Ragnar Benson’s Urban Survival is a book loaded with a lot of expertise, but nearly as many flaws.
Regarding The Writer
Ragnar Benson (assumed pen name) is without a doubt a prolific writer focusing on non-fiction survival topics. He is the author of approximately 37 guides (this number may be low) covering such subjects as retreats, hunting, trapping, false identity, explosives, firearms, improvised weapons, urban survival, and “do-it-yourself” medicine.
Mr Benson has managed to keep his actual location and real identity outside of public information.
Short Comings of Ragnar’s Urban Survival
First things first, the guide is poorly authored. I am mostly for writing in a conversational tone, but the author over does it. There are a large number of expressions that get over utilized to the level of doldrums like “been there done that crew.”
There is no introduction which makes clear context that the book was meant, it was like strolling into the center of a conversation. You gradually get what the author is talking about, however you are left thinking precisely what initiated the discussion to begin with. This is a pretty essential factor considering the fact that the guide was written as if hostilities on United States soil was inescapable.
The deficiency of introduction also leaves readership curious about exactly who this person Ragnar is and just how this individual came to possess his experience. From descriptions of his many other books, I get the perception that his story is spread out over many of his reference books as opposed to being in each and every book as part of a prologue.
The guide is written about Urban Survival and was presumably written for an urban target audience serious about survival. In spite of this, the author gives advice with a disdainful tone towards “City Slickers”. In the very first chapter, he states that many folks referring to wilderness survival are basically referring to, “..recreational activities frequently practiced by elitist yuppies in SUVs..” Wait a minute, by most accounts I am a SUV driving Yuppy; minus the elitist part. Not a huge problem, but bothersome. After these assertions I was rendered feeling much like the writer had no true care for the readership, however instead was filling his own account.
Ragnar Benson gives erroneous facts, such as silencers being unlawful, casting any other material in a suspect light. If you have read through, Silencers: Truth, Lies, and Zombies, I talked about precisely how suppressors are not against the law.
Ragnar Benson brings in historical proof of things that has and has not proved helpful. Although, the details are supplied by “the been there done that crew” that in no way get named or even quoted.
The Beneficial
Ragnar Benson relays a lot of knowledge and makes quite a few excellent points in the course of Ragnar’s Urban Survival. Some of these ideas are the desire for or benefits of: secrecy as a prepper, silencers (in the context of the book), food storage, live stock options, caching, water.
The the majority of critical issues included in Ragnar’s Urban Survival are the Rule of Threes, the Rule of Survival Thermodynamics, and keeping your financial houses in order.
The Rule of Threes in a nut shell is that for each and every essential need (ie. food, water, shelter, security) a person really should acquire “three separate and distinct methods of supply”. As a side note, the author states the Rule of Threes comes from the Nez Perce Indians who rigorously stuck to this doctrine and were very successful because of it.
The Rule of Survival Thermodynamics declares that an individual ought to “never put more energy into a survival activity than is taken out.” It’s a pretty simple point, but one that I had never heard put into such simple terms.
Keeping your “financial house” in order is a no brainer in my viewpoint, but I am perpetually surprised at the amount of individuals fiscal lives are a total wreck irregardless of income or socioeconomic position.
Benson’s part on Nursing and medical help is one of the better chapters of the publication. The tips provided is detailed a sufficient amount of that it is straightaway helpful without the need for further research.
Closing Thoughts
I was left with mixed feelings about Ragnar Benson’s Urban Survival and whether or not I would probably suggest it to folks. There is certainly a abundance of excellent information and facts, but the low-quality writing, off-putting tone, and erroneous information and facts renders it challenging for me personally to say it is seriously worth reading. All things considered, I would recommend the book simply because of the quantity of important information provided and multitude of topics included. Additionally, I recommend highly that everyone fact check everything coming from the book prior to trying it.
