All-Encompassing Book or Series of Books

9outof10mms

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This has been on my mind for a while...thought I'd poll the experts on it (be right back, I'll let you know what they say!).

When the lights go out--either permanently or for a prolonged multi-week disaster--what's the one book or series of books you want on your shelf to help keep you and yours alive?

I've got a few "everything" books, but they're typically too high level and/or written for the whole world (i.e. not region specific when it talks about plants and animals or climate).

You know, a reference to help out when you really need some detail or to get unstuck on figuring something out. I know enough about damn near everything to get me started and into trouble. I've always got Google to get my back while times are good. But what happens when there's no more Google?

Necessary topics would include:
- Medical (first aid, maybe some serious treatments--things you'd most certainly have the ER do for you today but you'd have to do yourself when there's no ER, maybe some medicinal guides)
- Food prep: for those of us who don't currently hunt, some basic info on hunting, trapping, skinning, prepping, etc.
- Construct-ability: this would probably be my strong suit, but it never ceases to amaze me the ideas that others come up with to solve the same problem. From building structures to hand tools to mechanical devices. Think Swiss Family Robinson and their fortress. If they wrote a book...

Maybe a thorough reference would even include civics (for lack of a better word)...a guide on organizing people. Again, something I've got corporate/business experience with, but I've never had to lead a band of survivors through hell. Maybe One Second After is as good a reference as you'll get on this?!

Any recommendations? I'd rather not buy $500 worth of books trying to get it right.
 
I think a good thing to have on the shelf is old college text books. Chemistry, engineering, medical, etc. You can pick them up cheap and they are chock full of stuff. I also have a book from a bunch of hippies in a commune that is instructions on how to build all kinds of things out of wood - carts, chicken houses, pens, tools, wind mills. All sorts of things. Googling i found this short list.
https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/5-books-to-own-at-the-end-of-the-world
 
The reality is every bit of knowledge in the world can be found in this 2-book set. If it’s not in one, it has to be in the other. :D

View attachment 189492
God bless you sir, that made me literally laugh out loud!



To the OP, man I dont know, but I didn buy a little book like the SAS survival book or something for a few bucks on Prime, not tall or wide, but thick, easy to stash in a bag...and I did. But it's got a lot of stuff about FAK and such. I dont know, these dudes above know more, listen to them
 
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Way more good stuff here than I knew about. I would just add to have hard copy manuals with your personal notes for all your firearms to help with field stripping/cleaning.
 
If I could only keep 5 books for the proscribed task they would be the following (with the caveat that everyone's life experience and strengths/weakness of course vary):

1. The Encyclopedia of Country Living (40th Anniversary Edition or newer)

2. LDS Preparedness Manual

3. Where There is No Doctor

4. Where There is no Dentist

5. Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (Get as old an Edition as you can find and a new one too. This book is so important to our family we that keep 2 spares in one of our gun safes.)
 
I'm up to $93 in my Amazon cart!

Short list so far is:
Where there is No Doc
Where there is No Dentist
SAS Survival (saw this as a kid in a bookstore and have always wanted it)
Encyc. of Country Living
Survival Handbook
 
If I could only keep 5 books for the proscribed task they would be the following (with the caveat that everyone's life experience and strengths/weakness of course vary):

1. The Encyclopedia of Country Living (40th Anniversary Edition or newer)

2. LDS Preparedness Manual

3. Where There is No Doctor

4. Where There is no Dentist

5. Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (Get as old an Edition as you can find and a new one too. This book is so important to our family we that keep 2 spares in one of our gun safes.)


OK more to add to the list.
 
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