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Tom Brown's Science and Art of Tracking: Nature's Path to Spiritual Discovery
More popular than ever, Tom Brown, Jr .'s unique approach to inner growth through outer awareness has gained a wide audience, ranging from weekend campers and nature lovers, to serious survivalists and college students. The Science and Art of Tracking expands upon Tom Brown's most enduring subject: the important life lessons to be learned through tracking skills. Tom Brown was taught the ancient skills of survival by a Native American he called Grandfather. His most advanced lessons were those of the scouts, members of a secret society who were highly attuned to nature. The scouts refined tracking to a disciplined science and art form. With these physical skills came enhanced perception and true enlightment. "Tracking was their doorway to the universe," Tom Brown writes, "where they could know all things through the tracks..."Now Tom Brown, Jr . shares generations of wisdom through one of the most rewarding pursuits to be found in nature. Tracking lets us unlock the secrets of each animal we follow, and in turn, to become more aware of our own place in nature and the world. It is a journey of discovery that engages the senses, awakens the spirit, and enlightens the soul.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
11 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Tom Brown Jr.
30 books213 followersTom Brown Jr. was an American naturalist, tracker, survivalist, and author from New Jersey, where he ran the Tom Brown Jr. Tracker School.
In his books, Brown wrote that, from the age of seven, he and his childhood friend Rick were trained in tracking and wilderness survival by Rick's grandfather, "Stalking Wolf" (whom Brown stated was Lipan Apache). Brown wrote that Stalking Wolf died when Brown was 17, and that Rick was killed in an accident in Europe shortly thereafter.
Brown spent the next ten years working odd jobs to support his wilderness adventures. He then set out to find other people in New Jersey who were interested in his experiences. Initially Brown met with little success, but was eventually called on to help locate a crime suspect. Though the case won him national attention, he and authorities in the Ramsey, N.J. area were subsequently sued for 5 million dollars for charging the wrong person. Despite this controversy, he was able to build on this exposure to develop a profession as a full-time tracker, advertising his services for locating lost persons, dangerous animals, and fugitives from the law. According to People magazine, "He stalks men and animals, mostly in New Jersey."
In his books, Brown wrote that, from the age of seven, he and his childhood friend Rick were trained in tracking and wilderness survival by Rick's grandfather, "Stalking Wolf" (whom Brown stated was Lipan Apache). Brown wrote that Stalking Wolf died when Brown was 17, and that Rick was killed in an accident in Europe shortly thereafter.
Brown spent the next ten years working odd jobs to support his wilderness adventures. He then set out to find other people in New Jersey who were interested in his experiences. Initially Brown met with little success, but was eventually called on to help locate a crime suspect. Though the case won him national attention, he and authorities in the Ramsey, N.J. area were subsequently sued for 5 million dollars for charging the wrong person. Despite this controversy, he was able to build on this exposure to develop a profession as a full-time tracker, advertising his services for locating lost persons, dangerous animals, and fugitives from the law. According to People magazine, "He stalks men and animals, mostly in New Jersey."
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 1, 2022
Wow, this is an excellent training manual on tracking, that can help one go from basic to advanced in tracking abilities. Definitely worth archiving and possibly making several copies. Talks about pressure releases. Training with a sandbox. Different soil types. How to identify what the person or animal was thinking or feeling by their tracks, how full their belly was and more.
December 20, 2023
Tom Brown, Jr., is a remarkable person and an elite tracker, but in this book, The Science and Art of Tracking, he seems blinded by his own success. There is no doubt in my mind that he can track any critter across solid rock—he’s done it—but his attempts to teach some of his skills through written words fall short. To be fair, he warns readers that the first three skills are far “easier” to master than the second three and it’s those latter three that seem to defy writing. He would have served us readers better by omitting the latter three and publishing a shorter book. Decreasing his references to his abilities also would improve the book.
He briefly considered why the judicial system doesn’t utilize trackers more often or more effectively. I think a deeper discussion of that topic would have added the scientific component alluded to in the book’s title. He covered the art thoroughly, but didn’t include enough of the science.
