This blog is a repeat of an earlier one. I switched dates on two books I was reviewing and ended up doing this one early. So once again, here it is.
Preparedness Principles book review
Preparedness Principles
Trade Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc. (August 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0882908065
ISBN-13: 978-0882908069
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #328,423 in Books
Preparedness Principles by Barbara Salsbury is subtitled: The Complete and Personal Preparedness Resource Guide for Any Emergency
True to its name, Preparedness Principles is a comprehensive guide to being prepared for those scary times when things are just not going well, whether because of natural disaster or a challenge such as job loss.
Ms. Salbury draws on her own personal experience to give the reader a practical look at what is important in times of disaster.
Items covered include:
saving for a rainy day
building a pantry system based on buying the family’s favorite foods while on sale.
Emergency heat,
cooking,
first aid,
food storage,
72-hour kit,
water purification,
sheltering in place,
natural disaster
and much more.
A 16- subject appendix in the back has instructions as diverse as making newspaper logs, filling an oil lamp and preparing for terrorism. Specific natural disasters are also presented in the appendix section.
.If a person could have only one book on preparedness, this would be the book. Because of its wide scope of subjects and practical nature, the reader could feel confident that he could find the help he needed within these pages. The information was not limited to major natural disasters, but gave advice to cover personal disasters and every day emergencies.
One of the more practical sections for preparedness that translates well into every day living even when there is no disaster is the Pantry Principle chapter. Many home storage systems require large investments of time and money, often put into food items that becomes old or never meets the family’s tastes and preferences. The Pantry Principle introduced in Chapter Fourteen is based on “Stocking up when the price is right on all the food and non-food items you use on a regular basis... The Pantry Principle is not just food storage. It is much more than that. It is an effective money-management program that also enables you to be prepared for almost any emergency situation that could arise. It provides a personal buffer against outside forces (economic, political, natural and so on.)”
Although snippets of disaster experiences were sometimes included, it would have been nice to have a few more in depth accounts of real life disasters to give the reader more than a gentle nudge to get his own house in order and make preparations for his family’s security and well being.
While the retail price is fairly steep at $26.99, Preparedness Principles has enough information to fill several books. With so much useful, practical information, it is actually a bargain.
I would recommend this book to every family who wants to be prepared for the rainy days in life. Isn't that all of us?
Author's Interview
Barbara Salsbury was kind enough to answer some personal questions for me.
Mary: This book came out two years ago. Why are you promoting it now?
Barbara: Ironically the very week this book went to press my husband was diagnosed with malignant cancer. The last several years have been an unbelievable roller coaster ride. I am just now joining the land of livng and trying to function as an author. Miracle of miracles and many blessings later and one year out from horrendous surgery Larry has survived.
Mary: Why do you think a book of this type is appropriate today?
Barbara: All one has to do is to read the newspapers or watch the nightly news to immediately realize that there is a dire need for many kinds of preparedness; dealing with Mother Nature as well as the unruly economy.
Mary: You speak from experience. What disasters have you weathered? > Which was the hardest one and why?
Barbara: I grew up in the tornado country of Ohio, along with the severe thunderstorms that are constantly there, but probably the worst and most frightening was the 7.2 Loma Prieta earthquake. We lived 10 miles from the epicenter and our house was trashed - still standing but trashed. When it hit I was home alone in my office. It was devastating to the soul as well as to the houses, etc. Emotionally it was a very trying experience even though we were prepared with lots of "supplies".
Mary: We have been talking about disasters for years. Do you think that people are more aware today than 30 years ago or less?
Do you think people are more likely or less likely to be prepared
today than they were 20 (or 30) years ago?
Barbara: People may be more aware because of the media, but I feel that we still have to feed them doses of reality and enthusiasm to encourage them to realize that they can be prepared to take care of themselves - even a little bit at a time. I also feel that so many "preachers" of preparedness have taught hell fire and brimstone along with doomsday and the end of the world that some think they don't want to hear about it from a practical point of view.
Mary: How prepared for disasters, natural and personal, do you think that people actually are today?
Barbara: For the most part I would suggest that there are not a great number who are sufficiently able to take care of themselves for more than a day or so. we are conditioned that the supermarket on the corner will always be open 24/7.
Barbara: What do you think the single most important thing we can do to get
prepared for an emergency? Why?
Probably the most important thing is to acknowledge that there is really a need and that the government, whether city, state or the Red Cross is not going to rescue us as individuals or families. Once that recognition is established then the acceptance and actions of personal responsibility will set in.
This is especially true if people realize that it can be a fun challenge and that it can be accomplished. They just have to remember the chocolate :]>
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- Mary
- I'm a city girl (OK, I'm really a small town girl) who moved to the farm and have only partially adjusted. I miss people, stores and cleanliness.
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8 comments:
Great review and interview, Mary. I take a look at the world today and realize that there is so much uncertainty facing people today whether it be job losses, extended illness or disease, disaster or war . . . it seems most of the world is facing one of the situations. Preparedness Principles has been a wonderful guide for me.
Mary,
I have this book as well, and after reading it, I'm considering buying a stack of them for Christmas gifts.
Every family needs one.
Great interview.
Nichole
Thanks for the review! Loved seeing you guys. Annika has been waving to anyone and everyone who will look at her, but I think she's disappointed that no one's attention span is as long as her grandparents'!
Mary,
Loved the review and interview. The more I read about this book, the more I realize I need to buy it.
And as Nichole said, it would make a great gift.
Mary,
Great review. My wife and I have been talking a lot about this very subject. Reading your review has been very timely. I'll be purchasing this book in the very near future.
Thanks for sharing!
Randy
Great review, thank you for the insight.
Nice Mary.
I hadn't heard about this book.
I guess I need to get out more right?
It really sounds interesting. Putting it on my 'up north' list.
Hope I can find it at Barnes and Noble. Thanks
Eva
Thanks so much Mary. I appreciate you taking the time to review the book. It is so nice to know that it can be really helpful to people. Yes, itis big, but you can read it a bite at a time or come back again and again. barbara
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