October 1, 2021
Killer viruses, nuclear war, zombie uprisings, an asteroid crashing into earth, catastrophic climate change--there's no limit to the myriad end-of-the-world scenarios people imagine and worry about. Begley, an archaeologist and wilderness-survival instructor, explores ""what actually happens in a catastrophe, how we make it through, and why we think about all of this in the ways we do."" He looks to the past--the collapse of Maya civilization, the decline of the Roman Empire, the decimation of Native American societies--for lessons on how future apocalypses might develop. Environmental changes, sociopolitical dynamics, infectious diseases, and colonialism can be causative factors. He also briefly considers apocalypse-themed religious texts, literature, and movies and ponders concepts of disaster, starting over, and resilience. How we view the future shapes it and our current actions. He cites a University of Cambridge researcher who calculated the average duration of a civilization to be 336 years. Over time, things inevitably fall apart. Begley expertly explains how a doomsday can occur (and includes suggestions on short-term survival) but goes easy on the doom, preferring knowledge and preparation over fear and panic.
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October 15, 2021
A wilderness survival instructor looks at past catastrophes to inform our responses to future ones. Archaeologists study how cultures and civilizations fall, and Begley, an underwater archaeologist and anthropology professor, begins with three once-flourishing civilizations that collapsed: "the Classic Maya civilization in Central America and Mexico, the Western Roman Empire around the Mediterranean, and the many Native American societies in eastern North America after the arrival of European colonizers." Disease wiped out 90% of North American tribes, jungles teem with abandoned Maya cities and monuments, and the "decline and fall" of Rome remains a staple of literature and "the most discussed decline globally." Yet, unlike fictional apocalypses portrayed in countless books and movies, these were not sudden events. Maya culture waxed and waned for centuries, and few Romans understood the forces that were leading to their eventual fall. Thankfully, Native Americans have worked for centuries to maintain what they can of their culture. Apocalypses in Hollywood--and in the minds of doomsday preppers--destroy civilization, leaving a few groups behind, mostly heroic, well-armed men who fend off unruly mobs, usually from cities and thus unable to take care of themselves. Begley points out that this is not how humans respond to disasters in real life. Social breakdown is fleeting, and people "rise to the occasion." The author emphasizes that the most important skill for the future is not self-defense but the ability to cooperate. After an insightful overview of the fantasies and realities of catastrophes, the author describes what to do if you get lost in the wilderness: These are the lessons he teaches in his survival course. They have little to do with the book's major theme but make entertaining and educative reading: Staying warm, dry, and hydrated must be the first priorities. While food is necessary, you can survive without it for a few days. Solid pop-science analysis of apocalypses and survival.
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October 18, 2021
Archaeologist and survivalist Begley debuts with an insightful look at the history of natural and man-made disasters and how people have survived them. Seeking guidance for dealing with climate change, pandemics, and other future threats, Begley examines how ancient Romans, Mayans, and Indigenous tribes in North America responded to catastrophes. In many cases, Begley notes, cataclysmic events caused a shift from urban to rural settings, and societies with “greater flexibility and adaptability in the scale and location of centralized leadership” were better equipped for survival than more rigid civilizations. He investigates the potential causes, including “drought, deforestation, warfare, and the increasing cost of maintaining the elites,” that caused a decline in Mayan civilization in the ninth century, and describes how Indigenous people in North America formed “multi-tribal villages” to survive the onslaught of European settlers and their diseases in the 17th and 18th centuries. Begley stresses the need to adapt to changing circumstances and the loss of familiar comforts, and the importance of “the ability to recognize competence and the ability to evaluate data and information.” Extensively researched and evenhanded, this is a valuable resource for preparing for the next crisis.
October 15, 2021
Begley, an archeologist, anthropologist, and wilderness survival teacher, analyzes how social paradigms of collapse match up with selected historical examples. Using the end of the Mayan civilization and the end of the Western Roman Empire as primary examples, Begley digs into cultural apocalyptic fantasies (as reflected in TV, movies, books, and survivalist subcultures) to see how such concepts compare to actual apocalyptic events. This sociological and scientific exploration is a quiet surprise of a book that will make readers question assumptions about civilizational collapse and apocalypses in general. Begley's analysis and logical generalities are a refreshing antidote to much of the hype that surrounds the topic. Finally, Begley offers some expert advice about what future apocalyptic events might be like and how humans might survive. The book's strength comes not only from Begley's expertise but also his ability to turn counterintuitive arguments into a thought-provoking reflection on the subject. VERDICT Full of witty anecdotes about survivalism and prepper culture, Begley's book is an absolute joy to read and a hidden gem. Pass along to readers who enjoyed Bradley Garrett's Bunker: Building for the End Times.--Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO
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