Matthew Stein

Indispensable. A book not just about how to survive the unsustainable life-style most of industrial civilization has thoughtlessly created, but also about how we got here. And how to (if we can't get out of a world showing signs of depleted resources and toxic overload) not just survive in the world without being so insatiably wasteful and poisoning, but also how to thrive in a people-and-planet-friendly way. There is wisdom in this book. And it just might be part of the canon of a surviving show more species. show less

Adult Reader Reaction: This is a clever take on (IMHO) the over-written topic of bullying. Yes, Bad Billy is a goon toward the animals, but it his treatment of the Great Cypress Swamp that takes center stage. As a result, the story has more depth for readers.

Pros: Kids and parents alike will keep turning the page to see how this heroic frog and his swamp friends save the day. This is a book that has great layering. You won't get it all from the first reading.

Cons: This is a text-heavy show more picture book, so it may not appeal to readers who want the story to move faster.

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Very broad, but not very deep. Covers a huge range of topics, a few verging on on the weird. Nice references to other books, lots of suggestions from farming to gardening to mechanics.

Are you a survivalist? Thinking about the impending apocalypse? This might help. Tanning, Metalwork, making stone knives. This book will help you become very self sufficient.