On our Shelves: The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide

The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide

If you’re aspiring to a slow life, want to get back to basics and invest in quality over quantity you’ll enjoy the ‘Kaufmann Mercantile Guide: How to Split Wood, Shuck an Oyster and Master Other Simple Pleasures’. The intention of its publication was to provide people with a simple reference tool for creating more meaningful experiences with the products found in the home; a place and page for people to turn to for guidance and inspiration.

The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide consists of 50 how-tos spanning the five sections of kitchen, outdoors, home, garden and grooming, along with detailed illustrations.

Shuck an oyster:

“Shucking is one of those sneaky life skills that you may not use every day, but secretly take great pride in when you effortlessly pull it off. I can picture Ernest Hemingway with a cigar dangling out of his mouth and his sleeves rolled up, oyster knife glinting in the afternoon sun, dominating a couple dozen Belons on some Parisian terrace. Any man or woman worth their salt can open an oyster. Plus, standing around the kitchen shucking for a bunch of family and friends is way more fun than just putting an icy plate on the table. Oysters bring people together in a special way.” – Chris Sherman, Island Creek Oysters

Each task is designed to inspire your inner utilitarian and provide you with all the know-how to do complete them successfully and enjoy the process. The modern-day reference tool features simple tasks such as frying an egg, mastering knots or starting a campfire. There’s also the more challenging tasks of building a shelter or making herbal remedies at home.

The instructions are also supplemented with sidebars which provide information such as the best tool for the task or flammable smoking bags for an authentic barbecue.

You can find the ‘Kaufmann Mercantile Guide: How to Split Wood, Shuck an Oyster and Master Other Simple Pleasures’ on our shelves.