The best books about adventure, hiking, and survival

What would you do if your plane crashed in the mountains and you were forced to eat your friends and family to survive. This is an inspiring story of survival and positive mindset. The story, made famous by the film Alive, is told by the man who survived 72 days in the Mountains and managed to rescue his friends. But above all, it is a story of the power of a positive and forgiving mindset. It is a book I will never forget and that has made a lasting impact on me.

Bryson is a master at creating humour within his adventurous books. A Walk in the Woods, is both relatable as well as inspiring as it tells the story of two middle-aged friends who walk the Appalachian Trail through America. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, but they didn’t have to eat each other and lived to tell the tale.

Spoiler alert: as a writer, I was most inspired by how Bryson created a fictitious friend to hike with. His very own alter ego embodying all the bad, lazy, and unfortunate qualities of his own character. What a brilliant creative twist.

All those who love adventure and mountains, as I do, are very aware of the risks. If you slip, you could fall and die. But who pays the price of these risks. It is often those who stay home with the children who pay the price of grief and suffer long-term traumas. Maria Coffey is the widow of an Everest climber and in her book, she interviews many other widows and children of deceased mountaineers and adventurers. It is written with honesty and brings home what the real risks of adventures are. This book is a must-read for everyone who loves the outdoors and adventure. Inspiring and thought-provoking.

How can a man live in isolation for 27 years without anyone knowing his whereabouts? Stranger in the Woods is a fascinating book about raw, creative survival by a man who escapes society. It gives a stunning insight into how you can truly leave no trace while living in the Woods.

I love it when words and photos enhance each other in a book. Martijn Doolaard wrote and photographed his epic solo journey on his bike from Amsterdam, through Europe, through the middle east, and into the far east. It is one of the rare coffee table books that I actually read and love revisiting frequently to look at the beautiful photos.