Best Survival Books Of All Time
These are the best survival books you will need in hard copies, not e-book versions. If we lose power, and we will, we want a hard copy of certain books. I had a reader ask me to remind all of us to get hard copies of survival books. Now, as I’ve mentioned before, I won’t be hiking up into the mountains to flee my neighborhood. I plan to stay put and live on my stored food, water, and other critical survival supplies. I wrote this article a few years ago but felt I needed to update it since we’re all experiencing so many natural disasters and we need to be properly prepared.
There again, if my house is flattened by an earthquake or flood, I will have to evacuate. I only buy hard copies of books that I need today, or possibly next year, for knowledge to help me and my neighborhood get through just about any disaster, including an EMP.
If you haven’t read Ted Koppel’s book as outlined below, I highly recommend it. I was actually interviewed and recorded for my thoughts about living without electricity as Ted’s team worked to research for the book. Although my thoughts were not included in the book, it was an honor for me to be asked for my ideas.
So let’s get started with some of the survival books I suggest you get. The word survival may sound a little strong, but let’s just say we may need some tools to get us all through rough times, and we’ll have rough times at some point in our lives if we haven’t already.
My attitude has always been “buy right the first time.” Please keep in mind that some of these books are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for in knowledge that is so beneficial.
Best Survival Books:
I was honored to be asked to write this book by Page Street Publishing. It is family-friendly and you can have your children and grandchildren read it. When I was asked to write the book, I mentioned I didn’t want to talk about weapons in my book. Period. If you’re wondering if I have a weapon, yes I do.
“Prepare Your Family For Survival”
Mark and I both have our concealed weapons permits, and we both know how to shoot. Mark more than me due to his six years in the Army Reserves and years hunting here in Utah. Weapons are a personal topic. I’ll leave it at that. Prepare Your Family for Survival: How to Be Ready for Any Emergency or Disaster Situation
“Raymond Dean White”
We all know Raymond as Ray in our comments and forum group. He’s a gifted and talented writer and I have some of his books. This is my favorite one, Bugging In What To Do When TSHTF and You Live In Suburbia
“Survival Medicine Handbook“
I have very little skills in the medical field, so I use this book all the time. Remember, if we lose power you will not be able to “Google” a question you are wondering about, just giving you the heads-up here. This book is user-friendly and has just about everything I have ever needed to look up as far as medical information. The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way
“Lights Out”
I wish I could get more people to read this book. I bought the hard copy and I could only get one friend to read it. If you want to know the truth about our country’s power grid this book gives the straight scoop. The grid system is unprotected against terrorist attacks. The equipment driving and supporting the grid would be virtually impossible to repair, let alone replace. You need to read this book! Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath
We we’ll need far more than candles, my friends.
“Survival Mom”
Lisa Bedford from The Survival Mom website is a friend of mine and she was actually one of the first preppers to write a book, as far as I know. Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios
“Bernie Carr”
Bernie Carr is a friend of mine and I have all of her books. This one is great for kids: Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure: A Prepper’s Book for Kids and this is a great one: The Prepper’s Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster
“Five Days at Memorial”
I read this book and I was emotional the entire time reading about the truth of what happened at Memorial Hospital after Hurricane Katrina. Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital
I REALLY want to put this book on my list because the book tells what happened at one of the main hospitals AFTER Hurricane Katrina. Please read and be prepared to take care of yourself and your family. Those poor nurses and doctors, what they had to go through with and for their patients. God bless all the families involved in that tragedy.
Final Word
I’m sure there are other well-written survival books, but these are my favorite ones and aren’t necessarily Doomsday-type books. We need the knowledge before a disaster or unforeseen emergency hits our neighborhood. Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Open Books Depositphotos_42154745_S by Pakhnyushchyy
I have many of those books and a few more. Lights out by Ted Koppel, made Stephen King look like he wrote nursery rhymes. Some things are very, very simple, like keeping your car filled. Others, such as Survival Medicine, are a bit more complicated. I hope I never need these, but I would rather have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.
Hi Janet, I hear you on that! I hope I never need them either, but we are both smart and know we MAY need them. We can sleep at night knowing if we need them we have them in book form. Hugs! Linda
I am happy to say that I have four of the books you recommend.
HI Hessie, if you have a suggestion for another book, I’m always looking for good ones! Thank you, Linda
Linda,
Added one of your suggested books to order for my collection. Thank you. I agree, now is not the time to relax and put up our feet. And we certainly can not rely on the computer for communication if the grid goes down. I am actually working on putting together binders to use. i.e. gardening, herbs, canning tips, as well as my survival notes. They will be my “go to” source if ever needed.
With what is going in the world, it could turn into a full blown disaster, not saying it would, just could. I pray not, but will be prepared for anything, just in case. My mama taught me that.
Hope all is well with you and your family. Stay well and happy my friend.
Hi Vivian, If you have a favorite book please tell me about it. I read “One Second After” but all the hoopla about the book left me a little disappointed. I do worry about the diabetics in the world and I have a daughter with MS. Her medicine is about $4000.00 a month. I pray for a cure for that and all other bad diseases. I like the Lights Out book by Ted Koppel because it REALLY opened my eyes to how unprepared our country is for terrorist attacks. Our power system will be unable to repair or replace for years if possible at all. May God bless those who have prepared for life changes like you and I. I love your binder idea! You stay well and happy my friend. Hugs! Linda
I would add something like “Peterson’s field guide to edible wild plants” and “Backyard Medicine”. I think both are available at Amazon.
