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22 reviews for:
A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times
Athena Aktipis
3.81 AVERAGE
22 reviews for:
A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times
Athena Aktipis
3.81 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
READ AGAIN AND PREPARE FOR APOCALYPSE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I liked what I learned about 'go-bags' and I do think this info would come in handy for many people (just look to the ever-increasing climate disasters and you'll know what I mean)!
Some of this is on me because I tend to read titles (or maybe follow favorite authors/series), so I didn't read the blurb. This isn't about different scenarios, but more about mental and social ideas surrounding difficult circumstances.
There was also an overuse of the f-word. I'm not a prude, John Malkovich & Samuel L. Jackson weave that wors into language like a masterpiece tapestry. Plenty of other people use it properly for emphasis or humor in just the right place. I think the goal here was humor and I understand the idea of un-effing ourselves, but it was overused. The first time made me laugh, the second time came way too soon, and by the time I was through the short first chapter it'd probably been used a half dozen times or more without much other humor. It felt like it was used more than "apocalypse" or "disaster" and just wasn't landing.
I rarely give up on books and could have easily finished this in a day, but after the hour drive home when I started it, I was dreading doing chores this afternoon continuing to listen to it.
Again some of this is on me for assuming the topic after stumbling across it in the science section of the the library.
There was also an overuse of the f-word. I'm not a prude, John Malkovich & Samuel L. Jackson weave that wors into language like a masterpiece tapestry. Plenty of other people use it properly for emphasis or humor in just the right place. I think the goal here was humor and I understand the idea of un-effing ourselves, but it was overused. The first time made me laugh, the second time came way too soon, and by the time I was through the short first chapter it'd probably been used a half dozen times or more without much other humor. It felt like it was used more than "apocalypse" or "disaster" and just wasn't landing.
I rarely give up on books and could have easily finished this in a day, but after the hour drive home when I started it, I was dreading doing chores this afternoon continuing to listen to it.
Again some of this is on me for assuming the topic after stumbling across it in the science section of the the library.
Content Warnings
The is an overuse of the f-word which seemed to be an attempt at humor.
funny
informative
medium-paced
A Field Guide to the Apocalypse was a very interesting and informative read. I wish it had been a bit more on the funny side, but I actually learned somethings and that is what counts when you are reading a good nonfiction book. If you are thinking that this book is just for preppers or maybe making fun of them, you’re right it is. But it is also for people who are maybe feeling a little anxious about life right now and don’t know how to prepare for what might happen in the future.
If you are like me and read a lot of science fiction you probably think that the apocalypse is all about the world ending as we know it. Usually brought about by aliens, comets, war, AI, etc. But this is not what this book is all about. It is more about the small disasters that are still nonetheless world changing. The first chapter has some historical facts about times when there were apocalyptic type disasters, such as Pompeii, the Potato Famine, the Influenza pandemic, and how people reacted to them. There is also a bit about how some of these disasters then produced some of the most dynamic times in our history such as the renaissance and the industrial revolution. This chapter really broaden my mind about the definition of apocalypse.
The rest of the chapters focused on how to deal emotionally and how to make and keep those important support systems that become so important in a crisis. The author cites some cultures that have a reciprocal type of help your neighbor in times of need embedded into their society. She also cites some studies done in disasters zones where they interviewed people and how neighbors and others came together to help people with no expectation of being paid or getting anything in return. I found these stories to be comforting, as the news these days tend to focus more on how people are being taken advantage of when a disaster strikes. Humanity on the whole is good and kind and willing to help those in need.
There is of course information about how to prep for the big one and even some talk about what some of those might be. Such as aliens, AI taking over, or zombies, you know the usual things you think about when talking about the apocalypse. But mostly it was preparing for natural disasters, that could happen where you live. Most of this was something I was already aware of and to some extent practice. We live in an area where windstorms are pretty common and power outages usually happen. So we have prepared for those types of situations. We also take emergency supplies when we cross the mountains in winter. But I had never really thought about preparing for bigger types of disasters, ones that are less likely to happen but could. Such as a really big earthquake, which could very likely happen here. Or one of our local volcanoes deciding to erupt again. Things like that happening are sort of on my radar, but not at a level to make me want to prep for them. I am now sort of rethinking that and how I could be better prepared if that does happen.
Overall I found this book to be quite informative. The last chapter got a tad silly with talk about having apocalypse themed parties and what gifts to give to the beginner prepper. But otherwise I learned quite a bit and feel that all is not lost, and that there are some things I can do to prepare for the unexpected. If you are at all interested in this topic, or if you have been feeling anxious about the future and don’t know what to do, this is a book you might want to read.
lighthearted
fast-paced
A cute and easy read that I would label as a bare bones primer for prepping for disasters. Explores basic readiness tips, game theory and risk management, and includes some light-hearted advice on how to integrate preparation into your lifestyle at whatever level you feel comfortable. If you're looking for more serious survival skills, you'll have to keep searching.
There’s misinformation about the Irish famine in the first chapter.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Excellent overview of apocalypse, what we should worry about, what we should not, and how to make planning fun.
hopeful
informative
Pretty solid read on emergency preparedness (something I've thought a lot about recently, given recent trends in FEMA funding, read: zero) and cultivating a team of people you know and trust. basically, apocalypse-proofing your life is having trustworthy friends, developing useful skills, and living with intention and preparedness. seems reasonable to me!
"That’s not to say that there is no panic, selfishness, or bad behavior in times of crisis. But it rarely comes from the supposedly chaotic masses. In reality, it’s not the masses who panic in crises but the elites. Disaster sociologists Caron Chess and Lee Clarke define this phenomenon of elite panic as a fearful distrust of the populace that prompts leaders to restrict information, over- concentrate resources, and use coercive methods to reassert authority in the face of temporary breakdowns in public order. This kind of response is problematic on many levels. It can increase dangers for disaster survivors or other vulnerable populations, create a self- fulfilling prophecy, and seed distrust in authority. The latter can then lead to resistance to authority— the very thing these leaders (and elites) fear most."
"That’s not to say that there is no panic, selfishness, or bad behavior in times of crisis. But it rarely comes from the supposedly chaotic masses. In reality, it’s not the masses who panic in crises but the elites. Disaster sociologists Caron Chess and Lee Clarke define this phenomenon of elite panic as a fearful distrust of the populace that prompts leaders to restrict information, over- concentrate resources, and use coercive methods to reassert authority in the face of temporary breakdowns in public order. This kind of response is problematic on many levels. It can increase dangers for disaster survivors or other vulnerable populations, create a self- fulfilling prophecy, and seed distrust in authority. The latter can then lead to resistance to authority— the very thing these leaders (and elites) fear most."