Total Survival: How to Organize Your Life, Home, Vehicle, and Family for Natural Disasters, Civil Unrest, Financial Meltdowns, Medical Epidemics, and Political Upheaval

by James C. Jones

Knowing that no survival book can cover every conceivable aspect of surviving in every conceivable situation, in Total Survival, veteran survivalist James C. Jones delivers tips that cover the most likely needs of readers and for which there is useful and practical instruction. His goal is to share a variety of practical survival skills, principles, and ideas in an easy-to read format that will aid the reader in becoming stronger, safer, and more self-reliant. The ten principles of survival that Jones sets out are derived from analysis of true survival accounts. Studies of why some people survived fires, plane crashes, assaults, and other deadly situations while others in the same situations perished confirm that these principles made the difference. Although the data and concepts in Total Survival are derived from accounts of acute disasters—such as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and epidemics—they apply equally well to chronic disasters, such as economic decline, shortages, unemployment, climate change, and personal family or health issues. In reality, all of life is a survival challenge, and a survival emergency is just a high-intensity life test. These ten survival principles are the key to success in everyday life, especially during an emergency.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2019

About the author

James C. Jones (1809-1859)

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on disaster survival and preparedness. The author provided much useful information on how to prepare and survive a multitude of man-made and natural disaster scenarios. I was familiar with much of the information he provided as my wife served in the military as an intelligence officer and disaster response planner. Many of the items he recommends are already in our household- and they should be in yours.

With the current state of affairs in our country and the world, I believe the current alert status is yellow, and has been since 9/11. It rose to orange in my opinion during the Covid lockdowns and pandemic.

Issues of today (July 17, 2022):
1. rampant inflation (currently 9.1%)
2. supply issues
3. food shortages/ food production plants burned down
4. baby formula shortage
5. power blackouts
6. A planned decrease in domestic oil production- higher gas prices raise the price of EVERYTHING
7. war in Ukraine
8. a recent pandemic
9. terrorist threats/attacks/mass shootings
10. riots/looting/destruction of property/violent protests/racial tension
11. political unrest
12. hatred and violence/killings of police
13. an overzealous government bent on depriving us of our constitutional rights of free speech and bearing arms. (FJB, Let's Go Brandon)

All of the above are happening today. All of the above point to more problems in the future - not less. Sorry for my loquacious diatribe- but you can't ignore the above mentioned problems as "transient" like the current Biden administration wishes. These are all red flags and you should take them very seriously.

Do you think I am exaggerating? Over-reacting? Think long and hard- put your political allegiances and bias aside before you answer. Be HONEST with yourself. Are things better now than in 2019? Are things more violent? Are murders, muggings and crime higher? Answer honestly and ignore current events at your peril.

If you are interested in practical advice and recommendations about "prepping" for possible disaster scenarios then this is a book to add to your library.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a detail book but does contain helpful lists for being prepared for a wide range of emergency scenarios. Great reference for someone like me attempting to be more prepared but who doesn't have a lot of time to dedicate to researching it.

[KMcd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being prepared and using common sense is very important. I appreciate books like these being available to create more awareness and proactive people. There was, no doubt, good information, but it’s nothing new or cutting edge. It would maybe be of most help to someone just starting out who needs somewhat of an overall idea of what they may be preparing for or should be thinking about.

[Kevin Sandell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fatalistic and worse-case scenario driven, but that was a good forcing function for me to consider all the what-ifs and plan for them. I got a lot of ideas for things to buy and immediately do. I'd read again to make sure I didn't miss anything.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information if not a bit tedious at times. I got a lot of useful tips from this regarding disaster preparedness. I did wonder what qualified the author beyond research but it was useful nonetheless.

[donna john · Rating 3 out of 5]

a dip in and out book

Focussed on the USA, nevertheless some helpful hints. Might be the kind of book I dip into a couple of times a year and each time pick up a new hint or two.

[Donna Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handy e-book to have on phone

This book had many excellent suggestions and diagrams that could be very useful, kept on your phone. Covers a wide variety of potential situations. I added this book to my “Things to Have With You at All Times”.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the gravest extreme situations, we are forced to revise our values and inhibitions. Retaining valuables or having preserved your modesty or vanity will be of little use if you're dead. Unnecessary death is just stupidity. True survivors are flexible and adaptable. They bend instead of break.

Learn how to turn off electricity and gas.

Escape routes can be railroad tracks, river edges, power line paths, bike paths and hiking trails, alleys and industrial areas.
Think of essentials if there is no electricity and no running water.