I am looking to start a survival library of good books for general survival (covering everything from a minor infected cut to preparing for TEOTWAWKI situations). I am looking for people's suggestions on where to start this library. I figure a nice place to start would be to find out what other's refer to and have as the core of their own libraries. To this point, I want a semi-small list of critical writings to start from, and then get books on more specialized topics at a later date.

Thus, my question is this: If you personally had to choose the most comprehensive SINGLE text- related to survival- what would you choose? This is meant to be a very broad question, but I would like to hear people's thoughts. I am hoping to get some varied responses, and will likely look at any books mentioned.

First I would list the immediate potential scenarios you may encounter. Then I would study the resources here and the web in general. It's relatively free, and the money not spent on books can be put into immediate needs like a first aid kit, water reserves and that ultimate survival knife that hangs over us in countless forum threads like poor Damocles <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The GEM version of the SAS survival manual is a classic as much for it's portability and weatherproofing as the wide range of (usually) usefull information. A good first aid manual is essential. I will defer to our many trained emergency medical providors on it's selection. If your contemplating a firearm ( holding fingers up in a + to avoid another firearms thread reminiscent of THE WORM OROBOROUS) buy Mel Tappen's book. It's dated. Sadly Mell didn't survive, but there is none better or more exaustive. By the time he started listing argentine bolas I wanted to shoot him myself <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Avoid used book stores until you are familiar with the literature. Obsolescent books are great survivors themselves, and while sometimes they hold a hidden gem of wisdom most often have out of date medical information or disproved folklore. The Bradford Angier books are a prime example. Delightfull reading yes, but some of the stuff can get you in serious trouble. Keep in mind many books have a philosophical bent; 'born again indians' who think a survival scenario is a vision quest or disenfranchised, ex army records clerks who think Rambo and Red Dawn were unjustly snubbed at the Oscars. Most of us are Tom Hanks and just want to get home. Since everybody buys a compass after the knife(Don't know where I'm going, but theres no use being late) pick up 'Be Expert with Map & Compass' by Bjorn Kjellstrom. It's a fun book and won't intimidate you like my first look at Bowditch's tome on marine navigation. These are a few to get started with. Don't forget to use earthquake strappping on your bookcase. Getting a fractured skull from A Field Guide to Edible Plants of the Ohio Valley is considered bad form <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My additions:

"98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping your Ass Alive" by Cody Lundin - a great read that focuses on the biological/physiological aspects of survival while providing recommendations for a survival kit.

"GPS Land Navigation" by Michael Ferguson - one of my favorite navigation books, focusing on GPS skills, compass skills, and the skill of using them together. The section that describes GPS features is a bit aged, but the rest of the book is very useful.

Of course none of the books takes the place of experince - getting off one's duff and playing around with the gear/skills so we have a chance when called upon to use them under nasty conditions.