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Ask HN: Hard copy books to keep for the apocalypse

30 pointsby tonteldoosover 7 years ago
Good day HN,<p>I was curious - what books (and other similar items) would you keep hardcover copies of, for the when the zombiecalypse&#x2F;apocalypse&#x2F;skynet happens, and digital access ceases to be possible?<p>I&#x27;m wondering about both practical types and names of books (survival guides being an obvious one), but also sentimental and historical texts (bibles, encyclopedias, diaries, etc).<p>Assume you have room to keep whatever you need (within reason), and that we don&#x27;t have a &#x27;must fit in a backpack&#x27; restriction :)

9 comments

tbihlover 7 years ago
It doesn&#x27;t exactly fit the question, but you should check out survivor library. It&#x27;s definitely run by people who take this apocalypse idea pretty seriously. Most of the things I&#x27;ve seen are old books describing pre-industrial techniques.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.survivorlibrary.com&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.survivorlibrary.com&#x2F;</a><p>One time I found a book about bread baking from the 1840s. There was a multiple page rant about how you could discern good Christian character in a housewife by the bread she made, among other hilarious things.
OedipusRexover 7 years ago
* Bushcraft 101 [1]<p>* Be Expert With Map and Compass [2]<p>* Lots of notebooks with pens<p>* An Almanac<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Bushcraft-101-Field-Wilderness-Survival&#x2F;dp&#x2F;1440579776&#x2F;ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503580643&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=bushcraft" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Bushcraft-101-Field-Wilderness-Surviv...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Expert-Map-Compass-Bjorn-Kjellstrom&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0470407654&#x2F;ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503580718&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=orienteering+book" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Expert-Map-Compass-Bjorn-Kjellstrom&#x2F;d...</a>
dasmothover 7 years ago
The Long Now foundation did something along these lines a few years back[1].<p>I&#x27;d probably go for a bit of 60s SF for my &quot;inspirational&quot; choices.<p>Have a soft spot for John Seymour&#x27;s &quot;Practical Self Sufficiency&quot; too.<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.longnow.org&#x2F;02014&#x2F;02&#x2F;06&#x2F;manual-for-civilization-begins&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.longnow.org&#x2F;02014&#x2F;02&#x2F;06&#x2F;manual-for-civilization-...</a>
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DanBCover 7 years ago
<i>Self Sufficiency</i> by John Seymour.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.co.uk&#x2F;New-Complete-Book-Self-Sufficiency&#x2F;dp&#x2F;1405345101&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.co.uk&#x2F;New-Complete-Book-Self-Sufficiency&#x2F;...</a>
cdiamandover 7 years ago
I think Machiavelli&#x27;s writings might prove useful. Particularly if you feel ambitions to lead or rebuild after something like that happened.
ultrablueover 7 years ago
I would certainly grab as many versions of spiritual books as I could. For example, the Bible, Koran, Vedas, Pali Canon, etc.
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jpindarover 7 years ago
Maps. I like the kind with ring bindings that open flat.<p>Shop manual for any vehicles or other equipment you&#x27;re likely to be working on.
fiftyacornover 7 years ago
In the UK - plenty Ray Mears books. In Aus Id get Les Hiddins books
JoeC3over 7 years ago
Oooh. Great question.<p>I&#x27;d vote for Meditations by Marcus Aurelius