Prudent Prepping: Knowledge is Power

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Now we concentrate  on what to do in, and how to plan for, the long term via Prudent Prepping.


This Christmas, I am working on a very short budget and have friends that don't need anything but deserve much. Four of them have expressed more than polite interest in planning for emergencies of and seem serious about it (by that I mean no 'Zombie Apocalypse' nonsense). I am trying to give them some ideas to use as a starting point; namely, directions to Blue Collar Prepping and some books that I have in my small prepping library.


Books That I Like
In no way are these books the only ones in my library, the only books on the market or the best for everyone else; they are simply what I recommend for my friends and their needs.

I am not writing a book review or summary, but rather why I chose these titles.


Survive!
Les Stroud is the host of Survivorman, the best outdoor adventure show on television (in my opinion). His book Survive! uses the skills and techniques learned from his many personal trips into the wilderness,as well as those seen on his television show. The majority of the book is focused on wilderness survival in any climate, in any part of the world, so this would be a good choice for travelers or people not living in the U.S. or North America.

This book is going to friends that hike and camp now that their kids are older.


The Disaster Preparedness Handbook 2nd Edition: 
A Guide for Families

Arthur T. Bradley has written a book that seriously addresses common emergencies faced by modern societies: Natural, Pandemic, Man-Made, War/Terrorism/Crime, Personal, etc.

The Disaster Preparedness Handbook addresses these topics in a very thorough way, with chapter summaries, checklists, suggested reading lists and diagrams of items that can be made or built. It is written in an easy-to-read style, without being so simple as to be boring to experienced preppers or too intense for those just starting. While most of the book covers 'bugging in' and urban/suburban plans, there are chapters on planning for 'bugging out' as well.

This book is going to friends that have several family members living close by.

Preparedness Now! An Emergency Survial Guide

Aton Edwards has collected a massive amount of information on survival techniques and sources of information! From emergency heating to improvised hydroponics, this book could be a one-stop shop for the novice to those already well on the way to self-sufficiency. Preparedness Now! has topics ranging from biological hazards, fire, and personal safety, to the more common subjects of food and water storage or bug-out plans. Included in the back of the book are several pages of notes, blank planner pages, an amazing bibliography and a very detailed set of checklists, sourced and linked back to the chapters where the items were first mentioned.

This book is a gift for one of my OCD friends that makes lists for everything.

I hope this has given you food for thought and ideas for last minute gifts for the Holiday season!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased be me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.