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 Read this before you buy Jul 28, 2010
As part of my investigation into disaster preparedness, I read four books. I'd like to compare them here to help other customers.
The four books can be divided into two groups: practical guides, and the world's gonna end guides.
The first two books are related to what I'd call likely events - hurricanes, flu pandemics, earthquakes, blackouts, food shortages, water contamination, etc. The two that I read are:
- Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family by Arthur Bradley
- Crisis Preparedness Handbook by Jack Spigareli
These two books are similar in their scope. Neither preaches doomsday preparations. Spigarelli's book focuses much more on food storage, and Bradley's has a more well rounded handling of subjects and targets family preparation. Comparing the two, I found Bradley's book to be more recent, easier to read, and more comprehensive. The quality of the publication is also better (numerous clear tables, examples, figures, conclusions, etc.). Spigarelli's book has been around for almost a decade and is highly regarded, but feels a bit dated (text looks almost like it was generated on a typewriter, figures are small, tables are not very clear). Not a bad book, just dated, and primarily focused on food storage. Bradley's book also has some specific advice for families with children, elderly parents, those with handicaps, and pets (Redsox is near and dear to my heart).
The second set of books are targeted to more toward drastic, world-changing events - nuclear world war, asteroid hitting the planet, collapse of all government, etc. They are:
- How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times by James Rawles
- When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin
Again, these two books are also similar. Both target extreme preparation - massive food and water stockpiles, getting off the electrical grid, living in bunkers, stocking weapons and bartering supplies, etc. Of the two, I found Rawles' book to be better written. Both are recent publications, and I suppose either would do fine. Lundin's does have a color insert in the middle that is nice.
There is some significant overlap between the two types of books, but they are definitely different in their focus. My advice is before buying a book, first decide whether you want to prepare for likely or world-ending events. For me personally, I think Practical Handbook for the Family was the most useful. If you want to prepare for both ends of the spectrum, purchase Bradley's book and Rawles' book. Can't go wrong with that.
Hope this helps!
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Only for "End of the World" scenarios Jan 31, 2010
The book is well written, but clearly targeted at rural people who expect a nuclear war or devastating pandemic to bring all modern technology to a halt. If you live in the Bay Area and want to prepare for an earthquake this is not the book for you.
The first two thirds of the book are an exhaustive discussion of food storage theory, plans, examples, methods and equipment. He gives good examples of not just what to store, but why certain foods/plans are better than others. Apparently, people who start eating radically different diets have ended up in the hospital from abdominal pain and diarrhea--not the situation you want when the lights go out. He recommends a year's worth of stored food.
The last 100 pages are quick 3-5 page chapters on broad topics like "Medical And Dental," "Sanitation," and "Transportation." These are too broad to be of practical use during a real emergency. For example, in the "Transportation" chapter he informs the reader that "Skis and snowshoes can be effective winter transportation." But there's no discussion of how to improvise or use snowshoes. Most readers probably know that skis and snowshoes are useful in winter, but you need more detail when you find yourself snowbound.
Regarding urban living he has nothing to offer. After an earthquake, hurricane or terrorist attack you just need to know how to remain safe and warm for a few days (up to a week) until help arrives, not how to mill wheat. But for people who live in a city where establishing livestock, gardens and hundred pound stockpiles is not practical his only advice is "get out while you still have time."
If you want a thorough plan for surviving indefinitely after a complete breakdown of society or you wish to design a large, long lasting food stockpile this book will be helpful to you.
If you are looking for a resource to get ready for "The Big One" or "Katrina II" keep looking.
7 of 10 found the following review helpful:
 Good overview Dec 08, 2009
This book is a good overview on all kinds of things you need to do to prepare for an extended emergency like a 2 year power outage resulting from an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a single nuke detonated just a few miles above the center of the country. I had a visit with a congressman a couple weeks ago who said one nuke detonated a few miles over Nebraska would knock out 70-100% of the power in the US. When he asked his expert what that meant, the expert said, "80% of the people in the country would die." Think about that. No power means no gas since it takes power to pump gas. No gas, no food in stores, no medicine, no hospitals, no heat or air conditioning, no water, no cars, no trains, no digging coal, no industry... In short, one day we are living normally, the next day we are living in the 1850's, but without the knowledge or tools that they had. Prepare now while you can. You will need shelter, water, food, and personal protection/hunting tools. Get the book, tools, and training now before it's too late. There are already several countries that have the ability and desire to take us all the way down, North Korea, Iran, even China as soon as they find out that we'll never be able to pay back our debt to them. There are also people willing and able to blow themselves up to kill a few infidels. Imagine the motivation they'd have if someone gave them a nuke and told them the unimaginable reward they would be given if they could destroy the entire country or even continent. The would only need a boat off our coast and one or more nukes on even pretty crude rockets. It's all on the black market and with just a few million dollars, we'd be back to cowboy days for the forseeable future. I hope you like westerns.
7 of 48 found the following review helpful:
 Actually Believes The Official Story of 911 Nov 24, 2009
If someone is going to write a book about Crisis Preparedness they should at least do their homework. Fear mongering about terrorism and the U.S. Government Approved boogiemen is quite lame. More people die each year from peanut allergies than from acts of terrorism. If your going to write a book about getting prepared it should be about the Police State we now live in. This guy actually thinks the Patriot Act is a good thing. How some people get published is beyond me.
1 of 13 found the following review helpful:
not overly informative Sep 07, 2009
Has very few, if any, "original" ideas. Decent overview, but no real revelations at all.
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