Customer Reviews:
 One book you have to own September 6, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you even have a slight leaning towards 'self sufficient' lifestyle, this book is invaluable.
Well laid out and illustrated as you would expect from DK, but stuffed with useful information from the one and only John Seymour.
Buy this book, The Complete Guide to Self Sufficiency and The Fat of Land and will have all you need to know about this way of life.
 Dated, but still an inspiration August 19, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a reprint of Seymour's 30 year-old classic with its still-inspirtional illustrations, but with a text that is out of date in so many ways. What is out of date is that there is no account in this book of recent technical developments and advances in our understanding of plants, soil microbiology and the environment (the book has a pre-Permaculture view of the world) and also the naive presentation of insecticides and other garden chemicals that organic gardeners would no longer sanction. Also, there is no reference, of course, to climate change and other pressures on the global and local environment and economies which make food self-sufficiency an imperative, not just a lifestyle choice.
Get this book for its timeless inspiration (where it is in a class of its own), but complement it by looking elsewhere - preferably in books on Permaculture written for your part of the world since 2005 (i.e. taking into account peak oil and climate change) for practical guidance. For example, books by Toby Heminway, Aric McBay, David Holmgren, Patrick Whitefield, Bill Mollison. Also, join your local Permaculture or organic gardening group to round out your practical knowledge and enrich your worldview.
review June 27, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
A great book full of knowledge. Similiar to his complete book of self-sufficiency but goes into veg growing etc in plenty of detail. This is a complete guide for someone starting and already started with gardening. Something you will have to hand from season to season.
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