As for the subtitle, Nature’s Path to Spiritual Discovery, he tried to blend too many themes into this book. I want to learn more about his adopted grandfather’s lessons in the sacred realm, but this wasn’t the right platform. Brown is a good writer when he focuses on a theme or purpose. He tried for too much here.
He briefly considered why the judicial system doesn’t utilize trackers more often or more effectively. I think a deeper discussion of that topic would have added the scientific component alluded to in the book’s title. He covered the art thoroughly, but didn’t include enough of the science.
As for the subtitle, Nature’s Path to Spiritual Discovery, he tried to blend too many themes into this book. I want to learn more about his adopted grandfather’s lessons in the sacred realm, but this wasn’t the right platform. Brown is a good writer when he focuses on a theme or purpose. He tried for too much here.
May 23, 2021
Es cierto que cuando caminamos por la naturaleza pasamos por alto muchos detalles que podrían ayudarnos a encontrar e identificar especies. En ese sentido, me han parecido muy útiles algunos consejos de la introducción y los primeros capítulos.
Sin embargo, el autor me pierde con su método de la presión de las pisadas. Me parece posible encontrar especies analizando las pisadas, pero soy escéptico en todas las cosas que el autor afirma poder identificar sólo con la pisada, como el sexo del animal, la posición hacia la que miraba o incluso reconocerlo sin mirarlo (esto último es posible con un pájaro, pero no lo creo posible con un zorro, como afirma). No sé. Tendría que verlo en persona para creerlo.
Y dada la gran distancia geográfica que me separa del autor, dudo mucho que vaya a tener la oportunidad de hacerlo, lamentablemente.
Aun así, no me importaría leer algún libro más de este autor.
Seguro que tiene muchas cosas interesantes que aportar.
Sin embargo, el autor me pierde con su método de la presión de las pisadas. Me parece posible encontrar especies analizando las pisadas, pero soy escéptico en todas las cosas que el autor afirma poder identificar sólo con la pisada, como el sexo del animal, la posición hacia la que miraba o incluso reconocerlo sin mirarlo (esto último es posible con un pájaro, pero no lo creo posible con un zorro, como afirma). No sé. Tendría que verlo en persona para creerlo.
Y dada la gran distancia geográfica que me separa del autor, dudo mucho que vaya a tener la oportunidad de hacerlo, lamentablemente.
Aun así, no me importaría leer algún libro más de este autor.
Seguro que tiene muchas cosas interesantes que aportar.
October 29, 2020
Not the funnest Tom Brown Jr. Book to read on tracking but very detailed regardless. If your looking for something entertaining try his other books but if your looking to learn how to track then read this one. Can't wait to start applying his teachings.
January 4, 2023
A great guide to to tracking wildlife and learning their habits and traits.
March 15, 2025
I keep waiting for a tracking book without the mumbo jumbo but equal knowledge and field craft to topple this one. It somehow still doesn’t exist.
December 27, 2015
Pedagogy
Feynman learning technique - mastering each before starting to learn another; not teach anything new unless mastering the old.
p 3 Questions are not answered in a straightforward way but rather a direction is pointed out, or another question is asked.
p 4 Inside each track they saw an infinite miniature landscape.
p 16 When we began to observe the world with that kind of questioning mind, all of [...] presented an exciting mystery...questioning awareness into everyday thinking.
Tracking
p 28 dirt time + dogged determination
p 46 Ideal tracking box is 8'X4'X10" with 8" of sand.
Signs
p 17 'Trials with no berm along the sides more apt to originally be a deer trail--especially if it winds through and interacts with the landscape.'
Islands in an ocean. A very good spot is the cover at the edge of trees, open to a field. Different vegetation in the field, yet still cover.
"What happened here?"
"What is this telling me?"
