16 Best 「survivalist」 Books of 2024| Books Explorer

In this article, we will rank the recommended books for survivalist. The list is compiled and ranked by our own score based on reviews and reputation on the Internet.
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Table of Contents
  1. Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival
  2. How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere
  3. The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, And Preparing Edible Wild Plants
  4. SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere
  5. Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
  6. Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide; Skills, Tips, and Gear for Living on the Land
  7. U.S. Air Force Survival Handbook: The Portable and Essential Guide to Staying Alive (US Army Survival)
  8. 100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operative's Guide to Eluding Pursuers, Evading Capture, and Surviving Any Dangerous Situation
  9. NO GRID Survival Projects
  10. Five Years to Freedom: The True Story of a Vietnam POW
Other 6 books
No.1
100

“With advice on not just getting along, but truly reconnecting with the great outdoors, Dave Canterbury’s treasure trove of world-renowned wisdom and experience comes to life within these pages.” —BustleA New York Times Bestseller in Sports and Travel!The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry!Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Based on the 5Cs of Survivability--cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages--this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings and truly experience the beauty and thrill of the wilderness. Inside, you'll also discover detailed information on:Choosing the right items for your kit.Manufacturing needed tools and supplies.Collecting and cooking food.Protecting yourself from the elements.With Canterbury's guidance, you'll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you'll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you've never imagined.

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No.2
93

A practical and indispensable guide for anyone venturing into the outdoors and backcountry, this classic resource by wilderness expert Branford Angier is packed with illustrated core survival skills and timeless advice.Broken down into four essential sections, Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation and Safety, this useful manual reveals time-tested outdoor skills, including how to catch game without a gun, what plants to eat (full-color illustrations of these make identification simple), how to build a warm shelter, make clothing, protect yourself and signal for help.Pioneering survivalist Bradefore Angier helps you master the great outdoors without modern gear. Detailed illustrations and clear instructions offer crucial information at a glance, making How to Stay Alive in the Woods is truly a lifesaver.

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No.3
86

A guide to 32 of the best and most common edible wild plants in North America, with detailed information on how to identify them, where they are found, how and when they are harvested, which parts are used, how they are prepared, as well as their culinary use, ecology, conservation, and cultural history.

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No.4
80

"A classic outdoor manual [that] addresses every conceivable disaster scenario. Don’t leave home without it”--Outside magazineThe ultimate guide to surviving anywhere, now updated with more than 100 pages of additional material, including a new chapter on urban survivalRevised to reflect the latest in survival knowledge and technology, and covering new topics such as urban survival and terrorism, the multimillion-copy worldwide bestseller SAS Survival Handbook by John "Lofty" Wiseman is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. From basic campcraft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster, this complete course includes:Being prepared: Understanding basic survival skills, like reading the weather, and preparation essentials, such as a pocket survival kit.Making camp: Finding the best location, constructing the appropriate shelter, organizing camp, staying warm, and creating tools.Food: What to eat, what to avoid, where to find it, and how to prepare it.First aid: A comprehensive course in emergency/wilderness medicine, including how to maximize survival in any climate or when injured.Disaster survival: How to react in the face of natural disasters and hostile situations—and how to survive if all services and supplies are cut off.Self-defense: Arming yourself with basic hand-to-hand combat techniques.Security: Protecting your family and property from intrusion, break-ins, and theft.Climate & terrain: Overcoming any location, from the tropics to the poles, from the desert to the mountains and sea.

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No.5
80

A fully illustrated wilderness survival guide perfect for seasoned and novice outdoors enthusiasts alike.Here, in one essential volume, are the basics of wilderness survival. The most ancient and important skills, preserved for generations, are presented in a simple, easy-to-use format with clear illustrations and instructions. A complete must-have companion to the great outdoors.• How to build natural shelters in plains, woods, or deserts• How to get safe drinking water from plants, trees, the sun, or Earth Herself• How to make fire without matches and maintain it in any weather• How to find, stalk, kill, and prepare animals for food• The "big four" edible plants, and hundreds of others useful for both nutrition and medicineTOM BROWN'S FIELD GUIDES: America's most popular nature reference books, Tom Brown's bestselling field guides are specially designed for both beginners and experienced explorers. Fully illustrated and comprehensive, each volume includes practical information, time-tested nature skills, and exciting new ways to rediscover the earth around us.

