Survival books: what to read about the outdoors, health, radio, crises and life without technology
An overview of 18 proven survival books and handbooks by topic: author, what it covers, Czech edition, and whether it is paid or free and legal from the publisher or an authority.
When the power or the internet goes down, it helps to have knowledge on paper or on a phone that works offline. We have picked the books that people who prepare for crises keep coming back to. For each one we give the author, what it covers, whether there is a Czech edition, and whether it is paid or free and legal from the publisher or an authority.
The descriptions are our own; we do not give prices because they change. We link only to the official pages of publishers and authorities. We do not distribute any files through our website and receive no commission for these recommendations.
Surviving outdoors
- SAS Survival Handbook (John “Lofty” Wiseman): the classic on water, shelter, fire, food, navigation and first aid in any climate. In Czech as SAS – příručka jak přežít (Svojtka & Co.). Paid.
- ATP 3-50.21 Survival (US Army, 2018): a military manual for being cut off from help. It builds on FM 3-05.70, which had earlier replaced the well-known FM 21-76. Free and legal: a US government work approved for public release, officially on armypubs.army.mil. English only.
- Bushcraft 101 (Dave Canterbury, 2014): the basics of living outdoors with a few items in your pack, knots, fire, shelter. We found no Czech edition. Paid.
Food and self-sufficiency
- Jedlé a jedovaté rostliny a plody (Katrin and Frank Hecker, Grada 2021): a Czech guide that sets edible plants side by side with their poisonous look-alikes. Paid.
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living (Carla Emery, anniversary edition 2019): a large reference on growing food, keeping animals, beekeeping and preserving food. We found no Czech edition. Paid.
Health and first aid
- Where There Is No Doctor (David Werner et al., Hesperian): a health care handbook for places without a doctor, translated into dozens of languages. Part of the content is free in the online HealthWiki of the non-profit publisher Hesperian; the printed book is paid. No Czech edition; the publisher's website has an older Russian edition from 1997.
- Where There Is No Dentist (Murray Dickson, Hesperian): the same for teeth and gums. Chapters free on the publisher's website, printed book paid.
- The Survival Medicine Handbook (Joseph and Amy Alton, 4th edition 2021): how to look after your family when medical help is not available. We found no Czech edition. Paid.
- Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine (Paul Auerbach et al., Elsevier, 7th edition 2017): a large professional textbook of medicine in the field, aimed mainly at health professionals. Paid.
- Medical Herbalism (David Hoffmann, 2003): a specialist book on the effects and safety of medicinal plants. Paid.
Radio and communication
- ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications (ARRL, published every year): the radio amateur's “bible” on electronics, antennas and building a station. Paid.
- NEETS, Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (US Navy): a 24-module electronics course from the basics to communication equipment. As a US government work it may be shared freely, but the Navy's official page is no longer available, so we do not link to it.
- Ham Radio For Dummies (H. Ward Silver, 4th edition 2021): a clear introduction to amateur radio for beginners. Paid.
What you may transmit in Czechia without a permit and how to become a radio amateur is covered in a separate article on radio and communication (link below).
Nuclear threat, floods and blackouts
- 72 hodin – praktická příručka pro zvládání krizových situací (Ministry of the Interior and Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic): the official Czech handbook for the first three days of a crisis, including a supplies list and a household crisis plan. Free at www.72h.gov.cz in Czech, English and Ukrainian. For Czechia this is the first source.
- Nuclear War Survival Skills (Cresson Kearny): originally a 1979 Oak Ridge National Laboratory study, expanded edition 1987 (OISM). Shelter, ventilation, water, food and a home-made radiation meter. Free on the publisher's website; the author allowed copying on his own terms. It is a Cold War text. For what to do in Czechia today, follow the fire service and the 72 hodin handbook.
Rebuilding without technology
- The Knowledge (Lewis Dartnell, 2014): how to get food, medicine, energy and basic chemistry going again if the modern world stopped. We found no Czech edition. Paid.
- How to Invent Everything (Ryan North, 2018): humorous but factual on how to invent key technologies from scratch. We found no Czech edition. Paid.
- Foxfire (Foxfire Fund, since 1972, 12 volumes plus anniversary books): traditional crafts, building, food and folk know-how from interviews with people in the Appalachian Mountains. Paid.
How to get the books legally
Buy paid books from the publisher or a bookshop, or borrow them from a library. Copies from unofficial websites infringe the authors' rights under the Czech Copyright Act (Act No. 121/2000 Coll.). Download freely available texts only from the official page of the publisher or authority and follow their terms, for example Hesperian's ban on commercial use without permission.
This article is an overview for guidance as of 7 November 2026. It does not replace a doctor, a first-aid course or instructions from the fire service and authorities.
Official pages and related articles
- Ministry of the Interior and HZS ČR: 72 hodin (in English)
- Army Publishing Directorate (ATP 3-50.21)
- Hesperian Health Guides
- OISM: Nuclear War Survival Skills
- Radio and communication when the internet and power are down
- Blackout, crisis and civil protection in Czechia: supplies, shelters, masks and who to contact
- First aid until the ambulance arrives