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So you survived an apocalypse...
How to rebuild a civilization from square one. Find out more.
155 Results
Cellini's Method for Reading the Stones: Identifying Metal Ores Benvenuto Cellini

Before you dream of casting a Perseus or striking a fine coin, you must first learn the language of the stones. A fool sees...

On the Conveyance of Water: Building a Lasting Aqueduct Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Water is the first necessity of life and the foundation of a worthy city. Without a pure and copious supply, there can be no...

How to Govern a Community by Doing Less Lao Tzu

The great river is powerful because it stays low. So too must the leader. To govern a community, one must not grasp and control,...

A Roman Farmer's Poultice for Wounds and Sprains Cato the Elder

A good paterfamilias must know how to tend not only his fields but also his household, including the bodies of his family and workers....

A Method for Measuring Local Gravity with a Simple Pendulum Isaac Newton

I have demonstrated that the force which holds the planets in their orbits is the very same that causes an apple to fall to...

How to Construct a Thermoscope to Gauge the Degrees of Heat and Cold Galileo Galilei

It is my firm conviction that the secrets of the natural world are revealed not by blind adherence to ancient texts, but through direct...

A Guide to the Proper Care and Use of the Singing Voice Johann Sebastian Bach

In my service as Cantor, I have found that a choir is built not upon a few brilliant soloists, but upon a community of...

A Primer for the Tongue and Hand: Recreating the Alphabet from Earth's Vestiges James Joyce

In the wake of great silences, the first duty is to reconstruct the very architecture of thought. This is no mere child's play of...

A Roman Method for Fermenting Grapes into Sound, Storable Wine Cato the Elder

A well-managed estate provides for itself. Wine is not a luxury, but a necessity for health, sustenance, and the morale of your household. Follow...

A Scientist's Guide to the Safe Handling and Storage of Chemical Substances Marie Curie

In my work isolating the elements, I have learned that the substances of our world are not passive. They possess an energy, a nature,...

Establishing the Hortus for Constant Provision Lucius Junius Columella

A diligent master of a household knows that prosperity begins not in far-flung fields, but at his own doorstep. The kitchen garden, or hortus,...

How to Select a Defensible Settlement Site Julius Caesar

A legion that makes camp on poor ground is already half-defeated. The same is true for a new settlement. Your first and most crucial...

A Method for Delivering Pure Water Using Gravity's Gentle Hand Leonardo da Vinci

Water, as the 'vetturale di natura' or carrier of nature, is the lifeblood of any settlement. I have spent a lifetime observing its motion,...

A Craftsman's Method for Grinding Earthly Colours Albrecht Dürer

Mark my words, the soul of a painting lies not only in the artist's hand, but in the purity and permanence of his colours....

A Method for Creating Durable Plaster According to True Principles Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

I shall set forth the proper method for mixing and applying lime plaster, a skill essential for any edifice aspiring to permanence and beauty....

A Practical Method for Crafting Hard Cheese to Preserve Milk Lucius Junius Columella

On any well-managed estate, the flock's milk is a treasure not to be squandered. Since it spoils quickly, the prudent husbandman must convert it...

How to Weave a Basket of Words for Your Memories Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Do not think you are merely making rhymes. You are a hollow reed, and the breath of experience blows through you, making a music...

A Proper Roman Remedy for a Troublesome Cough Cato the Elder

A persistent cough weakens a man and makes him unfit for labor. It is the duty of the master of the house to see...

A Method for Perceiving the Love That Moves the Heavens Dante Alighieri

In my long exile, I have learned that the world of men is a dark wood, where the straight way is often lost. Yet,...

How to Pay Homage to the Gods of a New Land Homer the Poet

Hearken, you who would wander into lands unknown. I have sung of heroes whose fortunes turned on the whims of the gods, men who...

On Holding a Public Assembly for the Common Good Solon of Athens

I have seen cities torn asunder by the strife between the rich and the poor, where power is a club wielded by the few....

Mending Wounds with Yarrow, the Warrior's Herb Sacagawea the Great

The earth provides for us, if we know how to look. On our long journey to the great salt water, cuts and scrapes were...

How to Weave a Farewell in Verse for a Friend's Long Journey Li Bai

When a dear friend must depart, the heart feels like a boat cut from its mooring. Words often fail, but a poem can be...

A Commander's Guide to Fortifying with the Land Sun Tzu

A wall of stone can be broken, an army can be routed. But he who makes an ally of the mountains and rivers commands...

How to Weave a Community with the Thread of Story Scheherazade of Arabia

A vengeful king may be calmed by a single story, but a fractured people can only be mended by a thousand. I speak from...

A Simple Daily Practice for Mental Stillness and Ethical Conduct Siddhartha Gautama

Just as a farmer tends his fields each day, so too must we tend the garden of our own mind. In times of great...

A Practical Guide to the Three Fundamental Laws of Motion Isaac Newton

I have, through diligent observation and calculation, discerned the principles by which the Almighty governs the material world. These are not my opinions, but...

A Method for Organizing a Mobile Medical Unit for Field Emergencies Marie Curie

In the crucible of the Great War, it became brutally clear that swift, accurate medical intervention saves lives. Delay and disorganization are as fatal...

A Method for Calculating Projectile Trajectories Isaac Newton

It has been my life's work to show that the universe is not a chaotic mystery, but a grand and intricate clockwork, governed by...

A Guide to the Proper Siting of a Necessary House Benjamin Franklin

It has been my observation that the health and prosperity of a community are directly tied to its cleanliness. Foul airs and tainted water...

How to Manage Provisions for Long-Term Security Sun Tzu

An army without a supply train is lost. A settlement without a granary is a corpse waiting to fall. Do not mistake the management...

How to Listen to the Wisdom of Mountains Li Bai

I have spent more nights with the moon for a companion and a mountain for a pillow than I have in the gilded halls...

How to Forge an Army's Will Amidst Despair Hannibal Barca

An army is a body; its spirit is the blood. Without it, the strongest limbs are useless. I led men from Iberia, Gaul, and...

How to Judge Your Own Day: A Method for Self-Improvement Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Each evening, when the light has been removed and my household has fallen silent, I follow a custom of my own: I examine my...

How to Unmoor the Heart: A Poet's Guide to Spontaneity Li Bai

The world insists we follow paths as straight as canals, our days measured by plans as rigid as a scholar's grid. But when the...

Constructing Aqueducts by the Principles of Hydrostatics Archimedes of Syracuse

By understanding a simple truth—that water, possessing weight, must always seek the lowest point—we can command it to travel great distances. This is not...

On Finding Safe Water and Lodging in an Unknown City Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have taken me from my home in the Maghrib to the distant lands of Chin,...

A Guide to Provisioning for a Desert Crossing Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have spanned the known world, no journey tests a man's foresight like crossing the great...

Understanding the Tides Through Lunar and Solar Attraction Isaac Newton

I have found through rigorous calculation that the ocean's great motion is not some vital spirit of the Earth, but a direct and calculable...

