Preparedness Bookshelves

patriotsI’m not saying I have the Ultimate Book Collection or even that I have a complete collection of Prepper books, but I do have a decent collection of books on preparedness and Pioneer/Primitive Living (see the photo of my bookshelf) and I’ve read most of them cover to cover. I’m constantly on the lookout for good prep books and buy one or two a month to read. I love getting referrals to good books – whether they’re instructional, reference or fictional (prep based novels) I like having other people tell me what they thought was good/fun/valuable.

So, I thought I would start a new book review feature where I would recommend a good book on prepping and discuss it quickly. I’ll also talk about what I’m currently reading and fill you in on what I’m planning to read next.

First, I’d like to introduce you to my prep bookshelf so we have a decent visual to work with here:

prepbkshelf_smallTop Shelf: (Left) Military Survival and Training Manuals and Boy Scout Manuals (Right) Several Cookbooks, especially wheat and bread

Second Shelf: Mostly gardening, some livestock

Third Shelf: The tall books, lots of livestock, gardening, tools, etc. Several Pioneer Skills Encyclopedias

Fourth Shelf: More Livestock, other general survival manuals

There are a lot of books not currently on the bookshelf that should be – each shelf is usually full. Most of the missing books are either on my desk, in my room, or one of my kids is reading it :)

If you’re interested in Military manuals, one of the easiest places to find them is in Military Surplus stores like Uncle Sam’s in Orem. These are great instructor based manuals that provide excellent information on topics that are difficult to get experience in – like Sniping methods and tactics.

I have a lot of livestock books – Cows, Horses, Chickens, Goats, Rabbits, Sheep, etc. A lot of times these books focus on a particular area like Raising, Breeding, Training, etc. If you’re looking for one, make sure it covers the area you’re interested in. I buy up every Country/Pioneer Skills book I find. There are several encyclopedia type books out there on country skills that are excellent.

I have a lot of Gardening books as well – different ones focus on fruits, vegetables and herbs. I constantly find them useful as references. I also have several books that cover skilled work like electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. Several on ‘shop’ methods and wood working as well.

My bookshelf isn’t just for books on things I consider myself a quasi-expert in, it also has many books that I think will be most useful in a TEOTWAWKI situation – ones that will provide answers to questions we haven’t needed or thought to ask yet.

Right now I’m starting a book called Rising Storm by Jessica Draper. It’s about end of days and the opening of the Seventh Seal – my father recommended it and said he really enjoyed it. I’ll be reporting on that soon, in the mean time I’ll start putting up some review of other books.

Do you have any book recommendations for me or others? Do you have a collection of prep books, what is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

29 Replies to “Preparedness Bookshelves”

  1. I’m so excited you’re doing this, since I’m new to the survivalist part of preparedness. I recently read the Patriots book and really enjoyed it. When my husband has a differing view of how to do something I tell him “read the book”! I’m interested to hear about books you and others have read, so I can figure out which may help me the most in my adventure in getting my family ready for what ever. Love the blog and excited for the next UT Preppers get together.

  2. I’m so excited you’re doing this, since I’m new to the survivalist part of preparedness. I recently read the Patriots book and really enjoyed it. When my husband has a differing view of how to do something I tell him “read the book”! I’m interested to hear about books you and others have read, so I can figure out which may help me the most in my adventure in getting my family ready for what ever. Love the blog and excited for the next UT Preppers get together.

  3. Was happy to see /recognize titles on your bookshelf that I also have on mine :)
    I’d like to recommend for your cookbook section some books on preserving food, such as “Stocking Up”, “Dry It, You’ll Like It”, “Putting Food By”, “Preserving the Harvest”, etc. Carla Emery’s book has lots of info on the topic, but I find I like to have more than one source for more info/comparison.
    Am enjoying you blog!

  4. Was happy to see /recognize titles on your bookshelf that I also have on mine :)
    I’d like to recommend for your cookbook section some books on preserving food, such as “Stocking Up”, “Dry It, You’ll Like It”, “Putting Food By”, “Preserving the Harvest”, etc. Carla Emery’s book has lots of info on the topic, but I find I like to have more than one source for more info/comparison.
    Am enjoying you blog!

  5. @Donald – I don’t have “Just add Water”, I’ll order it!

    @Michelle Patriots is an EXCELLENT read! I love how it’s actually a survival manual wrapped up in a novel! Many of my kids have read it and we refer to it very often.

    @ekim VERY COOL! I was hoping I would get a good list of new books out of this post, it’s working!

    @Carla I have “Dry it You’ll like it” but I don’t think I have the other ones. Thanks for adding to the list of what else I should get!

    @Jayce I’m not surprised we have a lot of the same books ;) I’ll be interested to see what else you recommend.

  6. @Donald – I don’t have “Just add Water”, I’ll order it!

    @Michelle Patriots is an EXCELLENT read! I love how it’s actually a survival manual wrapped up in a novel! Many of my kids have read it and we refer to it very often.

    @ekim VERY COOL! I was hoping I would get a good list of new books out of this post, it’s working!

    @Carla I have “Dry it You’ll like it” but I don’t think I have the other ones. Thanks for adding to the list of what else I should get!

    @Jayce I’m not surprised we have a lot of the same books ;) I’ll be interested to see what else you recommend.

