Mar242010
Survival Survey: So, you’re stuck in the bunker and…
…you realize you’re going to have a lot of time on your hands for days, weeks, maybe months. Boredom is setting in. You reach into your Bug Out Bag and pull out the one book you had to have with you. That book is…?
image by Jayel Aherim
Now, don’t hold me to this, but my choice just might be The Travels of Marco Polo. It’s a substantial book, filled with fascinating tidbits and historical information. Trying to track Polo’s journey on a map would take me a few weeks, but that would be okay. What else is there to do in a bunker after you’ve eaten your rice and beans??
Let’s assume the Bible is a given, if that was your first response. So, other than the Bible, what book would you dig out of that bag?
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Lucas_SurvCache
I'll assume you're looking for reading-for-entertainment books and not practical-use books, because that choice would be a giant packet of survival manuals.
Reading for fun, I think I might have to go with my giant Lord of the Rings book. It has the Hobbit, the Trilogy, and all the appendices. (Yes I'm a Lord of the Rings Nerd.)
Then again maybe something really deep that you could spend weeks deciphering and contemplating like Plato's Republic, or Locke's Treatises.
I hope I never have to choose just one.
Andrea
I'm with Lucas…gotta have my Tolkien.
Le Loup
I am with Lucas, Lord of the Rings, Deerslayer and Last of the Mohicans. I am a Living Historian so I would include some of my Living History books.
As it is I am not likely to be in a bunker, and if I have to leave my self-sufficient home I will not be carting a lot of books with me.
Regards.
TheSurvivalMom
You know, a copy of the U.S. Constitution would be a good idea. There's no way of knowing what type of government, if any, will be left standing after an Armageddon-type scenario.
LizLong
I have a very small copy of the Constitution in one of our emergency containers that will go with us if we can't SIP. I have a nice hard-bound copy upstairs, within easy reach. I'm thinking about working on memorizing at least part of it – I know I have a lot of my brain that I'm not using!
rightwingmom
I'm making another B.O.B.B. (Bug Out Book Bag) Austen and Dickens can come along with us.
Lee C
I think Rousseau's Social Contract is essential for civilized life, but I doubt I'd want to read it over and over.
Stephen King's "The Stand"? Might hit too close to home…
A literal History Textbook from High School or College level…I'd sure miss the internet though…
TodaysSurvivalShow
I actually keep 3 John Grisham books in my bag. They are easy reads which is good for me and even though I know what happens, I would re read them again. The Firm, A Time to Kill and The Chamber. Between those 3 and the Bible. They may not keep me busy for months, but for a few days or a week or so, no problem.
Dustin
My BOB has a Bible and Ranger Handbook (SH 21-76)
Cindy
This kind of feels like the discussion the man and woman in "The Day After Tomorrow" were having in the Library. They were arguing over which books could be burned to keep them warm and which books had to be saved. Frankly, I think I need a separate BOB just for books, and yes I would be happy to lug all those books too – some of the blank pages could be used for kindling!
Gone WIth the Wind; The Narnia Series; Moby Dick; Atlas Shrugs; LOTR and Hobbit; a book of good poetry – that's off the top of my head. I really couldn't pick just one.
Dustin Tarditi
It could end up like in Farenheit 451 where they come across the commune of people who have committed books to memory when the printed ones were destroyed.
LizLong
I loved when the other guy looked at them and said, "there's a whole section on the tax code over here that no one will miss." Awesome comment!
rightwingmom
I'm a former reading teacher AND bookworm! This is an impossible choice!
Okay ~ I'd take a deep breathe and grab…
OMGOSH!!! I can't do it…too many to choose from!!!
Maybe I'll take several blank tablets and pens and write my own novel.
"Courageous Adventures of a Rightwingmom"
TheSurvivalMom
Amazon has been one of the greatest gifts to mankind. Click, click, click…I OWN A NEW BOOK!!! LOL A friend gave me a Kindle, and I'm in love with that thing, too. Somewhere around here there's a pic of me as a second grader wearing a bookworm costume and holding a sign that says, "I read 100 books!" I really haven't changed much since then, other than not having time to read like I used to.
