Survival Theory: A Preparedness Guide

by Jonathan Hollerman

If you’re looking for information on how to prepare for a short term natural disaster, this is not the book for you. Bestselling author, Jonathan Hollerman, will present evidence that America as we know it could be destroyed in the near future from the loss of America's electric grid or other societal collapse scenarios. Many preparedness “experts” severely underestimate the threat posed by millions of starving, desperate people. This preparedness guide will help you develop a plan to escape the deadly rioting and looting, showing you where you can take your family to keep them safe, even if you can’t afford a fully- stocked survival retreat. Hollerman’s in-depth expertise and recommendations will cover Bug Out Bags, SHTF Weapons, Tactical Gear, Survival Tools, Knives, Long Term Food Storage, Livestock, Bug Out Locations, Survival Retreat Recommendations, and much more...

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Reference, Audiobook, Self Help, Dystopia

266 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2016

Reviews

[Hazel Bright · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book starts out by claiming that the gubmint will not help you in a WTSHTF situation and that's why you should have three days worth of supplies (namely, food - shouldn't this be water?). OK, fair enough. A little bagging on the government is acceptable in a prepper book. Then - oh boy - here come the conspiracy theories. People are in an "information bubble" because apparently the only way to learn anything is by watching TV or maybe by having a prepper friend. Um, dude. There are also these things called books.

Growing up in the Rockies, I love prepper stuff. I hiked all over those mountains carrying everything I needed on my back, so I know firsthand how important it is to know how to survive on your own; how to navigate, how to stay protected, healthy, warm, hydrated, and fed. That's what I wanted to learn about from this book.

Then to make his point about the "information bubble" that only exists if you can't or don't read, he cites this really dumb meme about gun crime decreasing over the last 20 years, which has since been retracted by the meme's original author, Craig Wisnom, who posted it on the Facebook page of Cold Dead Hands. Wisnom said, "I am feeling stupid and embarrassed that when I put this together I missed out on a decade," he wrote. "I suppose it was my stupidly aging common sense that told me 1993 couldn't have been over 20 years ago, but math would dispute that feeling. While I strive to be factual and back up my information -- and hence the whole reason I cited the study as background to the story, so people could go to the source myself -- I'm not perfect doing things like this on a part-time and unpaid basis, and do make mistakes, exactly like this, or previously, when I had the date of the knife crimes data off by a few weeks, or the speed of a 9mm cartridge off by a factor of 10. I will correct it the next time it's posted. Thank you, and have a nice day."

Now my question is: should I trust my life to a guy who got this so wrong? What else will he get wrong? Maybe he gets some things right, but how will I know what he gets right and what he gets wrong? Do I fact-check his entire book? And then, WTSHTF, and I am relying on my memory only, or whatever books I have around, do I want to rely a book with information I know I can't trust? In fact, I worry that in a real WTSHTF, unreliable information in this book may do me more harm than good.

Hey, I'm not picky. Although The Practical Bushcraft Survival Guide: How to Find Food, Water, Shelter & Fire In The Wilderness and Survive by Robbie Jones has a lower rating than this book, I liked it quite a lot. I really enjoyed The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley. I just got Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury, and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

So disappointed in this book, and worried for my prepper buds who might believe the flawed information presented here and be hurt in a survival situation.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollerman is a former SERE instructor. His book focuses on the first few days to 2 weeks after a collapse. How to bug out. Refuge building. It's a good read. Well written.

[JC · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some useful stuff in here but it is sandwiched inbetween conspiracy theories and a good old Christian lecture.

Also a little self promotion is okay but multiple times "Please hire me.." is too much.

[Karl Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information but somewhat Misleading

Overall, Hollerman's work offers a comprehensive guide/compilation on necessary preparations for the loss of the American grid.

Unfortunately, he touts his guide as a budget-focused plan. That may be true if your budget is 1.5 mil+ and you make $200k a year. That's a bit of hyperbole on my part, but it paints the Hollerman's dire outlook for those of us who belong in America's middle class. Written pre-COVID, this work does not account for the egregious property costs, building costs, and high interest rates we are currently experiencing now in 2024. Even in rural areas. If you have not already built your retreat or bought property by now, get bent if SHTF.

I believe his information is valuable, straight-forward, and unbiased, and I don't want to discount the important steps he lays out in this guide. However, those of us who make an average living wage and don't already own a retreat property will have a hard time approaching this guide with any realistic sentiment of reality. Quite properly, we will likely be among those who die off in the first 6 months of a grid-down scenario. According to Hollerman's advice, surviving the hypothetical struggle is an achievement for the wealthy or privileged only. If you're in, you're in and have a standing chance against adversity. If you're not, you're not.

Great read, but mostly discouraging. I will not be recommending this work to any of my friends or family because they also belong to the class of Americans who simply cannot afford to meet Hollerman's dream for surviving the apocalypse.

