Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide: Food, Shelter, Security, Off-the-Grid Power and More Life-Saving Strategies for Self-Sufficient Living (Books for Preppers)

So, where do I start? I am not a prepper. Actually, I did not even know what a prepper was until I read this book. So, you are probably wondering why I even bought it. Well, I'm getting to that point in life where I am thinking of retirement in the next ten years. I would like to find some property out of the city...away from everything. Just tired of traffic, tired of barking dogs, tired of hit and runs, tired of loud music - you get it. With living on a large plot of land, I have been keeping in mind that I need to have some things to be prepared. I'm looking at moving to Montana, and, with the thought of being snowed in a for a while, I wanted to make sure that I was prepared.

I thought this book was fantastic. I hope we never need to prep for a major catastrophe, but this book provided some very good and useful knowledge. The author started off with discussing some major historical events that - if they happened in today's age or in populated areas - we could be in trouble and being prepared may mean survival.

The author provided enough detail for each chapter on things to think about and some steps to take to prepare. We all need water and food to survive, having the right tools and security, and thinking about medicine and hygiene challenges. What I particularly liked is that there is a comprehensive, seven page checklist of items to have. The book covered the items that I had thought of (such as having plywood handy for windows in case you need to cover them - again, I'm thinking Montana having a window out and needing to get it covered so a bear doesn't wander in), and then touched on lots of things I hadn't thought of. The author goes into how to create potable water and the best types of seeds for growing vegetables. The checklist is very handy as something for me to start with and modify as I start to prepare for my retirement in the country (aka wilderness).

Even though it may be classified as a book for prepppers, I think this book also has a lot of great information for someone who may need to think about issues, challenges, and possible problems that may be encountered if you do not have the modern conveniences that society currently offers and ways to deal with those.

It is an easy read and well written. I spent one Sunday and read the entire book from cover to cover. I will definitely be reading through this again and use it as a reference too.

Nothing new here. He points out why you should be prepared but doesn't tell you how to survive should the day come.

Major Disappointment. Skims on the surfaces of most things. Cobb likes to talk about all the "issues" of what can happen and did happen to him. Ok, chances are if we bought the thing, we already know those issues...I bought it for water, how to use store and decontaminate water...zippo. Instead, I got how to store TAP. He's joking right? Nothing on the various gravity fed systems, a few things on "filters" but I could have gotten that off the net and to be honest the bleach thing isn't as perfect as he leads you to believe. Really too little here to do much good...The entertainment chapter was decent.

From the Book....properly string Tap water
If you are on municipal water, there is likely already enough chlorine and other additives to it that it will store just fine for several months. However, whether that's the case or if instead you have a well, it isn't the worst idea to add a bit of bleach to the water prior to sealing the container. Fill the container almost all the way to the top, then add a few drops of non-scented chlorine bleach. Given that this is water that should be potable already, you only need to add a couple drops per gallon of water to prevent any nasties from multiplying. Fill the container the rest of the way, then swirl it around so a few drops of water splash out on to the threads where the cap screws on. This ensures no bacteria or other organisms are able to sneak in after putting the cap on the container.

Very little useful information in this book. Not well researched. It was like he was writing a fiction story that was going on in his head rather than something to use as a guide. If you grew up on a farm or live in rural America you already know more than is written in this book.

As many people have written on reviews, this is pretty much a basic book with not a lot of new ideas, but does have some helpful advice. Before you think you will not buy it, think again. If we have a EMP go off and there is no electric, water, or anything else, what would you do? Would you be able to rationalize and organize your self to help and save your family? Very doubt full as everyone will be scared and no one will know where to start. But, if you keep this book with your emergency supplies, you will be ahead of the game. Everyone in your family will be able to refer to this book to get things done the right way and that's what's so important. Yes, right now as you sit in your easy chair, you know how to start a fire, hunt, and bandage people. Could you do this when we have no electric, inability to travel, and you need to protect your family? Do you expect them to sit calmly and relax while you take care of things? Hardly! Get this book, read it, and put it with your emergency supplies. This book could save you and your families life at a time of extreme emergency. Do you know what to do to keep proper hygiene? What about water, and food. What do you need? Are you ready to defend your property against intruders who want your supplies? Do you have what you need to barter to get what you need? What good is money with no economy? I sincerely pity the people who don't have this book. Its a small price to pay for saving you and your families life if the day ever comes when you need it. This is more like an insurance policy than a book. We live in a dangerous world with unstable countries that have nuclear capacity that could change our life forever! Be prepared and keep this book where everyone will be able to get to it!

If your idea of prepping is a one week natural disaster event, which requires three cases of MRE's, a 10,000 watt generator and three thousand dollars in assault carbines and cool semi-autos, this book might teach you a bit planning beyond that one week. If, on the other hand, you are a survivalist which sees an actual civilization ending event coming and want to plan for that, this book offers practically nothing. It isn't a bad book, it is just that its target audience is pretty much clueless Yuppie consumers. Not serious doom and gloomers.

Sadly the best part of this book is the cover, the rest of this book is common-sense child-like idea's with no real meat to it. I am surprised it got published to tell the truth. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

This is Carol's son, Chris, writing the review. She's not into prepping. I am.

While this book would at face value seem aimed toward a beginner reader in the interest of disaster preparedness, I can say that there are some things a non-beginner will find interesting, as well. I'm not a beginner, and I've found quite a few sections with information that was 'new' to me. There are chapters on everything from finding or building shelter, to gathering food and water, to organizing a community group, and more. The recommended reading section provides solid tips for further learning, even a bit of fiction thrown in.

I found especially useful the chapters on bartering, and tools. It never hurts to find out about someone else's perspective on how to survive a bad situation.

