Best Survival Books - Opinions

[ghettodub]

So I've just started to research on basic survival stuff, and was wondering. Is there one book on survival, that if SHTF, you would want to take with you? Like
the US Army Survival Manual, etc.

Any favorites, or good recommended reading for me?

[opie011]

Good question! In more info on this as I was thinking about this today.

[eddiemedic]

I would say any medic books. If you want a really good read, buy the book " one second after ". Great shtf book.

[jerrymrc]

Take a look at the sticky at the top of the page. Many links that might help you. Everyone is different. I do have a few books for reference. Most of the army manuals are available for download. Many of the ones you might want are restricted.

[Wulf202]

That really depends on what shtf means to your minds eye.

Do you think it's total societal collapse, loosing your job and house, plain wrecks in a remote area, your smart phone has no signal?

Zombies vampires or red dawn?

[KevDen2005]

I like the SAS Encyclopedia of survival. I also have a couple of others of the SAS one is my favorite. Lots of good info.

Just practice. There are lots of things that I haven't even tried and I try to do something new everytime I go camping. Some things don't work well for me and others do.

[StagLefty]

The SAS books get the nod of approval on the survival forums I frequent [Beer]

[Batteriesnare]

Where There is No Doctor - Maxwell, Thuman, Werner
Where There is No Dentist - Dickson
Patriots - Rawles
Lights Out - Crawford
One Second After - Forstchen
Bug Out - Williams

[ghettodub]

Thanks for the suggestions. What got me thinking about it was I watched The Road (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/) this weekend.

While the chances are slim to none that something like this will ever happen, I would still like to be prepared for disaster, being lost, broken down, etc.

[Irving]

One Second After doesn't really teach you anything, it just opens your eyes and makes you sad and depressed. Lights Out is similar, but there was a little more explanation of how stuff was set up. I'd still recommend them both for reading, but wouldn't bother keeping them around as a reference guide or anything.

[eddiemedic]

I agree, i was just saying its a good read.

[Wulf202]

The SAS survival books is like many others based on the 1955? US air force survival manuals. It's very out dated.

where there is no doctor/dentist are incredible books.

98.6 degrees by lundin
survive by stroud
Are spectacular books for understanding short term survival which is a stepping stone to long term.

[eddiemedic]

Just thinking again, lol. Us army survival guide is a good one, the unthinkable is another good survival book. And last but not least, the oldest survival book that has helped alot of us....
The bible.

[Batteriesnare]

One Second After doesn't really teach you anything, it just opens your eyes and makes you sad and depressed. Lights Out is similar, but there was a little more explanation of how stuff was set up. I'd still recommend them both for reading, but wouldn't bother keeping them around as a reference guide or anything.

I agree, but for me at least they sparked my thoughts and imagination, which helped guide how I might prepare for such a situation.

[tactical_2012]

Check out Dare to Prepare

[thecatsfan]

A comment on Patriots by James Wesley Rawles, which somebody else mentioned.

I think this is a great book to read as one of your first steps towards survival planning. Like some of the others mentioned, it's not really a book to keep for reference. But Ralwes really takes the book through the process of long preparation and planning to a 5 year TEOTWAWKI scenario. I think it really opens your eyes and makes you ask yourself what level of commitment and investment are you willing to make to survive this scenario. And his scenario, while not likely, is very possible - at least the intitial crash.

Again, I don't consider it a book to keep when the crash happens, but it will make think of possibilities you hadn't considered. In the end, take it with a grain of salt. There are a lot of things in the book I considered pretty unrealistic even if his group did have all the expertise they claimed.