If you are already a seasoned prepper, you should know that there’s always more to learn. If you’re brand new to the lifestyle and are striving to become more self-sufficient, you’ve got a whole lot to learn!
As ever, one of the very best ways to learn any new skill to open a good book. When it comes to the subtle art of self-reliance, you’ll be happy to know that there are tons of awesome books covering everything you could possibly need to know, from off-grid living to disaster preparedness.
In this article I’m bringing you a list of 50 awesome books on self reliance. Okay, no more preamble. Let’s get to it!
General Self-Sufficiency
Self-sufficiency means different things to different people. For some of us, it just means getting through day to day life entirely on your own, maybe after leaving home for the first time. For others, it is heading out into the wild blue yonder and hacking a living out of the landscape, old school style.
The following books in this section run the gamut, covering everything from old school scratch cooking to making your own cleaners, hygiene supplies and more. Whether you live way out in the boonies for right in the middle of the city, you’ll find a book below that is going to help you.
Disclosure: This post has links to 3rd party websites, so I may get a commission if you buy through those links. Survival Sullivan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure for more.
- The Self-Reliant Kitchen: From-Scratch Sourdough Breads, Homemade Cheese, and Farm-to-Table Meals, by Michelle Mullennix
- Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living, by Kris Bordessa
- Homegrown & Handmade 2nd Edition: A Practical Guide to More Self-reliant Living, by Deborah Niemann and Joel Salatin
- Self Reliance Mastery: Learn How to Be Self-Reliant, Live Sustainably, and Be Prepared for Any Disaster, by Nathan Crane , Mike Adams, et al.
- The Integral Urban House: Self-Reliant Living in the City, by Farallones Institute and Sim Van der Ryn
- The Ultimate Guide to Self-Reliant Living, by Graham Moore
- Public Works: A Handbook for Self-Reliant Living, by Walter Szykitka
- Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, by Abigail R. Gehring
DIY / Repair
One of the biggest parts of being a prepper, and being self-reliant generally, is taking care of problems that arise. Big problems, small problems, all kinds of problems. When things break or when you need something, maybe just the right tool, and you don’t have it.
Instilling the DIY spirit and making yourself properly handy when it comes to home and property repair will go a long way to helping you lead a self-sufficient lifestyle. All of the following books should be in your library, accordingly!
- Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement, 3rd Updated Edition, by Editors of Creative Homeowner and Charles Byers
- D.I.Y. Home Improvement Manual: Master Basic D.I.Y. Projects, by Jackson Bennett
- The Complete Book of Woodworking: Step-by-Step Guide to Essential Woodworking Skills, Techniques, Tools and Tips, by Tom Carpenter and Mark Johanson
- Wood Pallet DIY Projects: 20 Building Projects to Enrich Your Home, Your Heart & Your Community, by Stephen Fitzberger and Diane Fitzberger
- DIY Camper and RV Reno: Restoring and Designing Vintage, Retro, and Classic Trailers and RVs, by Janelle Payne
- 100 Weekend Projects Anyone Can Do, by Family Handyman
- Ultimate Guide: Plumbing, 6th Edition, by Editors of Creative Homeowner and Charles Byers
Food Preservation
Waste is always to be avoided, and never more than when it pertains to food. Keeping food properly preserved is the first step to preventing waste, and as you might have guessed already another crucial foundational element to personal readiness.
Preserving your own food by any number of means, including canning, drying and freezing, will save you money and increase your resiliency when times are tough.
There’s nothing more comforting than sitting on a big stockpile of food when the future looks uncertain! Even if you’re living off grid entirely, I’ve got you covered; you’ll find books on this list for constructing your own root cellar.
- Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, by Judi Kingry , Lauren Devine , et al.
- The Homestead Canning Cookbook, by Georgia Verozza
- The Canning Diva Presents Meals in a Jar: The Ultimate Guide to Pressure Canning Ready-Made Meals, by Diane Devereaux
- Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation, by The Gardeners and Farmers of Centre Terre Vivante , Deborah Madison, et al.
- How to Dry Foods: The Most Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home, by Deanna Delong
- Freeze-Drying the Harvest: Preserving Food the Modern Way, by Carolyn Thomas
- Freeze Drying Cookbook for Preppers, by Raymond L. Hillman
- Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables, by Mike Bubel and Nancy Bubel
- Build Your Own Underground Root Cellar, by Phyllis Hobson
Gardening
Preserving food is one thing, growing it is another. Your great, great grandparents very likely had to garden to survive or at the very least to supplement what food they could buy. You should be doing the same thing. It’s a lot of work, and you’ve got to know what you’re doing, but in the end it is easier than you might be thinking…
Gardening can be a rewarding pastime in its own right, too, and don’t forget that it’s possible to grow various plants with genuine medicinal and health boosting properties. Learning to take advantage of everything that nature has to offer is it something that every self-sufficient person should do.
