So you’re up late, definitely not doomscrolling or anything, and you just want a list of every book that’s ever been written about prepping and survival. It would be nice if the list also included definitive books on homesteading.

Not a problem!

You’re definitely not planning a survival library in case billionaires feed all these books into their AI shredding factories, or the internet goes down forever before you’ve mastered the art of water bath canning. And I definitely didn’t freak out and make this list of 103 books because of that.

We’re all very calm cucumbers.

We’ve covered a lot of these topics in my free and open-source illustrated survival guide, but not all of them. These are the books I consulted when writing the guide. They’re also the books on my expanding reading list.

If you wanted to build a survival library, which you’re not doing because you’re not worried about any of this stuff…

You’d start with these:

Survival Medicine

1. Every Force of Nature
Sears Casey

Written by a paramedic with experience in wilderness and disaster scenarios. Covers strategies for immediate survival. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

2. Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine
Paul Auerbach

Considered foundational for outdoor, short-term emergencies and trauma. Considered the “father” of emergency outdoor medicine, Auerbach also wrote Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine, a giant textbook in two volumes. Considered essential if you’re building a library of medical knowledge.

Do you want a hard copy of these?

Yes.

3. Medicine for the OutdoorsTate Higgins, Ali S. Arastu, Paul Auerbach

Covers many outdoor emergencies like toxic plants and insect or animal bites. Best for short-term emergencies. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

4. Prepper’s Survival Medicine Handbook
Scott Finazzo

Strips down military medical manuals and guides and unpacks them for civilians. Highly trusted by survival communities.

Related:

The Official US Army Ranger Medic Handbook
U.S. Dept of Defense

Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Wound Treatment
U.S. Dept of Defense

5. Wilderness First Responder
Buck Tilton

Written by another respected expert. Covers many emergency situations. Great organization and illustrations. Great instructions. Focuses on immediate care. Assumes help will eventually arrive.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

6. The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide
Joseph and Mary Alton

Considered a Bible among preppers. Very comprehensive. Shows you how to build a medical kit. Teaches you quick medical procedures almost anyone can do. Talks about stockpiling medications. Do you want a hard copy of this book? Yes.

7. Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Diseases
Joseph and Mary Alton

Same trusted experts, covering antibiotics and infections in remote areas. Do you want a hard copy of this book? Yes.

8. The Doomsday Book of Medicine
Ralph La Guardia

Another giant book written by a real doctor. Very comprehensive. Very straightforward. Like the Altons’ books, it’s written for civilians. Sometimes hard to navigate, but that’s because it’s 900 pages.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

9. The Prepper’s Medical Handbook
William Forgey

Shorter than the other massive guides, but very good. Vetted and trusted by prepper communities. Covers short and longterm disasters up to five years. Good illustrations. Hard to go wrong with this addition.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

10. Where There Is No Doctor
David Werner

Deals with emergency medicine in remote areas. Gives you good, general advice. For example: dehydration kills most patients before their actual infections do, so water is key. Covers diseases in depth: typhoid, dengue, yellow fever, hookworm, tapeworm, and Giardia. Think you won’t be dealing with these in North America? Think again. Do you want a hard copy of this book? Yes.

11. Where There is No Dentist
Murray Dickson

Because your teeth need to survive, too.
Do you want a hard copy?
Yes.

12. Herbal Antivirals and Herbal Antibiotics
Stephen Buhner

Two books. Covers plant-based medicine in extraordinary detail. Includes instructions for cultivating, foraging, and preparing them. Do you want a hard copy of this book? Yes.

13. The Prepper’s Natural Medicine Handbook
Cat Ellis

Another essential guide to plant-based and natural medicine. Smart, detailed, but also concise (in a good way). Good instructions. Gives you what you need. Doesn’t waste your time. Consider it an encyclopedia and excellent companion to Buhner’s books. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

14. Ditch Medicine, Hugh Coffee

Good book if you can find it. More for trained medical professionals than civilians. Lots of good information. Covers amputations, internal bleeding, field surgery, setting bones, delivering babies. Do you want a hard copy? Probably.

15. The Prepper’s Ultimate First Aid Bible
Robert Freeman

Something you’ll stumble across. In my opinion, not really worth your time. Do you want a hard copy? Not really.

16. Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
Laurence Gonzales

Not a medical textbook. But considered a foundational source for understanding the mindsets that increase your odds of survival. Worth a read.

Want a hard copy?

