Patriots

Despite the specific disclaimer to not being a how-to survive book, it is written as a documentary about the group of people who foresaw the collapse. "Hindsight is 20/20" is common phrase as they discuss their errors, which the reader can take as a lesson learned and not make the same mistake.It is absolutely amazing that even though the author wrote the book years ago, and recently revised it, some of the events just hit the headlines last month (in July, 2010).It seems the author picked up on most of the prevailing conspiracy theories, and even introduces a few I have not heard of, which forced me to do some more research. Author's mission accomplished.What I enjoyed about the book:- Easy reading style.- Credible layout of event leading up to the collapse.- Accurate predictions that are coming true today. (No, I'm not going to spell them out here - buy the book and read nytimes.com.)- Likable characters.What I disliked about the book:- Some of the chapters have absolutely nothing to do with the main story (the two brothers who were traveling gun show sellers). It was nice for the author to introduce the brother's beliefs, which may have some basis in fact, but the entire thread had nothing to do with the main theme of the book. After the first third of the book, the flow is solid and the story reads well.- The freedom fighters profess to support the US Constitution, yet regularly violate it. It seems like they didn't read it. So even though they hypocritically violate their own beliefs, the author may have done this intentionally. Since I've never been in their shoes, who am I to judge?- The author used several acronyms without defining them. G.O.O.D., for example (Get Out Of Dodge?).- The author also referred to some of the equipment using incomplete names and did not describe it. This is fine for someone already familiar with the items, but annoying to those who are not. Fortunately this happened only a couple times.Neutral comments:- The author uses a lot of gun terminology that the average person will not know. (What's a seer? What is bedding?) It is evident that he is intimately familiar with guns, or else he did a lot of research on the topic.- I personally disagree with the group's choice of "standard" rifle (AR-15). My research indicates there is a less expensive gun that is much more reliable and still uses the .223 round. But the AR-15 is sexy and a common rifle.- The post crash bartering system used high-content silver coin (pre-1965) for currency. I'm not sure I agree with that - maybe it could happen - but as I imagine myself in that situation, I think ammunition and supplies would be the exchange medium. I could use 50 rounds of .223 or 5.56, but I'm not sure I would have any use for a handful of silver coins. Too noisy and heavy.- The author also used .22 rimfire ammunition as popular bartering currency. Since most of the characters (main and transitional) were armed with much higher caliber guns, I'm not sure rimfire ammo would really be that popular. 5.56 or .223 and 9mm? Probably. Just my opinion.Summary:All-in-all, my daily schedule was disrupted as I kept coming back to read more of the book. The author's writing style is excellent and the characters are believable. Book serves as a thoughtful treatment of what you need to do to prepare for any major emergency. The book is a good reference for the person who wants to stop running with the sheeple (SHEEp + peoPLE).

Chilling reminder of what can happen. Decisions have consequences and those consequences can be dire. A great read and a lot of food for thought!

If you're looking for a pure and simple work of fiction that presents a page-turning story strictly for entertainment purposes, this book will be a disappointment. Too many characters are introduced and then more or less become forgetable or interchangeable. There is way too much technical information to wade through. Some parts of the story that I had been looking forward to seeing resolved were simply glossed over without much thought.But I believe the book deserves at least four stars because I don't think the purpose should be considered to be as a pure and simple work of fiction. The author is a survivalist and a prepper with a lot of information to share. He has written instructional books before explaining disaster scenarios and preparedness plans to consider for when SHTF. I consider this book to be a smart way to share this information in a new format. The narrative of this book exists simply to drive the information that the author has to share. New characters are repeatedly introduced (with their full backstory) so that the reader gets an idea of how different people, in various situations, and at different levels of preparedness, might survive an initial disaster. The large amounts of technical details about everything from guns, to solar panels, to livestock, to emergency surgery are present not because the story requires them, but because you might find the information useful someday.I bought the book because I wanted to hear another author's version of TEOTWAWKI, and I wasn't disappointed with this book. I think it's worth having even as a reference. After reading it, I immediately gave it to a relative who had asked about 'prepping'. She would never sit down and read some dry instructional manual that covered these topics, but the author's use of a fictional narrative to share his knowledge of the survivalist movement allows people like her to have their questions answered in an entertaining way.If you get to a chapter that isn't of interest to you, just skip it. The chapter titled "Radio Ranch" was full of details about communication equipment and techniques that was beyond anything I wanted to know, so I'll save it for future reference. Also, like the author's other books, the preps that he suggests are many times unattainable unless you happen to have a large amount of disposable income, but scaling down is easy enough. If you're looking for pure entertainment, look elsewhere. But if you're into being prepared - for whatever - I think you'll appreciate this book.

This a great story about what could or might happen in a civil breakdown. The author gives a lot of details and specifics about the arms used, vehicles, and all the supplies and equipment.I’ll be reading the next in the series soon.

Must read for everyone right now. Slightly dry and very Christian, full of good information on surviving SHTF - especially if you are already a long term prepper. If you are starting now or have no idea how life will look post collapse it will be a bit daunting for sure. Everyone should have a copy of this book.

There was clearly a lot of thought and a great deal of technical expertise put into this novel, and that is apprectiated. The basic storyline works although plot progess is irregular, and while character development is clearly secondary to the scenario, it makes for an informative read overall.Where it lost me was with the over-the-top simple clichés. The first two looters just happen to be, literally, card-carrying, cannibal communists? The demonized UN forces are, of course, systematic looters, rapists, and cowards? You get the idea. There appears to be very little thought given to what the UN actually does or how it operates, despite a great deal of insights into domestic constitutional rule of law. And the implication that European nations are all morally debased by comparison to the good 'ol USA is simplistic and sad. The conclusion then felt hasty and incomplete after such a detailed novel.I rarely write a review, but in this case it seemed worthwhile. As an insight into means of preparation for some type of societal breakdown, the book is worth reading. As fiction it may or may not be, according to your taste. But in terms of its presentation of the 'outside world' - for realistic fiction this work is sketchy at best.

This is an excellent book, in fact this is the second copy I have bought -I've worn out the first... What more can I say!Having said that this man is an example of the best and worst of American prepping.He has a wealth of fascinating and useful information that is of use to newbie preppers, but wraps it in a deeply creepy theological extremism.He even got to the point of advocating his own little "Jonestown", with the only difference being he places it in central Africa rather than South America (His novel "Land of Promise").It is clear he is using his genuine skill at prepping as a platform for his obsession with religion.Chose CAREFULLY which of his books you trust...

This particular book was written in the 90'ies and then edited later…but I have to admit, I could not put it down and I have now ordered the rest of the books written by Rawles, I am really looking forward to reading them.

With just a little more motion towards the edge the giant will topple and crush millions. And then some if not all of the events outlined by the author as the setting of this brilliantly edited novel may actually come true. This book was also a major influence to my way of thinking about preparedness.