The Survival of the Bark Canoe Kindle Edition

The headline here is a line from the book wherein it's applied to the birch bark canoe and why one cd last 10 years.The book just arrived and looks to be awesome — the writing is itself 50 years old and the author is at the time I write this, 90. Bark canoes as a craft, and a craft, are centuries older. Don't know if Henri Vaillancourt, the book's subject as much as the vessels, is still alive. If not, the bark canoe may be dead by now.McPhee writes on what fascinates him and so it can do the same for us. He is widely — widely — known and said to be a craftsman himself.This is for fans, then, of craft and of slow and of lore, and perhaps who have read Shop Class as Soulcraft as well.Four stars because the printer's craftsmanship is sorely lacking, at least in my copy and the glued — not sewn — pages began to peel away from the spine alomst immediately.[See that typo / misspelling in the previous sentence? That's what it's like to get a book on craft that is in its own making shabby.]Cheers,Paul

While visiting a friend in hospital, he offered to lend me his copy. I noticed he had yet to read it so I politely declined the offer, opting to purchase my own copy. What a great read. Henri is a true artist & I am so pleased the he has dedicated his life to preserving the history of this great land. And a post-humus thank you to Mr McPhee for documenting the craft.

McPhee has the marvelous ability to take any subject, whether oranges, canoes, the government of Switzerland, the New Jersey Pine Barrens, etc, he manages to draw everything interesting from whatever he writes about. his books are fascinating and entertaining

This is the second of many of McPhee's books that I have read. He is a very good writer. His detailed information about the suject of his books is amazing. But the way he interlaces information about the people and places he has met & been in gathering that information is absorbing. He has the ability to draw you into the scenes and carry you along on the journey.While his book about Florida oranges was the first of his books that I have read, and I liked it best, this one is written in that same way. I wish I could afford one of these canoes.I would recommend this book for all high school students and any adult looking to learn about the canoe or just looking for a good book to read.

Having taken a canoe trip through the Boundary Waters and having built a wooden boat from a kit, I chose this book. I loved the detailed description of how a birch bark canoe is built. The author did an even better job describing what it's like to take a wilderness canoe trip -- the challenges of crossing a lake in high winds, the pain of a long and difficult portage, and the ever changing dynamics among members of the party. Memorable, engaging reading.

I have read many of McPhee's books and was prepared for some dry technical spells. This one has it's share too. You should be a canoe enthusiast and it wouldn't hurt to know your way around a wood shop. The historian in me loved it.

This was the first book I read by John McPhee about forty years ago. I actually read it in the "New Yorker" where he is a staff writer.I was completely mesmerized by this book. It is beautifully written and packed with details about making a canoe as an American Indian would.If you have never read anything by this author, I urge you to try this small book. When you are done, you will not be able to wait to get your next McPhee book. Luckily, he has written a bunch of books.

Remember birch canoes? A few folks still make them. This is bit old, but I suppose the canoes are a lot older so it shouldn’t matter. John McPhee is always good.

Quirky tale of a canoe trip through the New Hampshire wilderness with one of the last bark canoe makers. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

Schade, daß kein deutschsprachiger Verlag eine Übersetzung herausgebracht hat. Auch hier wächst das Interesse an traditionellen bzw. handwerklichen Herstellungsweisen.Und für Canoefans ist das Buch eh ein "Muß".