Sure…

Rebuilding & Maintaining Civilization

17. The Foxfire Series

12 books. Remains one of the definitive collections on a wide range of survival topics. A little dated. Better to have than not. Do you want hard copies?

Yes.

18. The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization
Hungry Minds

It’s a coffee table book. So, not incredibly detailed. More like a source of ideas and inspiration. Not really a practical guide.

Do you want a hard copy?

Eh…?

19. Primitive Technology: A Survivalist’s Guide to Building Tools and Shelters from Scratch
John Plant

Written by a YouTube star. A pretty thorough guide to basic technology. Shows you how to make basic hunting and survival tools, shelters, even clothes. Downside: Instructions are pretty short. Illustrations are decorative.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

20. The Ultimate Guide to a Rebuilding Civilization
James Evans

Comprehensive, but not incredibly detailed. Covers topics like canning and shelter construction with earth bags and mud bricks, as well as forging metal and building windmills. Downside: Broad, not detailed.

Do you want a hard copy?

Eh…?

21. The Ultimate Guide to a Rebuilding Civilization
Jackson Ridge

Same title, different book. Covers a lot of ground. Some good ideas. Not very thorough. Not a practical guide with instructions.

Do you want a hard copy?

Eh…?

22. Material World: The Six Raw Materials that Shape Modern Civilization
Ed Conway

Not exactly an instructional guide, but a good set of books to have if you want to understand how raw materials are extracted and used to make the things that run civilization. Covers salt, sand, iron, copper, oil, lithium.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

23. The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency
John Seymour

Published in 1976. Widely considered a classic. Great introduction to homesteading with illustrations and clear writing. Downsides: Covers topics like blacksmithing and spinning wool, but not with enough depth.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

24. How to Invent Everything
Ryan North

A big book with lots of padding. A good source for ideas. Not detailed enough. Do you want a hard copy? Sure, why not?

25. How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm
Lewis Dartnell

A very cool book. Shows you how to make things like bleach or even how to scrap together a phone. Gives you a broad overview of crude manufacturing and agriculture, old tools from prior eras like seed drills and harrows.

Do you want a hard copy of this book?

Yes.

26. Self-Sufficiency for the 21st Century
Dick and James Strawbridge

Similar to Gehring. Clear, concise, good visuals. Covers a lot of ground. Gets you started. Still not enough detail. Doesn’t include step-by-step instructions. Another one that’s “accurate but a little broad.”

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

27. Field Guide to Environmental Engineering for Development Workers
James Mihelcic and others

Covers topics like rain harvesting and sanitation in extreme depth. Very detailed. Sometimes, too much detail. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

28. The Compost Toilet Handbook
Joseph Jenkins

If the grid goes down for good, this is how you’re going to the bathroom for the rest of your life. Better learn how now. Jenkins is the compost guru. Also get his guide, The Humanure Handbook. Do you want hard copies?

Yes.

Manual Tools & Machines

29. Pedal Power: In Work, Leisure, and Transportation

James McCullagh

Good guide if you can find it. Available on the Internet Archive (Archive.org). Good visuals and schematics for building machines that pump water, grind grains, split logs, and do other heavy labor by… pedaling. No doubt you could use the basics covered here for other applications.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

30. Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings
Aldren Watson

Covers more than 400 different manual tools.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

31. Build Your Own Farm Tools
Josh Volt

Covers a range of ideas for running a farm or homestead with minimal electricity. Do you want a hard copy? Yes.

32. 501 Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms and Devices
Henry T. Brown

A catalog of mechanical concepts. Teaches you what many of us should’ve learned about gears, pulleys, levers, etc.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

33. Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary (3 Volumes)
Edward Knight

Another giant old book about machines. All three volumes land at 3,000 pages. Covers everything from printing presses to levered water pumps. Available at the Internet Archive (Archive.org).

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

34. The Low-Tech Magazine Book Series
Kris de Decker

A magazine press that publishes countless guides on building tools and running society with little or no electricity. Get it all here.

Do you want hard copies?

Yes.

