This is the book I needed when I was looking for a guiding light or philosophy to help me through the harder times of the pandemic. Highly recommend.

This was a funny and informative read that provides good information for folks on dealing with all kinds of apocalypses - both big and small. I plan to order this book for myself when it is published. 4/5 stars

WAiting for the rapture? This book will make you better prepared for it and for the time leading up to it. But who cares?

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Workman Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book that deals with the problems of a collapsing society, a world of uncertainty and times of trouble through science, human psychology, history and humor.

As a person who has had a long interest in science fiction I have always dreamed what the word will be like a few years from now. As an American living in a barely functioning country where theocracy, conspiracy buffs, grifters and criminals seem to be running or running-for government, I wonder how bad it is going to be for my nephews in a few years. The idea of the world joining together in mass to deal with our problems when people were being assaulted for wearing masks in a pandemic seems well like science fiction. Educator, writer, thinker and survival researcher Athena Aktipis though, has some thoughts, as well as many good ideas, and practical action plans that people can take, maybe for the Apocalypse, or just to stop the doom-spiral so many of us find ourselves in. A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times is a look at the history, the thinking, the science and the mindfulness that humans can learn from various events in the timeline, and using science and practical advice, help us thrive no matter what the future might hold.

Aktipis starts the book with an explanation of who she is her, background and what she is bringing to the book. And what Aktipis is pretty extensive. Most books seem to take a thrill in the end, Aktipis is more into the being ready for what happens. Aktipis looks at humans and how we evolved to deal with various situations, and how our modern world has changed much in our thinking of how to survive. Aktipis discusses the needs that community brings, how working together, unlike a loner in the wastes that seems so popular, makes survival less draining. And survival is hard. Making fire, keeping fire, finding water, getting water, always looking for food, and updating a shelter. Many hands will need more, but it will make the work possible. Aktipis looks at possible end game scenarios, from climate, environmental, medical and human dumbness. And gives much in the way of practical advice, with humor, and more importantly funny humor.

What I found most refreshing about this book is that unlike most prepper books or magazines, the agenda was on humans living and thriving, and not selling things to help in the Mad Max world so many of these books seem to want. Aktipis is not afraid to be hopeful, and much of what Aktipis shares pretty much could help people in a lot of ways today. Aktipis brings in a lot of voices, experts who share opinions that again seem practical. There is a lot of looks at the human organism, and why we think like we do. Plus tips on how to stop doomscrolling and thinking everything is getting worse. Little secret, it's always been bad, its just easier to find out how bad it is without having to leave the couch.

A book that a paranoid Uncle might enjoy, and a book that really should be discussed more. Why are so many of us feeling this way? Maybe instead of pretending everything is ok, we start to try making things ok for real. That is the science fiction nerd in me coming out. Or maybe it is the Uncle of nephews who I want to see have the best life possible. I highly recommend this book, for a lot of reasons.

Really needs to be part of the discussions for the challenges we face - some great insights and perspectives.

This book was equally informational and hilarious and somehow made me feel better about the fact that we're hurdling toward the apocalypse.

I found myself laughing one second and seriously contemplating our (collective humanity's) predicament.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fun, timely and informative. Stop the doomscrolling and learn something! We will be ordering this for our library system.