Making a list of the top 5 survival books is no easy task. Stop by your local bookstore or library and you’ll see that there’s no shortage of offerings, and you’ll find even more online. To spare myself from reading through such a daunting stack, I narrowed the scope to books focused on survival information needed by the average outdoors enthusiast – so none of the many books on what to do in a nuclear apocalypse. For that, I’d say read The Road by Cormac McCarthy and hope for the best.
The only reason this book is not higher on the list is its narrow scope. It’s zoomed into one specific family of health and survival risks, albeit a very good one. The stories I have heard and read from survivors of hypothermia make it sound horrifying. This book was written by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, who operates the Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at the University of Manitoba, and the late Dr. James A. Wilkerson III, MD, a hero of wilderness medicine. That should give you reassurance that the book was written by true experts who can speak with authority. Overall, this book is a succinct must-read for anyone who regularly ventures out in the colder climes. To pick up a copy, click HERE.
4. Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
When it comes to survival books that were the most fun to read, this is #1. I tore through this book as if it was a great fiction thriller. It gives you a fascinating look into the psychological side of survival situations through a series of captivating stories. This book is a needed eye-opener for anyone who considers themselves equipped to survive. As the subtitle says, you’ll learn who lives, who dies, and why – and it isn’t who you’d think. Grab a copy of this one and challenge yourself to rethink how prepared you are both physically and mentally. It’s simply fascinating. Click HERE.
3. How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere.
The classic survival guide. This book was written in the 1950’s and has inspired countless wannabe’s that mimicked its style and advice. It’s broken down into four main sections: sustenance, warmth, orientation, and safety, so it’s easy to parse if you’re looking to learn more about one specific aspect of survival. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it’s free right now on Audible, just click HERE.
As previously discussed on the blog, I love this survival book because it is full of modern tips and tricks that will help you take advantage of the technology that’s available today without overspending on junk you don’t need. Not only will you learn how to use your phone to essentially make it impossible to get lost, you’ll also read through some great stories with personal advice from the MeatEater crew. I would recommend reading How to Stay Alive in the Woods for the timeless advice and then supplementing that advice with the more modern information found in this book. To pick up a copy, click HERE.
1. Bushcraft Boxed Set
I’ll admit, it’s a little unfair to include this in the ranking since it’s technically 4 books, but I couldn’t resist. Ever since I first stumbled across a Bushcraft book I have been obsessed with this series. This box set includes everything you need: Bushcraft 101 (the foundation), Advanced Bushcraft (master the basics), The Bushcraft Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild (everything you need to know about getting food in the wild), and Bushcraft First Aid (should be required reading for anyone in the backwoods). Of course, you can grab each of them separately, but you will be wanting the full boxed set anyway. To grab them all, click HERE.
Honorable Mentions
As stated before, it was difficult to narrow the list down to only the five best survival books. If I could include 7 entries, I would recommend the following:
This is another complete guide that is the newest book on the list. I recommend this one for similar reasons as The MeatEater Guide to Wilderness Skills and Survival – it’s full of the most up-to-date information on how to stay alive. Click HERE to buy a copy.
The MeatEater’s Close Calls
These audio books are some of Rinella’s best work. They are fascinating stories that will make you want to be more prepared before you go out and more aware of your surroundings when you get there. You won’t find a ton of hands-on advice, but these stories will make you rethink the way you view risks. Grab them HERE.