The books on this list, however, focus only on survival tips for the real dangers confronting outdoor adventurers.
Wilderness Survival: 2nd Edition
By Gregory J. Davenport 1 of 8
If you could find a single book to supplant all of your current survival instincts, "Wilderness Survival" would be it. Written by a former Air Force survival instructor, this book covers all the principles of surviving and, with simple yet captivating text and detailed illustrations, is easy for even the novice camper to understand.
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CampsiteEdible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide
By Thomas Elias 2 of 8
Eating plants in the wild can be a game of Russian roulette if you don't know what you're doing. Luckily, "Edible Plants," with its beautiful colored photographs, wealth of knowledge and simple organization, will ensure you munch on non-hazardous flora only.
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CampsiteFinding Your Way Without Map or Compass
By Harold Gatty 3 of 8
In the age of cell phones and GPS, outdoorsmen and women are less inclined to learn the basics of how to read a compass and map—much less learn how to navigate with no tools at all. But if you find yourself far from civilization and your phone is dead, without signal or just not working, this informative book will help you find your way out of hairy situations.
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CampsiteWildwood Wisdom
By Ellsworth Jaeger 4 of 8
Survival was a fact of life in previous eras, and Jaeger's "Wildwood Wisdom," originally published in 1945, is the Rosetta Stone of survival books. With a wide range of tips from making fires and using axes to crafting shelters, this book's timeless information is the template for all subsequent survival books.
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CampsiteShelters, Shacks, and Shanties
By D.C. Beard 5 of 8
Written by one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America, this is the go-to text for constructing shelter in the wild. Don't get intimidated by the seemingly strenuous structures, as no one needs to be Frank Lloyd Wright to build a teepee out of bark. The book stresses basics, and with helpful illustrations and text that follows the K.I.S.S. approach, you'll be lodging in a beaver-mat hut in no time.
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CampsitePrimitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness
By John and Geri McPherson 6 of 8
This book is less about surviving and more about thriving in the wilderness. While basic survival skills are paramount for any outdoorsman to learn, those who wish to try their hand at surviving off the land for a stint should place this book at the top of their reading list. Filled with actual photographs—a major upgrade over many books' primitive drawings—and a bevy of extraordinary information you won't find elsewhere, "Primitive Wilderness Living" is in a class of its own.
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CampsiteWilderness Medicine
By William W Forgey M.D. 7 of 8
When traveling outside of your suburban bubble, one must prepare for everything—even the worst of situations. Easy access to medical care is something we sacrifice for the beauty of a journey deep into the woods, but with this manual in hand, you'll learn to treat many emergencies when a medical facility is not an option.
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