things worth paying attention to
Read free. “There seem to the writer to be four great inferences from modern psychology, and each with suggestions for life and character—that is, with direct suggestion of the conditions of growth, of character, of happiness, and of influence. These four inferences are: Life is complex; man is a unity; will and action are of central importance; and the real is concrete.”
Read free. “The idea that the writer has tried to present, simply and practically, is that man’s responses and reactions to life are virtually within his own control; that the quality and number of his responses and reactions determine, to a large degree, his oldness or youngness.”
Read free. “The intimate relationship between the human and plant world is easily discerned, but the production of substances profoundly affecting the mind and spirit is often not so easily recognized. These are the plants that make up the substance of Plants of the Gods, focusing attention on the origin of their use and the effect that they have had on man’s development. Plants that alter the normal functions of the mind and body have always been considered by peoples in non- industrial societies as sacred, and the hallucinogens have been ‘plants of the gods’ par excellence.”
Read free. “The object of the present volume is: to indicate the character and, approximately, the extent of the changes produced by human action in the physical conditions of the globe we inhabit; to point out the dangers of imprudence and the necessity of caution in all operations which, on a large scale, interfere with the spontaneous arrangements of the organic or the inorganic world; to suggest the possibility and the importance of the restoration of disturbed harmonies and the material improvement of waste and exhausted regions; and, incidentally, to illustrate the doctrine, that man is, in both kind and degree, a power of a higher order than any of the other forms of animated life, which, like him, are nourished at the table of bounteous nature.”
Read free. “Do I ascribe to any one philosophy? Yes. It is the philosophy of eternal life to be lived by yourself, the realization that you yourself pave the road by which you reach this state of consciousness. All the philosophies of the world are merely signs to let you know of the many crossroads and side roads. But you create your path and set the pace by which you follow it.”
Read free. “Most people would like to develop keener sensory response and expand their range of conscious awareness, but they think they don’t have the time. Once they realize that waiting time is really available time, that obstacle disappears. Other people are hesitant to explode their inner lives and perceptions because they believe it requires embracing some ideological or philosophical doctrine. Quite the contrary is true. Long periods of special training are not necessary, nor is involvement with an ideology or philosophy a requirement. Without drugs, without dogma, without magic or mysticism, we can discover and get in touch with a world of experience that will enrich our lives. The purpose of this book is to make that world accessible.”
Read free. “Even though fashion and beauty are now regularly prefixed with words like “green,” “natural,” “environmentally friendly,” “eco,” “healthy” and “sustainable,” the industry is not as healthy as it should be. There are still dark sides to both industries: dangerous chemicals in everyday personal care products, deadly pesticides used to grow cotton, child labor in gold mining and stone cutting, deforestation to make fashion, and toxic leather facilities. Consumers have the power to change these situations, if only they knew. Many of those issues could be easily avoided and then eradicated.”
Read free. “One of this book’s fundamental messages is the value and importance of nearby nature, for children’s play in particular and for human health and well-being in general. Therefore we need to ensure that our human environments allow the natural habitats of children to survive and thrive. Indeed, the very survival of natural spaces in the future may well depend on providing children with opportunities to play naturally today.”
Read free. The Internet Archive’s collection of 1.7 million unsorted manuals, to read online or download in various formats, for free. Access the collection at archive.org/details/manuals_contributions. Here are direct links to a few examples.
Read free. Around 500 books about survival-related topics, from dumpster-diving to nuclear war. Read online or download for free. Access the collection at archive.org/details/folkscanomy_prepper. Here are direct links to a few examples.
Read free. “My hope is that this book encourages deeper understanding of the nature of local community, and helps to revitalize and legitimize the principles of neighbourhood planning as a means of achieving sustainable development.”
Read free. A history of the EcoVillage at Ithaca, by one of its founders. “Rather than pull apart in destructive conflict, the human community could choose to pull together in cooperation and work collaboratively to create a sustainable future. I am heartened by research that indicates public attitudes and behaviors seem to be shifting in favor of more sustainable ways of living.”
Read free. “A residential or land-based intentional community is a group of people who have chosen to live with or near enough to each other to carry out their shared lifestyle or common purpose together. Families living in a cohousing communities in the city, students living in student housing cooperatives near universities, and sustainability advocates living in rural back-to-the-land homesteads are all members of intentional communities. Community is not just about living together, but about the reasons for doing so. ‘A group of people who have chosen to live together with a common purpose, working cooperatively to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared core values,’ is one way the non-profit Fellowship for Intentional Community describes it.”
Read free. “In the first chapter the myths and facts about the consequences of a massive nuclear attack are discussed. As devastating as such an attack would be, with adequate civil defense preparations and timely warning much of the population could survive. The information and instructions given in subsequent chapters tell the average citizen how to improve his and his family’s chances of surviving a nuclear attack by working together to build expedient shelters and homemade life-support equipment. The reader is urged to make at least some of these low-cost preparations before a crisis arises. The main emphasis, however, is on survival preparations that could be made in the last few days of a worsening crisis.”
Read free. “Descriptions of indoor games of skill and chance, with advice on skillful play.”
Draft. Collection of DIY and Survival PDFs to download.
Draft. Collection of Civilian and Military Medical Manuals to download.
Read free. “The purpose of this paper is to outline a strategy for the use of a future weather modification system to achieve military objectives rather than to provide a detailed technical road map.”
Read free. “If our ancestors didn’t succeed at the task of surviving in the wilderness, we wouldn’t be here talking about it—but it’s never been easy. It takes knowledge, skill, and talent to live off the land. This is a book about that kind of survival, but it’s also a blend of history and philosophy. Here you’ll learn about primitive survival techniques for their historical value and as a set of last-ditch plans for survival when your gear is gone. And we’ll explore the philosophy of the bushcraft movement. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, don’t worry. It’s not witchcraft or “arts and crafts.” Bushcraft is all about thriving in your native environment: the great outdoors.”
