We’ve all had the conversation- If you were stranded on a desert island, which books would you take? And oftentimes we talk about books that are our favorites. But I suggest that if you are ever on that proverbial desert island, you take some books the will actually do you some good.

  1. “Ultimate Guide to Surviving Wilderness Living: Surviving with Nothing but Your Bare Hands and What You Find in the Woods” by John McPherson and Geri McPherson. This book is all about living off the land and nothing but the land. Building shelter is a prime focus of this book. And shelter is one of the three essentials: food, clothes and shelter. This book also handles the food part. As far as the clothes go... you're on a deserted island. Do you really need them?

2. “U.S. Military Pocket Survival Guide: Army, Marin Corps, Navy, and Air Force” by Matt Larson. Learn how to build fires, cook food, discern which plants are edible and how to gather them, create shelter, find and collect fresh water as well as many other things, in this book that takes pages right out of official U.S military survival handbooks. The book also covers how to survive in enemy territory, which might come in handy if you find yourself in a “Lord of the Flies” situation.

3. “The Amazing Results of positive thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale “.  This book is all about using positive thinking to promote good health (and being stranded on a desert island is pretty unhealthy), develop inner strength, erase self-doubt, and survive during trying times.

4. “The Art of Sandcastling” by Ted Siebert. This book takes an artistic approach to sandcastles.  It’s filled with some amazing pictures of sand creations. You’re on a desert island, you don’t have much but you’ll have plenty of sand. Might as well build some sandcastles.