35. The Human-Powered Home: Choosing Muscles Over Motors
Tamara Dean

A detailed, illustrated guide for doing things without machines and appliances. Covers pedal and crank powered ideas for washing clothes, pumping water, grinding grain, construction, etc. Lots of great research. Lots of good ideas. Huge list of tools and machines from human history. Falls short on detailed instructions. Get it. Go from there. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

36. Radical Technology
Peter Harper and Godfrey Boyle

Good if you can find it. Available on the Internet Archive (Archive.org). This book kickstarted the alternate tech movement. Doesn’t show you how to build everything in detail. Shows you what’s possible.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

Homesteading & Off-Grid

37. The Encyclopedia of Country Living
Carla Emery

Giant book. A classic, really. Covers the basics of what you can grow in many parts of North America, plus planting calendars and tutorials on harvesting and preserving. It’s thorough. Do you want a hard copy? Yes.

38. The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading
Nicole Faires

A widely respected guide that combines 19th-century and modern strategies. A good companion to Emergy’s encyclopedia.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

39. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control
Fern Marshall Bradley & others

A detailed and comprehensive list of pests, diseases, and how to fix them.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

40. Rodale’s Vegetable Garden Problem Solver
Fern Marshall Bradley

Something wrong with your garden?

This book probably covers it

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

41. How to Grow More Vegetables
John Jeavons

Considered foundational for soil rejuvenation and maximizing garden yield. Very important for backyard homesteaders.

Want a hard copy?

Yes.

42. The Market Gardener
Jean-Martin Fortier

A no-nonsense workbook that focuses on low tech, growing food for a large community with minimal resources. Want a hard copy?

Yes.

43. The Essential Book of Homesteading
Ashley English

Another good, fairly comprehensive guide.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

44. The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Saving Seeds
Lee Buttala and Shanyn Siegel

If you want true self-reliance, learn to save seeds.

This guide covers most of it. Want a hard copy?

Yes.

45. Seed to Seed
Suzanne Ashworth

Another seed saving guide, by the Seed Savers Exchange. Considered an authoritative source on the topic. Want a hard copy?

Yes.

46. Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants
Samuel Thayer

If you homestead, you’ll also probably forage. This guide lands around 700 pages. If you need a foraging guide, this is it.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

47. Edible Wild Plants
Thomas Elias and Peter Dyeman

Shorter, more compact. A good one to carry around.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

48. Back to Basics
Abigail Gehring

Orients you to basic skills for old-fashioned homesteading. Get earlier editions if you can. Readers say they’re better. Sometimes vague, but always informative. Falls into the general criticism of “Accurate but superficial.”

Do you want a hard copy of this book?

Yeah, probably.

49. MiniFarming
Brett Markham

Shows you how to grow in smaller spaces. Clear. Practical. Comprehensive. Do you want a hard copy? Yes.

50. The Backyard Homestead
Carleen Madigan

Another great book for growing in smaller spaces.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

51. The Self-Sufficient Backyard
Ron and Johanna Melchior

Some good information, but not very structured.

Do you want a hard copy?

Well, maybe…

52. 40 Projects for Your Backyard Homestead
David Toht

Not really about growing food. More about building things to help you grow food. Good basic overviews and beginner instructions. A little oversimplified. Do you want a hard copy? Sure, why not?

53. The Do-It-Yourself Homestead
Tess Zundel

Widely respected by homesteaders and survivalist communities. Practical advice. Covers a range of topics. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

54. The Resilient Farm and Homestead
Ben Falk

Detailed, good visuals for running a homestead with minimal electricity.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

55. Homegrown, Handgathered
Silvan Goddin and Jordan Tony

Covers a lot of the basics for starting a homestead. Smart, accurate, but a little vague. Often lacks exact materials and steps. Not always the most instructional. Do you want a hard copy? Sure, maybe.

Prepping Skills & Surviving in Cities

56. When Crisis Hits Suburbia
Ted Riley

A good intro to prepping in the suburbs. Covers short and intermediate emergencies. Like blackouts and grid failures. Good lists. Riley has written many other good books. Do you want hard copies? Yes.

57. How to Prepare for Climate Change
David Pogue

Takes the home-improvement approach. Offers practical tips on preparing a home for heat waves, storms, water shortages, etc. If you’re stuck in a conventional home or apartment, this book will help you. Do you want a hard copy? Yes.

58. No Grid Survival Projects
Michael Major et al.

Focuses on projects with step-by-step instructions, like building a solar panel array and even a wind turbine, how to use a Ham radio, etc. It was one of the books that inspired my own illustrated guide. Warning: It’s not always accurate when it comes to topics like canning, so verify with other sources like the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. Best for carpentry and DIY.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

59. No Grid Survival Projects Bible
Jonathan Hugg

Lots of great ideas, but falls short on instructions. But sometimes it’s valuable to have ideas and overviews. Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, maybe.

60. Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide, Jim Cobb

Good introduction to prepping. Great lists of books. Do you want a hard copy? Yeah, probably.

61. Sold Out Forever
Damian Brindle

A list of 100 items to stock. Covers some good strategies for survival and security during grid failures. If you’re trying to stockpile, saves you a lot of time and headache trying to remember everything. Do you want a hard copy? Yeah, probably.

62. The Bushcraft Boxed Set
Dave Canterbury

Useful if you plan on finding yourself stranded in the woods. Covers some useful survival skills that apply to suburbs and cities.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

63. The SAS Survival Handbook, John Wiseman

Very popular, but it’s a legacy prepping book. A bit outdated. Do you want a hard copy? Pass.

Specialized Guides

64. The Backyard Blacksmith
Lorelie Sims

Good intro to forging metal. Highly regarded by other blacksmiths.

65. Practical Blacksmithing: Four Classic Volumes in one
M.T. Richardson

Lands at 900 pages. Detailed visuals. Assumes you’re working with 19th-century materials and tools. Yep, this will do it.

66. Blacksmith’s Manual Illustrated
J.W. Lillico

Another classic, published in 1930.

67. The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning
Alden Amos

A big, dense book at nearly 500 pages. Tells you how to make yarn. When you have yarn, you can make clothes. Cool.

68. The Intentional Spinner
Judith MacKenzie McCuin

Another classic on spinning yarn from raw materials.

69. Learning to Weave
Deborah Chandler

Another good illustrated guide.

Alternate Power/Solar

70. Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!
Will Prowse

One of the most respected solar gurus out there. A real whiz kid when he started. Prowse explains solar power to beginners. Focuses on mobile, but you can adapt it for other purposes. Clear writing, good visuals.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

71. Solar Rooftop DIY: The Homeowner’s Guide
Mike Sullivan

The real deal. A guide by someone with professional builder and project management experience, showing you how they actually installed solar panels on their own home. Good information. Good visuals. There’s so much AI trash on the market now. This is a genuine guide. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

72. Install Your Own Solar Panels
Joseph Burdick and Philip Schmidt

A guide written by actual professionals. Like Sullivan’s guide, actually walks you through the process. Good information. Good visuals.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

73. Solar Electricity Handbook
Michael Boxwell

A good book for someone who doesn’t know squat about solar or electricity. Provides tons of useful information. Some electricians have criticized inaccuracies in places. Use for designing and basic walkthrough of installation. Verify with other sources. Still much better than most generic guides.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

74. Photovoltaic Design & Installation For Dummies
Ryan Mayfield

Covers most of the basics of home solar installations. Easy to understand. Sometimes criticized for relying too heavily on grid-tied installation.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

75. The Off Grid Solar Power Bible
Caleb Stone

A pretty good introduction to the basics of a solar setup. Explains the components like charge controllers and batteries. Good info on wiring. Shows you how to set up a basic system for emergencies.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

76. Off-Grid Solar Power Simplified
Nick Seghers

A very good companion for Caleb Stone’s book. Worth having them both. Do you want a hard copy? Yeah, probably.

Bugout Bags

77. Build The Perfect Bug Out Bag
Stewart Creek

Shows you most of what you need to know to pack a bugout bag. Covers situations and gear that you might’ve overlooked. Stresses the importance of packing for others, including those with disabilities.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, probably.

78. The Bug Out Book
Ted Riley

Another very good book on bugout bags. Also covers pets.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, probably.

Water

79. Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, Ponds
Art Ludwig

Considered a definitive, authoritative guide on water storage by an expert.

Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

80. Create an Oasis with Greywater
Art Ludwig

Don’t waste your sink water. Art Ludwig shows you how to run plumbing from your household to your garden. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

81. The Prepper’s Water Survival Handbook
Rachel Murdock

Covers water storage and sourcing water. Includes some creative tips, like storing water in a washing machine on the fly. Also shows you how to tap into water heaters. Overall, a smart book. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

82. The Ultimate Guide to Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Amina Carpenter

A good introduction to rain harvesting. Covers systems and storage options like barrels, IBC totes, and cisterns. Some basic info on filtration. Do you want a hard copy? Yeah, probably.

83. Essential Rainwater Harvesting
Rob and Michell Avis

Another good, thorough intro to rain harvesting.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, probably.

