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Best Survival Books

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Dave Canterbury Bushcraft Boxed Set
Dave Canterbury
Bushcraft Boxed Set
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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

This set contains four titles that will have you well on your way to learning about a plethora of survival skills.

Pros

This set contains four titles: Bushcraft 101; Advanced Bushcraft; The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, & Cooking in the Wild; and Bushcraft First Aid. It is great for beginners starting their survival skill journey and wanting to learn about cooking and survival in the outdoors.

Cons

Some buyers had some damage to the book box upon arrival.

Best Bang for the Buck
Survival Wisdom & Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness by The Editors of Stackpole Books
Survival Wisdom & Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness
by The Editors of Stackpole Books
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Trusted Source
Bottom Line

This comprehensive survival guide is great for beginners wanting to learn about everything from edible berries to tracking.

Pros

You know you can rely on the tips in this book because they were culled from many respected publications of "Stackpole Books", an outdoor industry leader. Topics range from outdoor cooking and orienteering to hunting and knot-tying. Readers find the illustrations particularly helpful.

Cons

Some users felt that more detail should have been given in the edible plants section.

When the Grid Goes Down: Disaster Preparations and Survival Gear for Making Your Home Self-Reliant by Tony Nester
When the Grid Goes Down: Disaster Preparations and Survival Gear for Making Your Home Self-Reliant
by Tony Nester
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Easy Reading
Bottom Line

This small, 78-page book is full of helpful survival tips and tools and is a fun, easy read.

Pros

Nester injects humor into his writing. Informative and easy to read. Touches on a number of topics, including how to make your home self-reliant, cooking when the power's out, and even long-term sanitation and hygiene tips. Plenty of photos and diagrams. We love the helpful summary at the end of each chapter.

Cons

Book lacks aesthetic appeal according to some users.

Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival by Creek Stewart
Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival
by Creek Stewart
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Great for Kids
Bottom Line

The perfect survival book to share with your kids. Full of fun hacks you can easily try at home.

Pros

Each of the survival hacks seems realistic and easily attainable by the average person. Many can be done at home just for fun. Stewart includes background about when and how he learned each of the tips and tricks. Many hacks have funny or clever names, making them perfect to share with kids.

Cons

Some hacks require preparation and wouldn't be helpful in outdoor emergency situations.

Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide: Food, Shelter, Security, Off-the-Grid Power and More by Jim Cobb
Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide: Food, Shelter, Security, Off-the-Grid Power and More
by Jim Cobb
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

From preparation and prevention to preserving a high quality of life if hit with the worst, this is a great choice.

Pros

Cobb touches on topics that most survival guides don't, like education and entertainment. His focus isn't just on surviving, but thriving in the face of extreme scenarios. The book prepares you should you lose power for weeks or months. The section on growing food is particularly enlightening.

Cons

Sometimes recommends other books instead of expanding on topic.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for Best survival books

From making it through apocalyptic doom to learning how to make questionable water safe to drink, survival books offer life-saving advice and tips for making the best of it when disasters strike.

Some are for beginner campers and offer “how-tos.” These include advice on how to protect food from wild animals, construct a shelter, and how to make a fire.

There are mid-level survival books that are more for the hardy, experienced survivalist. These books include chapters on finding food and fresh water in a wild habitat.

For the doomsday preppers, there are books that give advice on what would be needed in the event of an apocalypse. Dystopian survivors read about how to store non-perishable food for long periods of time, how to construct some sort of bunker, and what items are considered essential for survival.

Content Image
When in a survival situation it’s important to keep a positive mindset. Be sure you’re able to stay calm and think things through. Panicking is one of the worst things you can do.

Hardcover vs. paperback

In a survival situation, each format of book has its boons and its banes. A hardcover will protect the pages of the book better, and it will keep its integrity longer when stored in a pack. But on the other hand, a hardcover will also almost always take up more space in said pack, and will be heavier.

A paperback is much more pliant but lends itself to more wear and tear. There’s less inner page protection with a paperback, so oftentimes after hard use the front and back covers will tear off. There are some types of paperbacks, though, that have laminated covers. These offer more protection of the book while still maintaining its shape.

