Book: Prepare for Anything

Though big and heavy, Tim MacWelch’s Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (WeldonOwen, $27) is one of the best items you could stuff in a survival pack—it’s got all the bases covered, from essential gear to survival skills to scenario-based solutions for every imaginable eventuality. Need a refresher on CPR? Can’t remember how to tie a prusik knot? Wondering how to defend yourself from a knife-wielding degenerate? How about a recipe for making your own gunpowder? It’s all in there—338 skills to keep you and your family alive, regardless of the circumstances. Well-organized and beautifully illustrated, Prepare for Anything is basically a Sun Tzu for everyday citizens who want to be ready when any amount of shit hits the fan, from getting lost in the woods to the collapse of civilization.