Survival expert Cody Lundin's new book, When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes is what every family needs to prepare and educate themselves about survival psychology and the skills necessary to negotiate a disaster whether you are at home, in the office, or in your car.

I am not sorry I bought this book, but five stars it does not deserve. As I read it, I thought, this is someone who has lived a bare bones existence, and was successful at authoring a prior book. Mr. Lundin does a fair job of covering a monstrously huge subject. For example, Part 1 (1/4th) of the book ("Head Candy") is about the psychology of surviving. Most people who pick up the book are already working on this notion or at least thinking strongly about surviving. This beats out the other 90% of the country. Part 2 ("Hand Candy"), the remaining 3/4ths of the book covers "food, shelter, clothing," & water, hygiene, cooking, first-aid, self defense, communication, and transportation. The book is written in a very readable, simplistic style with odd cartoons; the author's mindset, however, is very frugal. He appears to live off the grid, has a home in the ground, and is survival-wise similar to the Native Americans he seems to portray himself to be like, braids, concha belt, and all. (Don't get me wrong. I'm somewhat jealous of him.) His photo displays include Barbie dolls with mouse skins as caveman coverings and rugs. He seems to be a touch on the melodramatic side; one of his 'catches' (the mouse) is barbecued, on a bed of lettuce. He offers a great deal of what used to be practical common sense, but of course, common sense is not so common. The most practical info he gives regarding "survivalists" who plan to high-tail it to the "country" when the you-know-what hits the fan and "live off the land"--he points out the fallacies of this mind-set rapidly. Overall, this book is written in a friendly style and may rapidly bring to earth any person who has a romantic notion of "survival." Remembered portions may even save someone's life. (But it still doesn't deserve five stars.)

I really liked the new information that Cody Lundin presented. Some of the info is a no brainer that I didn't think of. The drawings were kinda strange and depessing. Other than that its in my libary of info.

I read the warnings from others who rated this book, but bought it anyway because it was recommended by someone I knew and since it was practically free after adding it to get the super saver shipping. This book offers little you can't find easily for free on the internet, and why the author included those goofy juvenile illustrations is beyond me. As a "survival expert," Mr. Lundin should have been able to produce a much better resource book than this.

I thought the book could have been put together a little better. A little less information about the author's quirkiness and a little more usefull suggestions. Contained some good advice and some food for thought (preferably not mice-ka-bobs).

Excellent guide from start to finish. Lundin uses down to Earth, nuts and bolts jargo to create an accessible, highly informative and cogent text. This book should be on all conscientious citizens' coffee table, or at least the back of their toilets!