One of my favorite books for the beginner prepper is Dr. Arthur Bradley's "Prepper's Instruction Manual: 50 Steps to Prepare for any Disaster." I say that because of the way the book is laid out and the approach Dr. Bradley took towards writing it.

It's not a monolithic tome of esoteric concepts, scientific formulas, or paranoid conspiracy (although all of those subjects have a place :0)

Rather it is laid out in small digestible bites: each topic spanning only a page or 2.

This approach works for a few reasons: 

1. It's easy to pick up and put down for those of us who only get a few minutes to read a day here and there.
2. It's not overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the topics being introduced. 
3. It gives a good overview of what emergency planning looks like, its goals, its aims, and its reasoning. 
4. It provides a foundation for those who want to dig deeper into a topic which interests them.

A good example of someone who may benefit from this book would be the spouse who is supportive but not as committed to spending as much time and energy on the family preps. It will help them understand you better, and may even motivate them to help.

This is also a good book for the younger prepper in your life such as teenage son or daughter. You don't want to scare them or bum them out per se but it's a good platform to start a conversation with them, especially if you live in an area where natural disasters are commonplace.

Even the seasoned prepper might learn a thing or two, and at the very least can give you a sort of checklist of the things you should be doing. 

Although no book would ever likely cover all scenarios, the Prepper's Instruction Manual does a pretty decent job with 50 different subjects including: Faraday Cages, Equipping Vehicles, Buying Gold, Bugging Out, Becoming a Ham, Fitting a Respirator, Sheltering in Place, Tying Knots, Making a Safe Room, etc etc. 

There are lots of illustrations, photos, and helpful checklists scattered throughout the book. These are immensely helpful and makes for a more enjoyable read. 

A little info about Dr. Bradley:

Dr. Arthur Bradley holds a doctorate in engineering from Auburn University and currently works for NASA. Having lived all across the United States, he writes from personal experience about preparing for a wide variety of disasters, including earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, house fires, massive snowstorms, electromagnetic pulse attacks, and solar storms.

He has been featured in the New York Times, Money magazine, the Toronto Sun, and numerous radio shows.

Dr Bradley subscribes to the philosophy that preparedness should always be motivated by love and concern, never by fear and paranoia. His practical approach to family preparedness has received widespread praise from individuals, emergency preparedness groups, and religious organizations.

He is the author of several highly acclaimed books on disaster preparedness, including the “Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family,” “Disaster Preparedness for EMP Attacks and Solar Storms,” and the “Prepper’s Instruction Manual.”

He conducts free seminars around the world, teaching individuals and families how to establish effective disaster preparedness plans. His website, http://disasterpreparer.com, provides free information regarding practical disaster preparedness as well as discounts on his books.

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Where to Get It

Prepper's Instruction Manual

Typical Price: $19

If your community was hit with a major disaster, such as an Ebola outbreak, earthquake, flood, hurricane, or radiological accident, would you be prepared?

Would you be forced to fall into line with hundreds of thousands of others who are so woefully unprepared? Or do you possess the knowledge and supplies to adapt and survive?

Do you have a carefully stocked pantry, a method to retrieve and purify water, a source for generating electricity, and the means to protect your family from desperate criminals? In short, are you a prepper?

$19Amazon