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook
- The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies, by Juliet Blankespoor
- Raised-Bed Gardening for Beginners: Your Guide to Growing Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency, by Tammy Wylie
- Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre, by Brett L. Markham
- 1,001 Gardening Tips & Tricks, by Mary Rose Quigg
- DIY Hydroponic Gardens: How to Design and Build an Inexpensive System for Growing Plants in Water, by Tyler Baras
Permaculture
Permaculture is related to gardening, but it is the practice of gardening in harmony with natural principles to maximize yield, reduce the needed effort and improve the overall health, quality and sustainability of whatever you are growing.
Done right, permaculture will make your job of gardening a whole lot easier and it also benefits your local ecosystem which benefits surrounding areas. It’s a win win no matter what! Establishing a proper permaculture environment is more work upfront, but entirely worth it.
- Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, 2nd Edition, by Toby Hemenway
- Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual, by Bill Mollison
- Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability (Revised Edition), by David Holmgren
- The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Ben Falk
Animal Husbandry
If you live on a homestead, or just have some room on your property out in the country, there’s no reason why you can’t raise livestock. Heck, even if you live in the city and most places it’s possible to keep at least a backyard flock of chickens!
Livestock animals of all kinds can prove incredibly valuable because they can continually supply you with food and other products.
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, 4th Edition, by Heather Smith Thomas
- The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens: How to Raise a Happy Backyard Flock, by Anne Kuo
- The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd, by Amber Bradshaw
- Homegrown Pork: Humane, Healthful Techniques for Raising a Pig for Food, by Sue Weaver
Off-Grid Living
It’s a dream for most of us, going completely off grid. The idea of getting far enough out and away from it all where you are completely disconnected from the grid is a radical lifestyle change, but one that is increasingly achievable thanks to technology… and thanks to the books on this list!
Even if you are entirely happy to stick it out in the suburbs or in the city, you’ll find value in these books: when a civic infrastructure takes a dump in the middle of a major crisis, you can use this information to provide for your needs.
- NO GRID Survival Projects, by Claude Davis , Michael Major , et al.
- Off Grid Survival Projects Bible: The Complete DIY Guide to Achieving 100% Self-Sufficiency, by Lucas T. Fremont
- No Grid Survival Projects Bible, by Jonathan A. Hugg
- The Prepper’s Survival Bible, by Morgan J. Kepler
Disaster Preparedness
Disasters are the reason most of us start prepping in the first place. You might have plenty of stuff stashed but do you actually know what to do when disaster strikes? Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, riots?
If you don’t, consider yourself officially without excuse. Disaster readiness is simple in theory but taking the right actions at the right time and as quickly as possible is paramount if you want to survive. These books will help you get ready for disasters great and small.
- The Disaster-Ready Home: A Step-by-Step Emergency Preparedness Manual for Sheltering in Place, by Creek Stewart
- SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition, by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman
- The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster, by Joseph Alton, MD & Amy Alton, ARNP
- Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival , by Dave Canterbury
Communications
Radio is what you need for maximizing readiness and true self-sufficiency. Nothing else even comes close.
Understanding and mastering the intricacies of ham radio can take a lifetime, but you can get up, running and on the airwaves quickly with these two volumes.
- The Baofeng Radio Bible, by Eliot J. Hawke
- Ham Radio For Dummies, by H. Ward Silver
Defense
It’s a dangerous world out there, and if you aren’t ready to protect yourself, your family and you’re holdings you aren’t truly ready.
I can put up 50 books on self-defense alone, but these two books will get you going and take you far when it comes to getting your mindset and your skill
- The Power of Awareness: And Other Secrets from the World’s Foremost Spies, Detectives, and Special Operators on How to Stay Safe and Save Your Life, by Dan Schilling
- Sentinel: Become the Agent in Charge of Your Own Protection Detail, by Patrick McNamara
Tom Marlowe practically grew up with a gun in his hand, and has held all kinds of jobs in the gun industry: range safety, sales, instruction and consulting, Tom has the experience to help civilian shooters figure out what will work best for them.