For those who might consider this a book only for 'preppers', please do not be mistaken. I live in Florida, and we get hurricanes. You may be subject to tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunami, monsoon, or who knows what. This book could provide helpful advice for you to survive such a natural disaster. Remember, being prepared isn't just for Boy Scouts, of Zombie Survivalists. It means being ready for a flat tire, or an extended power outage.

The Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide by Jim Cobb is a book that I greatly anticipated reading.

In reading this book, I love the way that each chapter begins with the concept that the reader is currently dealing with a long term situation that coincides with the theme of the chapter. That opening in each chapter helps with the mindset needed to deal with the information that follows.

Chapter 1 begins with some events from history and then lays out several probable, potential scenarios that could occur in modern times from pandemics to economic collapse. The case is cogently laid out that whatever your concern, that right now is the time to plan for whatever it is that concerns you.

Chapter 2 deals with the topic of water. The human body can survive roughly three days without water after which our bodies start to shut down. From water procurement to filtration and proper storage, this chapter deals with all of the aspects of this precious resource.

Chapter 3 talks about food and what types of food to store. While this book is not the place for in-depth conversations about hunting, fishing and trapping, those topics are also touched on and provide some food for thought. Food preservation techniques are also talked about, including how to make a small root cellar-like storage area to keep food cool. The chapter ends with the topic of cooking and includes a section on making a simple solar oven.

Chapter 4 is the medical chapter. It talks about training and medicine and includes a comprehensive listing of a medical bag. It wraps up with some great information of common natural remedies.

Chapter 5 goes into hygiene which is an oft overlooked area of prepping. This chapter speaks about topics from proper human waste disposal to bathing to garbage disposal. While not too pleasant, it is an important area for which to prepare.

Chapter 6 discusses clothing and the proper items needed for the tasks that will most probably be done in a post-collapse environment. The fact that one will be spending more time outdoors than he/she probably does now figures into the important considerations of this chapter. Later on, the chapter discusses shelter and the importance of it as well as various common sense ways of keeping warm and cool.

Chapter 7 covers security, including structures and weapons as tools as well as a description of the mindsets that one needs to adequately provide for the protection of a yourself and your family.

Chapter 8 talks about tools of all kinds that will be needed in a world of an extended crisis. Tools for basic repairs, tools for gardens and tools for various jobs around the house and property are covered. Overlooked topics such as protective safety gear and communications are also discussed.

Chapter 9 deals with a topic that I admittedly have not heard a lot about when reading or talking about preparedness… entertainment. After the initial realization of what is happening regarding the crisis sets in, people will be spending time performing manual labor and other duties, but there will still be periods of down time.

Chapter 10 examines well thought out bartering parameters for items and services as well as potential post-collapse professions.

Chapter 11 discussed the importance of communities and community planning. A lot of people think that the lone-wolf approach to survival is the way to go, but this drastically overlooks the necessity of having others and the diversity of skills and resources that that brings. This chapter also covers very practical ways for dealing with refugees.

Chapter 12 ends the book on a high note, that is the hope that being prepared can provide. It is a pleasant change from the doom and gloom that is often portrayed by some preppers.

At the very end of the book, there is a pretty complete checklist as well as a suggested reading section for the beginnings of your own survival library.

The depth of information that is covered in this book is incredible as is the unique way that the author makes us really think about ideas, situations and resources that are mostly overlooked in the usual short-term survival planning resources. All that being said, this book belongs in the hands of anyone who is concerned with a long-term disruption in society as we know it today. It's practical, common sense approach makes it a valuable asset to all those who wish to not only be prepared, but for those who want to thrive.

Most prepper books provide you with the fundamentals and tell you what it takes to make it through a temporary crisis, be it a hurricane, tornado or ice storm. What happens, though, when the crisis lasts longer? What will happen in the event of a pandemic or economic downturn? This book fills a much needed information gap in the prepper community for a resource that deals with the long-term events of a disaster that lasts beyond the first 72 hours.

I came at this book from the perspective of an author, not a survivalist, although I do have some experience in that area, I decided it was best to write a somewhat non-traditional review of this book.

I think Jim Cobb wrote a great primer on the concept of thinking long-term when it comes to survival, and he did an especially good job of downplaying the common man's perception of prepping and post-apocalyptic survival scenarios as being something out of MAD MAX or THE WALKING DEAD. Let's be honest - all the tactically-modified AR-15s and Glocks in the world aren't going to do you much good if you get a bad infection or find yourself with a brutal case of Giardia. Once the chaos has died down a little, things like having a source of potable water (or a sustainable way to make water potable), a roof over your head, and food in your garden are more important than whether you need a quad rail on your black rifle or not.

Some folks might quibble over the individual suggestions Cobb makes in this book, but I think the overall philosophy that long-term survival requires long-term planning and preparation is spot-on. The idea that anyone is going to indefinitely survive a post-apoc scenario by becoming a gun-toting, wandering vagabond is laughable. Once communities firm up and begin the process of organizing themselves back into a semblance of normalcy, such loners are going to be kept at arms-length and eventually die off in a cave somewhere from an infected molar.

There is a series of sci-fi novels out there by S.M. Stirling, of which I've only read the first book, but early on in the story it became evident to many of the characters that while some people might be prepared to live a week or a month without modern support systems, once you start looking at living for YEARS, a vast, vast percentage of the population simply isn't going to make it. What skills does your average suit-and-tie guy have that'd make him worth keeping "in the village" so to speak?

Post-Apoc / Prepper fiction is pretty big right now, not just in the Prepping community, but on TV and even on the big screen. A book like this would be a great first place to start in a writer's journey towards creating a post-apocalyptic world in which to create their stories - at least if they want to write something other than a Mad Max ripoff (and even then, not everyone in the Mad Max world drives a V-8 Interceptor...).