On Wednesday night, the book-club got together and discussed the first book of this session, “Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life” by Neil Strauss.
It was a great meeting. Everyone dug the book and found it inspirational.
The basic premise is this. Neil Strauss was a music writer for the New York Times. Around the time everyone was freaking out with all that Y2K business, Neil started wondering what would happen if everything really did shut down. What would happen to him if civilization crashed? He realized early on that if anything bad happened in America, he would be stuck here with no exit strategy and no real life skills. He had grown up in an apartment in the city and didn’t know how to provide for himself in any way.
This book documents his really interesting journey to become self reliant. What starts as a venture to get a duel citizenship, so that he can leave the country “when shit hits the fan”, turns into a more fully realized plan involving learning how to track, kill, prepare, and eat animals, make his own weapons, learn how to shoot a gun, advanced first aid training, and lots of other skills. He meets many interesting and bizarre people along the way.
Strauss’s voice in the writing is great. The descriptions of his adventures are easy and fun to read and the information is useful.
This made for a great discussion in book club. I think it helped everyone realize how much we depend on the system. We take for granted our running water, electricity, plastic wrapped pieces of meat that we pick up in the grocery store, and all the other conveniences that come along with being part of a civilization. It also inspired us to start developing our own skills and back up plans.
I was personally less inspired by his efforts to get a dual citizenship and buy a home outside of the US. I figure, if the shit hits the fan, I live pretty close to Canada and really, the US is really big. There’s bound to be somewhere to hide. However, I am pretty interested in developing some of my outdoor and survival skills.
Namely:
Starting to go on edible plant nature walks in my area with a guide to learn what wild plants to eat in the Pacific NW.
Learn how to start a fire without matches or a lighter.
Learn how to build an efficient water filter system on my own.
Perhaps raise my own goats or chickens. The benefits would be having fresh milk and cheese, learning how to breed animals, and learning how to slaughter and prepare animals.
Along with the milk thing, it would be cool to learn how to make cheese.
A better understanding of using, cleaning, and owning guns. (crazy, I know.)
Oh! And I want to start buying survival, plant identification, and other useful books. Because if things go wonky and the Internet goes down, having real books on useful information would be invaluable.
Generally speaking, I think that I’d be a really good survivalist. I’m determined, inventive, and I’ve got a wide variety of skills. I can cook, sew, grow food, shoot a rifle, and I’m pretty sure that I could manage to clean and butcher animals if the need arose. I’m also pretty sure that my book club would make an excellent survivalist team. (which is a pretty funny statement really.) Between all of us, I think we’d have the skills necessary to survive. I think we should just all move to a big cabin in the woods somewhere and get started.
Maybe all this sounds paranoid. Strauss asked himself many times over the course of the book if he was going too far and if he was just being overly paranoid, but he came to the conclusion that even if nothing ever went wrong, gaining all this extra knowledge gave him a sense of personal strength and confidence that can only come from knowing that you can take care of yourself, which I think is pretty darn cool.
I’d highly recommend this book. It was a fun read and it will really make you think. It offers itself to great discussion, is full of useful facts, and is just a great story.
Go for it. This book could save your life.
February 21, 2015 at 11:08 pm
I was just looking for this information for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative websites in top of the list. Generally the top websites are full of garbage.
February 21, 2015 at 11:08 pm
I simply want to inform you you in which I am inexperienced to having a blog and absolutely valued your information. More than likely I am inclined to store your article post . You literally have excellent article posts. Like it for telling with us your web document.
February 21, 2015 at 11:14 pm
There is apparently a bundle to realize about this. I think you made various nice points in features also.
February 21, 2015 at 11:14 pm
Someone essentially lend a hand to make severely posts I might state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual put up incredible. Fantastic job!
February 22, 2015 at 12:09 am
I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
February 22, 2015 at 12:10 am
I simply hope to advise you that I am certain beginner to blogging and pretty much loved your work. Likely I am probably to remember your webpage post . You certainly have extraordinary article writing. Value it for telling with us your site write-up.
February 22, 2015 at 12:12 am
Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
February 22, 2015 at 12:14 am
Great blog right here! Also your web site a lot up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link for your host? I want my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
February 22, 2015 at 12:15 am
I really wanted to type a simple note so as to appreciate you for all of the stunning information you are writing at this site. My time consuming internet search has at the end been paid with incredibly good suggestions to talk about with my relatives. I would express that many of us visitors actually are very lucky to be in a remarkable network with many brilliant people with beneficial secrets. I feel very happy to have discovered the site and look forward to some more excellent minutes reading here. Thanks once more for a lot of things.
