As more people embrace the freedom and independence of off-grid living, there’s an increasing interest in learning from those who have successfully made the leap. Whether you’re in the planning stages, actively building an off-grid home, or already living in one, books can be some of the most valuable tools for building the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to thrive. This isn’t just about gaining practical know-how on solar energy, permaculture, or self-sufficiency. It’s also about immersing yourself in the experiences and insights of seasoned off-grid enthusiasts who have done it all before.
Reading off-grid books can help you avoid common pitfalls, explore diverse approaches, and ultimately inspire you to shape a self-sufficient lifestyle that aligns with your personal values and circumstances. Unlike online articles or quick guides, books offer a deeper depth of knowledge. And in an off-grid lifestyle where reliable internet can sometimes be a luxury, a trusted library of printed books ensures you have information at your fingertips, whenever you need it.
Delve into some of the best off-grid books for those interested in self-sufficiency, homesteading, renewable energy, and nomadic life on the road or water. This list offers insights for anyone considering a life off-grid, whether on land or sea. And while books are an excellent resource, remember that, especially on topics affecting health or safety, it’s always wise to cross-reference multiple sources to develop a well-rounded understanding.
Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency Books
Embarking on a journey toward self-sufficiency and homesteading requires both practical skills and a deep commitment to sustainable living. If you’re planning to create your own homestead or smallholding it’s important to develop a good foundational knowledge of growing your own food, managing resources, and living independently.
The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency – John Seymour
Often regarded as the cornerstone of off-grid living literature, Seymour’s book covers the full spectrum of self-sufficiency. It includes not only growing crops, but also topics such as raising animals and making household essentials. With a focus on holistic practices and time-tested techniques, this book serves as a go-to guide for anyone beginning their journey into sustainable homesteading.
The Encyclopedia of Country Living – Carla Emery
A homesteading classic, Emery’s comprehensive guide delves into nearly every aspect of country life. From animal husbandry and gardening to home cooking and preservation, it’s a great go-to reference book for those living or aspiring to live off-grid and on the land. The accessible style and wealth of practical advice make it a particularly well-rounded choice for rural homesteaders.
The Backyard Homesteader – Carleen Madigan
A practical guide for beginners, Madigan’s book introduces fundamental homesteading skills that can be applied even in small spaces. It breaks down essential skills in gardening, animal care, and food preservation, making it a great resource for those starting out with limited land or experience and looking to expand their homesteading knowledge.
How We Went Off-Grid – Matthew and Charis Watkinson
The Watkinsons share the challenges and triumphs they encountered in their journey toward setting up their off-grid home in the UK. Their story, filled with practical advice and emotional insights, provides a candid look at the realities and legalities of off-grid life. They offer valuable lessons for anyone considering a similar path.
Books on Sustainable Agriculture & Permaculture
For off-grid enthusiasts, sustainable agriculture and permaculture represent essential methods of growing food that work with, rather than against, natural ecosystems. Whether you’re looking to establish a garden in a small space or design a large, regenerative agricultural setup, these off-grid books provide lots of guidance on growing food sustainably and building resilient agricultural systems. Develop the knowledge needed to create a food-secure and environmentally conscious off-grid lifestyle, with principles that can adapt to different climates, spaces, and personal goals.
Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual – Bill Mollison
Widely considered a cornerstone text on permaculture, Mollison’s comprehensive manual covers the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. With insights into regenerative growing systems, soil health, and natural building techniques, this book serves as a thorough resource for anyone interested in designing a self-sustaining off-grid landscape. The complete manual is quite costly, but the Introduction To Permaculture is a bit more accessible.
Hemenway’s accessible approach to permaculture brings sustainability to smaller spaces, focusing on edible landscaping, water conservation, and fostering biodiversity. This book is ideal for off-grid landowners and gardeners who want to transform small areas into thriving, productive ecosystems that support both people and wildlife.
RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch – Lucy Chamberlain
Designed for beginner to intermediate gardeners, Chamberlain’s guide offers a clear and practical approach to planning, planting, and maintaining a productive vegetable garden. With advice tailored to each season, it’s an invaluable book for off-grid gardeners looking to cultivate a year-round food supply in the UK climate.
Books about Living Off-Grid in a Boat
Choosing to live off-grid on a boat offers an adventurous blend of self-sufficiency and mobility, allowing you to explore waterways or open seas while maintaining an independent lifestyle. This unique way of life requires specific knowledge and skills, from boat maintenance to navigation. The following books offer practical guidance, essential safety tips, and inspiration for anyone considering an off-grid life on the water.
