Important Note: Many of these books and DVDs are available online. Because of Amazon’s censorship, we quit the Amazon Associates program in January of 2021. This blog piece explains why. Please order books through your local bookstore. Thanks! – JWR
Jim’s Recommended Books:
Holy Bible: King James Version With Apocrypha
First Aid — (American Red Cross Handbook) Responding To Emergencies
Strategic Relocation–North American Guide to Safe Places by Joel and Andrew Skousen
Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner
Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson
The Encyclopedia of Country Living (Tenth Edition) by Carla Emery (See review, below)
Making the Best of Basics – Family Preparedness Handbook by James Talmage Stevens
Ball Blue Book of Preserving
Cookin’ with Home Storage by Vicki Tate
Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson H. Kearney (Available for free download.)
The Alpha Strategy by John Pugsley. (Out of print, but a PDF is available for free download.)
Boston’s Gun Bible by Boston T. Party (See review, below)
Survival Guns by Mel Tappan
Tappan on Survival by Mel Tappan
Jim’s “Second Tier” List of Recommended Specialty Books:
Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables by Mike Bubel
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition by Abigail R. Gehring
Putting Food By (Plume) by Janet Greene
Stocking Up: The Third Edition of America’s Classic Preserving Guide by Carol Hupping
Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton
Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times by Steve Solomon
All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth
Small-Scale Grain Raising by Gene Logsdon
How to Find Your Ideal Country Home: A Comprehensive Guide by Gene GeRue
Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money by Dolly Freed
Starting a New Life in Rural America: 21 Things You Need to Know Before You Make Your Move by Ragnar Benson
The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book by Mike Oehler
Emergency War Surgery (NATO Handbook:- Third United States Revision, 2004) by Dr. Martin Fackler, et al.
PDR for Nonprescription Drugs, Dietary Supplements, and Herbs (See review, below)
Physicians Drug Handbook
Physicians’ Desk Reference (The 2017 edition was the last printed version of the PDR.)
The Merck Veterinary Manual
Where There Is No Vet by Bill Forse
The ARRL Operating Manual For Radio Amateurs (ARRL Operating Manual)
Passport to World Band Radio, 2009 Edition
Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olsen
Essential Bushcraft by Ray Mears
SAS Survival Handbook by John “Lofty” Wiseman
Ultimate Sniper 2006 : An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers (2006 Updated Edition) by Maj. John L. Plaster
Total Resistance by H. von Dach
The Survivor book series by Kurt Saxon. Many are out of print in hard copy, but they are all available on DVD. Here, I must issue a caveat lector (“reader beware”): Mr. Saxon has some very controversial views that I do not agree with. Among other things he is a eugenicist.
Other Nonfiction Books Recommended by SurvivalBlog Readers:
The Little Black Book of Violence by Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder
Engineer Field Data (FM 5-34) (U.S. Army manual)
U.S. Army Ranger Handbook (U.S. Army manual)
Crisis Preparedness Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Home Storage and Physical Survival by Jack A. Spigarelli
Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation
The Foxfire Book series (in 11 volumes, but the first five are the best)
When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency by Matthew Stein
Preparedness Now!: An Emergency Survival Guide (Expanded and Revised Edition) by Aton Edwards
Five Acres and Independence: A Handbook for Small Farm Management by Maurice G. Kains
How to Stay Alive in the Woods by Bradford Angier
The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman
Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking
Tom Brown’s Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants (Field Guide)
Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies by Hugh Coffee
Living Well on Practically Nothing by Ed Romney
The Secure Home by Joel Skousen
Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life, by Neil Strauss
98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lundin
When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikesby Cody Lundin
The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to Warfareby John Poole
Camping & Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book by Paul Tawrell
Engineer Field Data (US Army FM 5-34) –Available online free of charge, with registration, but I recommend getting a hard copy. preferably with the heavy-duty plastic binding.
