Scouting for Boys: The Original 1908 Edition (Dover Value Editions)

Just like I remember it from my youth. Well not the 1908 edition, I’m not that freakin old! But I was a Scout in the 60’s. Really brought back some very fond memories. I loved the scouts when I was a kid. My brother and all my friends practically lived in the woods. Lots of really cool, useful information in here as well as some kinda quaint but heartwarming stuff. Manners, self-discipline, citizenship. Decent, manly attributes that the p.c. pussification douchenozzles today would never let into a book like this. I’m hoping to have grandsons some day and I will slip them this book on the q.t. lolGreat stuffHighly recommendedThanks for reading

I am an OLD scout and have been wanting to read this book myself. It is a reprint of the original book. How things have changed....a young scout that is interested in the history of scouting my enjoy this as well.

A classic, my son into scouting joined 2 different groups. He has been reading this in Ukrainian with his grandfather for practice in reading so I ordered this so if he has a hard time understanding something, he can read it in English.I definitely had a talk with him prior to reading this about the times it was written and how world views have evolved since then. I also explained that some practical information in the book has become outdated with improvements in science, technology and medicine.But the basics are proven Tried and True.Great read.

As a former reader of new editions of THE book for Scouting I was so pleased to put my hands in such a "relic" eager to analyze the perspective of the early 20th century. But from the beginning, the introduction by Elleke Boehmer was a cold bath, opening eyes to practical matters relative to the personality of B.P. or maybe the studied and straight actions and decisions taken by the founder in a lot of ways to start and continue the scout movement; introduction that'll be a weight through all the reading. In a positive way, though, you'll be able to see through the eyes of a defender of the British Empire in a haste to change the laziness of the youth in his time and encouraging to get up and "move the feet" using all the tools learned in campaing: scouting, hiking, camping, study and respect of Nature, development of skills in handicrafts, knots, wood constructions, bonfires, etc. You'll have a clear sample of the real start and a glance of the problems with it.

I was an Eagle Scout as a boy, and now I'm the founding Scoutmaster of my sons' troop. As such, I was anxious to get a copy of this hard cover version. Baden-Powell's work is a classic and well worth the read. The problem with this edition is the Introduction by Elleke Boehmer. Without it, the book is a 5-star. Ms. Boehmer appears a non-believer. Reading her is like taking a pessimistic art critic along side while viewing an art gallery. Far more benefit (for all concerned) would occur without her input. For each positive she states about BP, she mentions a negative. She also spends just over two pages discussing homosexual tendencies (pp xxxii-xxxiii) within BP's works, something which is out of place in this work. I started to list several quotes, but I think one sums it up best of all from the back cover: "She has never been a scout, but she did once shake hands with Lady Baden-Powell at a jubilee celebration in South Africa." I guess that must make her an expert.

I was looking for a less expensive alternative to the hard copy version and this is a very nice reproduction of the original. I gift these to our Troop’s new Eagle Scouts.

The B-P text aside (as expected, no further comment), the intro, notes, &c. by the author made this THE best edition to buy.As an old scout myself, I was somewhat doubtful of an analysis by a female, but whoever gave her the task was as much a genius as she is. South African Dutch, female, post-colonial Oxford expert.... touches all the bases one hadn't thought existed. Erudite, bottom line.Bought a cheap used copy to read, but will be buying a collector's-grade for posterity. Fave quote: "Dispatch running practice is carried out using disguises, except, self-evidently, 'dressing up as a woman'."

At one time, this book was second in popularity only to the bible. This is Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell in his own words, unfiltered by modern political correctness. As the editor correctly notes; Scouting's " ...modernized handbooks gave priority to activities, skills, and awards, and minimized the overt ideological content of the original." Scouting for Boys is a must read for anyone interested in the history and traditions of the Scouting Movement, a critical read for anyone concerned about the direction the modern Scouting Movement has taken.

This book is excellent and interesting to people who want to know about the history of the"Scouting Movement"! I read this book a long time ago and it is just as good reading it for a second time-it lived up to my memories and expectations! It is also interesting to social scientists and historians on how social attitudes have changed in just over a hundred years- since just before World War 1?

Many of the underlying attitudes present in some books from the first half of the 20th century make me shudder, but this book is not one of them.I spent most of the Fifties, as a Cub to a Senior Scout, enjoying freedoms and adventures that youngsters today cannot even dream of. I have always regretted that I was unable to put back a little of what I was given.If the world is going to hell in a handbasket, perhaps these values will have meaning again.

This is an interesting book in many ways. It is still very relevant in parts, and very dated in others. It is not surprising as so much has changed in over 100 years. Many of the principles and ideas are still very good. Some of the suggested games and things too do would be very hard to keep kids interests up these days, for example there is a huge amount about tracking for example. On the whole an interesting read.

I've been after this book for years, if only to be able to say I've read it. It's great to have it as a resource to refer back to and answer questions about scouting in the olden days. Admittedly there are one or two bizarre ideas, but the basics will always be the basics. Sadly in a time when we have everything available to us at a price, we seem to forget that the good old fashioned basics still work, this book is great for touching base...

Reminded me of my time in the Scouts in the late 40's. A lot of good advice initbthatbshould be taught in schools today.