Books on Survival Stories

Survival Stories Books

Shop our large selection of books about survival stories at Barnes & Noble. Survival stories have always been popular amongst readers due to their captivating accounts of real people who were able to overcome extreme challenges. Whether they are true stories of survival in the wilderness or books about surviving a scary time in history, find the best nonfiction survival books here. Many popular survival stories feature soldiers overcoming the gruesome terrors of battle in WWII, the Vietnam War and other dangerous missions. Our variety of survival stories also includes books about lost mountain hikers, stranded sailors and pilots that were able to survive a crashes against all odds.

Books About Survival

If you’re into soldier memoirs that vividly describe the horrors and psychological effects of combat, then With the Old Breed, which is based on marine Eugene B. Sledge’s real account of the Pacific War will be a powerful read. Unbroken, the story of a crashed WWII gunner stranded in the Pacific and his unlikely—nay, impossible—journey to survival, is another great choice. And if you’re looking for a survival tale steeped in chilling facts and adventure, then In the Heart of the Sea, a book that describes the events that inspired Melville's Moby-Dick, is right up your alley.

True Survival Stories

If you’re a fan of first person accounts of survival in harsh environments, then Miracle in the Adnes, a memoir about the plane that was carrying the Uruguayan rugby team and their loved ones crashing into the Andes Mountains, will give you insight into the distance that the human spirit can go in the face of harrowing circumstances. Another great read is Steven Callahan’s compelling book, Adrift, now considered a classic survival tale, in which he recounts his seventy-six days alone on a life raft stranded in the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you’re searching for military survival stories or you’re interested in the human experience in various life-threatening situations, explore the best books on survival stories here.

10 Must-Read Books About Gripping Stories of Survival

The Liberator by Alex Kershaw
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides
Flyboys by James Bradley
No Way Down by Graham Bowley
Lost in the Jungle by Yossi Ghinsberg
When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke
Astoria by Peter Stark
No Surrender by James Sheeran
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

Survivor Stories

Discover captivating books featuring incredible survival stories of soldiers at war, mountain climbers, sailors, pilots and more.