[I am not the author nor work for the publisher]

And he used the public library–as if that is not a ( very valuable) service.

Still, it is important to be self-reliant and to know how to fish etc. Good luck, in modern times, when the pollutants in those pond fish and forest animals give you cancer or brain damage. You may not have electricity but make sure you have access to a doctor.

Fish in the OCEAN! Grow your food in hydroponic vats–where you have some control.

p.s. A perception of poverty as a child is not uncommon. I too was raised ( in the Bronx NY) to think that I was dirt poor—with two cars, a summer home, and a decent place to live: but in a
“slum”. In fact, we were middle class.

I am always amused that rural people who own a house, often a farm, and acres of land think they are poor.

Real poverty: try living on social security in an inner city as a renter.

No way would that make me content. Not even its ‘romantic notion’ as presented here.

The only thing that would be good about the life you describe is the time to read, but I imagine that would be a child’s luxury as evidenced by your mom having dropped you off at the library and not gone herself.

Adults would have to be up early to can beans. No electricity at night by which to read. Ugh.

She pointed out the second stage will be society getting “angry” at anyone who suggests that we have to change the way we live in order to survive.

In the third stage would begin our “bargaining” – our attempt to keep our lifestyle by bargaining away our rights or willing to pay whatever price.

The final two stages are depression and then acceptance.

The article explained that large cities will be abandoned because they no longer have the local farms or nearby land to grow the food that will be necessary to sustain their large populations.

She goes on to suggest that young people consider the move to small rural communities and begin life there, because in the future that will be the only place where there is enough food.

Becoming self-sustaining through self-reliance, learning the skills to survive working with nature and looking for ways to remove yourself, your family, and your community from the grid is a good idea – no matter where you live – it’s all about how you live.

I remember growing up in Wyoming in a similar scenario (chopping wood, hunting animals, using an outhouse)…

I look around me today at all the “city-slickers” (of which I am now too).. and wonder how many of them would completely lose it if they were forced to survive on their own.

I don’t agree with your entertainment comment at all. I’m gainfully employed and that allows me to spend money on hobbies I enjoy, like woodworking, automobile restoration, and photography… all things that require money. I was raised on a small family farm and I never entertained myself by “jumping off the garage roof.” That’s just stupid.

To me it sounds like you’re trying to make a case for living in poverty. Survival skills are important, but there’s no excuse for being unemployed for years at a time.

I also agree with Scott’s comment; a much leaner lifestyle was normal only 50 years ago.

I mean, exactly how useful would this advice be to the 50% plus of the human species that inhabit urban areas?

It would be great if you would write a book with detailed instructions about these survival skills you developed. I would buy your book and study it well.

Now we talk about it like it is some ancient civilization. We have short memories.