Posted on 03/07/2011 7:38:19 PM PST by dynachrome
I recently finally read all of Survivalblog (link) author James Wesley, Rawles’ book Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse. I kind of false started on it and never got more than a few pages in around the time our second son was born, and recently I was craving some Winter reading material unrelated to work and found Patriots to be quite riveting. I’ve been struggling greatly finding recreational reading (and if you didn’t notice, time to blog), and this filled a need. It is to preparedness what Stephen Ambrose’s books are to WW2 history: good reads that are as informative but not as devastatingly dull and dry as some of the others. It’s got a good story and every page has seemingly 2 lessons on preparedness, so it’s not someone writing at you, it’s someone sharing a worthwhile story.
Cliffs’ Notes: I’d highly recommend this book not only to people preparing for more uncertain times, but would also recommend it if you have a friend that doesn’t believe that the proverbial stuff could hit the fan- call it economic sci-fi. Even though lots of signs point ominously toward economic doom, if you can get someone into a positive mindset about what to do after a collapse (i.e. there is life after) and even get them semi-prepared, that’s better than nothing.
One great thing about the book is that it highlights the importance of faith and Christian laws in times of trouble. It’s not Bible-thumperish, but makes pretty clear the importance of charity where you can, and some of the hard lines that need to be drawn. Call it harsh realities. If you’re a person seeking guidance and order in a society where laws and traditions are gaining complexity and losing meaning at the same time, or there are no laws, allow me to recommend the Christian faith. In the book, the general practice of the well-prepared folks is to offer charity to travelers on the road once, and make it perfectly clear that nothing will be provided a second time (eliminating the festering seagull issue). I would hope to be so well prepared myself.
The storyline, plot, and characters flowed exceptionally well. They are a parable on preparedness, and there are examples given (gently in my opinion) of less-prepared folks. Some of the side-stories about folks’ escapes could’ve been developed, but you got the point that the S hit the fan.
Other observations were that the book stuck to “Rule 308″ pretty well, with some side adventures into 50 cal and explosives that were fun. The best chapter was “Dan Fong’s War”. There were some losses to the group and the book did a great job informing us of the difference made by taking everyday risks when you’re a few minutes away from a hospital vs when there’s no hospital (excellent point). Barter was demonstrated and how markets can bring a semblance of normalcy was duly noted.
Again, I would highly recommend this book.
The book's author's blog is
http://www.survivalblog.com
I second the recommendation. Lots of good information in the book. In a slightly different vein, I’ll throw in a recommendation for “Unintended Consequences” by John Ross. Nice example of leaderless resistance in that one, and a good exploration of the American gun culture and why it is a good thing.
Hey, I read that. I though the latter bits were a wee bit far-fetched, but overall it was alright.
also read it and liked it. although the strict discipline of the group seemed a little over the top to me, wasnt sure i would have like that.
but a lot of good ideas, like everyone getting exactly the same gear, guns, ammo etc so its interchangeable.
also the importance of having a really good plan in advance.
interesting stuff about how to make a place really safe.
all in all well worth the read.
I don’t really buy the happy ending. My take would be a split country. Some free areas and some under a dictatorship of some sort.
Most of survival is COMMON SENSE.
But the biggest problem Americans have is their belief that it cannot happen here. There are people on this site that think the Saudi government can put down their radicals, once they decide to take power...the Saudi government probably couldn’t control bed bugs, much less these angry animals.
You just have to have some imagination and ask questions, like the following:
What are you going to do for water?
What about transportation?
What about food shortages?
Heating?
Paper Towels?
Currency when the dollar collapses?
etc.
Just keep asking these types of questions, and you’ll eventually get prepared.
A good history of how the gun laws evolved over the years in Mr. Ross’s book, also.
My take is to kick the internal and external Commie Bastards Asses and take it all back. Close DC and move the Federal Government (what is left) to another location.
Lefties are warned, you can run but you will just die tired. hee hee hee!
Ping
It’s a novel, it’s a technical treatise, it’s a how to manual ... all in one. Great book. Highly recommended.
Oh, and the fact that the SHTF because of a financial crisis makes it all the more believable these days ...
I believe Rawles is ex-military, so that would explain the discipline. To be as effective as his group, you’d have to be run as a military unit (minus the bureaucracy of the Army, of course).
prepare bump
Bookmark.
Good read, fun, some of the characters are a bit unbeliveable.. The lady who slices halfway through her own arm with a hatchet and says "Fiddlesticks"...
The two who just kill about 10 people/looters and laugh about it, then "bow their heads to pray..." etc
All and all a great read though, I would also highly recommend it. If you could do HALF the things the "group" did to prepare, heck, a 100th of what they did, you'd be ahead of about 99% of the "sheeple".
The style - cardboard people on a cardboard landscape.
some of the things are outdated past a joke - collect names from a graveyard and get new ID? Please. Might work in Mexico, not so much in the US. The direct transfusion bit = good way to die.
inch thick steel plate for doors/windows. Fully manned OPs? Really?
The whole ‘sovereign citizen vs the New World Order” past strange.
One passage/chapter about the fellow who walked home to Mt (IIRC) wasn't too bad. I noted one reviewer that said -- JW Rawles is the only guy I know that sells other people's work and is considered an expert for it. I'm sure he is a nice guy in his own way. I do read his site from time to time, and some good information pops up once in a while. Tho I bought the book, I wouldn't recommend to anyone but a complete novice, and still tell them to do their own homework. YMMV. FWIW, I think Farnham's Freehold or Lucifers Hammer has as good or better info than this book. And each is a cracking good story.
I also enjoyed this book, it was like a guide on how to do it. Suppose that was the intention, and if so, it succeeded.
You thought Farnhams Freehold was better?
Their preps were a cave, a cow, and a case of canned milk.
Ping
lucifers hammer, ok ordered that one. i like pournelle.
you might also want to look at “deathday” by philip dietz. this time its aliens, but same kind of apocolyptic deal with a small group surviving.
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