In this personal and detailed exploration, Batty shares his experiences and insights into life on a narrowboat. Covering day-to-day maintenance, canal culture, and the essentials of living on the waterways, it’s an invaluable read for anyone drawn to off-grid life afloat on UK canals.
The Narrowboat Guide – Tony Jones
Jones’ guide serves as a comprehensive manual for navigating and maintaining a narrowboat. Covering everything from canal networks, choosing the right boat and mechanical upkeep of a narrowboat, it’s a great resource for readers seeking practical advice on establishing an off-grid life on water.
Reeds Skipper’s Handbook – Malcolm Pearson
A trusted manual for sailors, Pearson’s book offers critical knowledge on navigation and seamanship. Topics include safety procedures and techniques essential for sustainable boat-life. Ideal for those considering an off-grid life at sea, this book helps build confidence in navigating diverse waters.
The Sailing Bible – Jeremy Evans, Pat Manley, Barrie Smith
Designed for sailors at all levels, this comprehensive guide covers a wide range of sailing essentials, including navigation, maintenance, and safety. Whether you’re a novice or experienced sailor, it’s a valuable reference for achieving self-sufficiency and security on the water.
Amazing Sailing Stories – Dick Durham
Durham’s compilation of real-life sailing adventures captures the excitement and challenges of life at sea. This collection not only entertains but also highlights the realities of long-term sailing. It’s an inspiring companion for anyone contemplating off-grid living on a boat.
Simple Boat Maintenance – Pat Manley
Focused on practical upkeep, Manley’s guide walks readers through essential boat maintenance tasks, from engine checks to hull care. For those planning an off-grid life on the water, this book is a useful tool to ensure smooth sailing and preparedness for self-sufficient boating.
Vehicle-Based Living & Overlanding Books
For those feeling the call of the open road, vehicle-based living offers an alternative form of off-grid lifestyle. Whether you’re converting a van or building an overland camper, these books provide tips, inspiration, and step-by-step guidance to help you create an off-grid home on wheels. These guides offer the knowledge and inspiration to make the most of life on the road, supporting the technical and lifestyle aspects of off-grid, vehicle-based living.
Build Your Own Overland Camper Manual – Steve Wigglesworth
Wigglesworth’s manual is a practical resource for anyone looking to transform a standard vehicle into a fully functional off-grid camper. With detailed instructions and illustrations, it covers everything from layout planning to wiring and insulation, making it an invaluable guide for DIY enthusiasts.
Building the Beast: How (Not) to Build an Overland Camper – Jacqueline Lambert
In this humorous yet insightful book, Lambert shares lessons learned from her own vehicle conversion journey. With a mix of humour and practical advice, she helps readers avoid common pitfalls in the camper-building process, making this a useful (and entertaining) read for anyone embarking on an overland camper project.
How to Live in a Van and Travel – Mike Hudson
Hudson’s guide is a staple for aspiring van lifers, covering everything from vehicle conversion basics to the essentials of mobile-living. With a focus on practical advice and freedom on the road, this book provides readers with the tools to begin a van-based off-grid lifestyle.
Hit the Road: Vans, Nomads and Roadside Adventures – Gestalten
This visually captivating book showcases the diverse world of van-living, exploring the inspiring stories of those embracing a nomadic lifestyle. With beautiful photography and stories from around the globe, it’s a perfect choice for those looking to explore the aesthetic and adventurous side of vehicle-based off-grid living.
Books for Building & Sustainable Housing
For those committed to creating eco-friendly and resource-efficient off-grid homes, these books provide a wealth of knowledge on building with natural materials, optimising energy use, and living sustainably. These books each offer a unique perspective on sustainable building. They empower readers to create homes that support self-sufficiency, resource conservation, and a lighter environmental impact.
The Natural Building Companion – Jacob Deva Racusin
Racusin’s guide delves into eco-friendly construction methods, from using natural materials like straw and clay to integrating passive solar design. Perfect for those wanting to reduce their environmental footprint, this book is a comprehensive resource on creating sustainable, off-grid housing that also blends into its surroundings.
The Tiny House Design and Construction Guide – Dan Louche
With the growing interest in tiny homes, Louche’s guide offers a detailed look at designing and constructing small, efficient spaces. Emphasising energy efficiency and minimalist living, this book is an ideal companion for readers seeking to build a low-impact, off-grid lifestyle within a smaller footprint.