84. Harvesting Rainwater and Water Survival Guide
Dion Rosser

Good focus on filtration and purification.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

85. Rainwater Harvesting for Your Homestead
Hayden Warner

Another good book that covers a lot of the same ground.

Do you want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

Emergency Communications

86. Prepper’s Communication Handbook
Jim Cobb

A highly regarded introduction to emergency communication systems, including Ham radio, CB radio, and more. Doesn’t show you absolutely everything, but it’s a very good start. Want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

87. The Prepper’s Guide to Post-Disaster Communications
Aden Tate

Another highly respected guide that focuses on amateur radio with step-by-step instructions. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

88. Radio Resilience: How Ham Radio Saves Lives
Barret Williams

Another good guide that includes info on emergency digital comms as well as amateur radio. Do you want a hard copy?

Yes.

89. Prepper Communications The Easy Way
Craig Buck

A detailed guide written by a respected expert. Covers off-grid, emergency communication tools in depth. Want a hard copy?

Yes.

90. ARRL Ham Radio License Manual

If you ever plan to operate a Ham radio, get the guide and then get a basic radio setup. Sometimes, it’s just about having it. Want a hard copy?

You guessed it…

We’re So Close to 100 Books…

Many of these final books are referenced in this great video.

91. Emergency Sanitation: Toilet Systems for Disaster Relief
Peter Harvey, Sohrab Baghri, Bob Reed

Written by actual sanitation experts. A lifesaver for longterm survival situations. Covers liquid and solid waste like other guides, but also discusses more unpleasant topics like handling dead bodies.

Even better, it’s open-sourced. Get it here.

Want a hard copy?

Yes.

92. All New Square Foot Gardening
Mel Bartholomew, Square Foot Gardening Foundation

Considered a foundational and authoritative guide to square-foot gardening. It’s an essential text for backyard growers. Rave reviews.

Want a print copy?

Yes.

93. Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Homescale Permaculture
Toby Hemenway

Another widely praised book, considered for homesteaders and backyard gardeners alike. Focuses on sustainable growing strategies.

Want a print copy?

Yes.

94. The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide
Daisy Luther

Covers the basics of water storage and sourcing.

Also shows you how to dig a well.

Want a print copy?

Yes.

95. Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement
Charles Byers, Creative Homeowner Editors

Shows you how to fix stuff when it breaks, and you can’t call a pro. Hard to find good guides on this topic. This is a good one.

Want a print copy?

Yes.

96. Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

We mentioned it earlier. It’s essential for food preservation.

Want a hard copy?

Yes.

97. Auto Repair for Dummies
Desiree White, Deanna Sclar

Good to have even if you’re not planning for emergencies. Shows you how to fix common car problems. You won’t always have YouTube.

Want a print copy?

Yeah, probably.

98. 100 Deadly Skills
Clint Emerson

Shows you how to protect yourself without always resorting to firearms. Covers a range of threats, including digital ones.

99. Principles of Personal Defense
Jeff Cooper

Outlines seven key mindsets for personal defense and alertness. Not really a detailed manual, but a good introduction to security.

Want a print copy?

Hey, sure.

100. The Prepper’s Cookbook
Tess Pennington

Widely praised by homesteaders and preppers. Shows you how to stock a pantry for actual emergencies, with minimal prep foods.

Want a hard copy?

Yeah, probably.

101. Meals in a Jar
Stephanie Petersen

An orientation to the “meals in a jar” approach to prepping. Simple recipes. Put ingredients in a jar. Cook them during a disaster. It’s a simple idea, but never hurts to have some pointers along the way.

Want a hard copy?

Sure, why not?

102. When All Hell Breaks Loose
Cody Lundin, Russel Miller

A solid, widely respected introduction to emergency prepping that covers the basics of water purification, storing foods, staying warm or cool without the grid. Do you want a hard copy? Yeah, sure.

103. The Modern Survival Manual
Fernano Aguirre

A blend of instruction and personal account, it tells the story of survival during the 2001 economic collapse in Argentina. Criticized as a little amateurish. On the other hand, it’s nice to read from someone who actually lived through a collapse. Generally regarded as giving great, practical, and tested advice.

Want a print copy?

Sure…

What’s in your library?

What books would you add?

Tell us.

Sentinel Intelligence is a reader-supported publication that also receives funding from organizations like the Alfred Kobacker and Elizabeth Trimbach Fund. You can offer one-time support here. To receive new posts and support this work on a more regular basis, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.