A well-stocked family library is one of the most practical investments you can make. Not just for preparedness, although having reference books with solid and reliable information is worth a lot, but because books are how your family builds knowledge, skills, and a survival mindset. This list covers both reliable how-to guides and reference books and survival fiction worth reading together as a family. The novels especially have a way of motivating people to keep going when things get hard.
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Start Here: Books by Lisa Bedford
The Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios was published in 2012, and yes, I know that’s a while ago. But when it comes to family — protecting and preserving the people you love most — things like how to store water, build a 72-hour kit, plan for evacuation, and keep your family fed hasn’t changed at all. The fundamentals are still the fundamentals. If you’re just getting started, this is still the book I’d hand you first.
Emergency Evacuations: Get Out Fast When It Matters Most covers evacuation scenarios most other books and experts never touch — checklists for every stage of the process, and specific situations that require more than standard 72-hour kit advice: evacuating with elderly parents, family members with disabilities, and others who need more than a “grab your bag and go” plan.
NOTE: With the glut of 100% AI-written slop everywhere nowadays, you’ll notice many of my books may not have the most recent publication dates. I’m confident in the qualifications and experience of these authors.
Getting Started With Preparedness
- Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag by Creek Stewart
- Common Sense Preparedness by Laurie Neverman
- The Disaster Ready Home by Creek Stewart
- Emergency Water by Sam Coffman
Food Storage and Cooking from Your Pantry
- The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving by Ball Home Canning Test Kitchen
- Canning Full Circle by Diane Devereaux
- The Meals In a Jar Handbook by Stephanie Petersen
- Food Storage For Self-Sufficiency and Survival by Angela Paskett
- 100-Day Pantry: 100 Quick and Easy Gourmet Meals by Jan Jackson
- The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook by Tammy Gangloff
Medical, Optimal Health, & First Aid
- Herbal Medic by Sam Coffman
- Bushcraft First Aid by David Canterbury
- The Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph and Amy Alton
- Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch
- When There is No Doctor by David Werner
- Where There is No Dentist by Murray Dickson
Love to Read? Love to Talk About Books?
Join the Survival Mom Book Club! We have an active Facebook group with monthly discussion questions, fun printables, sometimes visits by authors, and a new Book of the Month every month. Get the monthly book alerts and discussion questions via email by signing up here.
Homesteading and Self-Reliance
- Back to Basics by Abigail Gehring
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery
- Foraging by Mark Vorderbruggen
- Gardening When It Counts by Steve Solomon
- The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan
- Survival Gardening by Sam Coffman
Grid-Down and Worst-Case Scenarios
- Lights Out by Ted Koppel
- Prepare Your Home For A Sudden Grid-Down Situation by Ted Riley
- When the Grid Goes Down by Tony Nester
Mental Preparedness
- Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales
- The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
- The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley
Wilderness and Outdoor Survival
- Bushcraft Basics by Leon Pantenburg
- Bushcraft 101 by David Canterbury
- Stay Alive! by John D. McCann
Real Life Survival Stories/Non-Fiction
- A Fortunate Life by A.B. Lacey (Australia)
- Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery (Appalachian Trail)
- The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James (Donner party)
- Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson (Galveston hurricane)
- The River of Doubt by Candice Millard (Theodore Roosevelt’s Amazon journey)
- The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (WW2 Japan)
- The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (Dust Bowl/Great Depression)
Inspiring Survival Fiction
- Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
- Ashfall by Mike Mullin
- Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
- Follow the River by James Alexander Thorn
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- Last of the Breed by Louis L’Amour
- Last Woman by Jacquelyn Druga
- Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
- Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Fiction For Younger Readers
Match your young reader’s maturity and reading levels to these books to make sure it’s age appropriate. I’ve created a more complete list of books for kids of all ages here.
- Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
- Down the Long Hills by Louis L’Amour
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- I Survived, The Series by Lauren Tarshis
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- Rugosa by Creek Stewart
- The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Click HERE to Join!
IT’S SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS GETTING IN ON THE PREPPING
THESE DAYS
I AM AND OLD MAN WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WHAT WE USE TO CALL COUNTRY LIVING
NOW I AM A PAPA
HAHA LOL JUST AND MAN AND OLD ARMY VETERAN
JUST MAYBE I WILL START MY OWN SURIVIAL EMAIL POST
(THE SURVIVAL PAPA )
FOR ONE EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY AND PEOPLE WHO I REALLY DON’T KNOW
ARE ALWAYS CALLING ME TO FIND OUT
WHAT EVERYONE ON THE INTERNET IS SELLING FOR $39.95
PLUS SHIPPING HAHA LOL
LOOK I AM NOT MAKING FUN HERE OF ANYONE
ALL I AM SAYING IS THE TRUTH
HEY I AM VERY HAPPY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS WHAT IT TAKES
TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING
BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE TO DAY
NEEDS THIS TYPE OF SERVICE
FOR ONE THEY ARE IN MY DAY WHAT WE WOULD CALLED
JUST TO DAMM LAZY TO WORK AT ANYTHING FOR THEM SELF
SO THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE REALLY REALLY NEEDS THESE KINDS OF WEBSITES
SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK (SURVIVAL MOM)
AND HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY
Is the use of these books free?
Probably not, but you will be able to find used copies on Amazon and https://www.abebooks.com/. There are other used book websites as well.
Lisa, one factor that I think is important is physical fitness. The recommendations should be functional and not gorgeous gym body focused. As a former athlete and retired Army guy, I just default to what I know (not necessarily the best answer!), but selecting a good overall fitness manual for people who don’t have an understanding of fitness might be a worthwhile addition to your list.
Oh my gosh, yes!!! That’s actually the most important prep in many ways. Do you have a suggestion for a good book? One that I would suggest for building stronger legs (so essential in surviving falls, walking longer distances, overall stamina) is Knees Over Toes.
Is there a book by that name or just get one of the logbooks?
Hi Lisa, I’m looking for a book on bushcraft for a 10 year old boy who is a reluctant reader. He loves bushcraft and I’ve found several books online, but I want something that is actually written for children. A lot of what I’ve found seems to be written for adults working with kids. I’m hoping to find something engaging that he will want to read. Any suggestions?
I’m not Lisa but I read your post. My son also was a reluctant reader when he was that age. I tried all kinds of interesting books . Especially topics he liked. We didn’t find out until he was older that he is dislexic. Just a suggestion that he be tested . I wish I had done it sooner than we did. I got my grandson Bush craft 101 by David Canterbury. He likes it.
I’m not Lisa but I read your post. My son also was a reluctant reader when he was that age. I tried all kinds of interesting books . Especially topics he liked. We didn’t find out until he was older that he is dislexic. Just a suggestion that he be tested . I wish I had done it sooner than we did. I got my grandson Bush craft 101 by David Canterbury. He likes it.