Reference price: ~~$47.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

View offer Ahead of Black FridayExplore the selection

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Pros and cons

Pros

Broad subject coverage makes it useful as a starting point for readers exploring different self-sufficiency skills.
The listing describes illustrated, step-by-step material that can support hands-on learning.
Includes everyday food and craft topics as well as larger homestead projects.

Cons

Its broad scope may be less suitable than a specialist manual for readers seeking depth on just one skill.
At 528 pages and 1.05 kg, it is a sizeable book to carry or consult while working.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Publication details
Publisher	Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date	2 January 2015
Edition	4th Edition, Fourth
Language	English
Print length	528 pages
ISBN-10	1629143693
ISBN-13	978-1629143699

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.05 kg
Dimensions	21.59 x 2.79 x 27.94 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers looking for one broad reference to traditional living and practical self-sufficiency skills.
People who want ideas and instructions spanning food, gardening, animal keeping, crafts and building.
Beginners who prefer a visual guide to exploring a variety of hands-on topics.

Less suited to

Readers seeking an advanced, narrowly focused manual for one particular skill.
Anyone wanting a lightweight or compact book for frequent transport.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 5,340 ratings

5 stars83%83%
4 stars13%13%
3 stars4%4%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback highlights the breadth of information and instructions, with positive comments about readability and practical usefulness. The listing describes topics such as food preparation, storage and hands-on projects, which helps explain the book’s potential as a wide-ranging reference, but those customer perceptions do not establish that every project will suit every reader. Aggregate ratings are strongly favourable, though ratings alone do not show which specific topics readers found most useful.

Positive themes

Customers praise the amount of information and instructions.
Feedback describes the book as readable and easy to understand.
Customers report usefulness for practical subjects including food preparation and storage.

Frequently asked questions

What topics does Back to Basics cover?

The listing describes a broad selection including wool dyeing, tree grafting, raising chickens, woodworking, jam and cheese making, building, and old-fashioned recreation.

Is this a focused manual for one skill?

No. The book is presented as a wide-ranging guide, so readers seeking detailed instruction in a single subject may prefer a specialist reference.

What format details are listed?

The listing specifies an English-language fourth edition with 528 pages, dimensions of 21.59 x 2.79 x 27.94 cm and a listed weight of 1.05 kg.