SDMare
I completely agree with writing a book of your own!! I read The Last Survivors Series by Susan Beth Pfeifer on a backpacking trip. It's a young adult series, yet it made me realize how important writing would be to maintaining bearings. I think I would keep a journal and work on a fiction series of my own. I keep To Kill A Mockingbird and Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn in my BOB.
Ravenwolf31
Stephen Kings Nightmares and Dreamscapes. It is a book with a TON of short stories, and the paper back version is small enough to fit in a bag.
Robot
Dungeons and Dragons PHB, DMG, and MM. with these three books and some dice and paper I could keep myself and others entertained for years and years. not to mention that role playing is a good way to vent frustration and allow people to escape from a bad situation for a while.
LittleGeks
Now thats thinking Robot! People may think us "Gamers" are nuts, but they just do not know what they are missing!
Tess P.
Every time I go to Barnes and Noble, I pick up some of the fictional books that the schools ask the kids to read. I have picked up childrens books about the founding fathers, The Wizard of Oz, and also have a few for me. So far I have gotten, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I also have a few Maya Angelou books in my library. I read somewhere that although it is important to have preparedness manuals, it is also good to have some books that a person can use recreationally. Times may be so bad that they may just want to escape into a good book.
TheSurvivalMom
Hey, Tess! Haven't seen you around in a while! You're right about having books as an escape. Sometimes it's just nice to sit somewhere comfy, open that book, and disappear into it for a couple of hours.
Sgt Joe
If I had one choice for taking away the boredom it would have to be The Foundation Trilogy by Asminov. It is very entertaining, well written and the main plot of the trilogy is not answered till book 3. I believe he is one of the best sci-fi writers of all times.
Tess P.
I read your sight almost every day, but most of the time, my thoughts have already been voiced by another reader. Great minds think alike!
DBross7
Atlas Shrugged, definitely. Nice long book, inspirational, and gets you moving.
Squantos
I have a collection of pdf files and books that range from the bible, DOI & the Constitution, reference material for medical and survival, entertainment etc that is a all bound using the punch machine at work that has the removable plastic ring backing after I print , arrange and tab. It is a good way to do it as after once compiled I can easily take it apart and add or remove outdated or other information as needed. A couple of the Fresnel (sp?) flat reading lenses can be slid into a pocket on the cover. Ones like library cards are kept inside the book cover per se…..
http://www.binding.com/catalog.aspx?catid=bookbin…
The machines range from less than 80$ to a few grand depending on your needs but they use the plastic ring comb to bind your collection of ideas, , notes, pdf versions o fiction and reference and of course pictures of your insured, your family, maps, etc… Anything you can think of you may need. if you put account numbers or phone numbers in it you can use what is called a + 2 code to alter the data for safety such as Acct number 147A3 would be listed as 369C5 as an example.. Laminate the important data or laser print on tyvek, make a good book cover from nylon w/ pen and pencil sleeves and a keep it in a good waterproof SEAL brand stuff sack. Mine is about the size of a cabelas catalog.
Shy of the bible and reference materials and emergency data ….don't read the fiction etc till yer stuck in a long wait and see situation…….:o)
Great Site Mom !!
TheSurvivalMom
It's good to see you back, Squantos! Good suggestions!
Prophezine
I have a Kindle with a growing library of books including the KJV Bible, Patriots by Rawles, How to Survive TEOTWAWKI by Rawles, a series by Don Browm about a christian navy Jag officer, Atlas Shrugged, Glen Beck's Common Sence, The Art of War, Life from the Deerstand, The Islamic Antichrist, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why, When All Hell Breaks Loose…ect
Because Kindle now has PDF capabilities, I also have a lot of PDFs ranging from medical, survival, bushcraft and also old novels like the entire Sherlock Holmes collection, Mark Twain, and others.
The Kindle will last approx a one – two weeks on a charge and there are solar chargers you can get to charge both this and an iPod. On my iPod I also have many audio and video files with "how to", sermons, the bible, multiple podcast shows, ect. Both of these are small and compact. I have waterproof / shockproof sleeves for both.
Both of these are major resources for my BOB and TEOTWAWKI plans.
