Since you’re here, you’re like me and searching for the best survival books to add to your survival and preparedness knowledge library. And, if you’re like me, you’re searching for something other than fake and lame reviews.

If you’re searching for a good review of survival books, you’ve come to the right place because all of these reviews are for books I’ve personally read—the proof is in photos! Now you can stop wasting your time elsewhere and read a book review written from a prepper’s perspective rather than some marketing geek’s clickbait efforts to part you from your money.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links that I may receive a small commission for at no cost to you if you choose to purchase a product through a link on this page.

My List of The Best Survival Books:

This is my list of books that I feel are worthy of making it onto your survival bookshelf. These books are not in any specific order. Instead, they are all good survival books that I feel are deserving of your time and effort.

This is not a list of all the survival books I’ve read. I have shelves full of books that I don’t feel are as deserving as these when it comes to placing on this list. With that, I will add new reviews to this page as time progresses, and I read other books that I feel should make the list.

I am currently Reading: Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide, 2nd Edition.

Jim Cobb’s Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide, 2nd Edition, is the next addition to my best survival books list. As it’s the second and expanded edition of his first edition book by the same name, it’s sure not to disappoint!

1. Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook Eighteenth Updated printing January 2022

Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner is a comprehensive and timeless guide for rural health care providers. This is one of the books I carried with me when I worked in places like Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. And it was an essential book because there were often no doctors.

In Africa, for example, the highest level of medical care outside of myself as a Paramedic was a Nurse at a small clinic about 30 minutes away. We were so far from medical services that it took over twenty-four hours for a medevac to arrive to evacuate one of my team members who broke his leg while, against my better advice, jumping into the crocodile-infested Nile.

Where There Is No Doctor covers topics from home cures and popular beliefs to how to examine a sick person, first aid, nutrition, medications, common illnesses, body systems, and care of the young and elderly. It’s an excellent and necessary reference book for any person, medically trained or not, who may find themselves in a situation where there is no doctor or trustworthy medical aid.

Pick up a copy of Where There Is No Doctor – you won’t regret adding it to your survival library!

2. The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide: Harvest, Treat, and Store Your Most Vital Resource

The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide: Harvest, Treat, and Store Your Most Vital Resource by Daisy Luther is essential for anyone interested in emergency preparedness and survival. Water is one of the most critical resources for prepping and survival.

Daisy’s book is a comprehensive guide covering everything from harvesting, treating, and storing water to how to purify it and prevent water-related illnesses in an emergency. One of the things that makes this book so beneficial for preppers is the fact that it is written in an easy-to-understand format and provides step-by-step instructions for each method covered.

This book provides the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure a reliable and safe water supply in an emergency. If you’re serious about survival, this book is a must-have for your prepper library.

3. The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals

The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals by Tess Pennington packs 300 recipes that cover a wide range of dishes, from breakfast to dinner, snacks, and desserts.

It includes recipes for meals that can be made with long-term storage foods, such as wheat, rice, and beans, as well as recipes for meals that you can make with fresh ingredients. The recipes are easy to follow and include step-by-step instructions and ingredient lists.

With this book, you can turn your emergency food supplies into meals that you and your family will enjoy eating, which will be necessary during stressful times. It provides a wide variety of recipes and offers practical knowledge on how to cook with limited resources, which is essential in an emergency.

If you want to keep eating well after the disaster hits, this book covers precisely how to make it happen! Get your copy today!

4. Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War

Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram is an excellent book with important and thought-provoking insights into modern warfare. Departing from conventional dissertation writing or biographic style, Coram’s narrative gives readers a fresh perspective on how one man singlehandedly revolutionized military tactics.

He constructively details Boyd’s thought process, mindset, and influential ideas on situational awareness, decision-making, and strategy while providing insight into politics within the United States Military Industrial Complex. Often this proved difficult for Boyd, who was not given recognition for his efforts until late in his life.

As an avid reader and prepper, I was amazed at all the depth of Coram’s book. Moreover, I enjoyed learning about the life and times of one of the greatest strategic thinkers of our time. While this may not provide a blueprint for survival, it gives insight and perspective into the minds of one of the most influential military thinkers of modern history.

This book is a long read that serves as an excellent overview of Boyd and is a must-read for anyone interested in a blend of mindset, military history, or political shenanigans. I liked it so much I give copies to my more situational-awareness-minded friends.

Situational awareness can’t wait! Order yours today!

5. The Gift of Fear

The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker is an informative and insightful book that provides valuable lessons to readers, no matter their background or experience. This work examines the importance and implications of fearful feelings within our lives in great detail.

It explains why fear can be a crucial tool for survival and how recognizing, reading, and responding to fearful feelings can protect us from danger and serve as a catalyst for positive changes in our lives. Additionally, details are provided about identifying signs of abusive patterns in relationships, how to respond quickly and effectively in risky situations, strategies for understanding predatory behavior, and tips on reducing vulnerability when necessary.

Each section of this book has easily readable chapters with meaningful snippets from real-life stories packed with powerful lessons that make it absorbing from start to finish.

The Gift of Fear is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking greater safety.

The Bottom Line About My Best Survival Books List

There you have it, my reviews of the best survival books. If you want to expand your knowledge about advanced and basic survival skills and what to do when all hell breaks loose, these are the books that I recommend.

Lastly, as a former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, I believe that the US Army Ranger Handbook may be the best survival book. What are your thoughts on the best survival book? Tell us in the comments below!

Stay safe,