  7. I have a few food-storage (what to store, etc) books, and then the book I mentioned earlier on this blog, “The American Frugal Housewife.” I would *love* to get more books about how people lived and survived in the 1700s and 1800s. I’m interested in the history of those time periods, and also in the idea of how normal people lived their lives. It’s really quite interesting to me, and pretty useful in a TEOTWAWKI type of situation :)

  8. I have a few food-storage (what to store, etc) books, and then the book I mentioned earlier on this blog, “The American Frugal Housewife.” I would *love* to get more books about how people lived and survived in the 1700s and 1800s. I’m interested in the history of those time periods, and also in the idea of how normal people lived their lives. It’s really quite interesting to me, and pretty useful in a TEOTWAWKI type of situation :)

  9. this is a good idea u thought of..I have just a few books at the moment..a few concern 9as I live by the Tn river) on voyages by ppl in canoes as I list this as a bug out option..I have several on primitive camping and a few others on Tracking and avoid being tracked….and a couple of fiction novels about worse case scenarios that I didnt enjoy but others apparently do..Anyway..this is a good idea!

  10. this is a good idea u thought of..I have just a few books at the moment..a few concern 9as I live by the Tn river) on voyages by ppl in canoes as I list this as a bug out option..I have several on primitive camping and a few others on Tracking and avoid being tracked….and a couple of fiction novels about worse case scenarios that I didnt enjoy but others apparently do..Anyway..this is a good idea!

  11. Maybe a list of your books would help? I recognize some of the texts in the picture but the vast majority are indecipherable.

    Thanks!

  12. Maybe a list of your books would help? I recognize some of the texts in the picture but the vast majority are indecipherable.

    Thanks!

  13. The Foxfire and Book of Buckskinning series are good ones to have as a reference source. I know Jayce should have a couple of those, I recall the latter being Yule gifts at one point or another.

    I’ve got about 90% of my library up on LibraryThing.com, and one of the goals this year, besides getting the other 10% in, is to finish tagging them, with Preparedness being one of the tags. Currently I’ve got them with survival/outdoor and so forth. One of the other benefits of LibraryThing is being able to review other people’s opinions or ask them about a book before picking it up.

    Heinlein was very respectful of the LDS faith and goals, which is one of the reasons so many of his works, not just Farnham’s Freehold, have the church mentioned, included or showcased. Tunnel in the Sky would be another good one, especially with the preparedness/survival focus.

  14. The Foxfire and Book of Buckskinning series are good ones to have as a reference source. I know Jayce should have a couple of those, I recall the latter being Yule gifts at one point or another.

    I’ve got about 90% of my library up on LibraryThing.com, and one of the goals this year, besides getting the other 10% in, is to finish tagging them, with Preparedness being one of the tags. Currently I’ve got them with survival/outdoor and so forth. One of the other benefits of LibraryThing is being able to review other people’s opinions or ask them about a book before picking it up.

    Heinlein was very respectful of the LDS faith and goals, which is one of the reasons so many of his works, not just Farnham’s Freehold, have the church mentioned, included or showcased. Tunnel in the Sky would be another good one, especially with the preparedness/survival focus.

  15. The key to surviving an earthquake is planning. The following information will help you plan for a major disaster. Remember it is important to involve your entire family in the planning. Because earthquakes occur without warning, it is important to take steps now to minimize their effect on your family.

  16. The key to surviving an earthquake is planning. The following information will help you plan for a major disaster. Remember it is important to involve your entire family in the planning. Because earthquakes occur without warning, it is important to take steps now to minimize their effect on your family.

  17. “Alas Babylon” is a very good read, not for information but for the stresses that TEOTWAWKI can/may cause. Excellent for introducing newbies to preparedness.
    Carla Emery’s “The Encyclopedia of Country Living has tons of information.
    “The Dangerous Book for Boys” explains how to skin a rabbit, among other useful instructions.
    “Roughing It Easy” by Dian Thomas has good info
    Halacy’s “The Solar Cooking Book” has plans for a solar cooker.
    Finally, check ABEBOOKS.com on the internet for used copies. It’s a great source; almost all my books come from them.

  18. “Alas Babylon” is a very good read, not for information but for the stresses that TEOTWAWKI can/may cause. Excellent for introducing newbies to preparedness.
    Carla Emery’s “The Encyclopedia of Country Living has tons of information.
    “The Dangerous Book for Boys” explains how to skin a rabbit, among other useful instructions.
    “Roughing It Easy” by Dian Thomas has good info
    Halacy’s “The Solar Cooking Book” has plans for a solar cooker.
    Finally, check ABEBOOKS.com on the internet for used copies. It’s a great source; almost all my books come from them.

  19. I have read all the trilogy of books by The Drapers (father/daughter) a few times. Great for the soul and psyche. I also love the Pam Blackwell series “Ephraim’s Seed, etc) One of my all time favorites is “Alas Babylon”. I too have this “bug” to prepare for difficult times whether lost of job, or TEOTAWKI. I too have shelves of manuals or skills books to improve my knowledge. “…If you are prepared you shall not fear”

  20. I have read all the trilogy of books by The Drapers (father/daughter) a few times. Great for the soul and psyche. I also love the Pam Blackwell series “Ephraim’s Seed, etc) One of my all time favorites is “Alas Babylon”. I too have this “bug” to prepare for difficult times whether lost of job, or TEOTAWKI. I too have shelves of manuals or skills books to improve my knowledge. “…If you are prepared you shall not fear”

  21. I liked Preppers Road March by Ron Foster, its sort of part survival book and part post apocalyptic adventure. It deals with the aftermath of a solar storm while its occuring. It will make you think what would you do if technology fails and you just lost everything. He also has a book called Driving Towards Disaster: The Story Thus far that deals with a pandemic and a hurricane happening at once.

  22. It is interesting to see the trend in books these days. I feel that books is almost a lost art. I myself am loving books right now, but not in the traditional sense. I love books on CD. Like I said before though. I fear that books are a lost art form, especially in paper form. I think that books take you to another world. They invigorate the mind. There is a lot that books can offer and I really hope books are lost in the technology that we have all around us.

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