Great Livin’ in Grubby Times by Don Paul
Just in Case by Kathy Harrison
Storey’s Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance by John & Martha Storey
Adventure Medical Kits A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicineby Eric A. Weiss, M.D
Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Green Resource for Every Gardener
Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook (it superceded the very out-of-date ST 31-91B)
Wilderness Medicine, 5th Edition by Paul S. Auerbach
Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Longby Elliot Coleman
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition by Abigail R. Gehring
The Weed Cookbook: Naturally Nutritious – Yours Free for the Taking! by Adrienne Crowhurst
The Modern Survival Retreat by Ragnar Benson
Last of the Mountain Men by Harold Peterson
Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness by John McPherson
LDS Preparedness Manual, edited by Christopher M. Parrett
The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century by James H. Kunstler
Principles of Personal Defense – Revised Edition by Jeff Cooper
Survival Poaching by Ragnar Benson
The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses by Eliot Coleman
Jim’s Recommended “Be Ready to Barter” Reference Book List:
Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values
Blue Book of Gun Values
The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins 2009
2009 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000
2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date
Antique Trader – Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide
Wristwatch Annual 2009: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications
Jewelry & Gems the Buying Guide: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence And Knowledge
Note: If you enjoy reading my blog, you will also likely enjoy reading these non-fiction books that I authored:
How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It. A detailed guide to family preparedness for turbulent times. This book has been a perennial best-seller for Penguin Books.
Tools For Survival — A general guide to essential tools for your home and retreat. Published by Penguin Books.
Recommended Books on Current Events and Economics
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nick Taleb
Government By Emergency by Dr. Gary North
Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit From the Economic Collapse by Peter Schiff
Financial Armageddon: Protecting Your Future from Four Impending Catastrophes by Michael J. Panzner
When Giants Fall: An Economic Roadmap for the End of the American Era by Michael J. Panzner
The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide by Martin Weiss
Financial Reckoning Day Fallout: Surviving Today’s Global Depression by Addison Wiggin and Bill Bonner
The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century by James H. Kunstler
Fiction with Survival and Preparedness Themes (Some of these are out of print but usually available via inter-library loan):
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (A classic nuke scenario. This book was a key influence in my writing and it was my inspiration to write “Patriots” in a similar style.)
Lights Out by David Crawford (Post-EMP attack.) Also available as a Kindle e-book.
The Rackham Files by Dean Ing (includes the text of “Pulling Through” a more modern nuke scenario + a mini nuke survival manual) Not to be confused with my screenplay–also titled “Pulling Through”.
Some Will Not Die by Algis Budrys (Plague total wipe-out scenario. This book was another with an influence in my writing.
No Blade of Grass by John Christopher (Massive crop disease/social breakdown scenario, from the British perspective.)
Enemies Foreign and Domestic by Matthew Bracken
Molon Labe! by Boston T. Party
Earth Abides by George Stewart
Vandenberg by Oliver Lange (Invasion scenario. Note: It was later republished under the title: Defiance: An American Novel)
The Weapon by Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large)
Unintended Consequences by John Ross (This otherwise excellent novel was marred by some vulgarity and gratuitous sex scenes. Beware!)
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Wolf And Iron by Gordon Dickson
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
Fire and Ice, by Ray Kytle
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
The Chronicles of Narnia
Captains Courageous
The Late Memsahib’s Top “Must Have” Book:
The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. Sasquatch Books. (Get the Ninth or later edition.) This book is 845 pages of valuable ‘how-to’ country survival knowledge. The Memsahib (1964-2009) wrote: “The first time that I butchered chickens, I used this book. When I needed 15 different ways to fix zucchini I turned to this book, when I wanted to make soap, pickles, jelly, bread from scratch, butter, and cream cheese, I found everything I needed to know in this book!”
Other Books Recommended by The Late Memsahib:
Gardening When It Counts by Steve Solomon
How to Survive Without a Salary: Learning How to Live the Conserver Lifestyle by Charles Long
Small-Scale Grain Raising by Gene Lodgson
The Family Cow by Dirk van Loon
Raising a Calf for Beef by Phyllis Hobson
Small-Scale Pig Raising by Dirk van Loon
Raising Rabbits the Modern Way by Bob Bennett
Raising Sheep the Modern Way. Updated and Revised Edition by Paula Simmons
Ducks and Geese in Your Backyard: A Beginner’s Guide by Rick and Gail Luttmann
The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody
Recommended Magazine Subscriptions:
Backwoods Home
Countryside & Small Stock Journal
Home Power
Some of JWR’s Favorite Movies with Survival Themes:
A Proviso: None of these films except for City of Ember are suitable for children!
