I have to admit, I like shiny things which smell new coming out of a box delivered by the UPS driver. Those are always fun preps to unbox and the anticipation from the time one clicks “buy” online until the item(s) arrive is tough to suppress. Even as I type this I have some items on the way from Campingsurvival.com and they should be on my doorstep by Tuesday. I will look like a kid at Christmas and my wife will roll her eyes at me, probably saying something like: “don’t leave that stuff on the kitchen counter, take it to the basement.” Yet sometimes the best preps aren’t purchased online but rather found in person for deep discounts, mostly because they aren’t new. Maybe it’s an item found at a rummage sale or in my case, the half price bookstore.
I like going to the half price bookstore because I am constantly trying to build up my personal library, not only for SHTF but in general. Just think if the power goes out due to rolling blackouts or a larger event, YouTube won’t be available and neither will Google. You’ll have what you have and that includes any reference material on the shelf. I emphasize the need for reference material because none of us can be the master of all trades. While some who have truly moved away from suburbia into a more rustic lifestyle truly have a more polished set of diverse skills than the average prepper, I think one would be hard pressed to find that individual who is a master mechanic / plumber / carpenter / farmer / rancher / healthcare professional. Maybe the most interesting man in the world would qualify, but I digress.
So what about the two books I picked up for a combined total of $13? I am now the owner of The Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques and a 1978 version of Reader’s Digest Complete Do-it-Yourself Manual.
Half Price Reference Books
You might be wondering why I bought a book that is almost 40 years old, but that was EXACTLY the reason I bought it! Some of the techniques described brought back memories of my grandpa’s shop and would probably be very useful in an environment if Lowes or Home Depot were not available 7 days a week.
Roof Repairs
Fence Post Repairs
With respect to the gardening book (I already have a few) I like the illustrations and very easy to read instructions. Good for someone who definitely needs step by step or troubleshooting help. As my wife and I have come to find out over the last few years, gardening is anything but easy.
Growing Asparagus
So there you have it. Why not stop into your local half price bookstore to see what treasures await, I’m confident you’ll walk out with some valuable reference material!
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You’re preaching to the choir on this one. 🙂
I am a big fan of half proced book stores. Another good resource is book fairs. you can find a lot in the way of DIY books at such places.
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I remember being a kid and watching Bob Villa on TV pimping his books. I wanted them SO BAD. Maybe I could find a set at a local book fair.
love this post. I have the same home repair book but I bought it new and decided to keep it because basic repairs don’t change. love shopping in thrift stores and my local library to get books at really good prices.
this past summer the electricity went out for a few hours. Obama was just landing at MacDill air force base as the electric in all of south tampa went out. strange. anyway, the battery on my computer was low and went dead while I was reading so……off to the local library to buy used books so I wont be left in this position again.
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Maggi
Thanks for the comment! You bought the repair book new back in 1978? 🙂 That’s respectable. I’m often reminded of the book Lucifer’s Hammer when considering stocking up on reading material. If you’ve read the book, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to.
We have the readers digest book too. Had it since I was a kid living in the woods, my mom gave it to me a few years ago. Great book.
I have some great building books, but thats about it. I keep thinking I’ll print out great articles and stock some books, but haven’t done any if it. This is a kick in the pants for me. My wifes a nurse, so she has some medical books and know how, but not enough, there’s some great shtf medical reference books we need to add as well.
Thanks for this.
Interesting timing on this post
I just spent 3 hours in a local “recycled” book store last Friday. Picked up the remaining total series of Clive Cussler’s stuff.
Its amazing talking to the owners about the decline of “readers” and sales of books. Sad in a way that actually holding a book in the hands and not going blind staring at a computer screen is a dying art.
What’s fun to find or have some of the original Boy Scout manuals, talk about good reference books.
NRP
We have approx. 6 bookshelves full and counting. We both LOVE to read. I have recently been collecting books on soap making and cheese making to add to my gardening collection. Don’t forget flea markets for books too.