About this title: Combining wit and journalistic detail, "Emergency" follows Strauss' search for an escape plan from the seemingly ever-more unstable United States and world, eventually obtaining a second citizenship in a small Caribbean island. Facing shady lawyers, cult leaders, crippling doubts, governmental corruption, and plane-flying, gun-toting billionaires along the way, Strauss casts light upon today's heart of darkness and learns the skills it seems are needed to be a true survivor in this brave new world.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: It Books
Date Published: 3/10/2009
ISBN-13:9780060898779ISBN:0060898771
Description: Fine. 0060898771 Ships next business day. NEW/UNREAD! ! ! Text is Clean and Unmarked! --Be Sure to Compare Seller Feedback and Ratings before Purchasing--Has a small black line on bottom/exterior edge of pages. May have light shelf wear to cover from storage, if any. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060898779ISBN:0060898771
Description: New. Items ship once payments have cleared. Media mail 5-8 days Priority 2-3 days and international orders may be subject to customs clearance procedures which can cause delays. Seasonal delays can occur in postal system. All items ship within 24 hours of receiving payment. read more
Description: New. A Brand New Copy. Never Read. Buy with confidence from an Independent Bookstore where the owners, a husband and wife team, have over 30 years of combined bookselling experience. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Harpercollins
Date Published: 2009-03-01
ISBN-13:9780060898779ISBN:0060898771
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780060898779. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060898779ISBN:0060898771
Description: New. No dust jacket as issued. Brand New! Support Radical Independent Pacific Northwest Booksellers! Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 418 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. Terrorist attacks. Natural disasters. Domestic crackdowns. Economic collapse. Riots. Wars. Disease. Starvation. What can you do when it all hits the fan? You can learn to be self-sufficient and survive without the system. **I've started to look at the world through apocalypse eyes. ** So begins Neil ... read more
Description: Very Good. Previously read with moderate shelf wear. No underlining or margin notes present. We are the Twin Cities' largest independent book store. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: HARPER COLLINS
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780060898779ISBN:0060898771
Description: New. Combining wit and journalistic detail, "Plan B" follows Strauss's journey toward obtaining a second citizenship in a small Caribbean island--and offers a wry commentary on the future of America in a time of uncertainty. read more
"I had high hopes for this - and while I loved the subject the book disappointed for the most part. It was too high level (= didn't really learn much), his neophyte entry made a lot of things just seem overplayed (e.g. probably 10+ pages related to how hard it was to kill a goat and whittle?), and it seemed like he was trying to build his legend more than anything."
"What a fascinating book. We watch the author, Strauss, transform himself from an hip, womanizing, uncoordinated, unmanly NYT writer into a survivalist and "real man." His journey is very inspirational. There is a danger when writing a book like this that you will come off as a "right-wing-paranoid-black-helicopter-nut." Strauss, however, came off as a regular dude who is simply preparing for the worst The most important transformation Strauss undergoes is not when he learns to shoot, or track footprints, or becomes an EMT. The real transformation is when Strauss goes from being a self-proclaimed loner, only out to save himself, to truly wanting to help those around him.
That said, I DO have criticism of the book. Contrary to the author's claim, this book WILL NOT save your life. As Strauss himself points out, unhealthy eating and car crashes kill MANY TIMES more Americans than natural disasters and terrorism do. Practically speaking, while I admit preparation for the apocalypse is really cool, it makes more sense to focus on healthy diet, exercise, and general safety than the things he does. Only after these aspects are covered does it make sense to prepare for the doomsday scenarios (WTSHTF) as Strauss does.
Another thing that bothered me: Strauss is clearly an intelligent guy, but he pretends to be naive and simple. He is a former NYT music writer who hangs out with billionaires, gets invited to parties at the White House, rides motercycles with Tom Cruise, and Brittany Spears calls him multiple times during the book. Nonetheless, he tries to portray himself as a regular Joe - a naive, well-meaning protagonist, like Candide. He makes it sound as if he bumbled his way into many of the book's situations, while in reality he likely spent enormous amounts of effort and all of his resources. This is a really good way to get readers to like you because everyone loves these teddy-bear characters. But it strained my belief and annoyed me. It's actually a really cheap writing trick and and shows that while he may be a HIP author, Strauss is not a GOOD or entirely HONEST one.
Last thing: The book is very entertaining and Strauss knows how to keep your interest. However, I feel his entertaining writing style prevented him from asking the really deep questions. He briefly ponders over the question of what it means to be an American, but left many other potential interesting questions unpondered.
I give this 4 stars because of the interesting subject matter, entertaining writing, and cool author. It doesn't get 5 stars because I felt like there were things he wasn't telling me, and he failed to ask the more meaningful questions."
"The world is coming to an end! Or at least, the US systems are going to crash and burn. Well, I guess you can't be too careful. This book preaches against complacency and encourages everyone to consider his or her best tactics for getting out when the time comes. Lots of interesting material and some good food for thought, and though I don't think I would survive if I had to slaughter my own goat, at least now I know how to go about finding the right knife to do the job."
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