Tools for Survival: What You Need to Survive When You're on Your Own

I've purchased several Rawles books and consider the "How to Survive the End of the World" an essential purchase for anyone - I even bought copies and sent them to loved ones. I assumed this book would be of the same high quality - but found it to be horrible! If I have to listen to another Rawles treatise on 308 battle rifles I think I’ll vomit. Seriously, firearms can be considered “tools” but I really felt that all of the other chapters were too shallow due to the space consumed by the deep dive into weapons – which itself is a topic that should be reserved to a separate title. In short, I found most chapters way too shallow and the liberal cutting and pasting from the Survival Blog was infuriating. It took place in the first book as well - but it seems much more obnoxious in this one. It is one thing to pay for a book that was composed by an author, another to pay for a collection of free submissions to the author that can be downloaded from the author - for free on the internet. This book was a waste of time and money. I feel like I was taken advantage of - and I'm someone who literally checks the blog every single day.

Yes - reading the reviews for some of the books in the Patriots series has clued me in on the liberal "recycling" of story and even text from previous books. I'm stopping at Survivors.

Rawles blog has done huge things for Prepper community and pretty much all forward thinking people. How To Survive the End of the World is an essential book for EVERYONE’S book shelf. The Rawles' Novels seem to be hit and miss (I recommend the first two of the Patriot series - if you can stomach the narration), but this book was junk. Reading reviews of other Rawles books - I WILL NOT ever blindly purchase one of his titles again. Wait for the reviews - the book may very well be reconstituted stuff obtainable elsewhere for free, or copied and pasted content lifted from previous offerings.

In very similar format to "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know it." This book feels like James is taking a fellow (very serious) prepper on a tour of his place... tangentially sharing what tools and processes work well for him. You are going to find a lot of product names, SKU numbers, web sites and lists. Someone seriously interested in preparing a retreat will find ideas about welding, leatherwork, sewing machines, screwdrivers, canning tools, logging, fencing, woodworking, gardening, car repair... and of course guns. The book is a general overview of ideas... that dives into some specifics... but not enough for you to learn a skill. He does suggest multiple books that would help someone learn more.

There were a few new to me ideas that applied to my "being prepared" needs but most were far and beyond my scope interests and finances. As with his last book, it almost feels like having it in hard copy would be more productive as a reference tool. Audio was fine.

For fun I have to note... I just finished reading about Grandma Gatewood and her 3 Appalachian Trail (2,200 mile) hikes taken when she was 67 and older in the 1950's... carrying a shower curtain, wool blanket, vienna sausages and homemade stuff sack. I just couldn't get the contrast out of my mind. The world has sure changed since then... and we seem to need a lot more tools.

Really long list.

The talking points on firearms was pretty cool, mainly because I know close to nothing about guns.

An exhaustive list of things you will need in the event of a natural disaster that would leave you completely self reliant. I thought this was going to be more of a "how to" rather than "what to have".

Some new info would be great

nope

None N/a

N/A

Would be great if there was some new info. The author even refers to his previous books. If you have read them, you already know the info, if you haven't read them all you will be is confused. I freely admit I only got half way thru and gave up; so maybe it gets better, but I doubt it. Redundancy may be good for prepping, but its not good for books. Thought I was going to learn something, not just get a review of info already presented in other books!

a comprehensive look at things and skills needed for the days ahead. time to get to work!

Although some info is obtained from blogs, it is still good info for us to think about and plan.

I enjoyed the audiobook as some areas i was holding my own and others i knew needed improvement.

Great resource too pass along to others.

I have the retreat - now what? I've moved to the the Redoubt but how do I set up my shop and what tools do I need? This book explains it.

Shop layout methodology

a fine narrator

Went a bit long on the sewing section... I would have spent less time on it.

There are those of use that have had practical experience with a wide set of tools, and those that have not. How would we each fare if our high school shop teacher were to walk into our garage/shop/workbench and worked up a safety grade or watched us work to sharpen a lawn mower blade or change the oil in our car, much less other more valuable tricks?

This is really a pragmatic approach to running a bench with quality tools. There is a decisive bent toward American made products (for good reason) and it speaks as if one might be back in their garage helping their dad on a Saturday morning after cartoons. They were good times for me.

Phil Gigante's voice and diction was good. Nothing was too distracting, not too much accent, lisp, tone, intonation, resonance, etc. that is until he started pronouncing gun manufactures. "mosin nagant" was particularly amusing. very good overall

I've gone back to each chapter and started taking inventory of my own shop with new eyes: teaching my own sons best practices. Call it Boy scouts for men. A 1895 man looked a lot different than "men" today.

Get this book now and listen to it while in your shop. Get the first book next "green cover"