Best Survival Books: Review of The 4 Best
Best survival books. Whether you’re preparing for outdoor adventures, building an emergency kit, or mastering long-term self-reliance, the right books can dramatically elevate your survival knowledge. This guide covers the best survival books across bushcraft, first aid, urban preparedness, navigation, gear selection, and mindset. Each recommendation is based on credibility, reader reviews, and practical usefulness in real-world scenarios.
Below, you’ll find detailed summaries, standout features, and a product comparison table to help you choose the perfect book for your needs.
After extensive reading of numerous wilderness survival books, I am excited to share my review of what I consider the 5 best survival books available. These selected titles stand out for their exceptional content and credibility. Unlike self-published works, each of these best survival books is authored by reputable experts who genuinely understand the intricacies of survival.
With the overwhelming number of survival books on the market, finding a reliable source of information can be challenging for readers. My recommendations focus on books that not only provide practical advice but are also crafted by knowledgeable professionals in the field. Explore these top picks to equip yourself with the best survival skills and insights.
When searching for the best survival books, many titles promise that simply reading the content, purchasing gear, and practicing a few skills will enable you to thrive in the wilderness. However, this advice can be misleading and even irresponsible. Many of these books are outdated, and the authors may lack real-life survival experience—a notable example being Bradfor Angier’s works. (see Bradfor Angier’s)
While it’s not impossible to learn survival skills, genuine preparation involves much more than just reading a couple of books or spending a few days backpacking. Some survival guides are published primarily because their authors are well-known survival celebrities, such as Bear Grylls, but this doesn’t always equate to valuable information.
Furthermore, many survival books offer a different perspective without significantly enhancing the reader’s knowledge. The market is already saturated with titles that don’t add real value, including works by authors like Michael Hawke and Les Stroud. (see Michael Hawke’s, Les Stroud’s, and many others)
Perhaps the least helpful survival books are those that rely heavily on existing manuals, such as the SAS Survival Handbook and the US Army Survival Manual, merely recycling this information (as seen in Dave Canterbury’s publications). To truly prepare for survival situations, it’s crucial to choose informative, practical, and well-researched books that go beyond surface-level knowledge.
Contents
- 1 What follows is a list of the top survival books currently available
- 1.1 1. Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide; Skills, Tips, and Gear for Living on the Land
- 1.2 2. Survival Wisdom & Know How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness
- 1.3 3. SAS Survival Guide: How to Survive in the Wild, on Land or Sea
- 1.4 4. The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure
What follows is a list of the top survival books currently available
1. Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide; Skills, Tips, and Gear for Living on the Land
by Juan Pablo Quiñonez
Best Survival Books: THRIVE Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide. The THRIVE Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide stands out among the best survival books as a comprehensive resource for those seeking to master long-term wilderness survival skills. Unlike typical 72-hour survival guides, THRIVE provides an extensive reference that delves deeply into essential skills, tips, and gear needed for sustainable living in the wild. This guide goes beyond the basics, addressing crucial topics often overlooked in other survival books, such as the importance of mindset and thorough preparation. If you’re serious about enhancing your survival knowledge, THRIVE is an essential addition to your collection of best survival books.
See more: review here
2. Survival Wisdom & Know How: Everything You Need to Know to Subsist in the Wilderness
by Stackpole Books
This 480-page survival encyclopedia is useful for beginners and experts. Fish filleting and species-specific procedures are covered in depth. This book covers animals, plants, food sources, water purification, hunting, fishing, fire making, shelter construction, and navigation.
Like the SAS Survival Handbook, its copious substance might be daunting. Though the graphics are simple, the content is rich, making it perfect for dedicated outdoors aficionados. Like a dictionary or encyclopedia, the content isn’t sequential, so users must search for each subject.
Survival Wisdom & Know How is one of the greatest survival books for short-term and long-term wilderness survival due to its depth of material, despite some critiques concerning presentation and survival abilities. It’s a book-length survival Wikipedia, suitable for outdoor survivalists.
See more: review here
3. SAS Survival Guide: How to Survive in the Wild, on Land or Sea
by John Wiseman
The most popular survival book ever. In the British Army SAS, author John Wiseman taught survival. This book seems like a military handbook because of that. I believe this survival book is overrated, yet it’s informative.
It aims to cover every climate on Earth. It covers preparation and planning, survival kit, knives, water, climate and terrain, wild edibles, fishing, hunting, trapping, shelters, fire, cooking, axes, ropes, and knots, maps and navigation, travel and waterways, first aid, survival at sea, signalling, search and rescue, urban survival (2014 ed.), and natural disaster
With 672 pages, it’s hefty at 2.2 pounds (1kg). The book is packed with information, however it doesn’t go into much detail. This survival book covers so many issues that it barely touches the surface, and I often wonder whether the authors (presumably ghost writers) have ever done some of the procedures discussed.
The crude explanations are accompanied by modest black and white drawings on practically every page. This book offers an introduction to wilderness survival and may be carried in your pack or vehicle for field reference. The classic Survival Manual. SAS Survival Handbook
See more: review here
4. The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure
by Colin Towell
This book covers comparable ground as the SAS Survival Handbook. Preparation, environment, gear, navigation, travel, fire, basic outdoor skills, shelter, water, fishing, hunting, and trapping, food preparation, signals, and first aid are covered.
Colin Towell, the author, was the Royal Navy’s Chief Survival Instructor and the US Navy’s SERE instructor. This survival guide by a military instructor isn’t dull with its military theme and black-and-white images.
Although shorter than the SAS Survival Handbook at 319 pages, it gives a clearer explanation and better illustrations. Easy and interesting to read. About 2.2 pounds (1kg). I really enjoy this book’s realistic visuals and current substance.
This book discusses dressed well. Survival guides typically neglect clothing, your first line of protection. The SAS book scarcely mentions clothes. I suggest this book since it’s informative yet not overwhelming. Pictures make this book easier to understand and remember. Not dull, it’s better for young folks and non-survivalists. The Survival Handbook
See more: review here
