The Armageddon Survival Handbook

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There are two types of paranoid dooms-day theorists: there’s your armchair theorist (likes to talk about the apocalypse, and how how they’d go about their life in a decidedly Mad Maxesque fashion) and there’s your serious paranoid theorist, the type of person who frequents emergency supply stores, buys spare gas mask filters on surplus, and keeps his semi-automatic Russian issue 7.62mm rifle well stocked with ammunition. The author of The Armageddon Survival Handbook could most accurately be described as the second of the two options.

Stahlberg was born in the former Soviet state of Hungary in the capital city, Budapest. He was wounded in the Hungarian uprising of 1956, and according to himself, “resolved to never be caught unprepared again.” What happened after that in his life, isn’t clear, but it can be assumed that he spent the rest of his time compiling the knowledge that went into this book which gives clear and concise directions for survival in over twenty different doomsday scenarios ranging from an avalanche, to currency collapse, to more extreme examples such as nuclear winter and advanced technological terrorism.

The information is split up into several chapters with underlying themes such as Climactic survival, Warfare survival, and General survival. Each chapter contains different sub-chapters, which are scenarios for which the author gives step-by-step information required for surviving the circumstances listed. The author also includes various skills and resources that would be prudent to pick up for surviving, whether it be in general or in very specific circumstances. The tone of the information for the large part is realistic, blunt, and in no stretch of the word: optimistic. The author paints a bleak picture that makes it seem as if survival isn’t likely to begin with, and even less likely without the required skills and supplies. If one were to look at the back cover of the book, they would see the words, “This book could save your life” in very bold, yellow capital letters. The author is very obviously trying to make a point with this. Throughout the book he makes it clear that the prepared survive, the resourceful survive, and the generally die.

At any rate, whether the author’s intent is to inspire fear or inspire a greater dear of awareness, he does both very well. The book makes its reader very aware how they may not be prepared for the eventuality of nuclear war or a full scale invasion of the United States. Particularly interesting, are the lists of supplies that are needed for survival. Guns, ammunition, food, and contraceptives seem to be some of the most important. (Although it is noted that the third listing, is for trading when the value of currency diminishes.)

Also of interest, is the author’s ability to make these eventualities seem actually…eventual. He makes very good arguments for each of them, and goes in a “day-by-day” fashion to explain how each one would unravel. He gives us perspective which allows us to see the catalyst before the “powder keg” is “ignited,” so that we can already be on the “way out” before the nuclear war starts. If you follow the instructions provided by the author, you’ll never be caught in one of those terrible situations in the first place. Maybe. The author tells us that the world is unpredictable, and that even the most prepared people can be caught unawares. However, it seems as if logically it would be the better idea to improve your chances rather than accept defeat; so for those of you who don’t scoff at the idea of another 9/11, or the collapse of the world economy, this book should definitely be on your reading list.