Twelve of My Favorite Outdoor Books
I have amassed a fair library of outdoor books over the years, ranging from bushcraft and survival to various field guides on wildlife and plants. This is a list of some of my favorites, but it is by no means exhaustive. If I listed every title that I might consider one of my favorites, or at the very least influential at some point in my life, the list could probably easily reach a total of at least thirty. Some of the books in this list I have owned and read more times than I can count since I was a child. Some were valuable resources while I was in college taking courses on vegetation and animal identification. Some I acquired much more recently, but they have been referenced multiple times in the last few months and have earned a place on my list of favorites.
If you’re interested in adding a book to your library, there is a link beneath each title to Amazon or Bookshop.org. Every title except one has a link to both, but the Tom Brown, Jr. book doesn’t seem to be available on Bookshop.org at the time I’m writing this. I’m an affiliate with both of those book retailers, so I will get a small percentage of the sale when you go through the links, but there’s no extra charge for you.
Happy Reading!
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski
This is a phenomenal resource on multiple aspects of spending time in the wilderness. I have read my copy several times and it never gets old.
National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America, by Bruce Kershner
Region specific field guides are always nice, but this specific book has probably been referenced more than any other tree field guide I own.
The Sibley Guide to Birds, by David Allen Sibley
This isn’t necessarily a field guide, but it is certainly a great reference book to keep on your bookshelf at home. I haven’t taken mine into the field very often, but it is one of my favorites to look at when I’m home.
National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America, by Edward S. Brinkley
I have taken this one into the field pretty often. It isn’t region specific, but I find that it works pretty well. If you prefer photographs over an artist’s rendition of a bird, this one may be more suitable than the Sibley Guide to Birds.
Survival Wisdom & Know How, by the Editors of Stackpole Books
This is one of my absolute favorite survival reference books. It covers a vast array of topics. The copy I have has been all over the country in the back of a car and definitely shows the mileage.
Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow, by Louise R. Forrest and Denise Casey
This is a new acquisition, but it has been a great resource for learning and understanding the tracks I see while wandering the snowy Rocky Mountains. While it is specifically intended to be used for identifying tracks in the snow, I think it’s also useful when there’s no snow around.
The Ashley Book of Knots, by Clifford W. Ashley
This is another newer acquisition. However, I have wanted to get my hands on a copy for several years. I have several knot books in my collection, but this is one of the best references for knots I have read.
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, by Mountaineers Books
This book is intended for mountaineering, but it contains information that can be useful for all types of outdoor adventurers. Campers, day hikers, climbers, and expedition or group leaders can all benefit from this book.
Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking, by Tom Brown, Jr.
This is another book I have read more times than I can count and has been on multiple trips across the country with me. Tom Brown, Jr. has his own view on wild places that I find rather interesting. Quite a bit of his information has been useful on many occasions and remains seared into my brain to this day.
Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, by Bradford Angier
Learning about wild plants and understanding their uses has been an interest of mine since I was pretty young. This was an influential book in the early years of studying those related topics, and I still find it a valuable reference.
Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast, by Michael Wojtech
Identifying trees in the winter can be more difficult when there are no leaves present. This book helps you understand the differences, which are sometimes very minute, between the bark of different tree species. It is intended for identifying the trees of the northeastern U.S., but I have found it useful in other regions as well.
Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke
Along with the Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, this has been a staple in my collection for many years. It gets referenced quite often when I am trying to figure out a new source of natural medicine to handle some ailment.