Surviving the Wild by Joshua Enyart — Hardcover Survival Book

A Wilderness Survival Book Written by Someone Who Has Actually Done It

Most wilderness survival books are written by people who have read a lot of other wilderness survival books. Surviving the Wild is not that book. It was written by Joshua Enyart — a former Special Forces Green Beret, Ranger-qualified soldier, and full-time survival instructor — as a comprehensive field manual for anyone who wants to develop genuine wilderness survival competency, not just familiarity with the theory.

At 430 pages and over 80,000 words with full-color images throughout, this is the most complete single-volume wilderness survival reference Joshua has produced — and substantially more comprehensive than most survival books on the market, the majority of which top out around 40,000 words. Many GB2 course students use it as their primary study reference before and after attending live training. It holds its own as a standalone resource for anyone who can't make it to a live course.

What's Inside

The 8 Survival Priorities — In Order

Survival success depends on doing the right things in the right order. This book is structured around the same 8 Survival Priorities framework Joshua teaches in the field: positive mental attitude, first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, food, and navigation. Each priority gets the depth it deserves — not a summary chapter, but a full treatment of the skills, techniques, and decision-making required to execute under pressure.

Firecraft

The firecraft section covers the full spectrum of fire-starting methods, tinder selection, fire lay design, and fuel management across a range of environmental conditions. The emphasis is on sequencing and decision-making — understanding what changes when conditions are wet, cold, or both, and how to adapt accordingly. Most fire failures are sequencing failures, not technique failures. This section addresses both.

Shelter Building

Natural debris shelters, tarp configurations, emergency shelters from minimal materials — this section teaches you to assess your environment and build protection against the elements using what's available. Includes regional variations for different terrain and climate types.

Land Navigation

Map reading, compass work, terrain association, and route planning — covered with the same depth Joshua brings to the 4-Day Master Navigator Course. This section alone is worth the book for anyone serious about backcountry navigation.

Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants

Identification, harvesting, and preparation of wild edibles — with the honest caveat that plant identification requires practice, not just pictures. This section teaches identification methodology alongside specific plant profiles so you develop a transferable skill rather than a memorized list.

Wilderness First Aid Essentials

Patient assessment, trauma management, environmental emergencies, and improvised treatment when evacuation isn't immediate. Aligned with wilderness medicine principles Joshua integrates across all GB2 training programs.

Knots, Tools, and Bushcraft Skills

The practical manual skills that underpin everything else — cordage use, cutting tools, essential knots, and their applications across shelter, trapping, and gear repair scenarios.

Preparedness and Emergency Planning

The bridge between wilderness survival and everyday preparedness — threat assessment, planning frameworks, and the mental models that allow trained people to respond effectively under stress.

Who This Book Is For

This book is built for GB2 course students who want a solid study reference before and after live training, and for self-reliant outdoorsmen who want a comprehensive resource rather than a collection of tips. It works for preppers and preparedness-minded civilians building a serious survival library, military and first responder personnel looking for a civilian-accessible curriculum grounded in operational doctrine, and anyone early in their skills journey who wants one resource that covers the complete picture.

Why This Book Stands Apart

There are hundreds of survival books. The ones worth owning share a common trait: they're written by people whose lives have depended on the skills they're teaching. Joshua's SF career, Ranger training, and decade-plus of professional instruction are embedded in every chapter — not as biography, but as the practical judgment that shapes which techniques make the cut and how they're taught.

At 430 pages and over 80,000 words, Surviving the Wild is in a different weight class than most survival references. Most books in this category are illustrated summaries — 200 pages or fewer, heavy on diagrams, light on depth. This book goes further. The full-color hardcover format means the topo map illustrations, plant identification photos, fire lay diagrams, and knot sequences are presented with the clarity the material requires.

If you want to explore the skills curriculum before committing to a live course, the Wilderness Survival PDF Series covers the same subject matter in downloadable form. And if you want to see the GB2 System of Training applied in the field before you buy anything, the free content on the GB2 Network is a good place to start.

Book Specifications

Format: Hardcover · Full-color images and graphics throughout
Pages: 430 · Word count: 80,000+
Author: Joshua Enyart — Gray Bearded Green Beret
Topics covered: Survival Priorities · Firecraft · Shelter · Navigation · Wild Edibles · Wilderness First Aid · Knots and Tools · Emergency Preparedness