As for hard core books, my KJV Study Bible and FM 21-76 – US Army Survival Manual (which I have in PDF as well on Kindle)
Prophezine
TheSurvivalMom
Those are all great suggestions. I need to learn how to use the PDF function on my Kindle. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Amy
Just a tip – I have the smaller Kindle so PDFs appear really small and I can't see them to read. I downloaded Calibre (free) and added the PDF to my ebook library in Calibre and then converted the ebook to mobi. It read great on the Kindle then.
TheSurvivalMom
I haven't tried storing PDF files on my Kindle, but thanks for the tip. One thing I've appreciated about reading books on the Kindle is being able to adjust the font size!
Regular Patriot
Can I bring my wife's Kindle or my iPhone so that I can take 100's of books?! If not, Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of Rings Trilogy for sure.
TheSurvivalMom
Why is it always the wife who has the Kindle?? You're the third guy I know who has referred to it as, "My wife's Kindle…" LOL In my house, it's my daughter who gets the most use out of it, but then, she's not blogging all the time, either!
TheSurvivalMom
Why is it always the wife who has the Kindle?? You're the third guy I know who has referred to it as, "My wife's Kindle…" LOL In my house, it's my daughter who gets the most use out of it, but then, she's not blogging all the time, either!
LizLong
It took me awhile to decide, but I think I'd go with my "Norton Reader". It's an anthology, so I'll get variety. Both Atlas Shrugged and Gone With the Wind are long-time favorites and just plain long, but I've read them sooo many times that I'd like something else, if it's my only choice. I think an anthology would work well. My worry with something like a kindle would be a possible EMP. I don't know how to actually protect anything from those, or we'd make an "electronics shelter" just to keep "spare" laptop, gps, etc safe from it when not in use.
TheSurvivalMom
Liz, I have read that a galvanized metal garbage can MIGHT protect electronics in an EMP event. I don't know if its' true, but its' worth a shot. We have an old laptop that I've been using just for storage. We copy financial records, documents, etc. on it as a backup. Now, here's my plan. FWIW! I'll keep that laptop in the metal garbage can, along with whatever small electronics I want to protect, tape the whole thing shut with duct tape, and then just sit and wait. LOL I really think I'd cry if my Kindle were ruined or lost.
Cheap_Yankee
I would bring Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” and “Theory of Moral Sentiments” with me. I can write/tell my own fictional stories to the kids from memory until the cows come home, but these two treasures (along with a copy of the Constitution) explain how to rebuild from empty wilderness to a thriving economy once the dust clears (Smith has been much maligned by the free traders as of late … I suggest you read him yourself).
TheSurvivalMom
We definitely have a lot of book-crazy people who read this blog! Thanks for the suggestions, and I agree with the comment that a Book BOB would take care of the problem of having to leave your most beloved books behind.
Ron
Freehold by Michael Williamson. A fun read and some practical philosophy too.
Amy
Pillars of the Earth & World Without End by Ken Follet
Barbara
I'm a Lord Of The Rings Nerd, and have been since the 1960's, but I'm a writer. If I was stranded on on a deserted beach, I'd get a stick and write in the sand. A good supply of paper and a good collection of pens and pencils are part of my prepps.
LittleGeks
Only 1 book, horror of horrors. I have been picking up used copy of books from the thrift stores in my area and storing them in a wheeled tub in the back of my truck. I've put a padlock on the tub and the books are inside an industrial storage plastic back (it's really thick plastic) to protect them from potential water damage. I have everything from "Idiots guides to….", text books for the basics (math, science, health, literature, etc.), survival guides, a copy of my BOBinder, and recreational reading materials. I finish a book about every other day, I would go insane without reading material. I work on computers all day so by the time I get home I don't even want to see an electronic version of anything!
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Becca
I would recommend The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins…it’s what got me thinking about how to prep. Awesome books that make one think.
TheSurvivalMom
I haven't heard of that book. I'll add it to my list. Thanks!
Sean
I have a Kobo reader, and have converted all of my ebooks to ePub format, and have them stored, by topic, on different SD Cards. I have one for Fiction/Fantasy, one for How To books, one for Survival manuals and SHTF type stuff…I also have a battery powered charger that will charge any USB device.
Being an "avid reader", I really hope I have enough to keep me occupied!