Cody Lundin, of Dual Survival fame, is probably one of the most knowledgeable survival experts out there. Most of his work is around wilderness survival, aboriginal living and so on. When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes focuses on disaster/TEOTWAWKI survival skills. It's not the typical survival book--there's not a lot of talk about exotic, high-end and bank-busting survival gear here. Instead, Lundin focuses on practical skills, affordable gear and survival strategies backed up by science. You really wouldn't expect anything different from a guy who walks around without shoes and uses a $15 Mora as his survival knife, would you?
In When All Hell Breaks Loose, Lundin takes a comprehensive look at every element of survival--shelter, water, food storage, warmth, cooling, sanitation, and most everything in between. He excels in his examination of the basics--his chapter on water is the most exhaustive that I've seen, anywhere. Same goes for his chapter on sanitation--it's got a page on "squatting strategies" and several pages on how to wipe when the TP is gone. The content, especially when it comes to the survival basics, is excellent. The chapters on things like self defense, communication and transportation are not Lundin's area of expertise, but could be informative to newer preppers.
Lundin has an informal and funny way of writing--imagine his commentaries during Dual Survival in written form. His "hippy" roots shine through, too--which may bug some readers. The book has black and white illustrations throughout--they're kind of goofy cartoon characters, which is entirely on purpose but may be a bit "out there" for some. Lundin also weaves in some discussion of good vibes a few pages on a hippy group called the Rainbow Family of Living Light. Read it or skim it over--whatever--it's a big book.
When All Hell Breaks Loose really ranks towards the top of "must have" survival books. Lundin is knowledgeable and has really "walked the walk" most of his life. He's lived it, done his research and knows what works and what is little more than fantasy. This book will point you in the right direction on a broad variety of topics, and it's also a pretty good read. Thumbs up.
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Great review man, makes me want to go out and buy the book! There aren't a lot of practical urban survival tombs out there and I love Cody's overall style and approach so this is definitely on my must read list.
ReplyDeleteCody, though an odd hippy, does embody much of what it means to be a man-human on the earth. Think Jeremiah Johnson, Grizzly Adams, Charles Ingles (and I mean the real historical Ingles, not as depicted in the show). Cody fits in with those men. As my co pilot, I would rather have an unarmed Cody than a rich guy holding an M16 with a last beam attached. Unless in a gunfight, but you get the picture.
ReplyDeletePoint is, we need the actual skills ingrained in our muscles. We need to do the things in the book, not read it. So, buy the book as a practical how to and do the stuff. Make yourself hungry, so you know what it feels like and how you can function. A well geared man with all the camo bells and whistles can't do much if he can't use it, our lacks the endurance to be mobile.
Its the same problem with combat training, most gun owners fancy themselves capable but don't commit the time to dry training and muscle memory.
Lets be doers, posers will be far less likely to succeed in hard times. Best of motivation to all. Love your site, read you tomorrow!
Laser beam. Not last beam.
ReplyDeleteCool beans. I own his book 98.6 DEGREES TO SURVIVAL, or something like that, I enjoyed reading it. Maybe I need to add this one as well.
ReplyDeleteReally like that Discovery Channel show with him and Canterbury - definitely Laverne and Shirley, their styles both complement one another very well. Though I still wonder how Lundin gets around with no shoes in some of those environments, his soles must be like hoofs.
I have this book and it has some great knowledge in it. It is a bit cartoony by it gets the point across none the less.
ReplyDeleteI got a chance to meet Cody last year at Rabbitstick down in Rexburg, Idaho. He was a very cool guy. No ego--just an easygoing guy. I really liked him from the 3-hour class I had from him. He slept on the ground behind his rental car out in the field. I also got to meet Ron Hood there as well. He was a neat guy. RIP.
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