These primitive technology books and bushcraft books contain detailed information on various skills and techniques that you might also find in a survival book, but these books cover those topics in depth.
Bushcraft Books
Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival
by Mors Kochanski
I like that this book is different and shows advanced alternatives like making a bow drill fire with two sticks as a hearth. I also liked its sections on shelters and fires warm enough for Canadian winters. It is not a survival book because it fails to establish priorities and cover self rescue, navigation etc. It is a compilation of bushcraft skills and is geared towards wilderness living more than wilderness survival.
Thrive: Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide by Juan Pablo Quiñonez
This book has a long-term focus and is very thorough and comprehensive. The diagrams are clear and you’ll find many things that other books don’t cover
by Horace Kephart
The classic camp craft book from 1923. This book might be dated but you can find interesting and very different approaches to modern bushcraft and camping. Free eBook
by Ernest Thompson Seton
A classic 1912 book from the founder of the Boy Scouts of America. It’s good to have old books in your collection because they have nuggets of info that you can’t find elsewhere. The first part of the book is mostly about the boy scouts and the second part is about bushcraft. I appreciated learning how to mark a trail in an inconspicuous way and other signalling skills. Free eBook
by Daniel Beard
Another classic with lots of bushcraft and campcraft info. You’ll find advice on having a good campfire for cooking, and tips on food preservation. Free eBook
Primitive Technology Books
by Michael Pewtherer
This book is more geared towards bushcraft than wilderness survival in my opinion. It has good introductory info on primitive skills. I feel it tries to focus on both wilderness survival and buschraft but does none very well. I still think is worth to have; it is a primitive approach to wilderness survival.
Primitive Skills and Crafts: An Outdoorsman’s Guide to Shelters, Tools, Weapons, Tracking
by Richard and Linda Jamison
Very similar to the McPherson’s book but it’s not as good. It does include lots of info and I really liked the historical and philosophical perspectives on primitive technology.
The Book of Indian Crafts and Indian Lore: The Perfect Guide to Creating Your Own Indian-Style Artifacts by Julian Salomon
I like this book because it shows drawings of many different artifacts and how they were made. It is not very detailed but serves as inspiration for primitive projects.
Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living: Surviving with Nothing But Your Bare Hands and What You Find in the Woods
by John and Geri McPherson
The McPhersons have trained Les Stroud and Cody Lundin in addition to SERE instructors. Their book is excellent and has lots of pictures.
Earth Knack: Stone Age Skills for the 21st Century
by Bart Blankenship, Robin Blankenship
Detailed guide on primitive technology from fire plow to primitive nets.
Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills
by David Wescott
These books are based on articles that have appeared in the Bulletin of Primitive Technology. They are one of the best books out there on primitive technology
Primitive Technology II: Ancestral Skill – From the Society of Primitive Technology
by David Wescott
Participating in Nature: Wilderness Survival and Primitive Living Skills
by Thomas J. Elpel
Thomas Elpel is the director of Outdoor Wilderness Living School in Pony, Montana. His book has a little of everything from Hantavirus to primitive pottery, to tire sandals.
Practicing Primitive: A Handbook of Aboriginal Skills
by Steven Watts
Very similar to the Primitive Technology books. Also based on the bulletin of primitive technology.
The best buschraft and primitive technology books that I recommend are Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski and Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living by John and Geri McPherson.
This excellent book on natural navigation deserves a place on this list, like all bush craft there is a wealth of enjoyment from practicing it’s teachings. The Natural Navigator