20 Best Survival Audiobooks for the Prepper in All of Us

Whether we’re focused on the apocalypse or just an ill-timed breakdown on the side of a particularly remote road, there’s something about imagining survival scenarios that can be addictive. On some level, we all wonder if we would have what it takes to pit ourselves against the worst the world can possibly offer and make it out alive.

That’s why it’s no surprise that survival literature is so popular, and that the stories in the genre are so varied and diverse. From fictional survival fantasies to no-nonsense prepper guides, here are the best survival audiobooks we’ve found.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

De: Stephen King

Narrado por: Anne Heche

Duración: 6 h y 29 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-16-99

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,543 calificaciones

This creepy tale is a classic of both survival fiction and psychological horror, and with veteran actress Anne Heche behind the microphone, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon easily earns its place among the best audiobooks in this genre. Stephen King’s protagonist is unique among survivalist literature: a nine-year-old girl. The story begins when Trisha gets lost in the woods after accidentally being separated from her family on a camping trip and is left to fend for herself with little more than a few snacks and her Walkman. She uses the Walkman to listen to sports radio and ends up hallucinating the presence of her favorite baseball player, Tom Gordon. But as her trials in the wood grow increasingly creepy, the listener is led to believe that Trisha may not be as alone in the woods as she believes.
One Second After

De: William R. Forstchen

Narrado por: Joe Barrett

Serie: A John Matherson Novel, Libro 1

Duración: 13 h y 17 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 03-17-09

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 29,844 calificaciones

This more traditional take on the survival novel stands out because it bears a remarkable resemblance to a scenario that could plausibly take place in the United States. In One Second After, a foreign attack via electromagnetic pulse weapon renders the United States’s entire power grid useless. Narrator Joe Barrett brings raw emotional energy to his performance of protagonist John Matherson, a retired Army Colonel and history professor who must not only fend for himself but also find a way to protect his daughter, a Type 1 diabetic who will die without a constant supply of refrigerated insulin. As sanitation deteriorates, diseases surge, and social order begins to crumble, Matherson is forced to make increasingly difficult decisions to ensure his family survives.
The Martian

De: Andy Weir

Narrado por: Wil Wheaton

Duración: 10 h y 59 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-01-20

Idioma: Inglés

5 out of 5 stars 38,938 calificaciones

You may be familiar with The Martian from the 2015 film adaptation, but this newly released audio edition that’s narrated by Wil Wheaton and includes brand new bonus clips brings the story to life in a way it never has before. Andy Weir’s take on the topic of survival adds an extraterrestrial twist, asking listeners to imagine what might happen if their worst-case-scenario took place in one of the wildest environments imaginable—the surface of Mars. That’s exactly the position Mark Watney finds himself in after a dust storm separates him from the rest of his crew. After the storm passes and Watney is nowhere to be found, his fellow astronauts assume he’s dead and evacuate, meaning Watney is not only stranded on Mars, but no one even knows he’s there.
Seal Survival Guide

A Navy Seal's Secrets to Surviving Any Disaster

De: Cade Courtley

Narrado por: R.C. Bray

Duración: 9 h y 47 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-23-14

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 936 calificaciones

When it comes to survival expertise, there are few sources more qualified to offer advice than a Navy SEAL. Author Cade Courtley is not only a former SEAL, he also went on to host a Discovery Channel show called Surviving Disaster—so he knows a thing or two about withstanding extreme scenarios. In his SEAL Survival Guide, Courtley has assembled all of his survival knowledge, distilling it into practical, easy-to-follow instructions to develop every skill necessary to, as Courtley puts it, "Be a survivor, not a statistic." Narrator R.C. Bray brings energy and excitement to his performance throughout, keeping the listening experience fun and engaging.
Getting Out: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller

De: Ryan Westfield

Narrado por: Kevin Pierce

Serie: The EMP Series, Libro 1

Duración: 6 h y 38 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-24-17

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,122 calificaciones

Getting Out is based on a social collapse scenario caused by the same real-life weapon featured in One Second After: an electromagnetic pulse that takes out all power and renders everything from the internet to kitchen appliances useless. Narrator Kevin Pierce is a practiced professional in the world of survival fantasy, and his familiarity with the emotional behaviors and reactions of characters forced to contend with an end-of-the-world scenario makes his performance of the three protagonists in Getting Out even more absorbing. Ryan Westfield’s take on the EMP attack scenario follows three distinctly different characters in their attempts to survive: Max, a survivalist who quickly learns how far short his preparations will fall, Georgia, a recreational hunter and single mother of two teenagers, and Mandy, a waitress with no shot of making it on her own who must decide who she should trust for her best chance of staying alive.
The Mountain Between Us