[Veronica Zerrer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conspiracy theory ridden, exploits the trope of urban masses emptying the cities to descend upon the Christians who have prepared food in rural areas. Harps continuously on urban masses pillaging hard working rural people. Despite the heavy editorializing, the barely concealed racism, and phobias, Hollerman created a good guide for the American family to use to prepare for a grid-down situation. Unfortunately Hollerman uses the first chapters to rave on about how American society is soft, ignorant, and 90% of us are doomed. Written in 2016 when Obama was still President he is very distrustful of FEMA and the government. One can understand one chapter on how unprepared Americans are, but 5?

The only reason this is rated as two and not one is that Hollerman does provide very good guides to prepping needs. These chapters are found in the middle section of the book. He goes on waaay too much on needed firearms, tactical assault gear, and combat movements, organizations, and activities. It seems like he is attempting a civil war 2.0 field manual. But perhaps being more concerned with organizing my neighborhood I’m being skittish?

Lastly he devotes the end of the book to evangelizing and biblical analysis of some passages used to justify prepping. If one is agnostic, atheist, or non Christian skip over the god-parts.

[Tony Segreto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read on survival preparedness. Basically what to do if SHTF. Some great great recommendations, and the author does a good job describing grid down scenarios. I'm not much of a prepper, but I do like survival and minimal camping, and I believe it is important to have a plan. In addition, longer term grid down scenarios would be insanely devastating to citizens of the US who are not accustomed with living without electricity. People now know the paid of having a few days without power after a storm. This is basically an inconvenience, as most would have to wait it out or drive to the next town grocery story. The difference, is that in a grid down scenario, there will not be a next store to drive to, as they won't be receiving shipments. And if there is a EMP or solar flare, you will be unable to drive. Definitely good to think about before it happens .

[Legacy Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollerman tosses aside the "reality show experts" advice as well as the armchair bloggers (who seem to be great a academic research but without real world experience) and instead gives you practical reality. Hollerman draws on his experiences as a SERE instructor and highlights what would really work in a true worst case scenario.

He also illustrates the reality of what society would look like in a grid down situation. It's not pretty but FEMA reports would back him up.

My only complaint is that he mixes factual, congressional testimony from respected experts on the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid and our susceptibility to EMP style attacks with Alex Jones style conspiracy theorists.

However, overall this is an excellent book on what you really need to do to survive a worst case scenario.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to the first three chapters or so I stopped because what the author was saying was unsettling and did not pair well with walking, which was supposed to be a way to unwind after work. Two years later, when the 'shutdowns' began due to Covid-19, I resumed listening to (and finished) the book. It was not that I didn't believe what the author was teaching, I just did not want to face the reality. The Covid-19 situation challenged my 'normalcy-bias.'

I do highly recommend the book. Just be aware that this is not a book meant for pleasure; it is meant to prepare you.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book. Whether it was by design or just the narrator's choice, the condescending tone of the narrator/author made the book unread readable. I barely made it half way through before giving up. I had hoped that his tone would change when he got to the gear recommendations but they just shifted focus to his preferred gear and why everyone else was wrong - especially in regards to flashlights.

[Ned Sahin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most comprehensive survival book I've read. The author dives deep on each items in bug-out bag and location. The best part is to hear brand names and prices for each item. It makes prepping easier

[Michael Tildsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful. Tons of useful information and ideas from what I believe to be a very reliable and knowledgeable source. Just what I was looking for to check on a couple of things. More of a reference guide than a read once and forget about kind of book.

[Mark O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little dated but still good

Lots of links and decent advice. slaughters some sacred cows along the way worth the read for those, spoiler alert he hates strobe effect on tactical lights.

[NormaCenva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful, no nonsense guide.

[Jason Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Very practical. Concepts, gear, and strategies explained from experience rather than industry marketing

[Xujie8410 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Repeated fearmongering throughout the whole book. This kind of doomsday fear may be deeply rooted in the western culture, such as the household-known Noah's Ark.

[Frankie Bellucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding. Terrifying. Well put together. Thorough.

I skipped the whole biblical chapter.....

[Abigail Rice]

This book is more of a recourse than anything else. It’s definitely a heavy read but it offers a ton of useful information.

[Blanca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well thought out book on many different aspects of preparedness. The author gives his thoughts on when to bug out, staging your assets, retreat setup, and other areas. His view is a little different than some of the other writers out there, and he gives his reasons. I enjoyed disecting this book.

[Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

IMO, if you take the worldview presented in this book seriously, you don't need to wait for the SHTF - you're already living in hell: fear-based, paranoid, suspicious of those around you, girding yourself up for violence, focusing way too much on worst-case scenarios in which you're probably gonna die anyway, no matter what you do. Some useful practical material in between that.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, full of information. Although if you follow the advice of this book, you'll need a good budget.