Bunker

What It Takes to Survive the Apocalypse

By: Bradley Garrett

Narrated by: Adam Sims

As seen on 60 Minutes, a thought-provoking, chilling, and eerily prescient look at “prepper” communities around the world that are building bunkers against a possible apocalypse.

Currently, 3.7 million Americans call themselves preppers. Millions more prep without knowing it. Bradley Garrett, who began writing this book years before the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, argues that prepping is a rational response to global, social, and political systems that are failing to produce credible narratives of continued stability. Left with a sense of foreboding fueled by disease outbreaks, increasing government dysfunctionality, eroding critical infrastructure, nuclear brinksmanship, and an accelerating climate crisis, people all over the world are responding predictably—by hunkering down.

Garrett traveled across four continents to meet those who are constructing panic rooms, building underground backyard survival chambers, stockpiling supplies, preparing go bags, hiding inflatable rafts, rigging mobile “bugout” vehicles, and burrowing deep into the earth. He has returned with “a big-thinking, deep-diving, page-turning study of fear, privilege, and apocalypse” (Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland) from the frontlines of the way we live now: an illuminating reflection on our age of disquiet and dread that brings our times into new and sharper focus.

With scenes that are “fascinating, amusing, crazy, chilling, and surreally topical” (Douglas Preston, author of Lost City of the Monkey God), Garrett shows that the bunker is all around us: in malls, airports, gated communities, the vehicles we drive. Most of all, he reveals, it’s in our minds.

Wow that was good

Kudos to the author for such a well written, interesting and educational experience into a subculture I knew very little about. A wonderful blend of entertaining and insightful with a lot to think about and discuss. The narrator felt a little fast for me only at the beginning and thought he did a great job as well. Highly recommend.

so many snowflakes in the reviews

excellent view on the reality of prepping….
lots of talking with very little actual work in every aspect and facet of prepping across the planet.
finally an educated man taking an educated years long stroll through all the dark corners of the preparedness community allowing each character to speak for themselves.

Fantastic listen! Recommended from 99pi podcast

I got the book after hearing the great episode on binder design from 99 percent invisible podcast.

If you liked the episode this book is for you. It goes into details on the current state of projects and the people behind the projects & movements.

Surprised and delighted.

To be honest I didn't know what to expect when my son suggested I read this book; he knew I had a passing interest in prepping and also knew I was disappointed with many of the authors I'd read in the past. First off let me put this one thing to rest: I generally don't read a book that is read by the author, having learned the hard way that nearly all authors should leave this to the professionals; and here was the first surprise, Mr. Garrett did a very good job, perhaps even indistinguishable from a professional reader. Know that this will not interrupt the quality and enjoyment of the book. What struck me most about this book is, what seemed to me, Mr. Garrett's disappointment with the state of the "prepper" world. I had the sense, that like me, he was looking for and expected to find leaders with commitment, integrity and intelligence; an affirmation that it's not just about crackpot beliefs, conspiracy theories and hording. What he found seemed to me a disappointment to him, and perhaps somewhat of a disillusionment; marketing by shysters, low commitment to standards, and no centralizing agreement on how things should be done, or people's reasons for doing them. Want to know a little about this movement and some of the people behind it? I found this book fascinating and if you have ever wondered about whether you too should put something aside for a disaster, this book can help you find some direction.

Left leaning theme

Author does a good job but the under lying jabs at the Right, Fox News, and Trump gets a little tiresome.