Life is all about survival. Homo Sapiens have made it to the 21st century because of this primal instinct. The disaster may hit you and your family anytime without any warning. While you can’t control when, where, and how it occurs, you can always control how well you prepare yourself for such situations.
The luxury and comfort of modern life tend to downplay the value of survival skills needed to stay alive in different environments. Nevertheless, you should always have some basic survival skills to get through everyday life.
You don’t have to join Navy SEAL or US Marine to learn those skills. Of course, hands-on experience in wilderness survival would be the best. But if you haven’t had that opportunity yet, you can learn from others’ experiences to get acquainted with possible survival scenarios. In that case, survival books can be your best friend.
Not all survival situations are the same, and each requires a different response. Depending on the situation, you can find various survival books such as wilderness survival guides, military manuals, edible plants guides, urban survival, and medical training. Try to include at least one from each category to refer to it for well-organized and detailed advice on emergency preparedness.
But where do you start?
Top 15 Wilderness Survival Books #
With so many books on outdoor survival guides available in the market, it can be difficult to decide on the best one. Almost all of them are written by survival experts who had first-hand experience in wilderness living. Let’s look at the 15 best survival books that you should consider irrespective of your experience level.
SAS Survival Handbook #
This is a must-have survival book for your collection. It is written by the former Special Air Service (SAS) survival instructor John Wiseman, so you know that everything you find in the book is legit. The author has done a great job of putting together everything you need to stay alive in any situation. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in outdoor survival, this is the perfect book for you.
The latest edition comes with contemporary topics like disaster survival, urban survival, and terrorism. In addition to traditional map reading and navigational skills, you can also learn about modern GPS technology. It is the most inclusive and versatile book on survival ever written.
When All Hell Breaks Loose #
As the name suggests, this book is all about disaster preparedness. The author Cody Lundin has focused more on urban survival where he covers several topics ranging from finding water to shelter building and even managing a dead body. According to Cody, survival psychology is as important as learning survival skills. This is a go-to book for any emergency that you might face at home or office and in between.
100 Deadly Skills #
Authored by retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson, this survival book contains a plethora of special forces techniques that can be put to a practical application every day. The instructions are straightforward and can be executed without any confusion. It is a complete course on survival that teaches you to be prepared for any kind of life-threatening situation.
Bushcraft 101 #
Survival expert Dave Canterbury brings his wisdom and experience to life through the pages of Bushcraft books. It is filled with great many advice for experiencing the ultimate backcountry. You will learn to improvise and craft the resources around you to prepare yourself for any survival situation. You will also know about the 5Cs of survivability, viz. cutting tools, combustion devices, containers, covering, and cordages.
The best thing about this book is that its instructions are down to earth and written in a conversational tone. Once you master the basics of Bushcraft 101, you can upgrade to Advanced Bushcraft and the Bushcraft Field Guide.
Preppers Long-Term Survival Guide #
Prepper’s Guide is an interesting read. Unlike most other books on the list, it does not teach you how to survive if you get lost in the wilderness or the sea. Instead, it prepares you for survival following any disaster like hurricane, earthquake, power grid failure, and others that disturb the momentum of life for a long time until the situation is back to normal. You will find useful tips on water collection, hunting, storing, growing food, first aid, field fortification, and such.
How To Stay Alive #
If you follow Bear Grylls, this book is for you. There is not a survival situation that he hasn’t gone through. As an ex-SAS, he is one of the most authentic survival experts you can rely on. The book covers almost every possible situation, including wilderness and urban survival. It is unbelievably simple and easy to follow. This may be the only book you need to stay alive in case of any emergency.
Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills #
This book by John and Geri McPherson is exclusively about primitive survival skills. You won’t find as many skills as in other books, but it does an excellent job exploring each skill with step by step instruction method. If you are interested in learning old-school survival skills, you should read this book.
Build The Perfect Bug Out Bag #
When any disaster strikes, the first 72 hours are the most critical. This book by Creek Stewart helps you build your disaster preparedness kit from scratch to make it out alive until help arrives. This is for independent survival when you are on your own out there. The photographic illustration makes it easier for the reader to follow along.
Edible Wild Plants #
This book is a goldmine for outdoor enthusiasts and foragers. Survival in the wild depends on your ability to gather food. But it is not always that easy. This book will help you identify different types of wild plants and determine whether they are edible or not. You can easily recognise above 370 wild edible plants from the drawings and illustrations. Plus, you will know how to prepare food from those plants safely. Beware of the lookalikes, though. When in doubt, just refer to this book.
Hawkes Green Beret Survival Manual #
Green Berets are known for being badass. They go through brutally intense physical training to survive in even the extreme situation known to humanity. As a retired Green Beret, the author Mykel Hawke is in the position to share his experience and knowledge regarding survival. There is everything for everyone in this book. Like Bear Grylls, he has his survival TV show “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild” on Discovery Channel.
The Survival Medicine Handbook #
You will be vulnerable to several medical issues during the disaster. Knowing first aid is good, but it is not enough for survival. You can’t always expect the doctor to be at your service at such times. You have to be your savior. This handbook is not your ordinary first aid guide. Authored by a couple of medical experts, Joseph & Amy Alton, this book can help you identify over 100 medical conditions during any disaster and teach you to treat them without graduating from medical school. It would be better if you had some sort of medical training, but even those with no prior experience can find this book useful for survival.
U.S. Army Survival Manual #
The U.S. Army practices what they preach in this book, like a holy bible for self-reliance in almost every extreme survival situation. Nature is neither your foe nor your friend. It is neutral. Your survivability depends on your determination and will to live. Knowing how to make nature work for you can be the deciding factor in wilderness survival. Besides survival skills, it helps you to develop a survival mindset. This battle-tested and field-proven book is for you whether you are military personnel or just a camper or a hiker.
The Ultimate Survival Manual #
As a US Special Forces paratrooper and demolition officer, Rich Johnson knows what he is talking about in this book. He brings you the 333 survival skills that anyone can use as a go-to guide for surviving disasters ranging from armed attacks and assaults to tornadoes and floods. Whether you are out in the wild or facing an urban crisis, this is the most comprehensive outdoor survival guide you will ever find.
Wilderness Survival #
Tom Brown’s guide to wilderness survival is one such book that you would wish you had read if you ever find yourself stuck in the great outdoors. It is packed with ancient and wise skills that can come in handy during your wilderness adventure. This guide teaches readers how to survive in the wild and actually thrive and build a home if needed. Laden with illustrations, this is one such guide that all outdoor enthusiasts will adore.
Street Survival #
Specifically written for law enforcement officers, this book highlights positive tactics one can employ to diffuse armed encounters. Author Ronald J. Adams analysed over 400 reports to determine major problems during shootouts. Violence is part of the job, but learning to prevent such encounters from escalating could serve as the thin line between life and death. It also teaches officers how to survive in a life-threatening situation, should it occur in their line of duty.
Final Thoughts #
Even if you have the largest collection of the best survival books worldwide, it all comes down to putting the skills and techniques to practical application. Grab the book, pack your bag, and set out into the wild where you can put the knowledge into actual use. Good Luck!
Related reading: How to build and manage a prepper library