Janet, thanks, I’m doing it right now. I love hearing about good books. Hugs! Linda
Linda ~
Always love your posts. They are so daunting for those just starting to prepare and encouraging for those of us who are at some stage in our preparations.
I have several of those books on your list. As I have said in previous comments on some of your other posts, I have tried to educate myself on herbal remedies. Some of the remedies that I have tried have not helped much but some are amazing! Two herbal books that I like are: Hands On Healing Remedies by Stephanie L. Tourles; and Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. Both have lots of remedies for the more simple health issue that we might have: coughs/colds/flu relief; skin issue relief; etc.
Another book that I have that I treasure is: Pacific Northwest Foraging by Douglas Deur. It has absolutely wonderful photos of local plant life, where the plants grow, when and how to collect, how to use and warnings. He goes into the historical use (i.e., how Native Americans used the plant) as well. I would suggest readers look for a similar book for their area of the country.
Something that I have done in the past when I find a plant that I cannot identify (weed, grass, flowering plant, etc.) is to take a leaf/cutting to my local extension agent to see if they can identify it. Once I have a plant identified, I can then research its uses. I remember a project I had back in the dark ages (high school!!!) where I had to collect plants, press them, identify them and give any other information I could about the plant and its uses. While I don’t remember any specifics of any of the plants I ID’d, I do remember some of the processes I went through.
I also believe that it is imperative that we learn first aid and CPR and stay current on those tasks so that we are able to help when/where we are needed.
So, to “end” my story here, I think that it is essential that we know as many ways as possible to assist ourselves and our families in the way of health if/when the disaster happens. I have books/information on medical procedures, essential oil treatments and herbalism. When “it” hits the fan, I want to be able to deal with whatever comes my way. I am a learner and will continue to learn about the different ways in which to help myself, my family and my neighbors.
Basically, I believe we all have the great need to equip ourselves to survive in the future. Whatever books we can get and actually use will be of benefit.
Hi Leanne, great comment! I agree we are all learning skills as we go on along and every book we can get will surely help us when needed. You are spot on with needing to learn CPR and first aid. We will be ready we are on our own without any doctor to help us. Great tips! Linda
Linda & all,
I’ve taught hunter education for 27 years and many of the handouts we use in class are available for free download. Keep in mind that Hunter Education is not just about stalking game; but, includes ethics, wildlife identification, and personal safety, including survival in harsh weather and harsh environments.
Here’s a pdf of the current manual we handout to students:
https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/le/LEH104.pdf
Linda,
With my vision issues, hard copies are a real chore to read; but, digital (pdf, etc.) and audio versions plus videos are my most useful choice. That being said, I plan to have power long after any lights go out, and the ability to read or listen to these versions is actually quite easy with a little planning. While this is not a simple and easy thing for everyone, I’m a retired engineer who designed, tested, and cobbled together hardware and software over a 40+ year career, so I have a plan that I think will work fine.
I agree that weapons are a personal topic. The wife and I have our Concealed Handgun Licenses and I have been a certified firearms instructor for nearly 30 years, so let us just say that we have a few firearms and a bit of ammunition on hand.
As for Koppel’s book, I am well aware of the fragile infrastructure and during my career helped develop SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for power generation, distribution and other infrastructure control.
In our case, we have numerous ways to produce electric power, including a whole house propane fired generator and enough propane and other consumables to last for 6 months and even longer with conservation and use of a small solar array. Actually candles, when placed in front of a mirror, can provide a lot of light as can Coleman or Aladdin mantle lanterns, both of which can also provide a bit of heat (about 3000 BTU’s per hour) when operating. People need to start looking at their lives and equipment, not as individual things; but, as part of an interrelated system. An Aladdin lantern (used extensively by the local Amish) will generate 10-12 hours of clean white light on a quart of kerosene or unscented paraffin (lamp) oil and will produce about 3000 BTU’s of heat when operating. Suspending a metal container of water above the chimney can catch some of the waste heat and put it to use, and with care can even provide some cooking.
While we don’t have their book, we purchased some Cansolidators from them and they work great for organizing and inventory of our store bought canned goods.
I have been canning off and on for 50+ years and have always used the ”Ball Blue Book.” strong>
For handling livestock, my wife grew up on a farm and has handled various animals for more than 60 years; plus, in our rural community there are experts on nearly every animal you can think of and people always willing to help.
Actually, long before Ted Koppel’s “Lights Out” there was a similar book of the same title:
“Lights Out” by HalfFast
You can find more about this version here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2309748.Lights_Out
I’ll have to go through my books and get a good list together; but, there are hundreds, stretching over a nearly 50 year span and unfortunately many that are probably out of print.
Hi Ohio Prepper, great tips, I like the Ball canner book as well. I used to use that one until I learned from the USDA what needs to be added to different foods. I took the class and kept that book. Great comment, Linda
I own all the Foxfire books in hard copy. Lots of great information about rural lifestyles, homesteading, and lost arts/skills of our grandparents.
Hi Kathy, I need to look into those books, thanks for the tip! Linda
I highly recommend The Boy Scouts field book. Try to get the 1971 printing( E-bay has it) I recently got my second copy.It is a great prepper book.
Hi Elbert, I will look for that one from 1971, I looked at the date on mine it is 2009. Great tip, you know I love stuff like this, Linda