A Physician's Guide to Preparing Herbal Cough Remedies Hippocrates of Kos

I have observed that a cough is the body's attempt to expel an excess of phlegm and restore its natural balance. Do not obstruct...

How to Establish a Community Library: A Foundation for Culture Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A society without books is a body without a soul. In my years directing the great library at Weimar, I learned that a collection...

A Method for Binding Pigments with Egg Yolk to Create Tempera Paint Albrecht Dürer

Pay close attention, for I shall instruct you in the art of making egg tempera, a medium of wondrous luminosity and swiftness. Unlike the...

A Gentleman's Guide to Learning Virtue from the Patterns of Nature Kong Qiu

The workings of Heaven are profound and orderly. The seasons proceed without error, and the ten thousand things flourish according to their nature. By...

A Commander's Guide to Crossing Major Rivers Hannibal Barca

A river can be a more formidable barrier than a mountain range or a Roman legion. It does not sleep, it does not tire,...

How to Polish Metal to a Divine Luster with Sand, Leather, and Ash Benvenuto Cellini

A fool believes his work is done when it leaves the mold. A master knows the soul of the metal is only revealed in...

Employing Scouts to Turn Knowledge Into Victory Sun Tzu

A wise leader does not act on hope or guess; he acts on foreknowledge. Without knowing the terrain, the location of resources, or the...

How to Create Mortar for Eternal Structures Imhotep of Memphis

A mountain is but a pile of stones without the will of the gods to bind it. Likewise, a wall is a collection of...

Arranging Your Living Space for Tranquility and Purpose Lucius Annaeus Seneca

A man's home is a reflection of his soul. If it is cluttered with trifles and vain luxuries, his mind, too, will be in...

The Fragrant Garden of Solitude: A Way to Meet Your Soul Jalal ad-Din Rumi

The world shouts and clamors, pulling your soul in a thousand directions until you forget its true name. But do not despair. Within you...

On the Crucial Distinction Between What Is Seen and What Is Deduced Galileo Galilei

I have spent my life staring at the heavens, not with the eyes of faith or poetry alone, but with lenses I ground myself....

How to Make Durable Lime Plaster for Walls and Cisterns Cato the Elder

A paterfamilias must ensure his buildings are sound and his water is clean. Flimsy work is a waste of labor and invites ruin. I...

How to Plant and Tend an Olive Grove for Abundant Oil Lucius Junius Columella

Alongside grain and wine, the olive is a gift of Providence, essential for a prosperous estate and a healthy body. It provides not just...

To Serve in Small Things: A Guide to Humble Work Jesus of Nazareth

Many believe that greatness is found only in mighty deeds or loud proclamations. But I tell you, the Kingdom of God is like a...

On Maintaining Health with Simple Fare and Hard Labor Cato the Elder

A Roman's strength, and thus the strength of the Republic itself, is not found in lavish banquets or the soft cushions of the Greeks....

The Vizier's Method for the Just Apportionment of Sustenance Imhotep of Memphis

A structure, whether of stone or of people, stands only if its foundations are sound. In times of want, the foundation of a community...

How to Impose Order Upon the Land: Laying the Foundations of a Lasting Settlement Imhotep of Memphis

A heap of dwellings is a temporary camp, vulnerable to chaos, fire, and filth. But a settlement laid with purpose and precision becomes a...

On the Just Arbitration of Disputes to Preserve the State Solon of Athens

I was called upon to serve Athens when she stood on the very brink of civil war, torn between the wealthy and the poor....

How to Sustain Your People When the Enemy Encircles You Hannibal Barca

Victory is not won by the strength of your walls, but by the discipline within them. I have seen great cities fall not to...

A Method for the Extraction and Purification of Sodium Chloride from Natural Sources Marie Curie

Sodium chloride is essential not only for life but for the preservation of sustenance. Yet, salt gathered from nature is invariably contaminated with undesirable...

How to Uncover Nature's Truths Through Systematic Observation Galileo Galilei

For too long, men have sought knowledge only in dusty books and the pronouncements of ancient masters. But I say to you, the great...

A Method to Practice Gratitude with the Lion's Thorn Aesop the Fabulist

I have seen how even the fiercest beasts remember a kindness. A lion, his paw swollen by a thorn, did not forget the man...

How to Cleanse Water Using Earth's Humble Gifts Hildegard of Bingen

In all of God's creation, there is a living greenness, a 'viriditas' that gives life. Pure water is the vessel for this divine force...

Constructing a Communal Granary for Enduring Prosperity Imhotep of Memphis

A kingdom's strength is measured by its granaries. I have overseen the erection of stone storehouses that ensured the life of Egypt through years...

How to See the Universe in a Cup of Wine Li Bai

The world offers endless clamor, but true understanding is found in stillness. With this simple cup, I will show you how to quiet the...

A Method for Asepsis: Sterilizing Instruments for Scientific and Medical Work Marie Curie

In my work, from the isolation of radium to the operation of radiological cars on the front lines, I have learned a truth of...

How to Settle Strife by Yielding Like Water Lao Tzu

The Sage does not contend, and so no one under heaven can contend with him. This is the great secret. To force a solution...

A Method for Moving Great Stones with Lever and Earthen Ramp Imhotep of Memphis

The gods did not grant man the strength of a behemoth, but they gave him a mind to command the forces of the world....

A Systematic Method for the Investigation of Failed Experiments Marie Curie

In my work, I have found that nature does not yield her secrets easily. Failure is not a cause for despair, but rather a...

How to Establish a Poultry Yard for a Constant Supply of Eggs and Meat Lucius Junius Columella

I have long maintained that no part of a country estate, however small, is more profitable than a well-managed poultry yard. The common fowl...

How to Prepare the Investment Mold for a Flawless Bronze Cast Benvenuto Cellini

Listen well, for I, Benvenuto Cellini, shall impart a secret more valuable than gold itself: the creation of a perfect investment mold. Many a...

How to Sing the Founding of a City Homer the Poet

Hark, you who would build a new Troy from dust and hope. A wall of stone may keep out the wolf, but a story...

A Captain's Mandate: Forging Order for a Long Journey Zheng He

I have commanded treasure fleets larger than any city in Europe, carrying tens of thousands of men across unknown oceans for years at a...

How to Construct a Water Screw by Geometrical Principle Archimedes of Syracuse

I devised this simple machine to solve a vexing problem: how to defy gravity and lift water from a lower to a higher place....

How to Quiet the Thirsty Mind: A Practice in Appreciating What You Possess Siddhartha Gautama

I have seen that much of our human sorrow arises from a mind that forever seeks what it does not have. It is like...

On the Taming of Ideas: A Composer's Guide to the Workbook Ludwig van Beethoven

Do not speak to me of fleeting inspiration! A divine spark is a chaotic thing, a flash of lightning that illuminates nothing if not...

Constructing Papyrus Sheets for Enduring Records Imhotep of Memphis

A kingdom without records is built on sand. To ensure the permanence of laws, histories, and sacred texts, one must command the art of...