Also consider whether you will want to dog-ear pages in the book or write notes in the margins. Check for available note-taking space.

expert tip
Check to see what the intended audience is for the survival book. Some are geared towards beginners while others are geared towards more advanced survivalists.
BestReviews Book Expert

Severity of the survival scenario

As mentioned previously, it’s essential to understand just how severe the survival situation may be. Each book focuses on different scenarios linked to various survival situations.

For instance, if you are planning to go camping and need to know what kinds of plants are edible and what kinds of plants to avoid, you probably only need a broad or short-term tips and tricks kind of survival book, or one specifically designed for camping.

A medium-level book could include more difficult tactics, such as constructing shelter without a tent or with premade materials, or how to disinfect water so it’s drinkable. This is more for a hobby survivalist, who would go on a wilderness survival trip for fun. But it could still be used to educate yourself on how to survive in the wild if you are ever stranded or lost somewhere.

The highest level of survival would encompass long-term survival. This would be after a major natural disaster, after an apocalyptic event, or to be self-reliant for any number of reasons. These typically have in-depth information on how to survive long-term and what tools and supplies you need to do so. Chapters should include how to live sustainably and how to live “off-grid.”

Visual aids

Photo illustrations can be beneficial while reading. Different books use them in different ways. Some books use photos as the main source of explanation, and offer text instructions as captions. Others are mostly text and only use a photo when it’s necessary because the words themselves aren’t enough of an explanation.

Similarly, different readers prefer different photo uses in books. Page through each book before purchasing or view a digital version of the inside pages. That way you can tell what style the book is formatted in and how photos are used. You may need to refer to it quickly, so decide if you need visuals or prefer text-based instruction only.

Each survival book offers different options when it comes to art and illustrations. Some contain hand-drawn illustrations that give the impression of a true handwritten country guide. Others utilize real-life photographs to illustrate the text.

Expert Tip
Not every survival book will fit the needs of every reader. Some focus on backpacking while others feature urban crisis management. Read carefully before selecting a survival book to purchase.
BestReviews Book Expert

Survival guide prices

Price is linked to both the content of the book and the materials it’s made of (hardcover vs. paperback, glossy vs. matte). The price ranges from about $7 to $20.

Inexpensive

Easier and simpler survival books in a paperback format would be the most affordable at $7 to $12.

Expensive

A more specific, glossy-paged hardcover will be more expensive at $15 to $20, sometimes even more.

Tips

When purchasing a survival book it’s important to check many aspects of its format and creation. Read several tips before buying a survival book.

  • Review book chapters; they will give insight to the contents.

  • If looking for a specific topic, check the book’s index to see if it covers the topic.

  • Read the author’s short biography, usually included on the inside or back cover. Check their credentials and whether or not they are credible.

  • Remember what the book will be carried in. Will it fit appropriately and comfortably?

  • Flip through the entire book. A once-over will show how much text there is versus how much space is filled by illustrations or photos.

Content Image
If your survival book isn’t laminated, try keeping it safe in a ziplock bag. That way it won’t be damaged by water or harsh weather.

FAQ

Q. Why can’t I just look online for the information?

A. While there may be relevant information online, there are several downfalls to just “Googling” it. For one, it’s difficult to know what is reliable information, and what is opinion or conjecture. When reading a book, there’s an author biography that lists the credentials and demonstrates their credibility. Second, phones and computers die. If you’re in a survival situation, there most likely won’t be a plug-in nearby to charge electronics. Having a hard copy allows you to always access the information, especially when it’s most needed.

Expert tip
While hardback books will withstand wear and tear over time, paperback books are much lighter and won’t feel as burdensome to carry around on a backpacking trip or in an emergency.
BestReviews Book Expert

Q. Why should I trust one author over another?

A. When purchasing a survival book, there’s some subjectivity involved. If you personally believe someone who has gone out and used their own tips in survival situations is more credible than someone with a degree, then that’s the author you should go with. Different authors have different backgrounds; it’s up to you to decide how you will use the information they give you.

Q. Why read a survival book at all?

A. Some may scoff at the chance of an apocalypse or a monsoon of a natural disaster, and neither one may ever happen. But becoming lost while driving or traveling, or being stranded by a broken down car, are much more common scenarios. Reading a survival book allows you to prepare for the unknown and the improbable. How does that saying go? “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” Reading a survival book can empower you with confidence in worst case scenarios.