10 Must Have Survival Books

20 Comments 20 January 2009

Every Prepper should have a complete knowledge-base in their home library and these are books you can’t leave out of that library. Check out some of the best survival and self sufficiency books that we’ve found. These are books you need!

1. Making the Best of Basics

Making The Best Of Basics

2. The Ultimate Guide to US Army Survival Skills, Tactics & Techniques

The Ultimate Guide to US Army Survival Skills, Tactics & Techniques

3.Camping & Wilderness Survival

Camping & Wilderness Survival

4. US Army Survival Guide

US Army Survival Guide

5. Country Wisdom & Know-how

Country Wisdom & Know-how

6. Tom Browns Guide to Edible & Medicinal Plants

Tom Browns Guide to Edible & Medicinal Plants

7. Gardening When It Counts

Gardening When It Counts

8.Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Complete Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival

Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Complete Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival

9. Earth Abides

Earth Abides>

10. Patriots

Patriots

Your Comments

20 Comments so far

  1. Robert Morrison says:

    The US Army Survival Field Manual is available online for free at:
    http://www.scribd.com/doc/21753/US-Army-Survival-Field-Manual
    Because it’s a declassified government document, there are no restrictions on distributing it (copyright or otherwise).

  2. Thanks for your comment Robert, I also have the pdf available for free to download in the downloads section of this websites.

    US Army Survival Manual

    The link is for people who don’t have access to print that many pages (or make a nifty booklet out of it).

    Also thank you Beserker I think I will make another post with your suggestions.

  3. Berserker says:

    I’d add (or substitute) a couple including:
    Camping and Woodcraft (Kephart),
    Bushcraft, Scouting, and Woodlore Notes (by Dr. RW Oelslager),
    The Sportsman’s Workshop (by Warren H. Miller),
    Woodsmanship (by Bernard Mason),
    Camp Craft (Warren H. Miller),
    The Way of the Woods (by Edward Breck),
    Survival Handbook (by Raymond Mears),
    Woodcraft and Camping (by George “Nessmuk” Sears),
    and
    The SAS Survival Handbook.
    All can be found either in ebook format, reprints, used, or new in the case of the SAS and Mears books.
    PMZ

  4. skooter says:

    You forgot this one, great book:

    Back to Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills
    http://bit.ly/f55SE

  5. BTW, the US Army Field Manual is available for download here at http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/downlo…

  6. Operation SERF currently free and online: http://www.oftwominds.com/opSERF/OP-serf.html Takes place in the not too distant future. Written by an OIF veteran.

  7. This is a good collection of books. I would add a cookbook with recipes using ingredients typically found in long-term storage pantries. I've seen a few but don't have a favorite. Is there one that you recommend?

  8. MrsJ says:

    In the UK, I'd add "Food for Free" by Richard Mabey.

  9. Will says:

    Two others:

    The Encyclopedia of Country Living, by Carla Emery
    and
    Boston's Gun Bible, by Boston T. Party

    A survival library isn't complete without those two. In fact, I'd rank them above everything else listed (especially the first one). J.W. Rawles, the author of the last book on your list, concurs.

  10. Great list of books. Some of my must-have survival books include “Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank, “Passport to Survival” by Esther Dickey and “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It” by James Wesley, Rawles, among others. My whole list here: http://bit.ly/4aDKRt

  11. William Barentine says:

    I agree with 99.9% of the books as listed by the site, and other contributors…
    1 drawback, stay away from those "fictional" types…
    EG: "patriots".
    Why?
    It's like watching Bear Grylls in "man-vs-wild" Les Stroud, in "Survivorman" on tv.
    It can get you killed!
    Go with realistic subject material that is tested and true, NOT someone's idea, or maybe's……
    Stay alert, stay alive!

  12. william barentine says:

    Buy, read, study, and above all else, Practice!
    Medical books of all kinds, and anything else that can assist you in an emergency scenario!
    Besides, a lot of paperback books are not just informative, and educational…some are actually entertaining!

  13. Good site. Good information for someone new to this survival concept. Currently also looking at http://www.urbansurvivalskills.com
    I guess you would define me as starting to get prepared but hoping to never have to bug out.

  14. Steve Soreno says:

    Good Post! Yes we really need books specially for awareness. Global Warming is on of the biggest problem worldwide nowadays so it would be better if we are somewhat aware of what to do. Visit this http://www.globalwarmingsurvivalcenter.com

  15. Nice info about survival, practicing is indeed the best thing u can do!
    Thanks for the nice article!

  16. Franz says:

    Hello! I have some of those books listed above. Great stuff. My I also suggest the newest title to get started with self-reliance: http://www.amazon.com/dp/146641152X
    "Back to basics: how to make it through hard times"
    Take care!
    Franz

  17. Brad says:

    I thought you might find this site of value: http://www.dawnapproaches.com/ultimatesurvival.ht…

    They have an Ultimate Survival collection of 150 books and I thought it was quite interesting. They put all 150 books on a DVD-Rom for $9.99 and I have not only found it cheaper than one standard book alone, but much more resourceful (over 36,000 pages) with many of the ways that have been lost to us through time. If you are interested you should take a look. They also have huge woodworking and homesteading collections.


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