A Guide to Determining the Proper Depth for Sowing Seed Jethro Tull

Cease the wasteful and ignorant practice of casting seed upon the ground haphazardly! Much crop failure is born not of poor soil or want...

How to Welcome the Stranger and Make Your Tribe Whole Jesus of Nazareth

I tell you a truth: a community is like a field. If you only plant one kind of seed, it may fail in a...

On Choosing Defensible Ground for a Settlement Sun Tzu

The art of war teaches that ground is a commander's greatest ally or most treacherous foe. The same is true when choosing a place...

Reading the Berry Bushes: A Guide to Safe Foraging Sacagawea the Great

The land offers gifts, but you must have the wisdom to accept the right ones. My journey with Captains Lewis and Clark taught me...

A Practical Method for Keeping Bees in Simple Hives Lucius Junius Columella

On my own farm, and on those I have advised, the keeping of bees has always been a mark of a well-managed estate. Honey...

A Method for Locating and Securing Potable Water Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Before any foundation is laid or a single wall is raised, the first duty of the builder is to secure a supply of wholesome...

On Choosing a Safe Encampment for the Night's Rest Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have spanned from the Maghrib to the lands of Cathay, I have learned that the...

Saving Your Goods When the River Turns Against You Sacagawea the Great

The river can be a friend, but it can also be a sudden enemy. When our pirogue filled with water and turned on its...

Predicting Weather by Observing the Sea, Sky, and Birds Zheng He

Aboard my treasure ships, the lives of twenty thousand men and the Emperor's charge depended not on charts alone, but on reading the language...

How to Soothe Fevers and Pain with Willow Bark Sacagawea the Great

On our long journey to the great salt water, my child often grew tired, and sometimes the fever would come. The land always provides...

How to Cultivate Loving-Kindness to Overcome Hostility Siddhartha Gautama

Just as a spring of clear water can soothe a parched throat, the practice of Metta, or loving-kindness, can soothe a mind afflicted by...

A Guide to Sharing Knowledge with an Unattached Mind Siddhartha Gautama

I have observed that the desire to be correct is a great fire that can consume both the teacher and the student. When we...

When to Act and When to Wait: The Art of Timing Sun Tzu

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. This principle extends beyond the battlefield to all endeavors. Knowing when to...

How to Weave Wisdom into a Simple Parable Jalal ad-Din Rumi

The human soul is a garden, and our words are the water we offer it. A harsh command may cause a child to obey,...

A Method for the Logical Classification of Flora and Fauna Aristotle of Stagira

To act with virtue and reason, one must first possess knowledge of his surroundings. For how can a man provide for his household or...

A Guide to Foraging Wild Mint and Other Greens for Tea and Flavor Sacagawea the Great

The captains I traveled with were focused on maps and rivers, but I knew that survival is also found in the small things. A...

A Mariner's Method for Salting and Drying Fish Zheng He

On my many voyages across the great Western Ocean, the health of my men was paramount. A full belly ensures a strong arm and...

To Fashion a Tool That Endures, Follow the Way of the Wood Lao Tzu

The uncarved block holds all possibilities. To create a tool that serves for a lifetime, one must not force the wood, but listen to...

Performing Fables to Teach Wisdom to Young and Old Aesop the Fabulist

I have spent my life watching the cunning fox, the proud lion, and the industrious ant. In their simple actions, they reveal the truths...

How to Construct a Road: The Artery of Civilization Julius Caesar

A legion's march is only as swift as the path beneath its feet. An empire's wealth flows only where commerce can travel unhindered. Do...

On Keeping a Rihla: A Traveler's Guide to Recording the World Ibn Battuta

In my travels across the breadth of the lands of Islam and beyond, from the deserts of the Maghrib to the ports of Cathay,...

How to Conceive of the Atom: A Primer on the Building Blocks of Matter Marie Curie

I have dedicated my life to the study of the fundamental constituents of the universe. All that you see, touch, and are, is composed...

On the Proper Construction of a Percussion Ensemble from Found Materials Johann Sebastian Bach

Before one may construct a fugue or a cantata, one must first establish the Tactus, the very heartbeat of music. All harmony and melody...

A Method for Producing Soap from Common Ash and Fat Marie Curie

In my work, I have observed that the most profound transformations often arise from the simplest of elements. The creation of soap is a...

Reading the Land: How to Find Your Way Without a Paper Map Sacagawea the Great

When I was a girl, my people did not carry papers that told them where to go. The land itself was our map, and...

Constructing a Segmented Ship for Safe Passage Zheng He

I have guided treasure fleets across oceans vaster than any man had dreamed. Our safety rested not just on the stars, but on the...

On Selecting a Site for a Salubrious and Defensible City Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

I, Vitruvius, have laid down for the Emperor the principles of all buildings, and I tell you now that no principle is more vital...

On Finding and Testing Earth for Durable Brickmaking Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

A structure's permanence is founded not upon its size, but upon the quality of its smallest parts. A wall built of poor bricks will...

How to Lay a Foundation That Will Stand for Centuries Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

A structure, whether a humble home or a grand temple, is an argument against oblivion. Its first premise, upon which all else rests, is...

A Method for Selecting Leaders Based on Character and Competence Sun Tzu

The selection of a leader is not a matter of preference, but of survival. Brute strength or a loud voice may win a skirmish,...

Finding the Earth's Hidden Gifts: How to Harvest Roots for Your Journey Sacagawea the Great

The earth provides for us, but only if we learn her face and listen to her whispers. I have walked many miles, from the...

A Master's Guide to Lifting and Setting Monumental Stone Phidias of Athens

I have seen lesser men attempt to move great stones with brute force and foolish haste, only to see their work end in ruin....

How to Judge the Soul of Stone for Building and Sculpture Michelangelo Buonarroti

Before any man dares lift a hammer, he must first learn to see. A work of art or a mighty wall is not born...

How to Prepare True Earth Pigments for Enduring Art Michelangelo Buonarroti

Do not trust the fleeting hues of charlatans or the shortcuts of the lazy. True color, the kind that speaks to God and withstands...

How to Conduct an Orderly Public Assembly for Sound Governance Marcus Tullius Cicero

A state is nothing less than a partnership in justice. Yet justice cannot be found where chaos reigns and the loudest voices drown out...

A Guide to Fasting for Self-Purification and Resolve Mahatma Gandhi

I have found that fasting is one of the most powerful tools not only for cleansing the body, but for purifying the soul and...

A Guide to Resolving Disputes with Truth-Force (Satyagraha) Mahatma Gandhi

I have found that the truest strength of a community lies not in the absence of disagreement, but in its ability to resolve conflict...

A Farmer's Guide to Judging Soil by the Senses Lucius Junius Columella

I have spent a lifetime observing the land, for upon its quality rests the fate of any farm. Forget strange new instruments; the gods...

On Restoring Fertility to Barren Soil with Manure Lucius Junius Columella

I, Columella, have observed that the earth, our bounteous mother, grows weary when we take from her without giving back. Many complain of barren...