A Novel

De: Charles Martin

Narrado por: George Newbern

Duración: 9 h y 56 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 06-01-10

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 4,865 calificaciones

The Mountain Between Us is a great choice for those survival audiobook enthusiasts who are looking for something a little more uplifting without sacrificing the grit and intensity intrinsic to the genre, since it also doubles as an unlikely romance. George Newbern plays both Ashley Knox and Dr. Ben Payne, illustrating their distinctly different personalities perfectly as they experience all manner of emotions from fear and frustration to attraction and heartbreak to love—along with everything in between. The story picks up when flights out of Salt Lake City are cancelled due to weather and the pair manage to hitch a ride with a prop plane pilot. But when the pilot has a heart attack mid-flight, the crash leaves its passengers wounded and freezing in the mountains, and Ben and Ashley must use what few resources they have to find a way home.
Going Home

A Novel

De: A. American

Narrado por: Duke Fontaine

Serie: The Survivalist Series, Libro 1

Duración: 13 h y 12 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-28-13

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 11,475 calificaciones

For those who find themselves in search of more in the style of One Day After, Going Home brings together many of the same elements but arranges them in a way that feels fresh for even the most avid survivalism fans. This iteration sees protagonist Morgan Carter broken down on the side of the road 250 miles from his home in rural Florida when an EMP attack hits, leaving him alone on the road as chaos begins to break out. The commanding voice of narrator Duke Fontaine fits Carter’s rough prepper personality perfectly, and die-hard survivalists will enjoy the detail with which the author outlines the tools, supplies, and strategies the main character uses to tackle each obstacle he meets. The best part? This is just the first in a series, so once you’re hooked, you’ll have plenty more stories to dive into.
Patriot

An Alex Hawke Novel

De: Ted Bell

Narrado por: John Shea

Serie: Alex Hawke, Libro 9

Duración: 16 h y 43 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-15-15

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 754 calificaciones

This tale of societal collapse is perhaps even more frightening than others in the genre because it doesn’t rely on a technological attack. Instead, the collapse in this story starts with a tumble that could ostensibly occur any day. All it takes is a socioeconomic downturn to cause global economies to be thrown into chaos, taking the rest of the world’s infrastructure with it. In the midst of it all, a group of friends—suddenly surrounded by raiders and gangs, unable to take their own safety for granted—must get on the road in hopes of making it to a safe haven several states over. The gruff narrative stylings of Dick Hill assist in bringing Patriot to life in razor-sharp detail, leaving the listener feeling as on-edge as the characters in the audiobook itself.
Into Thin Air

A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

De: Jon Krakauer

Narrado por: Jon Krakauer

Duración: 5 h y 58 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-15-99

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,174 calificaciones

There’s an undeniable difference in the intensity of a survival story that’s actually a true account of real events, and Jon Krakauer’s record of Mt. Everest’s deadliest year is no exception. Philip Franklin’s intimate tone makes it feel as though the journalist is telling his firsthand account personally, only serving to increase the already high-altitude tension of Krakauer’s story. The plot follows the author’s time on assignment for Outside magazine, using his personal skills as a climber to track down the reason for Everest’s increasing popularity in spite of the climb’s unfathomably high 25% death toll among climbers. Not only does Into Thin Air rank among survival audiobook elite, it’s also an award-winner overall, with a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award to recommend it.
How to Stay Alive in the Woods

A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere

De: Bradford Angier

Narrado por: Matthew Boston

Duración: 8 h y 26 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 03-06-18

Idioma: Inglés

5 out of 5 stars 38 calificaciones

Survivalism covers many different extreme scenarios, but if you know you’re more likely to be in one particular survival scenario, it’s a good idea to drill down to the specifics to make sure that your preparation is as thorough and accurate as possible. So if you’re a frequent camper, live in a remote location, or foresee yourself potentially needing to sustain yourself alone in a forest, Bradford Angier’s How to Stay Alive in the Woods is a smart addition to your survivalist library. The audiobook is broken up into four categories—Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation, and Safety—each of which outlines a comprehensive set of skills that are likely to be useful to the wilderness survivalist. Addressing need-to-knows for any survival situation, like unarmed self-defense, as well as more forest-specific skills like catching and killing game without a weapon, Angier ensures that his guide covers every necessary piece of knowledge for the would-be wilderness adventurer.
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival

Bushcraft Series

De: Dave Canterbury

Narrado por: Travis Tonn

Serie: Bushcraft, Bushcraft Survival Skills Series

Duración: 4 h y 40 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 11-13-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 395 calificaciones

Whereas much of survivalist literature is intended to help listeners cope with an unexpected emergency situation, Bushcraft 101 is designed for those explorers who enter into wilderness scenarios voluntarily. Outdoors expert and author Dave Canterbury provides not just the know-how for navigating unexpected scenarios, but also advice on everything that should be included in the kit you assemble as you prep for your next backcountry adventure. The audiobook comes with a downloadable PDF to give you access to the diagrams necessary for certain skills, but Travis Tonn’s rugged narrative tone remains clear and easy to follow even without a visual. With Canterbury’s guide to the Five Cs of Survivability (cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages), you’ll be able to confidently adventure into even the wildest parts of nature.
Alas, Babylon

De: Pat Frank

Narrado por: Will Patton

Duración: 11 h y 11 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-21-10

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 13,495 calificaciones

Originally published in 1959, Pat Frank’s creepy tale of nuclear apocalypse was one of the earlier hits of the survivalist category. The passage of time has only solidified its status as a certified genre-topper, and with all-star narrator Will Patton behind the microphone, Alas, Babylon’s inclusion on this list is a no-brainer. Patton’s experience with eerie audiobooks like Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep (for which he won a Narrator of the Year award) makes him the perfect performer to bring Frank’s dystopian United States to life. Set after an unintended crash starts a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Alas, Babylon balances the elements of a widely-scoped political drama with the gritty details of the Bragg family’s struggle to survive in the aftermath of the Soviet’s attack. This is a winner by anyone’s survivalist standards, but especially for those who crave some of the more complex elements of a historical or political fiction.
Endurance

Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

De: Alfred Lansing

Narrado por: Tim Pigott-Smith

Duración: 5 h y 59 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-23-00

Idioma: Inglés

5 out of 5 stars 2,221 calificaciones

Any survival enthusiast has likely heard of the unbelievable true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his ship, the Endurance, which set out in 1914 to explore the southernmost parts of the Atlantic Ocean and instead became trapped in ice. Shackleton and his 27-man crew were faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: surviving through five long, harrowing months of Antarctic weather in an open ship. Not only that, but when the ice thawed, it cracked and sank the Endurance rather than freeing it, forcing the men to travel nearly 350 miles to safety in lifeboats. Unsurprisingly, Lansing’s account of the ordeal—which he wrote after conducting lengthy interviews with each of the survivors—is an emotional roller coaster, and narrator Simon Prebble navigates the high peaks and low troughs of the story with gravitas, keeping the listener engaged even when the story feels most hopeless. And the story’s ending is nothing if not uplifting: astoundingly, not a single man in Shackleton’s crew died on their infamous South Pole voyage.
Night

De: Elie Wiesel

Narrado por: George Guidall

Serie: Night Trilogy, Libro 1

Duración: 4 h y 17 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-16-06

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 10,871 calificaciones

Night encourages listeners to widen their definition of the survivalist category, and the payoff for doing so is steep. The story is a semi-autobiographical story of survival during the Holocaust, and its author, Elie Wiesel, won both the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal. Narrator George Guidall has also won his fair share of accolades, with multiple Audie Awards as well as the Audio Publishers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award under his belt. Though different from the other tales of wilderness survival fare on this list, Elie Weisel’s story is one of unmistakable courage in the face of some of the most harrowing evil known to mankind. Guidall’s performance stares unflinchingly into the cold realities of the Holocaust while also handling the sensitive material with the care it deserves.
Buried in the Sky

The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day

De: Peter Zuckerman, Amanda Padoan

Narrado por: David Doersch

Duración: 7 h y 12 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-17-13

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,243 calificaciones

The second mountaineering story on our list, Buried in the Sky approaches the topic of high-stakes climbing from a new perspective: that of the indigenous Sherpas that have accompanied so many climbers to the top of the world’s highest peaks. Specifically, the authors examine the Sherpas’ stories of the month that 11 climbers died attempting to reach the summit, and why the Sherpas were able to survive. Narrator David Doersch performs the story not only with a wide-ranging spectrum of emotion but also with accurate, well-researched accents that perfectly underline the details of the Sherpas’ stories.
Lights Out

