Seven Essential Books for Rebuilding
Civilization
Joshua
Krause
Ready Nutrition
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Ready Nutrition
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As
preppers, we’ve spent a lot of time and energy stocking up on the essentials,
and learning new skills that will help us survive without the safety net of
civilization. We understand the fragility of our society, and the many ways it
could quickly fall apart, and we have prepared ourselves to defend our homes
and families. But exactly how long are we planning on surviving for? A few
weeks or months? Several years or more?
At some point, we can expect our
supplies to run down, and our equipment to fall apart, and even the simplest of
tools require a fairly specialized division of labor to make. Eventually, we’d
have to move beyond survival, and start trying to build a new future for our
children. We’d have to start rebuilding civilization.
This of course, is no simple task. Our
society is built on technologies that many of us will never completely
understand. The things we own have become so intricate and sophisticated that
we have no idea how these things are made. As I write this, I’m looking around
my bedroom and examining the things I own, and I can’t find a single item that
I could perfectly duplicate by myself. It’s humbling to say the least.
Fortunately we can still master some of
the basics that would help civilization get back on its feet. Here are seven
books that will help you learn some of the essential skills and cornerstone
technologies of civilization. It is by no means a complete list, so feel free
to include some of your own ideas in the comments.
Written
by scientist and researcher Lewis Dartnell, it details how humans could rebuild
civilization after a global catastrophe, and gives a run down of crucial skills
like agriculture, metallurgy, and power generation. However, the skills he
describes are rudimentary at best. What’s more important is that he describes which technologies would be the most
important and the logistics of making them, rather than how to actually make
them. It’s a great starting point for anyone trying to figure out the nuts and
bolts of civilization. The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch
Our world is built on countless
mechanical devices, many of which we never see or acknowledge. At around 121
pages, this short book gives a basic description and diagram for every gear,
pulley, and screw configuration you could possibly think of, and many more that
you never even knew existed. 507
Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms and Devices 
Making your own paper is one of those
skills that most people haven’t thought of in a really long time. Modern
society has made paper cheap and ubiquitous, and the rise of computers has made
it a lot less important in our lives. However, any kind of calamity that would
threaten our computer reliant society would turn paper into a hot commodity.
Until a few decades ago, paper was the most efficient means to store data and
knowledge. Without it, an advanced and cohesive civilization would not be
possible. The
Papermaker’s Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Making and Using Handmade Paper
Whenever there is a major disaster, ham
radio operators are often the last remaining line of communication to the
outside world. If a global catastrophe were to occur, they would be crucial to
the rebuilding of civilization. Small societies after the collapse would need a
way share news and trade for supplies that they can’t produce in their locale.
Our society hinges on millions of people working together, often over long
distances, and radio would likely be the only way for these people to
communicate and cooperate. Ham
Radio For Dummies
Obviously, food would no longer be as
cheap or easy to find after a major collapse. Without a global network of
distribution, everyone would have to produce at least some of their own food,
and many of us would not have the workers, animals, or equipment required to
run a large farm. Most families would be on their own for a long time, and
would have to learn how to grow lots of food on small manageable farms. Mini
Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
Despite a history spanning several
thousand years, soap was never widely accepted until the discovery of bacteria.
Up until that point, is was very common for people to enter a hospital with a
mild illness only to leave in a coffin (a situation we’re beginning to
experience again in modern times). Now that we know what germs can do to us and
how they’re spread, soap has become an essential part of healthy living. Life
after any disaster large or small, is going to be unbelievably unsanitary, and
knowing how to make soap could save your life. Basic
Soap Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started (How To Basics)
And finally, this list would not be
complete without including a way to produce alcohol. In fact, the ability to
produce alcohol may have been responsible for creating
civilization in the first place. In this case however, I’m not talking
about the kind you drink. Alcohol is also a potent antiseptic, and a great
source of fuel. While it certainly wouldn’t be able to completely replace oil
and natural gas, it would likely become the next best thing until society is
rebuilt. Alcohol
Fuel: A Guide to Making and Using Ethanol as a Renewable Fuel (Books for Wiser
Living from Mother Earth News)
Joshua Krause was born and raised
in the Bay Area. He is a writer and researcher focused on principles of
self-sufficiency and liberty at Ready
Nutrition. You can follow Joshua’s work at our Facebook page or on his
personal Twitter.
Joshua’s website is Strange Danger
This
information has been made available by Ready
Nutrition
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