On Choosing Land for an Enduring Farmstead Lucius Junius Columella

Before a single seed is sown or a foundation stone laid, the fate of your farm is decided by your choice of land. Many...

How to Find the Way by Following a Stream Li Bai

A man who would rule the world must first learn from water. I have spent a thousand nights with the moon as my cupbearer...

Composing Your Mind in Solitude Like a Mountain Hermit Li Bai

The world of men is a cage of dust, full of endless striving and clamor that muddies the spirit. I have found that true...

On the Mechanical Principles of Mending Bone and Sinew Leonardo da Vinci

I have spent countless nights in the quiet company of the dead, mapping the marvelous architecture God has bestowed upon man. The body is...

How to Observe the Flow of Nature to Understand Change Lao Tzu

The Sage does not look to the writings of men for wisdom; he looks to the world as it is. The great Tao flows...

Finding Clarity by Emptying the Mind Lao Tzu

The wise ruler keeps the people's minds empty and their bellies full. In the same way, you must learn to empty your own mind...

The Way of Cultivating Stillness in a World of Turmoil Lao Tzu

The great Tao flows everywhere. To find it, one must become like it: still, deep, and yielding. In times of chaos, men strive and...

How to Unveil the Colours Hidden in Earth and Plant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I have long held that colour is the result of light's deeds and sufferings. It is not some abstract wave, but a phenomenon we...

How to Construct and Employ My Horse-Drawn Hoe Jethro Tull

For too long, husbandry has been plagued by guesswork and back-breaking, fruitless labour. Men sow their seed haphazardly and then watch as weeds, those...

How to Lead by Serving Your People Jesus of Nazareth

I have seen how the rulers of this world lord their power over others, but it shall not be so among you. True authority...

How to Fashion Lenses for the Observation of Natural Phenomena Isaac Newton

The Corpuscular Theory I have posited demonstrates that Light is composed of particles, whose paths may be bent, or refracted, according to precise mathematical...

How to Quarry and Dress Stone for Eternal Structures Imhotep of Memphis

I am Imhotep, who served the great King Djoser and raised for him a stairway to the heavens from the living rock. A structure...

A Systematic Method for the Examination of Bodily Injury Imhotep of Memphis

Before one lays a single stone, one must survey the ground. So it is with the body. To heal an injury without first understanding...

How to Vet Strangers and Find a Trustworthy Guide on the Road Ibn Battuta

In all my travels, from the lands of the Zinjs to the courts of Cathay, my life has rested upon the character of my...

Weaving the Web of Guest-Friendship: The Sacred Laws of Xenia Homer the Poet

Hear me, for I sing of a law more vital than high walls or sharp spears: the sacred bond of xenia. In a world...

On Cleansing Wounds to Avert Putrefaction Hippocrates of Kos

The body possesses a natural power to heal, yet it is the physician's duty to remove all impediments to this process. A wound left...

Observing Viriditas: A Daily Practice for Seeing God's Greening Power Hildegard of Bingen

In my visions, the Lord has shown me that the soul is like a green and flourishing tree. The divine life force that makes...

Preparing a Fennel Tonic for Digestive Health and Joyful Spirit Hildegard of Bingen

Through the Divine wisdom that flows through all of creation, God has bestowed a special virtue upon the fennel plant. Its gentle warmth dispels...

On the Movement of Peoples Over Hostile Ground Hannibal Barca

I have led armies of many nations across terrain the Romans deemed impassable. Victory is not won on the battlefield alone; it is forged...

On the Selection and Fortification of a Field Camp Hannibal Barca

I have led armies across mountains and plains, and I tell you this: a soldier who sleeps soundly is a soldier who fights well....

A Method for Grinding Lenses to See the Unseen Galileo Galilei

I present here a guide to fashioning a simple lens, the very heart of the telescope with which I first witnessed the moons of...

The Path of Purification: Climbing the Seven Terraces of Self-Improvement Dante Alighieri

I have journeyed through the dark wood of despair and the infernal abyss, and I tell you truly that the path to a righteous...

A Gentleman's Guide to the Five Relationships for a Stable Society Kong Qiu

I have observed that the world falls into chaos when men forget their proper places and duties. A society is not a disordered mass,...

On Pressing Olives for Oil: A Method for the Prudent Householder Cato the Elder

A well-managed estate provides for its own needs. Chief among these is oil, for it fuels our lamps, enriches our food, and cleanses our...

How to Select Land for a Productive and Secure Farmstead Cato the Elder

Before you lay a single stone or plant one seed, the fate of your household is decided by the ground you choose. A man's...

On the Cultivation of Cabbage: The Best of All Vegetables Cato the Elder

Pay heed. Of all vegetables, the cabbage is first. It will feed your family and serve as your physician, saving you from the costly...

Casting Enduring Tools with Wax and Fire: My Method for Perfection Benvenuto Cellini

Do not mistake this for mere blacksmithing. This is the art of giving birth to metal in its perfect form, the very method I,...

On the Forging of a Serviceable Blade from Scrap Iron Benvenuto Cellini

In my life, I have faced popes and peasants, rivals and ruffians. A well-made blade has been a more constant friend than any man....

On Forging Steel Tools Fit for a Master's Work Benvenuto Cellini

Listen closely. Any clumsy fool can buy a tool, but a true artist, one whose name will echo through the ages, forges his own....

A Master's Guide to Building a Furnace for Melting Bronze Benvenuto Cellini

Do not imagine that you can command the noble art of metalworking without first mastering the fire that gives it life. Many a fool...

A Method for Forming a Volunteer Fire Company to Defend Your Settlement Benjamin Franklin

As I have often observed, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Fire is a merciless enemy to any community, capable...

A Practical Method for Securing Buildings Against Heavenly Fire Benjamin Franklin

It has been my great occupation to study the nature of Electrical Fire, that formidable power of the heavens. Through experiment—most famously with a...

On Determining the Purity of an Object Using Water's Displacement Archimedes of Syracuse

A method came to me whilst in my bath, a moment of such clarity that I shouted 'Eureka!' for all of Syracuse to hear....

How to Raise Water: Constructing a Cochlea for Irrigation Archimedes of Syracuse

By my own hand, I offer you a method to make water climb. This device, which some call my screw, is naught but geometry...

On the Making of a Permanent Black Ink from Oak Galls and Iron Albrecht Dürer

A line drawn with a fleeting ink is a fleeting thought. But a line of true iron gall ink becomes one with the paper,...

Make a cup of coffee Peter Williams

Caffine is very important in getting you going in the morning and contains many rare nutrients which you can't get anywhere else.

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Extract salt from sea water by evaporation Peter Williams

Salt is a key mineral, and when it happens, you will need to find a way to produce your own salt.

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Find fresh water when near a beach by digging a well Peter Williams

Find fresh water when near a beach by digging a well.

2
The perfect cuppa Luther Jones

Making a perfect cup of tea should be considered the default first step in every method.

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No bread? Try these quick oat biscuits with your cheese Jude Jones

Sometimes you can't get hold of bread or panic buying has seen off the ingredients you need to make it. But you need something...