February 22, 2015 at 12:15 am
Keep functioning ,fantastic job!
February 22, 2015 at 12:17 am
Hi there, I found your blog by the use of Google while looking for a similar topic, your site came up, it seems great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
February 22, 2015 at 12:19 am
Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..
February 22, 2015 at 12:21 am
I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.
February 22, 2015 at 12:38 am
Hello.This post was extremely motivating, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this matter last Tuesday.
February 22, 2015 at 12:40 am
excellent issues altogether, you simply won a emblem new reader. What could you suggest in regards to your publish that you just made a few days ago? Any positive?
February 22, 2015 at 2:18 am
I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and great user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
February 22, 2015 at 3:54 am
There is noticeably a bundle to identify about this. I consider you made various good points in features also.
February 22, 2015 at 4:08 am
I will immediately snatch your rss feed as I can not in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me recognize in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
February 22, 2015 at 5:39 am
Thank you for another informative site. The place else may I get that type of information written in such an ideal means? I have a mission that I’m simply now running on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
February 22, 2015 at 5:44 am
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
February 22, 2015 at 6:47 am
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
February 22, 2015 at 7:43 am
This internet web-site is definitely a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll unquestionably discover it.
February 22, 2015 at 8:17 am
I’m not sure why but this website is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.|
February 22, 2015 at 9:40 am
I was just searching for this information for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative web sites in top of the list. Usually the top sites are full of garbage.
February 22, 2015 at 9:52 am
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the article you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.|
February 22, 2015 at 10:27 am
I have been checking out some of your stories and it’s clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your site.
February 22, 2015 at 10:28 am
excellent issues altogether, you just won a new reader. What may you suggest in regards to your post that you just made some days in the past? Any sure?
February 22, 2015 at 11:08 am
Great amazing things here. I am very satisfied to look your article. Thanks a lot and i’m taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
February 22, 2015 at 11:10 am
It¡¦s in reality a great and useful piece of info. I¡¦m happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
February 22, 2015 at 11:58 am
Great site. Lots of helpful information here. I¡¦m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your sweat!
February 22, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your site in internet explorer, may test this¡K IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a good element of people will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.
February 22, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success. If you know of any please share. Many thanks!|
February 22, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.
February 22, 2015 at 12:51 pm
whoah this weblog is magnificent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You recognize, a lot of individuals are looking round for this info, you could aid them greatly.
February 22, 2015 at 1:15 pm
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
February 22, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.|
February 22, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I’m also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
February 22, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Great paintings! That is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the internet. Shame on Google for now not positioning this publish higher! Come on over and talk over with my web site . Thanks =)
February 22, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth was once a entertainment account it. Glance complex to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we keep in touch?|
February 22, 2015 at 7:16 pm
I’ve been surfing on-line more than 3 hours as of late, yet I by no means found any fascinating article like yours. It¡¦s lovely price sufficient for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content material as you probably did, the internet will likely be much more helpful than ever before.
February 22, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I am unable to join it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!|
February 22, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Your means of telling everything in this paragraph is truly good, all be capable of without difficulty know it, Thanks a lot.|
February 22, 2015 at 9:30 pm
that’s good, thanks for sharing,.. I think this is great blog
February 22, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Good article and right to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
February 22, 2015 at 10:52 pm
My wife and i felt very comfortable that Louis could conclude his preliminary research via the ideas he came across from your site. It’s not at all simplistic to just be giving for free guidelines which often the others may have been making money from. And now we discover we have the writer to be grateful to because of that. The type of explanations you’ve made, the simple blog menu, the relationships you assist to instill – it’s most incredible, and it’s letting our son in addition to us reason why that theme is awesome, and that’s wonderfully vital. Thanks for all the pieces!
February 22, 2015 at 11:14 pm
of course like your web-site but you have to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth nevertheless I¡¦ll certainly come again again.
February 23, 2015 at 12:30 am
What i don’t understood is if truth be told how you’re now not really much
more well-preferred than you might be now.
You are very intelligent. You already know thus cohsiderably on the subject
of this topic, made me in my opinion consider it from a lot of varied angles.
Its like men and women are not involved unless it is one thing to accomplish
wuth Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs great. All the time deal with it up!
February 23, 2015 at 12:57 am
Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your post is simply excellent and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
February 23, 2015 at 12:57 am
I do consider all of the ideas you’ve introduced for your post. They are really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. May you please lengthen them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.
February 23, 2015 at 12:57 am
What i do not understood is actually how you are now not actually much more neatly-preferred than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably with regards to this matter, made me in my opinion imagine it from a lot of various angles. Its like men and women are not interested until it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great. All the time take care of it up!