The Survivors Club

I finished reading this book today. It's not a typical disaster book--it doesn't deal with any one disaster and what happened there, and in fact, it doesn't touch particularly on disasters that cause great loss of life or property. Instead it is a story of many people who have survived catastrophes on a one-to-one level in their lives, and how they have come out successfully on the other side. It's a good book, and I think it is an excellent purchase for disaster buffs like us.

Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

According to the online survey, my survivor type is Believer; and my primary survivor tools are empathy, faith and hope. I hope (small laugh here) that you'll also post the results of the survey when you take it.

Touchstones: The Survivors Club; The Secrets and Science that Could Save your Life by Ben Sherwood

Thanks, furdog. Sounds like something I definitely want to read.

I took the online survey in advance of reading it. My survivor type is Thinker. It says that I see problems clearly, using intelligence and creativity to overcome adversity, relying on my brain to meet challenges. (I should point out that I'm surprised by this result.)

I was a little surprised that I came out as a believer, although I have been going to church more lately.

Maybe when we all get our results we can move in together and travel at all times in a group that contains all of the types of survivors. That would keep us safe, wouldn't you think? Or not.

Well furdog, since then, I went back and took it again with my second choice (close call) answers. That resulted in a connector so this thinker has a social side.

I also took it with what i would not do and that ended up as a believer so don't count on me for empathy.

It would be good to have some of each kind.

I need to read that book.

I have the book, but it is still in my way-too-tall TBR pile. Tried to look at the website, but it requires IE7, and downloads of that type are blocked here. My dialup service at home is WAY too slow to go browsing anywhere.

oregonobsessionz, I don't have IE7 or any of that stuff either so I took the quiz at:

http://daniedaniedanie.blogspot.com/2009/01/survivors-club-test.html

(It's on the left side.)

I hope it's the same one. I think it is.

Aha, that link worked. The quiz said I am a Thinker, which is exactly what I expected. I could have written those "Worst Case Scenario" books. I just wish I had thought of it first - I could be fabulously wealthy by now!

When I fly, I read the emergency instructions, scout out the nearest exits, and make my best estimate whether the passengers closest to those exits will be able to open them. If they don't look capable, I am fully prepared to climb over anyone and everyone in my way, to get that exit open. This is not as selfish as it sounds - you don't have much time if you crash, and if those exits don't get open, no one at all is getting out. Once the exits are open, I would of course be willing to help others to get out.

Same thing in a hotel. I absolutely will not stay above the 2nd floor without automatic fire sprinklers. While checking in, I examine the fire alarm control panel (which is usually at or near the registration desk) to make sure they don't have any circuits in alarm (red) or trouble (yellow). If they do, I will not stay there. After checking in, I dump my stuff in the room, and then go back out to find the two nearest exits. I walk down each exit, to make sure that they aren't storing junk in the stairwells, and that the doors can be opened at ground level. Again, if those exits aren't clear, I am not staying at that hotel. I have walked out of some hotels with very fancy names because I found ladders, spare mattresses, etc. stored in the exit stairwells! Of course I call the local fire marshal when that happens.

Thinker celebs include Steve Jobs, Hillary Clinton, Chelsey Sullenberger (hero pilot of US Air 1549). That's pretty good company.

BTW, the grizzly bear question was stupid. Some of those answers may be applicable under certain circumstances involving black bears, but they are all wrong for grizzlies. With a grizzly you can try backing away slowly, but if the bear actually attacks, you want to hit the ground, curl up in a fetal position with your arms protecting your head, and play dead.

>7 oregonobsessionz:

I thought I checked hotels thoroughly, but I hadn't thought of most of things you mentioned. I'll be sure to take a closer look from now on.

My survival IQ is 'Realist'. I am not sure if this is good or bad, lol.

>9 alcottacre: Well, speaking realistically...I'd say it's good. ;-)

Are any of you on Facebook? I'm trying to build up a friends list there. Send me a friend request if you'd like. I go by Deb Waugh there.

I am. I'll check it tonight to see if I can find you. I don't like to check it at work as it sends up read flags.

I just took the test. Apparently I'm the thinker type.

I tried to post the results to my profile page, but apparently the code is wonky and won't work and also obliterated almost everything else. Anyone have suggestions.

I got this one on my new Kindle and I am enjoying it (though I'm not that far into it yet).

When I first heard about it, I thought it'd be similar to Amanda Ripley's The Unthinkable. Then I saw your review, furdog, and it did sound quite different, with a greater focus on day-to-day type disasters.

I like the fact that it is different from The Unthinkable.

>15 lindapanzo:

What do you think of the Kindle, lindapanzo?

I love it!! I want all of my books to be on it, not just the 15 or 20 I bought this week to "fill it."

It's very easy to use--I hardly even notice I'm using it anymore.

I've also cancelled my NY Times subscription and switched to the kindle edition.

>17 lindapanzo:

Wow, I may have to give in and invest in one.

I'm finding that I can read this only for so long (a half hour at a time) and then have to do something else for awhile. This is unusual for me as I usually sit and read for at least an hour or two. I think it's the nature of this book.

furdog (and anyone else who's read it), did you find this to be true?

I think I read it at about the pace that I do other books. It's definitely not one where you pick it up and read it cover to cover though.

I read most of my books cover to cover in just a few sittings but this one did take longer.

What a fabulous book--one of my favorites so far this year. Some of the stories are amazing, such as the one where the guy fell off the cruise ship and lived to tell of it.