Review for The No-Nonsense Practical Guide to Disaster Proofing Your Home: Survive and Thrive In Dangerous Times written by Zachary J Brooks

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The No-Nonsense, Practical Guide to Disaster-Proofing Your Home: Survive and Thrive in Dangerous Times by Zachary J. Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book review is for The No-Nonsense Practical Guide to Disaster Proofing Your Home: Survive and Thrive In Dangerous Times written by Zachary J Brooks

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and I love prepping etc. but really, how much more could there possibly be? Well – enough to earn a solid five- stars for blowing my mind with its exhaustive wealth of compacted information (no fillers included).

Corporal Zachary Brooks, is the co-founder and CEO of Standard Survival Pro, a company that works to provide “the best survival gear available today.” A decorated member of the Army National Guard, he has spent his career in the medical personnel field, specializing in organizing the efforts for medical readiness and responsiveness of the Guard. Some of the best preppers are current or ex-military, Mr. Brooks is no exception.

“No Nonsense Practical Guide,” is an exact clear title, describing precisely what is in store. The writing is smooth, thorough, with minimal typos, easy and fast to read. My only complaint – there were at least four words that (maybe it’s a regional thing) were British English – droughts (for draft), mains (instead of main), swales (which is an old term for a depression in the marsh), and he at one point used the measurement liters, when throughout the rest of book he referred to gallons… None of that bothered me, but since I’m not aware of him being British, or from England, since there was no disclaimer at the beginning of the book that British English would be being used, I can just see this bothering some people.

Going into reading this book, I genuinely thought it would be full of the SAME bits of advice, a list of BOB supplies, product suggestions etc., as pretty much every other book about Disaster Preparedness out on the market. While I haven’t read them all, I have read many that said the same things. This one, however, surprised me. Some of the checklists are repeated. Which is understandable, if we’re talking about “in case of” situations, you’re obviously not going to search “what to do in a tornado,” when you’re expecting a flood. Then later, some other information, seems repeated as well… But it is instead reiterated and expounded upon to take what you learned and see how it is applied in “this” situation etc. I appreciate that approach, and it shows his competency as an instructor and leader.

Even from the contents page, this book sets itself up for loads of information, then it better provide, or I’m going to be more than disappointed… Because the list is huge and intelligently designed. You start with Identifying Disasters and recognizing what they are, with tips on how to prepare for each one, like blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Then you move to an Action Now–As You Read Plan, that doesn’t cost anything and is FILLED with resources and ideas I haven’t come across yet. Then you move towards the enacting of your emergency plan and your next step and long-term planning, in case the Natural Disaster or Man-Made, turns out to be Apocalyptic. I feel about 96% of the topics/sections in this book were explored in the most detailed but briefest, everything you need and nothing you don’t, kind of way. The section on earthquakes, for example, me being from California, I wanted to see a bit more attention to it like the sections on disasters east of the Rockies received. But that’s not a complaint, it’s a pout.

I highlighted several sections as I read it, and booked marked tens of twenties (is that even a thing?) more- of stuff I liked, new things learned etc. One example, check your Disaster Insurance. Of course, we hear this all the time. And sometimes we get tips of this and that – but this was its own little “How to Read Insurance BS Jargon 101.” Brilliant. Brief. Another example, the Icebox – your “In Case of Emergency” list of numbers, being kept in the freezer, and other adults will know to look for it there. What? I’ve heard of keeping your cold hard cash there, but, your numbers – and people know about this? I didn’t know, now I do. Now to just decide which freezer!

A third example, this isn’t exactly something I learned, but it was something I enjoyed seeing in print… His attitude towards the other members of your household, your community etc. It shows in his writing that he cares about empowering people and empowering those people to empower others. By encouraging those members that would normally just be told to sit and wait to instead volunteer their ideas, and choose their jobs, so they can feel just as involved and therefore prepared, he shows people how hopeful Disaster Preparedness can be if just approached from a positive direction.

If you can take only one book on disaster preparedness with you, or shove the info of one book only into your head – read this one. Keep this one. Excellent guide.

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