….On Education
I’ve been involved in this game for a lot of years and I didn’t get here by accident. I am a big proponent of READING, something our society particularly our young seem to have an aversion to.
Many different writers have guided my philosophy over the years, Both fiction and non-fiction. The fiction writers, such as Jerry Pournelle: Lucifer’s Hammer, Robert Heinlan: Stranger in a strange land, and Frank Herbert; Dune series and many other explorations into alternate societies, Ayn Rand; Atlas Shrugged, had an affinity to see the future: what we are looking at today.
The non-fiction guys lived it all and passed it on. The now deceased Mel Tappen…On Survival was one of the leaders of the 70s survivalist movement and churned out tons of vital and useful information, and inspired many others to get involved.
Tony Lesce wrote some of the best softback books of the time, on combat shotgun, and personal defense.
Massad Ayoob was and still is, the leader in Handgun defense and taming the legal realities of a lethal armed confrontation.
Here is a quick walk through my ”Preppers “library that I have collected over the years. Most all of these books were printed in softcover by small independent publishing houses. You may be able to find them in used book stores, on Amazon if still in print, or failing all else, try your public library.
The Poor Mans James bond, Kurt Saxon
The Poor Mans Armorer, Bonnie and Clyde Barrow
Tappen on survival, Mel Tappen
In the gravest Extreme, Massad F. Ayoob
Shootout, Shootout II, and the Shotgun in combat, Tony Lesce
Enercell battery guidebook, Antennas, Electroncs data handbook, Using your meter, and Shortwave listening guide, all useful books from Radio Shack.
Spycom, Improvised radio detonation techniques, and Improvised radio jamming techniques; Lawence W. Myers
Covert surveillance & electronic penetration, William B. Moran
Bench tested circuits for surveillance techs, Tom Larsen
The Black and Red book volumes, anon and John B. Minnery
City survival-City resistance, William Hanson
Govt. Field manuals: Booby traps, the Colt .45 auto pistol, The soldiers basic combat training manual, USMC-Destruction by demolition incendiaries and sabotage, Grenades and pyrotechnics, AR-15,M-16 and M-16A1 5.56mm rifles.
American Red Cross first aid text book.
How to stay alive in the woods, Bradford Angier
The 12 volt doctors practical handbook, Edgar J. Beyn
The anarchist cook book, William Powell
ARRL (American Radio Relay League) handbook.
Small arms of the world, Stackpole books.
Where there is no doctor, Hesperian
The defensive shotgun, Louis Awerbuck
The combat shotgun and submachine gun, Chuck Taylor
Streetsweepers, Combat ammunition and many others, Duncan Long
The Foxfire books.
SOME FICTION
Vandenberg, Oliver Lange 1971
Alas Babylon, Pat Frank 1959
Most all of these books have been out, and perhaps out of print, for decades, I have included them here because the” Modern Prepper” may not be aware of them and their utility. They are worth the search.
This is just a drop of my library that also includes an extensive 25 volume medical library slanted to the EMT and ER nurse level of care, and many new volumes on self-reliant living, solar, gardening etc.
“Reading is fundamental” and may also save your ass!
Regards, D.

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My deep desire (I’m gonna die if I can’t) to ga back to school vs there just not being a college major in survival has caused me to amass an interesting collection of books myself. being a female running around in skirts, few expect the publications I have stashed.
They also don’t expect to find a female on the front patio barefoot ina skirt running a chain saw!
Thanks for the list…
I Always Need More Books!!!!
In 1977 someone told me about the Anarchist Cookbook. I couldn’t find one so I ordered one from a local book store. When it came in and I went to pick it up the young girl behind the counter was outraged that such a book should be allowed. I thought it funny and ironic that a book store would be advocating “book burning” or censoring and told her so. She just didn’t get it. Just like to gun control nuts she was convinced it was the object (the book) that was bad or guilty. I am willing to bet she had little to no knowledge about the constitution never mind the 1st amendment.
Great!! Now I have even more stuff to do. . . . . . Actually, thanks for the list. . . wonder how many eyebrows will be raised when I try to find some of these titles? “Alas Babylon” is a classic- read it as a kid back in the 70s. . . still like it, turned my son on to it. . . .started my “prep” thinking, at least to a degree, back then. . . having a Dad who lived through the Depression and WW2 didn’t hurt any either. . . .
A few classics sitting on my shelf include:
FM 4-25.11 First Aid
FM 5-34 Engineer Field Data
FM 5-103 Survivability
FM 5-125 Rigging Techniques
FM 19-15 Civil Disturbances (Yes, Virginia, the US Army does have a manual detailing how to control a civilian population)
FM 20-3 Camouflage, Concealment, and Decoys
FM 21-11 First Aid for Soldiers
FM 21-76 Survival, Evasion, and Escape
SH 21-76 Ranger Handbook
FM 90-8 Counterguerrilla Operations
ST 180 Special Forces Handbook
It’s a good thing thing everyone of the above was free, because the authors are really boring in their delivery of the material.
Good ones Harry. Some of those are available in the Download Section of this site for free.
Thanks – Rourke
Yeah Harry FMs aren’t much on plot or character either.
Regards, D.
Rourke and Harry, good choices, I have some of those titles and wiil continue to look for the others. Is it me , or since the advent of video games, reading in any form seems to have become a chore to be avoided? John.
Karen- please never use a chainsaw without proper foot gear – too dangerous.
R and H thanks. I have an extensive library with many
survival-prepping titles which I will share soon. Arlene
WE had some very intense storms and tornadoes here in upstate NY