Having not read any Neil Strauss before, I wasn't sure upon beginning Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life whether or not the title was to be taken seriously or not. For all I knew, this was going to be another of those books which set the reader up for a "haha, gotcha" at the end.
Up until now the totality of my survival training has been "Survivor Man" with Les Stroud on the Discovery channel. This isn't too far removed from Strauss' own knowledge when he began this process as he states early in the book:
"In short, if the system ever did break down, the only useful skill I really had was the ability to write about it."
And what a great skill it is. Strauss surprised me . Even while inserting his sharp and biting humor, the subject matter is treated anything but lightly. Spurred by Hurricane Katrina, Strauss decided that living in America had changed. He launched a plan: escape the system.
Take a look at some chapter titles:
Tips On Death Cult Etiquette
A Beginner's Guide to Evil In the Twentieth Century
The Problem with Gas Masks
How to Become Immortal in One Easy Step
A Beginner's Guide to Evil In the Twentieth Century
The Problem with Gas Masks
How to Become Immortal in One Easy Step
I have to give Strauss credit. He kept my interest while not frustrating me as I tried to figure out whether or not he was playing with my head. Gradually, I figured out that he was either serious about his subject or that he was one of those writers who lost themselves in their "research".
On the official website, http://neilstrauss.com/emergency , you can watch several videos and learn abouta special book club Neil is hosting. But, you may want to read the book first, as one video could ruin a surprise in the book.
There is also a browse inside widget located here: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060898779&WT.mc_id=WT.mc_id=BLOG_BI_FCS-EMER_022509
And, if you have facebook, there is this: http://apps.facebook.com/willyousurvive .
I've never had so much fun while getting more and more concerned about my future. I don't yet worry about aliens stealing my luggage, but I am contemplating tin foil over my windows.
I also can't think of anyone I'd rather have as my tour guide to invisibility than Neil Strauss.
Reading Emergency makes me want to read Strauss' other books. In between my survival classes that is.
Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life hits stores in paperback tomorrow.
ISBN 9780060898779
418 pages
Harper Collins
http://www.harpercollins.com
http://neilstrauss.com
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