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No.6
80

THRIVE IS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WILDERNESS SURVIVAL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. WITH HARD-EARNED ADVICE FROM SURVIVAL EXPERT JUAN PABLO QUIÑONEZ, WINNER OF THE HIT TV SURVIVAL SERIES ALONE SEASON 9.Combining proven, no-nonsense modern survival skills with bushcraft techniques, step-by-step instructions, and over 400 illustrations, THRIVE shows you how to survive in the wilderness for multiple days.Reflecting the latest in survival knowledge and gear and covering topics such as mental resilience and last-resort first aid techniques, THRIVE IS THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE FOR ALL SURVIVALISTS, PREPPERS, AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTSFrom essential hunting and gathering techniques to advanced fire skills and strategies for coping with wilderness hazards, this complete guide includes: 📚🪓 Preparation: Hard-earned survival wisdom and preparation essentials, such as making a personal survival kit and choosing the right gear🌲🏕️ Long-term shelters: Finding the best location, constructing an appropriate shelter, protecting yourself from the elements, and staying warm🌿🎣 Food: What to focus your hunting-gathering efforts on, where to find it, and how to prepare it🏔️💪 Self-sufficiency: Hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging for subsistence—and surviving alone or as a group for an extended time🌳🪓 Bushcraft: Knife and axe skills, clay, basketry, knots, cordage, gear recommendations, and improvised tools❄️🥶 Winter: Traveling on snow and ice, tips for dealing with extreme cold, and clothing recommendations🩺🩹 Health: Preventing and dealing with the most common health issues in long-term survivalTHRIVE is bursting with survival tips, manual skills, foraging essentials, and advice on how to prepare, improvise, and survive in the wilderness. There are many books out there, but this is the real deal. BUY IT NOW and learn how to thrive in the wild!

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No.7
73

Here is the Official US Air Force guide to staying alive in survival situations—first aid, concealment, survival at sea, building shelter, finding food and water, and more!This Air Force handbook was written to help pilots who find themselves in hostile environments. While it is designed for use in formal Air Force training, it is also useful for the general reader seeking a comprehensive and complete manual of outdoor survival techniques. Any US Army survival kit would also benefit from this handbook.Among other pieces of professional and expert advice, the US Air Force Survival Handbook tells readers about:Finding your way without a map First aid for illness and injury Finding food and water Building a fire Concealment techniques Using ropes and tying knots Survival at sea Signaling for help Animal tracking Predicting the weather Building sheltersReleased on the 70th anniversary of the US Air Force, this book outlines specific survival threats found in many different types of terrain and how to survive them. It is invaluable to all who enjoy the outdoors and anyone who seeks insight into the training tactics of the US Air Force.

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No.8
73

A hands-on, practical survival guide from retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson—adapted for civilians from actual special forces operations—to eluding pursuers, evading capture, and surviving any dangerous situation.In today’s increasingly dangerous world, threats to your personal safety are everywhere. From acts of terror to mass shootings, and from the unseen (and sometimes virtual) matrix of everyday crime, danger is no longer confined to dark alleys or unstable regions. Potentially life-threatening circumstances can arise anywhere, anytime, and Clint Emerson—former Navy SEAL—wants you to be prepared.100 Deadly Skills contains proven self-defense skills, evasion tactics, and immobilizing maneuvers—modified from the world of black ops—to help you take action in numerous “worst case” scenarios from escaping a locked trunk, to making an improvised Taser, to tricking facial recognition software. With easy-to-understand instructions and illustrations, Emerson outlines in detail many life-saving strategies and teaches you how to think and act like a member of the special forces.This complete course in survival teaches you how to prevent tracking, evade a kidnapping, elude an active shooter, rappel down the side of a building, immobilize a bad guy, protect yourself against cyber-criminals, and much more—all using low-tech to “no-tech” methods. Clear, detailed, and presented in an easy-to-understand and execute format, 100 Deadly Skills is an invaluable resource. Because let’s face it, when danger is imminent, you don’t have time for complicated instructions.

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No.9
70

302 color pages and paperback, “NO Grid Survival Projects is the Only Book you Need to Survive a World without Electricity”.Inside, you'll find 70 ingenious projects that can help you protect your own family in times of economic crisis, long-term blackouts, riots, hyperinflation, hurricanes, martial law, war or other unforeseen events that may come our way.The immediate payoff of having these simple projects installed is that they make you independent and self-sufficient on your own property.You don’t want to depend on anyone for your basic survival needs! This book was written by Michael Major, a veteran, survivalist and self-taught DIY-er with decades of experience building completely unique projects that have already helped hundreds of people generate electricity, harvest and filter rainwater, grow and preserve food and natural remedies, set traps, stockpile fuel long-term and many…many others.As this is a physical book you can still have access to all the life-saving information inside even during a blackout or after an EMP. But the best thing you can do is add these simple projects to your property before something like that ever happens.Here are just a few of the projects you will find with complete sketches, materials and step-by-step instructions: Pressurized Rainwater Harvesting and Purification System: You will discover how to create an ingenious rainwater harvesting system capable of storing 165 gallons of water that would otherwise just go to waste. Because the water is stored vertically, it’s also pressurized by gravity, and you’ll be able to use it without a pump or siphon... The Backyard Power Plant (with battery bank): The Backyard Power Plant is an independent, DIY solar energy system that’s designed to keep a small fridge, a TV, and a laptop running during a blackout or after an EMP. The solar panels, the battery bank, and all the other components would not be affected.

