7 Cabin and Off-Grid Living Books

Fall is the time to think about cozy forest retreats and warm cabins. Even if you don’t have a chance to visit one, there is always an option to cuddle up with a great book and get inspired for your next getaway. We made a selection of 7 Cabin and Off-Grid Living Books you should check out.

1 – Cabin Porn

Inspirational coffee table book you must have.

You’ve probably heard about Cabin Porn until now. In fact, before publishing the book, Cabin Porn was a Tumblr page dedicated to the cozy living and rural escape. It all started when a group of friends sought inspiration for construction projects for their 55-acre-forest in upstate New York. It soon got many followers and voila, the book was published. In it, you’ll find idyllic interiors and breathtaking living arrangements. Photographs are combined with stories and advice on how to set up your quiet place.

BUY | $24.59

Read more and see more images from this book here.

2 – Cabins

This TASCHEN title is dedicated to the life in the woods.

In Cabins by Philip Jodidio explores the ways of creative thinking in limited living conditions. Some of the inspiration came from the famous Thoreau’s Walden, or, Life in the Woods (1854) release where the author spent two years, two months, and two days living in a forest cabin. Jodidio, however, focuses on modern architectural cabin solutions as well, exploring both contemporary and rustic settings. In the book, you’ll see many great examples from some of the most innovative architects and go back to the basic principles of getting in touch with nature.

BUY | $46.43

Read and see more about Cabins here.

3 – Rock the Shack: The Architecture of Cabins, Cocoons and Hide-Outs

A book full of unique building situations for an inspiring shacky escape.

It’s interesting to learn that for the first time in human history, more people live in cities than in the countryside. Modern man often finds challenges in the busy lifestyle, seeking a quiet place of relaxation and getting back to the basics. This is exactly the idea behind Rock the Shack, a book that features unique geographic locations and life in nature. It covers a variety of architectural solutions- cabins, cottages, second homes, tree houses, transformations, shelters, and cocoons. Each project is illustrated with a few images. 

BUY | $38.54

Also interesting: 11 Cozy Cabins For The Perfect Forest Getaway

4 – Hide and Seek: The Architecture of Cabins and Hideouts

Hide and Seek respects nature and presents the mixture of traditional, rustic architecture and modern living.

Continuing the inspiration form Rock The Shack, authors Sofia Borges and Sven Ehmann teamed up with Robert Klanten for a new book called Hide and Seek. It is organized by landscape types and like the last one, it covers a variety of buildings. The 256 pages will take you all over the world – from the North American continent to Sweden, Switzerland, and Australia.

BUY | $40.24

Read more about Hide and Seek here.

5 – Retreat: The Modern House in Nature

When modern meets the wilderness.

Speaking of retreats, we can’t miss out on this Ron Broadhurst book that takes us across the globe for an exploration of off-grid living. The entire book is dedicated to modern building techniques that proved contemporary architecture can go along with natural surroundings. The houses are built in remote locations and found in all corners of the world- from Pacific Northwest to the forests of Japan.

BUY | $40.65

6 – Prefabulous Small Houses

The book that combines the architecture of prefabricated and tiny houses.

Here at jebiga, we featured a lot of prefabricated houses as well as tiny houses. This book combines the two, resulting in an efficient and sustainable way of life. It is written by best-selling author Sheri Koone who included 32 fabulous homes illustrated by 250 photographs and floorplans. All the houses are located in North America, have 325 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft and are suitable for different climates. They usually use locally sourced materials, are highly energy efficient and preserve the land where they stand.

BUY | $20.92

Also interesting: 21 Tiny Houses | Cabin Living At Its Best

7 – Small Eco Houses: Living Green in Style

Living green in style.

The last book today is dedicated to stylish and small living spaces that are environmentally friendly. You will find more than 50 homes- from cozy cabins and barns to lofts. They are also made for every budget – some are prefabricated, some luxurious, some custom built houses. Each is chosen for a reason- either it’s because of the choice in the materials, design or energy consumption.

BUY | $21.38