Collecting any books

[ELM]

Because my parents are not to keen on prepping and they think its a waste of time I have not been able to do much. But one thing I have managed to do is to collect just over a thousand books (I am 15 so it has been for most of my life) and I think that this would come in handy if something catastrophic happened to the world becuase the survivors need to know about the past world. I have a mixture of fiction and non-fiction so that (if) I have children, they can get a good education in the academic subjects and in the English language. I know my collection of books is small now but I am hopeing to expand it.

What i wanted to know is if anyone else was doing this or if I was the only one who was almost completely focusing on the education of the next generation?

[tigs]

i think basic education well be more important such as reading and writing but books teaching praxctical skills will become important if you can read you can learn

[gary5wift]

Education is never wasted ELM, good for you

[Arzosah]

ELM, I think thats a *big* book collection! Good for you - but I agree that learning practical skills is crucial. For you too, tbh - if there was a complete breakdown of civilisation, just like everyone else, you'd need to be able to survive that period of time, and not have a big enough community around you that could support a teacher.

What am I rabbiting about with practical skills for *you*? Stuff like general fitness ... how to make a fire ... how to use supplies (its harder to cook even flatbreads than you might suppose!). How to build a shelter - can you tie knots if a guy rope breaks? Can you recognise what plants in your area are good to eat?

Or skills that are *immediately* useful - sewing, up to and including repairing shoes, for instance, even if you've got a dozen sets of needles and a couple sets of leather working tools, they won't take up much room.

A lot of this might already be in the books you have, actually! Shows how valuable books are. Good luck with it all!

[junmist]

Good for you ELM for thinking of the future with the books but I agree with Arzosah. Prepping is not just storeing food but learning pratical skills. Its one thing to read about making fire but you try doing it ( give me a bic lighter any day ) But you are right there are lots of things that books can teach you even now as we no longer use the skills I mean how many traveling knife sharpners( have no idea what they are called) do you see now to sharpen our knifes but 60years ago they were still around.

[KalPrep]

Good for you, having good material around will never be a waste. You'll always have something to do, things to learn and teach, and if the worst comes to the worst your fire will probably burn a lot longer than others

[PreppingPingu]

That is a great thought to air. Thanks ELM for bringing it up. I too have a reasonably large quantity of books. While I am no ludite, I have avoided the ol kindles etc as - 1) I do love the tangilble feel of a book in my hands, but 2) I can read and still learn stuff when there is no power, T.V, internet etc. Some of my friends think I am mad keeping books - they recycle them back to charity shops but my husband and I have 4 bookcases full of fiction and non fiction. While its unlikely that our civilization will go back to "pioneer" times, it is always a possibility and I'd like to know that I have knowledge at my fingertips! I have just bought a book about self sustainability for that very reason. Some of the info I can use now, some later on in life and the rest will be really useful in a post SHTF senario. As you said about children, I have found it useful for my kids as they are going through school (both at secondary now) as they have had acess to stuff 24/7 for research etc with out having to wade through masses of pointless internet waffle. Its so easy to get sidetracked when looking for info on the 'net! *looks sheepish*

[ELM]

That is a great thought to air. Thanks ELM for bringing it up. I too have a reasonably large quantity of books. While I am no ludite, I have avoided the ol kindles etc as - 1) I do love the tangilble feel of a book in my hands, but 2) I can read and still learn stuff when there is no power, T.V, internet etc. Some of my friends think I am mad keeping books - they recycle them back to charity shops but my husband and I have 4 bookcases full of fiction and non fiction. While its unlikely that our civilization will go back to "pioneer" times, it is always a possibility and I'd like to know that I have knowledge at my fingertips! I have just bought a book about self sustainability for that very reason. Some of the info I can use now, some later on in life and the rest will be really useful in a post SHTF senario. As you said about children, I have found it useful for my kids as they are going through school (both at secondary now) as they have had acess to stuff 24/7 for research etc with out having to wade through masses of pointless internet waffle. Its so easy to get sidetracked when looking for info on the 'net! *looks sheepish*

I agree about kindles, I know that most people who are my age think that books are in the past and kindles are the future but I would much rather go to bed with a book becuase I prefer the smell and the feel of a book much more than an electronic screen that gives data to companies about what you read. I am also planning on getting some practical books for Christmas.

[MrPickles]

Get some DIY and gardening books and my be you will learn something what you can use to convince your parents that what you do is good.

[jansman]

There is a character,a professor if I recall, in the story 'Lucifer's Hammer' who stores books on all subjects on the eve of the apocolypse. Later on he reyrieves them as the information they contain is deemed so valuable.
Books are good.