2012
Aliens
The Andromeda Strain (1971) The recent remake has also had positive reviews)
Black Hawk Down
Blast From the Past
The Book of Eli
Braveheart
Brazil
City of Ember (suitable for ages 12 and up)
Defiance This movie was based on the book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec
Doctor Zhivago
Empire of the Sun
Enemy at the Gates
Farewell to the King
The Flight of the Phoenix (Buy the original version, made in 1965, starring Jimmy Stewart. The recent remake pales in comparison.)
The Great Escape
Hondo
I Am Legend (a good remake of The Omega Man (see below.)
Jeremiah Johnson
The Magnificent Seven the American remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (Shichinin No Samurai)
The Matrix Series (The Matrix/ The Matrix Reloaded/ The Matrix Revolutions)
The Omega Man (It has far too many 1970s cliches, but still worth watching. More recently re-made as I Am Legend )
Open Range (IMHO, one of the better western films made)
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Panic in Year Zero (The corny film that first got me thinking about TEOTWAWKI, when I was a lad)
The Patriot
The Pianist
The Postman (A typically “Hollywood” overblown production, but still a good think piece)
The Quiet Earth
Red Dawn
The Road Warrior , aka Mad Max movies (Mad Max 2 “The Road Warrior” is by far the best of the three, although Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome has its merits)
Schindler’s List (BTW, it is too bad that Spielberg didn’t show Oskar Schindler arming his Jewish employees–which is what actually happened)
Serenity (I also highly recommend the short-lived cable television series Firefly, from which this feature film spun off.)
Seven Samurai (Shichinin No Samurai)
Shane (IMHO, the best western film ever made)
Soylent Green (This one barely made my list, but you may find it worth watching)
The Terminator movies (Terminator 2 is by far the best, IMHO. (Terminator 3 was a bit lame, but worth seeing if only for the glimpses of “Crystal Peak”.) The television series Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles also has its merits.)
Things to Come (1936)
Tremors (more for fun rather than an education. Only the first movie is worth watching, IMHO.)
True Grit
Victory at Sea (Documentary on World War II.)
Note: If you enjoy movies with survival themes, then you will like reading my “Pulling Through” screenplay (available for free download.)
Movie Recommendations by Blog Readers:
Testament
The Day After
The Road
Children of Men
Some of JWR’s Favorite Movies (of Various Themes and Genres):
Proviso: Most of these films are NOT for children. If you have teenagers, I recommend that you pre-view these films to check their suitability for your kids at their particular ages.
The Abyss
Amazing Grace (Biography of the abolitionist William Wilberforce)
The Best Years of Our Lives
Big Trouble in Little China
Blade Runner
Breaker Morant
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Brother From Another Planet
Buckaroo Banzai – Across the Eighth Dimension
The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (suitable for ages 12 and up)
Conspiracy Theory
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Dances with Wolves
Dr. Strangelove
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Groundhog Day
Johnny Tremain Suitable for children 10 and up
Lawrence of Arabia
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (live action, directed by Peter Jackson)
Metropolis
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The Passion of the Christ
The Prince of Egypt (animated)–Suitable for children
The Princess Bride — Suitable for ages 14 and up
Raiders of the Lost Ark (The later installments in the Indiana Jones movies aren’t nearly as good.)
A Room with a View
Saving Private Ryan
Secondhand Lions
Sergeant York
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
The Sound of Music
They Live
The Thing
The Third Man
The Thirteenth Floor (I think that this film was probably an inspiration for The Matrix.)
Total Recall
The Train
Les Visiteurs (Original French Version)
Wall-E — Suitable for children
Willow — Suitable for ages 14 and up
Zero Effect