Best Survival Biographies Books of 2025

Krakauer’s page-turning bestseller explores a famed missing person mystery while unraveling the larger riddles it holds: the profound pull of the American wilderness on our imagination; the allure of high-risk activities to young men of a certain cast of mind; the complex, charged bond between fathers and sons."Terrifying... Eloquent... A heart-rending drama of human yearning." —New York TimesIn April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How Christopher Johnson McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild.Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild.Jon Krakauer constructs a clarifying prism through which he reassembles the disquieting facts of McCandless's short life. Admitting an interst that borders on obsession, he searches for the clues to the drives and desires that propelled McCandless. When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity, and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding--and not an ounce of sentimentality. Mesmerizing, heartbreaking, Into the Wild is a tour de force. The power and luminosity of Jon Krakauer's stoytelling blaze through every page.

The Crystal Bible (The Crystal Bible Series) is a comprehensive guide to crystals that includes photographic identification, detailed descriptions, and information on the individual properties of each crystal. Written by internationally known author, astrologer, crystal expert, psychic, and healer Judy Hall, this book is perfect for beginners or experienced crystal enthusiasts. It's an indispensable reference for crystal lovers everywhere, featuring over 150 crystals. The Crystal Bible is a must-have for anyone interested in the healing power of crystals.

How To Survive A Freakin’ Bear Attack: And 127 Other Survival Hacks You'll Hopefully Never Need is a comprehensive survival guide that covers various real-life scenarios. From snake bites to natural disasters and being stranded on a desert island, this book provides step-by-step guides to 128 extraordinary survival skills. It includes chapters on first aid, climbing trees, building rope bridges, and lighting a campfire using only your phone. While some of the skills may seem unnecessary, the book is a fun and fascinating read that bursts with real-world knowledge, tips, and advice. Overall, it's an informative and entertaining book that may come in handy one day.

Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch is a New York Times Bestseller and a life-affirming memoir about survival, renewal, and finding a community to lift her up. Erin French, the owner of The Lost Kitchen, shares her struggles, stumbles, and victories that led her to the exact place she was ever meant to be. Her experiences with deep loss and abiding hope, told with both honesty and humor, will resonate with women everywhere who are determined to find their voices, create community, grow stronger and discover their best-selves despite seemingly impossible odds. This memoir is a must-read for those seeking inspiration and the courage to reinvent themselves.

"Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer is a gripping account of the disastrous storm on the summit of Mt. Everest that claimed five lives, including the author's. Krakauer provides a balanced picture of the events and people involved, giving credit to the tireless Sherpas and avoiding easy targets. However, he also delves deeply into his own perceived failures and haunting guilt. The updated trade paperback edition includes a postscript that sheds light on the acrimonious debate between Krakauer and Everest guide Anatoli Boukreev. Overall, "Into Thin Air" is a harrowing and insightful read that offers a unique perspective on the perils of high-altitude climbing."

The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story is a gripping memoir that tells the story of David Crow and his family's survival in the face of his abusive father's criminal demands. Despite growing up on the Navajo reservation and facing numerous challenges, David managed to achieve professional success. However, when he finally refused his father's criminal demands, he triggered a plot of revenge that threatened his life. The book is a raw and inspiring story about the power of forgiveness and the strength of the human spirit. Overall, The Pale-Faced Lie is a must-read memoir that sheds light on the devastating effects of abuse and the resilience of the human spirit.

From a Pulitzer Prize finalist, "the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of the absurdity of U.S. border policy" (The Atlantic).. In May 2001, a group of men attempted to cross the Mexican border into the desert of southern Arizona, through the deadliest region of the continent, the "Devil's Highway." Three years later, Luis Alberto Urrea wrote about what happened to them. The result was a national bestseller, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a "book of the year" in multiple newspapers, and a work proclaimed as a modern American classic.

The Crystal Bible 2 is an excellent reference guide for crystal enthusiasts. This book covers over 200 additional crystals, including high-vibration stones for spiritual alchemy and the recently revealed Greenland stones. The author, Judy Hall, is an internationally known crystal expert, astrologer, and healer, who has authored over 40 books, including the bestselling Crystal Bible. The Crystal Bible 2 is beautifully illustrated and provides a comprehensive guide to exceptional crystals and their healing applications, environmental and karmic effects, and the crystal medicine wheel. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in crystals and their uses.