Pressure Releases
p 37 Pressure releases, balance--every action--has to be compensated for (i.e., Newton's 3rd Law).
p 45 A galloping bear will leave the same pressure release as a galloping mouse. The best place to start learning pressure releases is damp sand zero earth or zero soil.
p 166 Age - lateral ridge (where the floor and the wall meet) helps determine age--but this needs to be experienced... Instead estimate by 72, 48, 24 hours, then fresh:
http://www.wildwoodtracking.com/aging...
p 95 The exercise getting down on your head & knees, moving your head, is the same for swimming. Your body follows the movement of your head, usually which follows where you're looking.
p 67 Progression of pressure: explosion in slow motion starts with a cliff, moves to a ridge, then a peak, crest, crest-crumble, into a cave, cave-in, then rising up from the ground comes a plate, plate-fissure, plate-crumble, then finally the ensuing explosion.
1. cliff
2. ridge
3. peak
4. crest
5.
6. cave
7.
8. plate
9.
10.
11. explosion
p 68 These are (major) primaries. Secondaries are where there are separate but linked motions. Example of a secondary pressure release, stops, turns around in tracks, looks down at ground--dropped something.
p 70 Distortions (phony pressure releases) from external forces
> weather imposed
> self-imposed ~ topple over or dragged on the way out
> landscape-imposed ~ topography or debris
> mechanical-imposed ~ human shoe extruded odd
p 168 Find the overall movement of the animal by pushing your thumb near the existing track to the exact depth, then duplicate the pressure releases with a bending, pushing off or twisting of your hand. This helps not confuse distortions in different soil personalities.
p 157 Grip the soil firmly in your hand, compressing it together as hard as you can. Then release your grip and watch how the soil in your hand reacts. Does it fall apart easily, fissure or crumble, or holds well--then it has a low, medium, or high adhesive quality. Soil with high adhesive quality maintain in formation longer.
p 172 reading tracks on hard surfaces, keep the between you and the source of light. These tracks are called dust and grit compressions.
p 174 You will need a severe viewing angle, 'sideheading' (by putting the side of your face directly onto the ground, closing the higher eye). Depressions in snow are usually visible after a new snow.
p 177 night tracking may be better - white light works well on clear ground, gravel, sand; red light for forest floors; yellow light for grasslands and lawns; blue light for snow and ice. If you don't have that color, wrap that color in plastic over, and rubber band it over the flashlight.
Vocab
runs - less than a trail
pushdowns - escape route
lays - usually used only once or twice. Used for rest, chewing cud, etc. Can be recognized by broken and crushed vegetation
https://outdooraction.princeton.edu/n...
https://outdooraction.princeton.edu/n...
Feynman learning technique - mastering each before starting to learn another; not teach anything new unless mastering the old.
p 3 Questions are not answered in a straightforward way but rather a direction is pointed out, or another question is asked.
p 4 Inside each track they saw an infinite miniature landscape.
p 16 When we began to observe the world with that kind of questioning mind, all of [...] presented an exciting mystery...questioning awareness into everyday thinking.
Tracking
p 28 dirt time + dogged determination
p 46 Ideal tracking box is 8'X4'X10" with 8" of sand.
Signs
p 17 'Trials with no berm along the sides more apt to originally be a deer trail--especially if it winds through and interacts with the landscape.'
Islands in an ocean. A very good spot is the cover at the edge of trees, open to a field. Different vegetation in the field, yet still cover.
"What happened here?"
"What is this telling me?"
Pressure Releases
p 37 Pressure releases, balance--every action--has to be compensated for (i.e., Newton's 3rd Law).
p 45 A galloping bear will leave the same pressure release as a galloping mouse. The best place to start learning pressure releases is damp sand zero earth or zero soil.
p 166 Age - lateral ridge (where the floor and the wall meet) helps determine age--but this needs to be experienced... Instead estimate by 72, 48, 24 hours, then fresh:
http://www.wildwoodtracking.com/aging...
p 95 The exercise getting down on your head & knees, moving your head, is the same for swimming. Your body follows the movement of your head, usually which follows where you're looking.
p 67 Progression of pressure: explosion in slow motion starts with a cliff, moves to a ridge, then a peak, crest, crest-crumble, into a cave, cave-in, then rising up from the ground comes a plate, plate-fissure, plate-crumble, then finally the ensuing explosion.