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How to Unmoor the Heart: A Poet's Guide to Spontaneity Li Bai

The world insists we follow paths as straight as canals, our days measured by plans as rigid as a scholar's grid. But when the...

How to Quiet the Thirsty Mind: A Practice in Appreciating What You Possess Siddhartha Gautama

I have seen that much of our human sorrow arises from a mind that forever seeks what it does not have. It is like...

How to Weave Wisdom into a Simple Parable Jalal ad-Din Rumi

The human soul is a garden, and our words are the water we offer it. A harsh command may cause a child to obey,...

How to Find the Way by Following a Stream Li Bai

A man who would rule the world must first learn from water. I have spent a thousand nights with the moon as my cupbearer...

Finding Clarity by Emptying the Mind Lao Tzu

The wise ruler keeps the people's minds empty and their bellies full. In the same way, you must learn to empty your own mind...

Cellini's Method for Reading the Stones: Identifying Metal Ores Benvenuto Cellini

Before you dream of casting a Perseus or striking a fine coin, you must first learn the language of the stones. A fool sees...

On the Conveyance of Water: Building a Lasting Aqueduct Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Water is the first necessity of life and the foundation of a worthy city. Without a pure and copious supply, there can be no...

How to Govern a Community by Doing Less Lao Tzu

The great river is powerful because it stays low. So too must the leader. To govern a community, one must not grasp and control,...

A Roman Farmer's Poultice for Wounds and Sprains Cato the Elder

A good paterfamilias must know how to tend not only his fields but also his household, including the bodies of his family and workers....

A Method for Measuring Local Gravity with a Simple Pendulum Isaac Newton

I have demonstrated that the force which holds the planets in their orbits is the very same that causes an apple to fall to...

How to Construct a Thermoscope to Gauge the Degrees of Heat and Cold Galileo Galilei

It is my firm conviction that the secrets of the natural world are revealed not by blind adherence to ancient texts, but through direct...

A Guide to the Proper Care and Use of the Singing Voice Johann Sebastian Bach

In my service as Cantor, I have found that a choir is built not upon a few brilliant soloists, but upon a community of...

A Primer for the Tongue and Hand: Recreating the Alphabet from Earth's Vestiges James Joyce

In the wake of great silences, the first duty is to reconstruct the very architecture of thought. This is no mere child's play of...

A Roman Method for Fermenting Grapes into Sound, Storable Wine Cato the Elder

A well-managed estate provides for itself. Wine is not a luxury, but a necessity for health, sustenance, and the morale of your household. Follow...

A Scientist's Guide to the Safe Handling and Storage of Chemical Substances Marie Curie

In my work isolating the elements, I have learned that the substances of our world are not passive. They possess an energy, a nature,...

Establishing the Hortus for Constant Provision Lucius Junius Columella

A diligent master of a household knows that prosperity begins not in far-flung fields, but at his own doorstep. The kitchen garden, or hortus,...

How to Select a Defensible Settlement Site Julius Caesar

A legion that makes camp on poor ground is already half-defeated. The same is true for a new settlement. Your first and most crucial...

A Method for Delivering Pure Water Using Gravity's Gentle Hand Leonardo da Vinci

Water, as the 'vetturale di natura' or carrier of nature, is the lifeblood of any settlement. I have spent a lifetime observing its motion,...

A Craftsman's Method for Grinding Earthly Colours Albrecht Dürer

Mark my words, the soul of a painting lies not only in the artist's hand, but in the purity and permanence of his colours....

A Method for Creating Durable Plaster According to True Principles Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

I shall set forth the proper method for mixing and applying lime plaster, a skill essential for any edifice aspiring to permanence and beauty....

A Practical Method for Crafting Hard Cheese to Preserve Milk Lucius Junius Columella

On any well-managed estate, the flock's milk is a treasure not to be squandered. Since it spoils quickly, the prudent husbandman must convert it...

How to Weave a Basket of Words for Your Memories Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Do not think you are merely making rhymes. You are a hollow reed, and the breath of experience blows through you, making a music...

A Proper Roman Remedy for a Troublesome Cough Cato the Elder

A persistent cough weakens a man and makes him unfit for labor. It is the duty of the master of the house to see...

A Method for Perceiving the Love That Moves the Heavens Dante Alighieri

In my long exile, I have learned that the world of men is a dark wood, where the straight way is often lost. Yet,...

How to Pay Homage to the Gods of a New Land Homer the Poet

Hearken, you who would wander into lands unknown. I have sung of heroes whose fortunes turned on the whims of the gods, men who...

On Holding a Public Assembly for the Common Good Solon of Athens

I have seen cities torn asunder by the strife between the rich and the poor, where power is a club wielded by the few....

Mending Wounds with Yarrow, the Warrior's Herb Sacagawea the Great

The earth provides for us, if we know how to look. On our long journey to the great salt water, cuts and scrapes were...

How to Weave a Farewell in Verse for a Friend's Long Journey Li Bai

When a dear friend must depart, the heart feels like a boat cut from its mooring. Words often fail, but a poem can be...

A Commander's Guide to Fortifying with the Land Sun Tzu

A wall of stone can be broken, an army can be routed. But he who makes an ally of the mountains and rivers commands...

How to Weave a Community with the Thread of Story Scheherazade of Arabia

A vengeful king may be calmed by a single story, but a fractured people can only be mended by a thousand. I speak from...

A Simple Daily Practice for Mental Stillness and Ethical Conduct Siddhartha Gautama

Just as a farmer tends his fields each day, so too must we tend the garden of our own mind. In times of great...

A Practical Guide to the Three Fundamental Laws of Motion Isaac Newton

I have, through diligent observation and calculation, discerned the principles by which the Almighty governs the material world. These are not my opinions, but...

A Method for Organizing a Mobile Medical Unit for Field Emergencies Marie Curie

In the crucible of the Great War, it became brutally clear that swift, accurate medical intervention saves lives. Delay and disorganization are as fatal...

A Method for Calculating Projectile Trajectories Isaac Newton

It has been my life's work to show that the universe is not a chaotic mystery, but a grand and intricate clockwork, governed by...

A Guide to the Proper Siting of a Necessary House Benjamin Franklin

It has been my observation that the health and prosperity of a community are directly tied to its cleanliness. Foul airs and tainted water...

How to Manage Provisions for Long-Term Security Sun Tzu

An army without a supply train is lost. A settlement without a granary is a corpse waiting to fall. Do not mistake the management...

How to Listen to the Wisdom of Mountains Li Bai

I have spent more nights with the moon for a companion and a mountain for a pillow than I have in the gilded halls...

How to Forge an Army's Will Amidst Despair Hannibal Barca

An army is a body; its spirit is the blood. Without it, the strongest limbs are useless. I led men from Iberia, Gaul, and...

How to Judge Your Own Day: A Method for Self-Improvement Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Each evening, when the light has been removed and my household has fallen silent, I follow a custom of my own: I examine my...

