Back In The Day: 101 Things Everyone Used To Know How To Do

by Michael Powell

Book Overview

Today's modern conveniences make life easierbut they have caused us to lose some of the vital skills our ancestors took for granted. When was the last time you plucked a chicken for dinner? Dug a well... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1435110285
• ISBN13: 9781435110281
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Fall River Press
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Neat Book

This is a neat little book about old things people don't know how to do anymore. Its more funny than actual how-to. Its fun to read short little things.

Worth a look

I saw this on the discount table at a bookstore. What caught my eye was the faux worn cover. Te content is what made me buy it. The book, after a lengthy disclaimer, is a collection of very brief descriptions of various lost skills. Things like shoeing a horse, make a barrel, churn butter, milk a cow, weave a basket, make soap, and the like. But there are a few things added which seem to be done for entertainment value: addressing royalty, read Roman numerals, defend a castle, embalm a body and the like. The descriptions are very, very brief and generalized, and often remind me of the Monty Python skit "How To Do It" (Playing a flute: "You blow through this hole and move your fingers down here."). While I wouldn't suggest this as a reference manual, it does make a good starting point on getting a general idea on what skills a less technologically advanced society needs.