Review: Cody Lundin's When All Hell Breaks Loose

Cody Lundin, of Dual Survival fame, is probably one of the most knowledgeable survival experts out there. Most of his work is around wilderness survival, aboriginal living and so on. When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes focuses on disaster/TEOTWAWKI survival skills. It's not the typical survival book--there's not a lot of talk about exotic, high-end and bank-busting survival gear here. Instead, Lundin focuses on practical skills, affordable gear and survival strategies backed up by science.  You really wouldn't expect anything different from a guy who walks around without shoes and uses a $15 Mora as his survival knife, would you?

In When All Hell Breaks Loose, Lundin takes a comprehensive look at every element of survival--shelter, water, food storage, warmth, cooling, sanitation, and most everything in between. He excels in his examination of the basics--his chapter on water is the most exhaustive that I've seen, anywhere. Same goes for his chapter on sanitation--it's got a page on "squatting strategies" and several pages on how to wipe when the TP is gone. The content, especially when it comes to the survival basics, is excellent. The chapters on things like self defense, communication and transportation are not Lundin's area of expertise, but could be informative to newer preppers.

As mentioned, Lundin focuses on what works and what will keep you alive, not what sells big or looks cool. The gear he recommends is cheap and commonly available at the local grocery store, hardware store or can be improvised from stuff you have lying around. That's a big plus in my book-- survival is not just for the wealthy.

Lundin has an informal and funny way of writing--imagine his commentaries during Dual Survival in written form. His "hippy" roots shine through, too--which may bug some readers. The book has black and white illustrations throughout--they're kind of goofy cartoon characters, which is entirely on purpose but may be a bit "out there" for some. Lundin also weaves in some discussion of good vibes a few pages on a hippy group called the Rainbow Family of Living Light. Read it or skim it over--whatever--it's a big book.

When All Hell Breaks Loose really ranks towards the top of "must have" survival books. Lundin is knowledgeable and has really "walked the walk" most of his life. He's lived it, done his research and knows what works and what is little more than fantasy. This book will point you in the right direction on a broad variety of topics, and it's also a pretty good read. Thumbs up.

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