Constructing Aqueducts by the Principles of Hydrostatics Archimedes of Syracuse

By understanding a simple truth—that water, possessing weight, must always seek the lowest point—we can command it to travel great distances. This is not...

On Finding Safe Water and Lodging in an Unknown City Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have taken me from my home in the Maghrib to the distant lands of Chin,...

A Guide to Provisioning for a Desert Crossing Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have spanned the known world, no journey tests a man's foresight like crossing the great...

Understanding the Tides Through Lunar and Solar Attraction Isaac Newton

I have found through rigorous calculation that the ocean's great motion is not some vital spirit of the Earth, but a direct and calculable...

A Physician's Guide to Preparing Herbal Cough Remedies Hippocrates of Kos

I have observed that a cough is the body's attempt to expel an excess of phlegm and restore its natural balance. Do not obstruct...

How to Establish a Community Library: A Foundation for Culture Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A society without books is a body without a soul. In my years directing the great library at Weimar, I learned that a collection...

A Method for Binding Pigments with Egg Yolk to Create Tempera Paint Albrecht Dürer

Pay close attention, for I shall instruct you in the art of making egg tempera, a medium of wondrous luminosity and swiftness. Unlike the...

A Gentleman's Guide to Learning Virtue from the Patterns of Nature Kong Qiu

The workings of Heaven are profound and orderly. The seasons proceed without error, and the ten thousand things flourish according to their nature. By...

A Commander's Guide to Crossing Major Rivers Hannibal Barca

A river can be a more formidable barrier than a mountain range or a Roman legion. It does not sleep, it does not tire,...

How to Polish Metal to a Divine Luster with Sand, Leather, and Ash Benvenuto Cellini

A fool believes his work is done when it leaves the mold. A master knows the soul of the metal is only revealed in...

Employing Scouts to Turn Knowledge Into Victory Sun Tzu

A wise leader does not act on hope or guess; he acts on foreknowledge. Without knowing the terrain, the location of resources, or the...

How to Create Mortar for Eternal Structures Imhotep of Memphis

A mountain is but a pile of stones without the will of the gods to bind it. Likewise, a wall is a collection of...

Arranging Your Living Space for Tranquility and Purpose Lucius Annaeus Seneca

A man's home is a reflection of his soul. If it is cluttered with trifles and vain luxuries, his mind, too, will be in...

The Fragrant Garden of Solitude: A Way to Meet Your Soul Jalal ad-Din Rumi

The world shouts and clamors, pulling your soul in a thousand directions until you forget its true name. But do not despair. Within you...

On the Crucial Distinction Between What Is Seen and What Is Deduced Galileo Galilei

I have spent my life staring at the heavens, not with the eyes of faith or poetry alone, but with lenses I ground myself....

How to Make Durable Lime Plaster for Walls and Cisterns Cato the Elder

A paterfamilias must ensure his buildings are sound and his water is clean. Flimsy work is a waste of labor and invites ruin. I...

How to Plant and Tend an Olive Grove for Abundant Oil Lucius Junius Columella

Alongside grain and wine, the olive is a gift of Providence, essential for a prosperous estate and a healthy body. It provides not just...

To Serve in Small Things: A Guide to Humble Work Jesus of Nazareth

Many believe that greatness is found only in mighty deeds or loud proclamations. But I tell you, the Kingdom of God is like a...

On Maintaining Health with Simple Fare and Hard Labor Cato the Elder

A Roman's strength, and thus the strength of the Republic itself, is not found in lavish banquets or the soft cushions of the Greeks....

The Vizier's Method for the Just Apportionment of Sustenance Imhotep of Memphis

A structure, whether of stone or of people, stands only if its foundations are sound. In times of want, the foundation of a community...

How to Impose Order Upon the Land: Laying the Foundations of a Lasting Settlement Imhotep of Memphis

A heap of dwellings is a temporary camp, vulnerable to chaos, fire, and filth. But a settlement laid with purpose and precision becomes a...

On the Just Arbitration of Disputes to Preserve the State Solon of Athens

I was called upon to serve Athens when she stood on the very brink of civil war, torn between the wealthy and the poor....

How to Sustain Your People When the Enemy Encircles You Hannibal Barca

Victory is not won by the strength of your walls, but by the discipline within them. I have seen great cities fall not to...

A Method for the Extraction and Purification of Sodium Chloride from Natural Sources Marie Curie

Sodium chloride is essential not only for life but for the preservation of sustenance. Yet, salt gathered from nature is invariably contaminated with undesirable...

How to Uncover Nature's Truths Through Systematic Observation Galileo Galilei

For too long, men have sought knowledge only in dusty books and the pronouncements of ancient masters. But I say to you, the great...

A Method to Practice Gratitude with the Lion's Thorn Aesop the Fabulist

I have seen how even the fiercest beasts remember a kindness. A lion, his paw swollen by a thorn, did not forget the man...

How to Cleanse Water Using Earth's Humble Gifts Hildegard of Bingen

In all of God's creation, there is a living greenness, a 'viriditas' that gives life. Pure water is the vessel for this divine force...

Constructing a Communal Granary for Enduring Prosperity Imhotep of Memphis

A kingdom's strength is measured by its granaries. I have overseen the erection of stone storehouses that ensured the life of Egypt through years...

How to See the Universe in a Cup of Wine Li Bai

The world offers endless clamor, but true understanding is found in stillness. With this simple cup, I will show you how to quiet the...

A Method for Asepsis: Sterilizing Instruments for Scientific and Medical Work Marie Curie

In my work, from the isolation of radium to the operation of radiological cars on the front lines, I have learned a truth of...

How to Settle Strife by Yielding Like Water Lao Tzu

The Sage does not contend, and so no one under heaven can contend with him. This is the great secret. To force a solution...

A Method for Moving Great Stones with Lever and Earthen Ramp Imhotep of Memphis

The gods did not grant man the strength of a behemoth, but they gave him a mind to command the forces of the world....

A Systematic Method for the Investigation of Failed Experiments Marie Curie

In my work, I have found that nature does not yield her secrets easily. Failure is not a cause for despair, but rather a...

How to Establish a Poultry Yard for a Constant Supply of Eggs and Meat Lucius Junius Columella

I have long maintained that no part of a country estate, however small, is more profitable than a well-managed poultry yard. The common fowl...

How to Prepare the Investment Mold for a Flawless Bronze Cast Benvenuto Cellini

Listen well, for I, Benvenuto Cellini, shall impart a secret more valuable than gold itself: the creation of a perfect investment mold. Many a...

How to Sing the Founding of a City Homer the Poet

Hark, you who would build a new Troy from dust and hope. A wall of stone may keep out the wolf, but a story...

A Captain's Mandate: Forging Order for a Long Journey Zheng He

I have commanded treasure fleets larger than any city in Europe, carrying tens of thousands of men across unknown oceans for years at a...

How to Construct a Water Screw by Geometrical Principle Archimedes of Syracuse

I devised this simple machine to solve a vexing problem: how to defy gravity and lift water from a lower to a higher place....