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No.10
70

When Green Beret Lieutenant James N. Rowe was captured in 1963 in Vietnam, his life became more than a matter of staying alive.In a Vietcong POW camp, Rowe endured beri-beri, dysentery, and tropical fungus diseases. He suffered grueling psychological and physical torment. He experienced the loneliness and frustration of watching his friends die. And he struggled every day to maintain faith in himself as a soldier and in his country as it appeared to be turning against him.His survival is testimony to the disciplined human spirit.His story is gripping.

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No.11
69

OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLDThe 50th anniversary edition of the original sustainable living manual of basic country skills, preparedness, and wisdom for living off the land.This essential homesteaders’ encyclopedia will keep your family healthy, safe, and self-sufficient, no matter what's going on in the world.From homesteaders to urban farmers, and everyone in between, there is a desire for a simpler way of life: a healthier and self-sufficient natural lifestyle that allows you to survive and thrive—even in uncertain times. Carla Emery's classic guide will teach you how to live off the grid, be prepared, and do it yourself.This comprehensive, 1000-page Encyclopedia of Country Living will show you how to:• Can, dry, and preserve food• Plan your garden with a beginner's guide to gardening• Grow your own food• Make 20-minute cheese• Make your own natural skincare products• Bake bread• Cook on a wood stove• Learn beekeeping• Raise chickens, goats, and pigs• Create natural skincare products• Make organic bug spray• Treat your family with homemade natural remedies• Make fruit leather• Forage for wild food• Spin wool into yarn• Mill your own flour• Tap a maple treeAnd more!The Encyclopedia of Country Living has been guiding readers for more than 50 years, teaching you all the skills necessary for living independently off the land. Whether you live in the city, the country, or anywhere in between, this is the essential guide to living well and living simply.

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No.12
68

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The epic account of the storm on the summit of Mt. Everest that claimed five lives and left countless more—including Krakauer's—in guilt-ridden disarray."A harrowing tale of the perils of high-altitude climbing, a story of bad luck and worse judgment and of heartbreaking heroism." —PEOPLEA bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong.By writing Into Thin Air, Krakauer may have hoped to exorcise some of his own demons and lay to rest some of the painful questions that still surround the event. He takes great pains to provide a balanced picture of the people and events he witnessed and gives due credit to the tireless and dedicated Sherpas. He also avoids blasting easy targets such as Sandy Pittman, the wealthy socialite who brought an espresso maker along on the expedition. Krakauer's highly personal inquiry into the catastrophe provides a great deal of insight into what went wrong. But for Krakauer himself, further interviews and investigations only lead him to the conclusion that his perceived failures were directly responsible for a fellow climber's death. Clearly, Krakauer remains haunted by the disaster, and although he relates a number of incidents in which he acted selflessly and even heroically, he seems unable to view those instances objectively. In the end, despite his evenhanded and even generous assessment of others' actions, he reserves a full measure of vitriol for himself.This updated trade paperback edition of Into Thin Air includes an extensive new postscript that sheds fascinating light on the acrimonious debate that flared between Krakauer and Everest guide Anatoli Boukreev in the wake of the tragedy. "I have no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in the postscript, dated August 1999. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged research and a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heated discourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement of guide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of his criticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored The Climb, Boukreev's version of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer recounts his last conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weathered climbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had great hopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died in an avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I.In 1999, Krakauer received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters--a prestigious prize intended "to honor writers of exceptional accomplishment." According to the Academy's citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer. His account of an ascent of Mount Everest has led to a general reevaluation of climbing and of the commercialization of what was once a romantic, solitary sport; while his account of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation after challenging the Alaskan wilderness, delves even more deeply and disturbingly into the fascination of nature and the devastating effects of its lure on a young and curious mind."

