Now this list is in no particular order, but all of these are fantastic reads. All of them will certainly get your mind working, when it comes to what would happen if SHTF…
1. One Second After – William R. Forstchen
This book follows John, a retired Army Colonel and history professor, during the aftermath of an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse). Extremely well written, Forstchen touches on some very real problems one would face during such an event. This book was so well received and thought provoking that it was actually referred to, during a meeting with congress, about the threat of an EMP attack on the United States.
The master of horror does his take on the apocalypse in the form of a Super-flu. The story follows several survivors as they journey across a landscape ravaged by a weaponized strain of influenza. It gives a frightening look at life where 99% of the population is dead and the rest are left to fend for themselves. Anyone that is interested in survival and the apocalypse, would certainly want to check this one out.
3. Going Home (The Survivalist Series) – A. American
Going Home is book one in what’s called The Survivalist Series. A family man named Morgan, breaks down over 200 miles from home, during which the country’s power grid completely crashes. Being a survivalist, Morgan straps on his emergency pack and starts the journey home. Written by a prepper, for preppers, this book(and the rest in the series) will certainly grab ahold of you and leave you wanting more.
What if a secret society was responsible for the Black Death plague of the 14th century? What if it was a plan to wipe out the majority of the population, so that a new era could be born, resulting in The Renaissance? Now imagine if that secret society planned to do it again in the year 2020. JD Dutra has written an excellent story that makes your mind wander, and makes you look at survival from a whole different view. With relatable characters, and a story some may see as not far from non-fiction, this is a great read for any prepper.
5. Lucifer’s Hammer – Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
A comet slams into Earth resulting in catastrophic natural disasters, the beginning of a new Ice Age, and the end of civilization. Written in the late 70’s, this is a disaster novel that still holds it’s own today. The world is thrown in complete disarray, leading to political issues that change mankind forever. Some very violent and unsettling topics are touched upon, which in the world that’s left over, not much more is to be expected.
6. 299 Days: The Preparation – Glen Tate
This is a real-world story of a man making the transition from another sheep of society, to a prepared individual with his eyes open to what’s going on in the world around him. This is another first in a series, but this one in particular resonates very well with any people new to prepping. Take the title literally, this book is all about a man’s journey into becoming prepared for a post-collapse scenario. It touches on some very real hurdles one faces with their family, friends, and jobs, when it comes to a prepping lifestyle.
7. Under The Dome – Stephen King
Life in Chester’s Mill is pretty normal until all of a sudden an invisible force surrounds the town in a huge dome. Closing the citizens off from the outside world, the town’s people must work together to figure out what exactly is going on. Without knowing how long they will be trapped inside the dome, eventually egos start to clash, supplies starts to dwindle, and people start acting strange. This story does a great job in showing how people can go from friendly neighbor, to someone you need to keep your eye on, in an instant. When you’re trapped with nowhere to go, you’re forced to confront your issues head on.
Written in 1959, this book tells the story of a threat we face even today: nuclear war. A Soviet missile strike tears across the U.S., but a central Florida town is spared for the most part. Survivors band together to try and rebuild a community, and fight back against bandits. An eye-opening look at the struggle society would face, in trying to come back from an event of that nature. Another classic tale, and one that shouldn’t be missed.
This tells the story of a man and his son and their journey of survival. An extremely bleak look into a post-collapse world, McCarthy does a great job of setting the pace and environment for a grueling tale of life on the road. Faced with starvation, lack of water, and blood thirsty cannibals, this father/son duo trek south in order to survive the coming winter. This is one that stays with you for a while after you finish reading.
10. Earth Abides – George R. Stewart
Isherwood Williams becomes ill and begins to fall in and out of consciousness. He wakes up to find that most of the population has died, due to the same disease that had him down. He goes on a cross country journey scavenging for supplies and other survivors. Once back in his California home, he decides he must attempt to rebuild society. This is a great look at what happens when someone takes the initiative to rebuild, and the consequences that come along with that daunting task.
Article By: KYPrepper89