On the Taming of Ideas: A Composer's Guide to the Workbook Ludwig van Beethoven

Do not speak to me of fleeting inspiration! A divine spark is a chaotic thing, a flash of lightning that illuminates nothing if not...

Constructing Papyrus Sheets for Enduring Records Imhotep of Memphis

A kingdom without records is built on sand. To ensure the permanence of laws, histories, and sacred texts, one must command the art of...

A Guide to Determining the Proper Depth for Sowing Seed Jethro Tull

Cease the wasteful and ignorant practice of casting seed upon the ground haphazardly! Much crop failure is born not of poor soil or want...

How to Welcome the Stranger and Make Your Tribe Whole Jesus of Nazareth

I tell you a truth: a community is like a field. If you only plant one kind of seed, it may fail in a...

On Choosing Defensible Ground for a Settlement Sun Tzu

The art of war teaches that ground is a commander's greatest ally or most treacherous foe. The same is true when choosing a place...

Reading the Berry Bushes: A Guide to Safe Foraging Sacagawea the Great

The land offers gifts, but you must have the wisdom to accept the right ones. My journey with Captains Lewis and Clark taught me...

A Practical Method for Keeping Bees in Simple Hives Lucius Junius Columella

On my own farm, and on those I have advised, the keeping of bees has always been a mark of a well-managed estate. Honey...

A Method for Locating and Securing Potable Water Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Before any foundation is laid or a single wall is raised, the first duty of the builder is to secure a supply of wholesome...

On Choosing a Safe Encampment for the Night's Rest Ibn Battuta

In my travels, which by the grace of Allah have spanned from the Maghrib to the lands of Cathay, I have learned that the...

Saving Your Goods When the River Turns Against You Sacagawea the Great

The river can be a friend, but it can also be a sudden enemy. When our pirogue filled with water and turned on its...

Predicting Weather by Observing the Sea, Sky, and Birds Zheng He

Aboard my treasure ships, the lives of twenty thousand men and the Emperor's charge depended not on charts alone, but on reading the language...

How to Soothe Fevers and Pain with Willow Bark Sacagawea the Great

On our long journey to the great salt water, my child often grew tired, and sometimes the fever would come. The land always provides...

How to Cultivate Loving-Kindness to Overcome Hostility Siddhartha Gautama

Just as a spring of clear water can soothe a parched throat, the practice of Metta, or loving-kindness, can soothe a mind afflicted by...

A Guide to Sharing Knowledge with an Unattached Mind Siddhartha Gautama

I have observed that the desire to be correct is a great fire that can consume both the teacher and the student. When we...

When to Act and When to Wait: The Art of Timing Sun Tzu

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. This principle extends beyond the battlefield to all endeavors. Knowing when to...

A Method for the Logical Classification of Flora and Fauna Aristotle of Stagira

To act with virtue and reason, one must first possess knowledge of his surroundings. For how can a man provide for his household or...

A Guide to Foraging Wild Mint and Other Greens for Tea and Flavor Sacagawea the Great

The captains I traveled with were focused on maps and rivers, but I knew that survival is also found in the small things. A...

A Mariner's Method for Salting and Drying Fish Zheng He

On my many voyages across the great Western Ocean, the health of my men was paramount. A full belly ensures a strong arm and...

To Fashion a Tool That Endures, Follow the Way of the Wood Lao Tzu

The uncarved block holds all possibilities. To create a tool that serves for a lifetime, one must not force the wood, but listen to...

Performing Fables to Teach Wisdom to Young and Old Aesop the Fabulist

I have spent my life watching the cunning fox, the proud lion, and the industrious ant. In their simple actions, they reveal the truths...

How to Construct a Road: The Artery of Civilization Julius Caesar

A legion's march is only as swift as the path beneath its feet. An empire's wealth flows only where commerce can travel unhindered. Do...

On Keeping a Rihla: A Traveler's Guide to Recording the World Ibn Battuta

In my travels across the breadth of the lands of Islam and beyond, from the deserts of the Maghrib to the ports of Cathay,...

How to Conceive of the Atom: A Primer on the Building Blocks of Matter Marie Curie

I have dedicated my life to the study of the fundamental constituents of the universe. All that you see, touch, and are, is composed...

On the Proper Construction of a Percussion Ensemble from Found Materials Johann Sebastian Bach

Before one may construct a fugue or a cantata, one must first establish the Tactus, the very heartbeat of music. All harmony and melody...

A Method for Producing Soap from Common Ash and Fat Marie Curie

In my work, I have observed that the most profound transformations often arise from the simplest of elements. The creation of soap is a...

Reading the Land: How to Find Your Way Without a Paper Map Sacagawea the Great

When I was a girl, my people did not carry papers that told them where to go. The land itself was our map, and...

Constructing a Segmented Ship for Safe Passage Zheng He

I have guided treasure fleets across oceans vaster than any man had dreamed. Our safety rested not just on the stars, but on the...

On Selecting a Site for a Salubrious and Defensible City Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

I, Vitruvius, have laid down for the Emperor the principles of all buildings, and I tell you now that no principle is more vital...

On Finding and Testing Earth for Durable Brickmaking Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

A structure's permanence is founded not upon its size, but upon the quality of its smallest parts. A wall built of poor bricks will...

How to Lay a Foundation That Will Stand for Centuries Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

A structure, whether a humble home or a grand temple, is an argument against oblivion. Its first premise, upon which all else rests, is...

A Method for Selecting Leaders Based on Character and Competence Sun Tzu

The selection of a leader is not a matter of preference, but of survival. Brute strength or a loud voice may win a skirmish,...

Finding the Earth's Hidden Gifts: How to Harvest Roots for Your Journey Sacagawea the Great

The earth provides for us, but only if we learn her face and listen to her whispers. I have walked many miles, from the...

A Master's Guide to Lifting and Setting Monumental Stone Phidias of Athens

I have seen lesser men attempt to move great stones with brute force and foolish haste, only to see their work end in ruin....

How to Judge the Soul of Stone for Building and Sculpture Michelangelo Buonarroti

Before any man dares lift a hammer, he must first learn to see. A work of art or a mighty wall is not born...

How to Prepare True Earth Pigments for Enduring Art Michelangelo Buonarroti

Do not trust the fleeting hues of charlatans or the shortcuts of the lazy. True color, the kind that speaks to God and withstands...

How to Conduct an Orderly Public Assembly for Sound Governance Marcus Tullius Cicero

A state is nothing less than a partnership in justice. Yet justice cannot be found where chaos reigns and the loudest voices drown out...

A Guide to Fasting for Self-Purification and Resolve Mahatma Gandhi

I have found that fasting is one of the most powerful tools not only for cleansing the body, but for purifying the soul and...

A Guide to Resolving Disputes with Truth-Force (Satyagraha) Mahatma Gandhi

I have found that the truest strength of a community lies not in the absence of disagreement, but in its ability to resolve conflict...

A Farmer's Guide to Judging Soil by the Senses Lucius Junius Columella

I have spent a lifetime observing the land, for upon its quality rests the fate of any farm. Forget strange new instruments; the gods...