1. cliff
2. ridge
3. peak
4. crest
5.
6. cave
7.
8. plate
9.
10.
11. explosion
p 68 These are (major) primaries. Secondaries are where there are separate but linked motions. Example of a secondary pressure release, stops, turns around in tracks, looks down at ground--dropped something.
p 70 Distortions (phony pressure releases) from external forces
> weather imposed
> self-imposed ~ topple over or dragged on the way out
> landscape-imposed ~ topography or debris
> mechanical-imposed ~ human shoe extruded odd
p 168 Find the overall movement of the animal by pushing your thumb near the existing track to the exact depth, then duplicate the pressure releases with a bending, pushing off or twisting of your hand. This helps not confuse distortions in different soil personalities.
p 157 Grip the soil firmly in your hand, compressing it together as hard as you can. Then release your grip and watch how the soil in your hand reacts. Does it fall apart easily, fissure or crumble, or holds well--then it has a low, medium, or high adhesive quality. Soil with high adhesive quality maintain in formation longer.
p 172 reading tracks on hard surfaces, keep the between you and the source of light. These tracks are called dust and grit compressions.
p 174 You will need a severe viewing angle, 'sideheading' (by putting the side of your face directly onto the ground, closing the higher eye). Depressions in snow are usually visible after a new snow.
p 177 night tracking may be better - white light works well on clear ground, gravel, sand; red light for forest floors; yellow light for grasslands and lawns; blue light for snow and ice. If you don't have that color, wrap that color in plastic over, and rubber band it over the flashlight.
Vocab
runs - less than a trail
pushdowns - escape route
lays - usually used only once or twice. Used for rest, chewing cud, etc. Can be recognized by broken and crushed vegetation
https://outdooraction.princeton.edu/n...
https://outdooraction.princeton.edu/n...
Read
December 27, 2009Most of this book is a practical guide meant to be used with a home-built practice sandbox. I haven't used it for that, but it looks like it could be a good start. The author's claims about what can be tracked seem unbelievable, but he stresses that you can learn it if you put in the "dirt time." He says that the first few dozen hours of dirt time will make a huge difference, but obsessive devotion to practice is required, for example, to track ants across gravel, detect from tracks the animal's or person's emotional state, detect how much food was in the animal's or person's stomach, see that the animal or person merely thought about a change in movement but didn't actually turn (the specific change that was considered is also detected), and tracking in darkness.
April 14, 2008
Attended the standard course he has before I bought this book, so was able to learn much of it firsthand, but the book has served as an amazing reference tool. I don't think I know anyone quite as impressive as this man in all things wilderness. If I could be even half as good as he is, I would. Definately one of the best books he has put out to date in terms of it's practical value on the topic at hand.
August 14, 2012
It's a terrific book for people who want to learn about tracking. However, the knowledge you gain is a bit specialized, and you do have to take time to practice the skills being taught. I live in the urban jungle, so for my personal needs, it was useless. But hats off to Brown for sharing his irreplaceable knowledge.
August 10, 2016
This book spent several chapters rhapsodizing about vast interconnections of the world right outside your front door. It recommends one access those spiritual marvels by stomping through a variously packed sandbox in a basement before and after eating or using a toilet, and fixating on results.
Interesting premise, a bit sketch on transmitting the magic.
Interesting premise, a bit sketch on transmitting the magic.
June 16, 2009
This book is an amazing read even if you are not intending to become a tracker. The "indegenous" method of learning described herein and the attention to detail necessary for a high level of mastery allow tacking to become a metaphor for any of life's higher pursuits.
September 12, 2008
This book has been banged up, torn, and soaked in rain as I've drug it just about everywhere. This is the most informative and detailed tracking guide I've ever seen.
July 17, 2011
A guide on tracking animals in the wild state. It is full of useful tips and has several illustrations.
January 28, 2008
If you often feel lost there are ancient ways to find your way...
May 18, 2013
Intriguing and captivating introduction from someone who has really practiced it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews