Booklist Part 1

By Neal Ritter

Books are a great way to deepen our knowledge of primitive skills, and the stories can serve as inspiration. While I practice these ancestral skills primarily in Colorado, books allow me to follow the experiences of others around the world, and help inform my journey. We decided to put together a list of books that inspire us, and will share this in multiple parts. This will focus on fiction and narrative nonfiction titles. There are many more that could be added, but here is a start. Enjoy!

Youth Fiction

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver (and the rest of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series)

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Adult Fiction

A Story Like the Wind by Laurens van der Post

A Far Off Place by Laurens van der Post

Narrative Nonfiction

The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin

Earthroamer by Donny Dust

The Wayfinders by Wade Davis

The Wild Within by Paul Rezendes

Wilderness Survival by Mark Elbroch and Mike Pewtherer

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer