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

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.

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.