The Barefoot Architect – Johan Van Lengen
Van Lengen’s manual is a staple for sustainable builders, especially in remote areas. Covering eco-friendly construction techniques, water and waste management, and natural cooling methods, it provides practical knowledge for those wanting to build off-grid while minimising resource use and environmental impact.
How to Live Off-Grid – Nick Rosen
Rosen’s book explores a range of off-grid setups, drawing from real-life stories of off-grid homeowners across the globe. Blending practical information with insights from his travels, this book serves as both a practical guide and a source of inspiration. It helps readers envision alternative lifestyles and gain the confidence to build a home off the grid.
Essential Skills Books for Off-Grid Life
Living off-grid successfully often depends on mastering a diverse set of practical skills, from generating renewable energy to managing waste and preserving food. These books offer essential insights into the skills needed when transitioning to an off-grid lifestyle. Discover approachable guides on everything from renewable energy systems to traditional homesteading practices.
The Renewable Energy Handbook – William H. Kemp
Kemp’s comprehensive guide to renewable energy covers everything from solar and wind to micro-hydro power systems. This makes it an ideal starting point for those looking to integrate renewable energy into their off-grid setup. This book offers both technical insights and step-by-step guidance for building a reliable, off-grid power system.
The Water-Wise Home – Laura Allen
Focused on sustainable water management, Allen’s guide explores greywater systems, rainwater harvesting, and efficient water use. Essential for off-grid homes, it provides practical tips to create a self-sufficient water system that conserves resources while supporting everyday needs.
Off-Grid Solar Power Simplified – Nick Seghers
Seghers’ book is an accessible introduction to solar power for beginners. With straightforward advice and practical tips, it breaks down the essentials of setting up a solar energy system. It’s an invaluable book for those planning to go off-grid with solar power.
The Humanure Handbook – Joseph Jenkins
Jenkins provides a detailed guide to composting toilets as an eco-friendly off-grid solution for waste management. This book introduces sustainable sanitation practices. It helps readers reduce water use and manage waste effectively, making it ideal for off-grid living.
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills – Abigail R. Gehring
Gehring’s classic guide covers a range of homesteading skills. Not only does it include growing food, but also preserving produce, basic carpentry and crafts. Perfect for anyone aiming to develop a self-sufficient lifestyle, this book offers a rounded introduction to practical skills that support independent, off-grid living.
Books about Surviving Off-Grid
The ability to thrive off-grid often hinges on developing essential survival skills and a solid understanding of the natural environment. From safely foraging for wild edibles to mastering the art of bushcraft, these resources offer valuable knowledge for building resilience and self-reliance in the wilderness. Whether you’re living in a remote area or simply seeking to expand your survival skills, these books provide guidance on how to stay safe, nourished, and prepared for a variety of off-grid scenarios.
The Forager’s Calendar – John Wright
Wright’s guide to seasonal foraging is an invaluable resource for supplementing your diet with wild plants, fungi, and more. Designed for the UK’s ecosystem, this book offers in-depth advice on safe foraging practices. It also details the nutritional and culinary uses of various finds throughout the year. It’s ideal for those seeking to supplement their diet with wild-foraged ingredients.
Bushcraft 101 – Dave Canterbury
For anyone interested in the skills required to survive in the wilderness, Canterbury’s Bushcraft 101 covers the fundamentals of bushcraft. It includes fire-starting and shelter-building, as well as other wilderness survival techniques. This guide is especially useful for those off-gridders who want to develop strong self-reliance and outdoor survival skills.
First Aid Manual, 11th Edition – Endorsed by the British Red Cross
A reliable and comprehensive guide, this first aid manual provides step-by-step instructions on handling common medical emergencies. Endorsed by the British Red Cross, topics include CPR, treating injuries, and managing health incidents that could arise in an off-grid setting. Learning the basics offers peace of mind and preparedness for all situations.
Conclusion
The journey to off-grid living is well supported. There are books offering everything from permaculture insights to hands-on guides for renewable energy, sustainable farming, and beyond. Resources can be found at libraries, online bookstores, and local off-grid communities. They provide a wealth of information to deepen your understanding and enhance your skills. For technical areas like electrical systems, sanitation, and construction – especially those affecting health and safety – seek out multiple perspectives and experienced professionals alongside your reading. Books serve as valuable starting points, but hands-on experience and knowledgeable guidance will be crucial for creating a safe, resilient, and truly sustainable off-grid lifestyle.
To find out more about off-grid living return to our Reading Room.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means we receive a commission if you decide to purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. We will only recommend products that we use and trust. The majority of links are for Amazon, most books are available elsewhere but Amazon provides reviews and helpful descriptions.