On Restoring Fertility to Barren Soil with Manure Lucius Junius Columella

I, Columella, have observed that the earth, our bounteous mother, grows weary when we take from her without giving back. Many complain of barren...

On Choosing Land for an Enduring Farmstead Lucius Junius Columella

Before a single seed is sown or a foundation stone laid, the fate of your farm is decided by your choice of land. Many...

Composing Your Mind in Solitude Like a Mountain Hermit Li Bai

The world of men is a cage of dust, full of endless striving and clamor that muddies the spirit. I have found that true...

On the Mechanical Principles of Mending Bone and Sinew Leonardo da Vinci

I have spent countless nights in the quiet company of the dead, mapping the marvelous architecture God has bestowed upon man. The body is...

How to Observe the Flow of Nature to Understand Change Lao Tzu

The Sage does not look to the writings of men for wisdom; he looks to the world as it is. The great Tao flows...

The Way of Cultivating Stillness in a World of Turmoil Lao Tzu

The great Tao flows everywhere. To find it, one must become like it: still, deep, and yielding. In times of chaos, men strive and...

How to Unveil the Colours Hidden in Earth and Plant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I have long held that colour is the result of light's deeds and sufferings. It is not some abstract wave, but a phenomenon we...

How to Construct and Employ My Horse-Drawn Hoe Jethro Tull

For too long, husbandry has been plagued by guesswork and back-breaking, fruitless labour. Men sow their seed haphazardly and then watch as weeds, those...

How to Lead by Serving Your People Jesus of Nazareth

I have seen how the rulers of this world lord their power over others, but it shall not be so among you. True authority...

How to Fashion Lenses for the Observation of Natural Phenomena Isaac Newton

The Corpuscular Theory I have posited demonstrates that Light is composed of particles, whose paths may be bent, or refracted, according to precise mathematical...

How to Quarry and Dress Stone for Eternal Structures Imhotep of Memphis

I am Imhotep, who served the great King Djoser and raised for him a stairway to the heavens from the living rock. A structure...

A Systematic Method for the Examination of Bodily Injury Imhotep of Memphis

Before one lays a single stone, one must survey the ground. So it is with the body. To heal an injury without first understanding...

How to Vet Strangers and Find a Trustworthy Guide on the Road Ibn Battuta

In all my travels, from the lands of the Zinjs to the courts of Cathay, my life has rested upon the character of my...

Weaving the Web of Guest-Friendship: The Sacred Laws of Xenia Homer the Poet

Hear me, for I sing of a law more vital than high walls or sharp spears: the sacred bond of xenia. In a world...

On Cleansing Wounds to Avert Putrefaction Hippocrates of Kos

The body possesses a natural power to heal, yet it is the physician's duty to remove all impediments to this process. A wound left...

Observing Viriditas: A Daily Practice for Seeing God's Greening Power Hildegard of Bingen

In my visions, the Lord has shown me that the soul is like a green and flourishing tree. The divine life force that makes...

Preparing a Fennel Tonic for Digestive Health and Joyful Spirit Hildegard of Bingen

Through the Divine wisdom that flows through all of creation, God has bestowed a special virtue upon the fennel plant. Its gentle warmth dispels...

On the Movement of Peoples Over Hostile Ground Hannibal Barca

I have led armies of many nations across terrain the Romans deemed impassable. Victory is not won on the battlefield alone; it is forged...

On the Selection and Fortification of a Field Camp Hannibal Barca

I have led armies across mountains and plains, and I tell you this: a soldier who sleeps soundly is a soldier who fights well....

A Method for Grinding Lenses to See the Unseen Galileo Galilei

I present here a guide to fashioning a simple lens, the very heart of the telescope with which I first witnessed the moons of...

The Path of Purification: Climbing the Seven Terraces of Self-Improvement Dante Alighieri

I have journeyed through the dark wood of despair and the infernal abyss, and I tell you truly that the path to a righteous...

A Gentleman's Guide to the Five Relationships for a Stable Society Kong Qiu

I have observed that the world falls into chaos when men forget their proper places and duties. A society is not a disordered mass,...

On Pressing Olives for Oil: A Method for the Prudent Householder Cato the Elder

A well-managed estate provides for its own needs. Chief among these is oil, for it fuels our lamps, enriches our food, and cleanses our...

How to Select Land for a Productive and Secure Farmstead Cato the Elder

Before you lay a single stone or plant one seed, the fate of your household is decided by the ground you choose. A man's...

On the Cultivation of Cabbage: The Best of All Vegetables Cato the Elder

Pay heed. Of all vegetables, the cabbage is first. It will feed your family and serve as your physician, saving you from the costly...

Casting Enduring Tools with Wax and Fire: My Method for Perfection Benvenuto Cellini

Do not mistake this for mere blacksmithing. This is the art of giving birth to metal in its perfect form, the very method I,...

On the Forging of a Serviceable Blade from Scrap Iron Benvenuto Cellini

In my life, I have faced popes and peasants, rivals and ruffians. A well-made blade has been a more constant friend than any man....

On Forging Steel Tools Fit for a Master's Work Benvenuto Cellini

Listen closely. Any clumsy fool can buy a tool, but a true artist, one whose name will echo through the ages, forges his own....

A Master's Guide to Building a Furnace for Melting Bronze Benvenuto Cellini

Do not imagine that you can command the noble art of metalworking without first mastering the fire that gives it life. Many a fool...

A Method for Forming a Volunteer Fire Company to Defend Your Settlement Benjamin Franklin

As I have often observed, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Fire is a merciless enemy to any community, capable...

A Practical Method for Securing Buildings Against Heavenly Fire Benjamin Franklin

It has been my great occupation to study the nature of Electrical Fire, that formidable power of the heavens. Through experiment—most famously with a...

On Determining the Purity of an Object Using Water's Displacement Archimedes of Syracuse

A method came to me whilst in my bath, a moment of such clarity that I shouted 'Eureka!' for all of Syracuse to hear....

How to Raise Water: Constructing a Cochlea for Irrigation Archimedes of Syracuse

By my own hand, I offer you a method to make water climb. This device, which some call my screw, is naught but geometry...

On the Making of a Permanent Black Ink from Oak Galls and Iron Albrecht Dürer

A line drawn with a fleeting ink is a fleeting thought. But a line of true iron gall ink becomes one with the paper,...

Make a cup of coffee Peter Williams

Caffine is very important in getting you going in the morning and contains many rare nutrients which you can't get anywhere else.

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Extract salt from sea water by evaporation Peter Williams

Salt is a key mineral, and when it happens, you will need to find a way to produce your own salt.

7
Find fresh water when near a beach by digging a well Peter Williams

Find fresh water when near a beach by digging a well.

2
The perfect cuppa Luther Jones

Making a perfect cup of tea should be considered the default first step in every method.

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No bread? Try these quick oat biscuits with your cheese Jude Jones

Sometimes you can't get hold of bread or panic buying has seen off the ingredients you need to make it. But you need something...

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