Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
Sign in with Facebook
Books that provide information that would be useful for rebuilding civilization after the apocalypse. Please feel free to add to the list.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
|
How to Invent Everything: Rebuild All of Civilization (with 96% fewer catastrophes this time)
by
Ryan North (Goodreads Author)
4.15 avg rating — 6,265 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 2 |
|
A Short History of Nearly Everything
by
4.22 avg rating — 419,187 ratings
score: 177,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 3 |
|
Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide; Skills, Tips, and Gear for Living on the Land
by
Juan Pablo Quiñonez (Goodreads Author)
4.28 avg rating — 29 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 3 |
|
Angela's Arm
by
Roland Allnach (Goodreads Author)
4.91 avg rating — 34 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 5 |
|
The Toaster Project: Or a Heroic Attempt to Build a Simple Electric Appliance from Scratch
by
3.90 avg rating — 1,448 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 5 |
|
Reader's Digest Back to Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills
by
4.39 avg rating — 1,068 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 7 |
|
Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
by
3.79 avg rating — 8,336 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 8 |
|
The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country
by
4.12 avg rating — 333 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 9 |
|
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
by
4.41 avg rating — 4,919 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 10 |
|
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners
by
4.21 avg rating — 1,786 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening
by
4.04 avg rating — 2,965 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 12 |
|
Creating a Post-Corporate World (Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures Book 20)
by
4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 13 |
|
Gray's Anatomy
by
4.31 avg rating — 3,889 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 14 |
|
Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century
by
4.37 avg rating — 7,337 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 15 |
|
Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause
by
4.02 avg rating — 189 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 16 |
|
Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth
by
4.07 avg rating — 504 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 17 |
|
Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
by
Toni Weschler (Goodreads Author)
4.55 avg rating — 13,100 ratings
score: 88,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 18 |
|
The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost
by
4.01 avg rating — 3,513 ratings
score: 87,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta
by
4.35 avg rating — 2,036 ratings
score: 86,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 20 |
|
Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding: From the Nation's Leading Midwife
by
4.30 avg rating — 4,159 ratings
score: 85,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 21 |
|
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
by
Henci Goer (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 3,209 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
What We Say Matters: Practicing Nonviolent Communication
by
4.07 avg rating — 535 ratings
score: 83,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 23 |
|
Nutrition Guide for Clinicians
by
4.64 avg rating — 22 ratings
score: 82,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 24 |
|
Iodine : Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It
by
4.16 avg rating — 506 ratings
score: 81,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 25 |
|
Rationality: From AI to Zombies
by
Eliezer Yudkowsky (Goodreads Author)
4.32 avg rating — 1,767 ratings
score: 80,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 26 |
|
The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself
by
Sean Carroll (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 10,129 ratings
score: 79,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 27 |
|
Everything Voluntary: From Politics to Parenting
by
4.12 avg rating — 49 ratings
score: 78,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 28 |
|
Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders andTheir Herbal Remedies
by
4.27 avg rating — 446 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 29 |
|
Prescription for Drug Alternatives: All-Natural Options for Better Health without the Side Effects
by
4.07 avg rating — 41 ratings
score: 75,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 30 |
|
Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug Resistant Bacteria
by
4.42 avg rating — 870 ratings
score: 74,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 31 |
|
The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual [An Herbalism Book]
by
4.40 avg rating — 1,307 ratings
score: 73,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 32 |
|
Culpeper's Complete Herbal: Over 400 Herbs And Their Uses
by
4.24 avg rating — 728 ratings
score: 72,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 33 |
|
Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs
by
4.47 avg rating — 58 ratings
score: 71,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 34 |
|
The New Complete Book Of Self Sufficiency
by
4.45 avg rating — 770 ratings
score: 70,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 35 |
|
The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It: The Complete Back-To-Basics Guide
by
4.30 avg rating — 2,095 ratings
score: 69,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 36 |
|
The Forgotten Arts and Crafts
by
4.28 avg rating — 264 ratings
score: 68,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 37 |
|
The New Self-Sufficient Gardener
by
4.42 avg rating — 552 ratings
score: 67,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 38 |
|
Forgotten Household Crafts
by
3.97 avg rating — 154 ratings
score: 66,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 39 |
|
Country Wisdom & Know-How
by
4.34 avg rating — 980 ratings
score: 65,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 40 |
|
Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting
by
3.91 avg rating — 1,278 ratings
score: 64,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 41 |
|
Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance
by
4.23 avg rating — 1,009 ratings
score: 63,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 42 |
|
Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage: Facilities Design and Management
by
4.24 avg rating — 131 ratings
score: 62,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 43 |
|
Stablekeeping: A Visual Guide to Safe and Healthy Horsekeeping
by
4.01 avg rating — 86 ratings
score: 61,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 44 |
|
Herbal Horsekeeping
by
4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings
score: 60,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 45 |
|
How to Think Like A Horse: The Essential Handbook for Understanding Why Horses Do What They Do
by
4.28 avg rating — 924 ratings
score: 59,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 46 |
|
Common sense horsemanship;: A distinct method of riding and schooling horses and of learning to ride,
by
4.41 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 58,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 47 |
|
Schooling Your Horse: A Simple Up-to-Date Method of Schooling Hunters, Jumpers and Hacks
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 57,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 48 |
|
Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery
by
4.11 avg rating — 81 ratings
score: 56,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 49 |
|
The Complete Book of Dog Breeding
by
3.91 avg rating — 86 ratings
score: 55,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 50 |
|
The Drinking Water Book: How to Eliminate Harmful Toxins from Your Water
by
3.91 avg rating — 33 ratings
score: 54,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 51 |
|
Dental Herbalism: Natural Therapies for the Mouth
by
4.37 avg rating — 49 ratings
score: 53,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 52 |
|