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No.13
68

From minor cuts and burns, to heart attacks and strokes, this handy, take-anywhere guide gives you the knowledge and advice you need to recognize and respond to any medical emergency.Be prepared for any medical emergency and handle it safely and efficiently with The Complete First Aid Pocket Guide. Quickly identify signs and symptoms of a wide range of medical conditions andlearn how to recognize the difference between a minor injury or illness, and those that are more serious with this essential handbook.Each section of The Complete First Aid Pocket Guide includes a quick list of signs and symptoms to look for and step-by-step first aid instructions for dealing with each situation, all in user-friendly, simple language that’s easy to understand. Medical issues covered include:—First aid basics, including roles and responsibilities of a first aider, managing an incident, activating emergency services, and infection control—Lifesaving skills including the recovery position, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)—Minor injuries and conditions, including soft tissue injuries, splinters, blisters, eye injuries, nosebleed, diarrhea, and vomiting—Traumatic injuries including severe bleeding, amputation, shock, fractures, crush injuries, burns, and head and neck injuries—Medical emergencies including heart attack, stroke, asthma, anaphylaxis, hypoglycemia, meningitis, seizures, poisoning, and emergency childbirth—Environmental conditions including hypothermia, frostbite, heat stroke, sunburn, and lightning strike—Pediatric emergencies and illnesses, including assessing an unresponsive child or baby, pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), choking, croup, and febrile seizures—First aid kit lists for home, vehicles, and outdoor useWith an appendix featuring an A-to-Z list of every condition covered, it’s easy for you to quickly find the exact information you need in any situation you may face. With its small trim and portable size, The Complete First Aid Pocket Guide is the perfect addition to a home first aid kit, car first aid kit, disaster-survival bag, as well as a pocket companion for EMTs and other first responders in the field.

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No.14
67

An up-to-the-minute survival guide from the creator of Survivorman explores how to stay alive in the wild, in the jungle, in the desert, and in urban disasters.From the sun-scorched sands of the Kalahari to the snake-infested jungles of the Amazon, Les Stroud has made a life of surviving in the harshest—and most remote—regions on Earth.Now, the creator, producer, and host of the hit television program Survivorman transfers his decades of knowledge and experience to the pages of Survive!, a practical guide that gives everyday readers a no-nonsense look at the real world of survival.Stroud offers readers the essential skills and tactics necessary to endure in any corner of the globe, along with a wealth of insider information born of his own experiences in the outdoors and unavailable in any other book. Readers will learn: How to make a survival shelter and why a lean-to is largely a waste of time. Why survival kits are important, and why you should make your own. Where to find water and why drinking contaminated water is sometimes warranted. How to locate and trap small animals and why the notion of tracking and hunting large game is largely a pipe dream.Whether seasoned in the outdoor arts or new to adventuring, all readers will learn something from Survive!. Stroud's many colorful anecdotes and cut-to-the-chase philosophy not only make for an entertaining read, but also enhance anyone's ability to focus on the main goal when everything else has gone wrong—survival.

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No.15
67

319 color pages, 400 wild foods, plant localization maps for each plant (400 maps), paperback, great print quality, superior plant identification guidelines, recipes for each plant, full page photos of the plants, at least 3 pictures for each plant, medicinal uses.The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods is probably the most important thing you want to have by your side when you go out foraging. Maybe there are times when you're still not sure about a certain plant and you need to consult the book, despite your vast experience. Or maybe you don’t have experience at all and just want to find wild goodies using the book.This book is the ultimate resource for every home, kept right next to your emergency foods, in your Bug out Bag, on your coffee table, or in your bookcase. You can use this book to put food on your table in case hard times are coming ahead. This knowledge is better at your fingertips now, as you might not be able to get it when you need it the most.You can also use the book to make your own remedies from plants growing around you. Inside The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods there are hundreds of medicinal plants and detailed, super simple instructions on how to take advantage of them.A lot of high-priced foods you find labeled as ORGANIC, are nothing compared to the ones that grow in the wild. Wild foods mean no GMO, no pesticides, herbicides or harmful contaminants. There are no foods healthier than the ones you pick yourself in the wild.This is FREE food and it’s completely up for grabs.The plant knowledge is no longer taught as it has been for thousands of generations before us.If we don’t do something about it, this knowledge will be lost forever and one day we might pay the ultimate price for this.When you were growing up, it was probably your parents or grandparents that helped you identify your very first berry...

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No.16
67

First created for formal Air Force training to help a pilot in hostile environments, this edition allows military personnel, survivalists, and outdoorsmen to have that essential information in your back pocket.Here is a comprehensive manual of outdoor survival techniques. It includes expert advice on:First aid for illness and injury Finding your way without a map Building a fire Finding food and water Using ropes and tying knots Mountain survival Concealment techniques Signaling for help Survival at sea Building shelters Animal tracking Predicting the weather And much moreBy outlining specific survival threats found at sea, in the desert, in mountain terrain, and in arctic conditions, and offering techniques on surviving them, this book is invaluable to both the casual outdoorsman and the extreme sports enthusiast, as well as anyone looking for insight into the training tactics of the U.S. Air Force.

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