A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath

De: Ted Koppel

Narrado por: Ted Koppel

Duración: 8 h y 10 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-27-15

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,914 calificaciones

Many of the audiobooks in the survival genre imagine the outcome of a large-scale electromagnetic pulse attack on the United States. In Lights Out, Ted Koppel—perhaps best known as the lead anchor for Nightline—traces the consequences of an updated disaster that might take place in the event of a cyberattack. In the authoritative voice that so many Americans have for years welcomed into their homes, Koppel tracks the branching network of possible scenarios, drawing on research into government preparedness, past natural disaster responses, cybersecurity concerns, and more. The resulting audiobook is part political nonfiction, part 21st century survival guide, and 100% gripping narrative.
Survival Theory

A Preparedness Guide

De: Jonathan Hollerman

Narrado por: Jim Pelletier

Duración: 9 h y 56 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 06-17-16

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 842 calificaciones

Jonathan Hollerman takes a fascinating approach on survivalism with Survival Theory. Instead of focusing on the practical basics of enduring difficult situations, Hollerman instead dives into a wider survivalist strategy informed by specific elements of the scenarios that are most likely to occur. Evaluating exactly what could bring on societal collapse and analyzing how one’s needs would vary depending on different events, Hollerman offers up survivalist wisdom that goes far beyond how to build a shelter or feed oneself in the wild. His advice is brought to life by the gruff, authoritative performance of Jim Pelletier, whose tone is a pitch-perfect match for the audiobook’s grim but functionally optimistic content. What’s especially unique about this guide compared to others is that it’s written with the family in mind—Hollerman factors in the possibility of a relatively thin budget as well as the need to protect not just the individual, but children as well.
Deep Survival

True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death

De: Laurence Gonzales

Narrado por: Stefan Rudnicki

Duración: 10 h y 29 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 07-28-06

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 4,109 calificaciones

For fans of Into Thin Air and Buried in the Sky, Laurence Gonzales’s Deep Survival offers up a wider variety of shorter forays into all manner of true survival stories—as well as stories of those who didn’t fare so well. The author doesn’t just recount these stories, but actively searches for a pattern to determine what decides if survivors make it out alive. Including not just stories but also psychiatric science, military wisdom, and business advice on controlling stress and handling pressure, Deep Survival brings a depth to the survival genre that few other audiobooks offer. What’s more, Stefan Rudnicki’s narrative talent—honed with classics like Ender’s Game, The Lottery, and more—articulates the stories’ more gritty details while also highlighting the more abstract patterns and themes that the author draws for different survival scenarios.
Five Days at Memorial

Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital

De: Sheri Fink

Narrado por: Kirsten Potter

Duración: 17 h y 33 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-10-13

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,588 calificaciones

Another harrowingly true-to-life story of survival, Five Days at Memorial tells of the tragic patient deaths that took place at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. When the storm knocked out the utilities in the facility, hospital staff were forced to make increasingly difficult decisions—some of which patients would later allege resulted in the premature deaths of many of the hospital’s residents. The author’s balanced writing combined with Kirsten Potter’s well-practiced tone present the facts of the Memorial Medical Center case without bias, allowing the listener to decide for themselves where they stand on the many issues the audiobook presents. A good survivalist’s tool kit includes a strong moral compass, and this is one work that will test any listener’s sense of what’s right.
438 Days

An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea

De: Jonathan Franklin

Narrado por: George Newbern

Duración: 7 h y 7 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 11-17-15

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 5,347 calificaciones

It takes a narrator like George Newbern to tell a tale as extraordinary as that of the longest survival at sea on record. Salvador Alvarenga’s story is full of near-unbelievable details, from shark attacks to harrowing storms with many things in between and an emotionally heavy-handed performance would overwhelm the narrative. Instead, Newbern tells Alvarenga’s account with expert simplicity, allowing the astounding events to speak for themselves. Hardcore survivalists can revel in the opportunity to consider how they would survive over a year at sea while following along with Alvarenga’s makeshift solutions, like fishing with boat motor parts and sewing with fishbone needles, to some truly inconceivable survival challenges.