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.
Coolnes, thanks for the tip!
The story as a whole = a better read.
“Pulling Through” by Dean Ing ( ISBN-10: 0441690505
ISBN-13: 978-0441690503 )would be better, tho focused on a nuke exchange - had far more and better tips. And a story. The follow-on is a series called the “Rackham FIles”. Just to note Dean is an angineer.
Amazon has that one, however....
The least expensive edition that they have is 29.78 - used.
If I want a new copy, they have one for 82.99.
I’ll probably not be getting that one unless you know a cheaper place.
LOL
Must be popular again! Who says this isn’t just like Cater’s term
Hign unemployement, high gas prices, inflation and instead of the Russians going to blow us up, it’s Muzzie terrs.....
Who could forget his “Famine and Survival in America” and his Y2K debacle?
He now has - what, 5, How to survive the coming.....
I was active duty at the time and worked two outside jobs and ran a small ‘survival food’ business to get by....
And all the books —
Let’s see
Robert J RInger
Kurt Saxon
Mel Tappen
Jeff Cooper
Al J. Venter
Bill Pier
Bruce D. Clayton (I still have his boks)
Rick Fines
Nancy Mack Tappan
J.B. Wood
Dr. Carl Kirsch
Charles Avery
Karl Hess
Eugene A. Barron
Janet Groene
Dean Ing as I pointed out earlier,
Bob Taylor
Reginald Bretnor and C.G. Cobb
Now we have web site like Rawles, not books.
In the 80s -things were not so scary.
Some of those businesses are still here
Rainy Day Foods (DBA Walton Feed)
Perma-Pac
and so on.
The more things have supposedly changed, the more they are the SOS.
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