Many fictional stories during that time revolved around the shape of life after nuclear war. A Canticle for Leibowitz, one of the finest post apocalyptic science fiction novels ever written, is emblematic of this genre. In film, the most memorable has to be the Terminator series of movies. These books and movies, as well as the prevailing ethos they transmitted, mesmerized me as a youth, imbuing me with a lifelong interest in ideas of self-sufficiency and getting by in the event of "the End".
Today, nuclear destruction is still a possibility, if not less likely. Today, movies focus on the man made climate catastrophe that might engulf us at any moment. Despite the possibility of catastrophic events from war to climate change, I'm less worried about all encompassing collapse or destruction than I am about the increasingly destabilizing effects of Katrina or Fukishima style disasters that can overwhelm government’s ability to respond effectively for days or weeks, even months at a time. In a world like this, it is prudent to have the ability to live for at least several weeks on your own food, water, fuel and other supplies. Not only does this allow you and your family to weather a disaster, it also allows you to have supplies with which to offer aid to others. If we have learned anything from disasters of the past several years, it is that we can't always count on immediate help in the event of disaster. Being able to fend for yourself for at least several weeks is resonable and prudent.
James Wesley Rawles has written an interesting, if not overly paranoid book, about surviving after TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it). Rawles survivalist compound mentality is moderated by his personal sense of religious mission to help others in need. The book is broken up into sections dealing with various subjects like food and vehicles. This makes it handy for reference on a certain subject at a given time. Now that I have read this book, I can easily refer back to sections that I found valuable.
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times is an informative read with many immediately applicable ideas. If you can get past the overt paranoia that suffuses the book, there is a plethora of knowledge here to help you become more self-sufficient in the event of disaster. For example, wheat berries when stored properly can last for up to thirty years. Despite the fact that I've harvested more wheat than the average joe, I had no idea. It might be advisable to store a little wheat for the proverbial "rainy day".
My immediate reaction when reading this book was to think that to follow all the guidelines, one would have to be a millionaire or have a lucrative business selling survival books and advice. Rawles stresses again and again the importance of forming a community in every part of the book. A lone person or small group stands scant chance of surviving long in a world where everything we take for granted has broken down. Rawles communitarian approach jives well with what can be read in history books about post collapse situations from the past. Even if you don't take any of the advice, Rawles book is an interesting read that will help you think a little more seriously about what to do in the event of situations when help may not be coming.
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