Demin/Remin in Preventive Dentistry: Demineralization By Foods, Acids, And Bacteria, And How To Counter Using Remineralization
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating
score: 52,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 53 |
|
The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling
by
3.91 avg rating — 171 ratings
score: 51,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 54 |
|
The Passive Solar Energy Book: A Complete Guide to Passive Solar Home, Greenhouse and Building Design
by
4.32 avg rating — 60 ratings
score: 50,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 55 |
|
Passive Solar House: The Complete Guide to Heating and Cooling Your Home
by
3.55 avg rating — 86 ratings
score: 49,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 56 |
|
Off The Grid Homes: Case Studies for Sunstainable Living
by
3.41 avg rating — 69 ratings
score: 48,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 57 |
|
Living off the Grid
by
3.33 avg rating — 242 ratings
score: 47,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 58 |
|
Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation
by
Deborah Madison (Foreword)
4.07 avg rating — 1,233 ratings
score: 46,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 59 |
|
Infectious Disease: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.89 avg rating — 145 ratings
score: 45,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 60 |
|
Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.87 avg rating — 1,902 ratings
score: 44,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 61 |
|
Logic: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.64 avg rating — 1,754 ratings
score: 43,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 62 |
|
Viruses: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.93 avg rating — 779 ratings
score: 42,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 63 |
|
Cancer: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.51 avg rating — 335 ratings
score: 41,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 64 |
|
Madness: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.58 avg rating — 260 ratings
score: 40,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 65 |
|
Psychiatry: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.66 avg rating — 309 ratings
score: 39,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 66 |
|
Diplomacy: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.14 avg rating — 237 ratings
score: 38,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 67 |
|
Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.80 avg rating — 1,135 ratings
score: 37,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 68 |
|
Innovation: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.29 avg rating — 187 ratings
score: 36,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 69 |
|
Epidemiology: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.37 avg rating — 345 ratings
score: 35,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 70 |
|
Drugs: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.74 avg rating — 246 ratings
score: 34,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 71 |
|
The Elements: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.85 avg rating — 313 ratings
score: 33,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 72 |
|
Molecules: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.67 avg rating — 168 ratings
score: 32,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 73 |
|
Engineering: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.35 avg rating — 243 ratings
score: 31,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 74 |
|
The Cell: A Very Short Introduction
by
4.01 avg rating — 245 ratings
score: 30,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 75 |
|
Nutrition: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.65 avg rating — 179 ratings
score: 29,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 76 |
|
Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.83 avg rating — 453 ratings
score: 28,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 77 |
|
Bacteria: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.75 avg rating — 173 ratings
score: 27,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 78 |
|
Anaesthesia: A Very Short Introduction
by
4.06 avg rating — 93 ratings
score: 26,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 79 |
|
Plague: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.61 avg rating — 227 ratings
score: 25,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 80 |
|
Genes: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.81 avg rating — 186 ratings
score: 24,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 81 |
|
Psychotherapy: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.76 avg rating — 156 ratings
score: 23,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 82 |
|
Scientific Revolution: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.86 avg rating — 378 ratings
score: 22,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 83 |
|
The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.75 avg rating — 786 ratings
score: 21,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 84 |
|
HIV/AIDS: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.58 avg rating — 184 ratings
score: 20,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 85 |
|
Algebra: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.64 avg rating — 78 ratings
score: 19,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 86 |
|
Forensic Science: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.43 avg rating — 249 ratings
score: 18,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 87 |
|
Microbiology: A Very Short Introduction
by
Nicholas P. Money (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 104 ratings
score: 17,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 88 |
|
The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.60 avg rating — 339 ratings
score: 16,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 89 |
|
Cognitive Neuroscience: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.72 avg rating — 310 ratings
score: 15,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 90 |
|
Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.85 avg rating — 209 ratings
score: 14,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 91 |
|
Hormones: A Very Short Introduction
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 83 ratings
score: 13,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 92 |
|
Agriculture: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.92 avg rating — 120 ratings
score: 12,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 93 |
|
Water: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.73 avg rating — 52 ratings
score: 11,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 94 |
|
Pandemics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.87 avg rating — 361 ratings
score: 10,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 95 |
|
The Computer: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.24 avg rating — 83 ratings
score: 9,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 96 |
|
Genomics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.68 avg rating — 161 ratings
score: 8,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 97 |
|
Blood: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.91 avg rating — 64 ratings
score: 7,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 98 |
|
Human Anatomy: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.30 avg rating — 88 ratings
score: 6,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 99 |
|
The History of Life: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.85 avg rating — 330 ratings
score: 5,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 100 |
|
The History of Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.41 avg rating — 403 ratings
score: 4,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
Tags:
agriculture, apocalypse, apocalyptic, architecture, arts, civilization, culture, development, economics, end-of-the-world, engineering, humanities, industrial, industry, invention, manufacturing, mathematics, medicine, post, rebuilding, science, society, space-age, stone-age, technology, teotwawki
People Who Voted On This List (4)
Related News
The temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter, and the fall book season is nearly upon us. (If you’re reading from the southern...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
