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Books, Videos and Training

Gear helps, but skills keep you alive. Learn from top survival books, audiobooks you can play on the drive, video courses, field manuals, maps and hands on training tools. Printed copies work when the internet does not.

Updated November 1, 2026

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2 WeeksTop Pick

The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide

Emergency medical care for when help is not coming soon.

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2 WeeksTop Pick

The Prepper's Survival Bible

A complete guide to bugging in, bugging out, food, water and off grid living.

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2 Weeks

Prepare Your Home for a Sudden Grid Down Situation

Step by step plans to keep your home running without power.

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2 Weeks

The Prepper's Water Survival Handbook

How to find, filter, purify and store water.

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2 Weeks

SAS Survival Handbook

The classic military survival reference.

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2 Weeks

Bushcraft 101

Practical wilderness skills with simple tools.

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90 Days

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Hundreds of tested canning and preserving recipes.

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90 Days

Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants

Identify wild foods safely. Never eat a plant you cannot identify for certain.

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2 Weeks

US Army Survival Manual

The military's own survival training manual.

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2 WeeksTop Pick

Audible Survival and Preparedness Audiobooks

Learn survival skills while you drive or work. Many titles are included with an Audible free trial.

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2 Weeks

Kindle Survival Guides

Instant downloads to read on your phone or tablet. Print the most important pages for your kit.

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2 Weeks

Survival Skills DVD and Video Courses

Watch the skills in action: shelter, fire, water and first aid.

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2 WeeksTop Pick

ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (Technician)

Everything you need to pass the entry level FCC ham radio exam.

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72 Hours

American Red Cross First Aid and CPR Manual

Clear, illustrated steps for common emergencies.

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2 Weeks

Stop the Bleed Training Kit

Practice tourniquets and wound packing before you ever need them.

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2 WeeksHands On Training

CPR Training Manikin

Practice chest compressions at home with your family.

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90 Days

Nuclear War Survival Skills

A classic civil defense guide to shelter, fallout and ventilation.

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90 Days

The Encyclopedia of Country Living

The famous homesteading reference for growing, raising and preserving food.

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90 Days

The Backyard Homestead

Produce a surprising amount of food on a small lot.

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2 Weeks

The Disaster Preparedness Handbook

A practical, plain English guide to planning for any disaster.

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72 Hours

SAS Survival Guide Pocket Edition

A small guide that fits in any bug out bag.

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72 Hours

Survival Skills Card Deck

Playing cards with a survival tip on every card. Great for kids and camp.

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72 Hours

Knot Tying Guide Cards

Waterproof cards for the knots that matter most.

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72 HoursTop Pick

State Atlas and Gazetteer

Detailed back road maps of your state. Works without signal.

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72 Hours

Rand McNally Road Atlas

A full US road atlas for every vehicle.

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72 Hours

Prepping for Kids Book

Helps children understand emergencies without fear.

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What to look for

  1. Keep printed copies of key books. Phones and the internet can fail.
  2. Audiobooks are an easy way to learn during your commute.
  3. Practice skills now, like first aid and radio use, not during the emergency.
  4. Paper maps of your state and area belong in every go bag and car.
Related guide

90 Day Survival Kit and Preparedness Plan

For families who want deep security: three months of food, water and off grid power.

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Common questions

What is the best survival book for beginners?

A broad guide such as The Prepper's Survival Bible or the SAS Survival Handbook covers the basics. Add a medical book like The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide next.

Can I listen to survival books on Audible?

Yes. Many popular survival and preparedness books are available as audiobooks on Audible, and new members can often start with a free trial.

Do I need a license to use a ham radio?

Yes, to transmit. In the United States the FCC Technician license is the entry level license, and study guides make the exam very doable.