25 Best Survival Books

Bradford Angier explains the basics of living off the land when stranded outdoors, with guidance on food, shelter, and self-preservation. Illustrations and instructions accompany his discussion of wilderness needs and the skills used to meet them.

John 'Lofty' Wiseman surveys survival skills across climates and emergency situations. Illustrated instruction covers preparation, navigation, shelter, food, and first aid, with this edition also addressing urban dangers, security, and coping when ordinary services are unavailable.

Laurence Gonzales combines survival narratives with science to examine how people respond to dangerous situations. He explores stress, risk assessment, and decision-making under pressure, considering why some responses support survival while others can worsen a crisis.

Cody Lundin approaches short-term outdoor survival through the importance of maintaining a safe body temperature. Humor, illustrations, and practical discussion explain preparation and the choices that matter when an ordinary outing becomes an unexpected emergency.

Chris McNab presents wilderness survival techniques drawn from elite military training. Illustrated instructions cover building shelters, locating water, starting fires, tracking animals, making improvised equipment, and navigating, with an emphasis on managing unfamiliar terrain and limited resources.

Colin Towell combines bushcraft and military survival methods in an illustrated guide to outdoor emergencies. Step-by-step instruction covers trip planning, shelter, fire, food, water, and rescue, with examples ranging from camping problems to extreme wilderness and sea situations.

Rich Johnson collects survival skills for wilderness emergencies and dangers closer to home. Illustrated guidance and real-life accounts address preparation, natural disasters, injuries, contamination, and household crises, combining basic techniques with more involved plans for disrupted services.

This illustrated guide explains basic wilderness survival skills, including building shelters, finding water, making fire, and obtaining food. Tom Brown Jr. pairs instructions with information on edible plants and practical techniques for different outdoor environments.

Cody Lundin discusses household disaster preparedness, combining survival psychology with practical planning. The guide covers water, stored food, sanitation, first aid, alternative heating and lighting, and emergency supplies for the home, office, and car.

Matthew Stein links emergency preparedness with sustainable living, considering disruptions that may last days or years. His manual covers food, water, shelter, first aid, and energy, including renewable power systems and practical approaches to greater household self-reliance.

Bob Arnot and Mark Cohen guide families through planning for natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies. Checklists address supplies, insurance, communication, and protecting the home, drawing on accounts from survivors and advice from disaster specialists.

Forrest Griffin and Erich Krauss imagine life after civilization collapses in this irreverent comedy guide. Their exaggerated approach to apocalypse survival combines outrageous scenarios with the fighter’s blunt humor and a playful vision of a post-disaster world.

Creek Stewart explains how to assemble and use a portable emergency kit for 72 hours away from home. Checklists, photographs, and practice exercises cover supplies, packing choices, and adjustments for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.

Dave Canterbury introduces wilderness skills through essential equipment and ways to use natural resources. The guide covers selecting a kit, making tools, obtaining and preparing food, and protecting against the elements, with an emphasis on practical backcountry preparation.

Lee Allen Peterson describes edible plants of eastern and central North America alongside poisonous species that resemble them. Drawings and photographs support identification, while habitat information, seasonal listings, and preparation notes explain the guide's approach to wild foods.

Mykel Hawke presents illustrated outdoor survival strategies drawn from his Special Forces experience. The manual covers shelter, water, food, fire, tools, medicine, navigation, signaling, and the psychological demands of responding to an unexpected wilderness emergency.

Jan Carline, Martha Lentz, and Steve MacDonald describe assessing injuries and illness in the backcountry. Illustrated procedures and quick-reference checklists cover problems including fractures, dislocations, and exposure, alongside guidance on preparing first-aid equipment for outdoor trips.

Mors Kochanski explains skills for prolonged stays in northern forests with limited equipment. His illustrated guide covers shelter construction, fire, and the use and maintenance of knives, axes, and saws, drawing on the materials available in the bush.

Larry Dean Olsen introduces wilderness skills that rely on natural materials rather than extensive purchased equipment. Instructions and photographs cover shelter, fire, tools, water, and food, while personal anecdotes illustrate the attitudes and experience behind his approach.

Jim Cobb examines preparation for disasters that interrupt normal services for months or years. His guide covers food storage and production, water collection, shelter, independent power, household security, and cooperation with others during a prolonged crisis.

Les Stroud draws on his wilderness experiences to explain preparation and decision-making in survival situations. Illustrated chapters address shelter, water, fire, food, and hazards, combining practical instruction with anecdotes and a questioning of familiar survival myths.

Carla Emery brings together instructions for living from the land and managing a self-sufficient household. Her reference covers gardening, food preservation, cooking, livestock, beekeeping, and household crafts, with recipes and practical guidance for everyday country living.

Joseph and Amy Alton discuss medical preparedness for disasters that leave families without access to professional care. Their handbook addresses trauma, first aid, chronic conditions, and other health problems from the perspective of a household's designated caregiver.

Gregory Davenport organizes wilderness survival around protection, signaling, food and water, travel, and health. Explanations and illustrations help readers consider priorities, remain calm, and manage their needs while waiting for rescue in the backcountry.

John and Geri McPherson demonstrate primitive wilderness skills through photographs and detailed instructions. Chapters cover fire and cordage, food preparation, hide tanning, pottery, tools, containers, and shelters, emphasizing practical work with materials found in nature.