A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times

by Athena Aktipis

A common sense field guide to understanding, surviving, and thriving in our time of complex chaos and crises. Is this finally it? The end times?Because from COVID-19 to climate catastrophe to the looming AI revolution—not to mention the ever-growing background hum of rage, fear, and anxiety—it’s starting to feel like the party we call civilization is just about over. The good news? It’s always felt that way.

Drawing on evolutionary psychology, history, brain science, game theory, and more, cooperation theorist (and, coincidentally, zombie expert) Athena Aktipis reassuringly explains how we, as a species, are hardwired to survive big existential crises. And how we can do so again by leveraging our innate abilities to communicate and cooperate.

Pack a ukulele in your prep kit. Practice your risk-management skills. Enlist your crew into a survival team. And embrace the apocalypse. You might just enjoy it. Plus, it will help us build a better and more resilient future for all humankind.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Science

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2024

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only certainty is death, so make some music, memories, and friends on your way out <3 Essentially, this is a pretty good text for getting a feel for how to inhabit a healthy We're-All-Gonna-Die mindset.

WIL
1) Author-read audiobook! I've listened to many an audiobook that is read by the author that just... didn't turn out great. This was not one of them! The author's voice worked so so well here, and added new depth to the words! Love that!

2) Genuinely useful tips for apocalypse survival. The list of suggested items for the go-bag was especially helpful.

3) General vibe. I think the general approach of "Hey, everything absolutely sucks, but it's okay because we're gonna get through this together" is much-needed rn.


4) Aktipis is aware of toxic positivity and makes a point to *not* steer into toxic positivity narratives. Thank the HEAVENS.

5) Balanced. Aktipis articulates how we are shaped (and effectively bound) by evolutionary biology and social behaviors while acknowledging that we live in a modern context where the reasons for those evolutionary bindings just aren't terribly relevant anymore. She also covers findings from a variety of relevant fields like medicine, ecology, and psychology and provides a decent look into the axioms and Vibes of those fields as they apply to apocalyptic scenarios and prep.


WIDL
1) verrrry general. Aside from a few minor and briefly discussed examples of community-building efforts and the items to pack for specific individuals in an apocalypse (sorted by age and family relation), this book really doesn't really cover any useful survival specifics.

2) relatedly, the text doesn't act as a "field guide" on any apocalyptic scenarios or aspects either. I can see the arrangement making it qualify as a field guide, sure, but field guides, in my experience, are meant to go into a lot more depth on the aspects or parts of a niche subject, almost like an extended glossary. I didn't get that vibe from this one. Maybe my opinion would be different if I could see the layout and design practices of the text, but as an audiobook, the field guide nature did not convey.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ericka Clou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like a good holiday present for family and friends to get them started on preparation for emergencies both small and large. Full of entertaining illustrations.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Julie Bihn]

...(remember, we define the apocalypse as a revelation of risk, not the literal end of the world).

This book had some interesting concepts framed by a provocative title. Perhaps the idea I found the most compelling was that historically, when crises have occurred, people actually tend to help each other when they can. Various societies have expectations that you'll help others when you have the ability, and others will help you when you need it and they can help. It was also hopeful to realize that humans have been dealing with disasters about as long as there have been humans, so we can do it again. The author more or less argues that when things go really wrong, the relationships you built beforehand are a big part of survival.

The author posits that yes, the world is falling apart (it feels like the first half of the book is devoted to getting that across), and yes, you should do something to try to protect yourself and your loved ones. That said, based on the title and marketing materials, this wasn't the book I expected. It's called A Field Guide to the Apocalypse, but then the prep is for more small-scale disasters than the end of the world. That may technically be correct given the author's definition, but it made the title feel misleading to me.

And Amazon's description says:

Includes:
* How to overcome fear
* How to communicate, cooperate, and manage risks together
* How to build the right team so we're not facing this alone
* How to escape learned helplessness and concentrate on gathering the four essential (sic?), ShWaFiFo--shelter, water, fire, food
* How to put together our own supplies, both for ourselves and our pets.

The preparations described are largely for short-term disasters (the author describes her lifestyle as "Apocalypse Casual"). I didn't get as many "how-tos" as I expected, and almost nothing about the self-sufficiency (or even group-sufficiency) I'd expected to learn about. I'd say the main protection advised is to get a group of people you can trust in an apocalypse and keep some supplies. That's solid advice, but as an introvert, I didn't take away any actionable steps about building the rest of my support team. If anything, I got downhearted to realize that in a true disaster where you can't just drive somewhere safe, my choices could be to either shelter in place with a disabled/mobility-impaired loved one, or leave my loved one to their fate and try to escape without them. I guess I was hoping for more concrete action steps to prepare for serious problems and less "make friends and buy supplies."

(I don't blame the author at all for any disconnect between the advertising/my expectations and the book itself; I assume that's the marketing team's doing.)

Overall, I don't think this book was really meant for me, which I probably should've realized after the first few f-bombs (a Kindle search indicates there are more than 50). But if you want an irreverent book that might inspire you to get together a much-needed 72-hour supply kit, this could be the perfect read for you.

I checked this out through my library and got what I assume is the standard Kindle version. The formatting had some glitches, and the graphics were often difficult to see on a grayscale Kindle (it was better on the Kindle app on my phone, though not perfect). While it was readable even on a grayscale Kindle, I think I'd suggest the paperback if you're seriously interested.

[Nannette Demmler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Field Guide to the Apocalypse was a very interesting and informative read. I wish it had been a bit more on the funny side, but I actually learned somethings and that is what counts when you are reading a good nonfiction book. If you are thinking that this book is just for preppers or maybe making fun of them, you’re right it is. But it is also for people who are maybe feeling a little anxious about life right now and don’t know how to prepare for what might happen in the future.

If you are like me and read a lot of science fiction you probably think that the apocalypse is all about the world ending as we know it. Usually brought about by aliens, comets, war, AI, etc. But this is not what this book is all about. It is more about the small disasters that are still nonetheless world changing. The first chapter has some historical facts about times when there were apocalyptic type disasters, such as Pompeii, the Potato Famine, the Influenza pandemic, and how people reacted to them. There is also a bit about how some of these disasters then produced some of the most dynamic times in our history such as the renaissance and the industrial revolution. This chapter really broaden my mind about the definition of apocalypse.

The rest of the chapters focused on how to deal emotionally and how to make and keep those important support systems that become so important in a crisis. The author cites some cultures that have a reciprocal type of help your neighbor in times of need embedded into their society. She also cites some studies done in disasters zones where they interviewed people and how neighbors and others came together to help people with no expectation of being paid or getting anything in return. I found these stories to be comforting, as the news these days tend to focus more on how people are being taken advantage of when a disaster strikes. Humanity on the whole is good and kind and willing to help those in need.

There is of course information about how to prep for the big one and even some talk about what some of those might be. Such as aliens, AI taking over, or zombies, you know the usual things you think about when talking about the apocalypse. But mostly it was preparing for natural disasters, that could happen where you live. Most of this was something I was already aware of and to some extent practice. We live in an area where windstorms are pretty common and power outages usually happen. So we have prepared for those types of situations. We also take emergency supplies when we cross the mountains in winter. But I had never really thought about preparing for bigger types of disasters, ones that are less likely to happen but could. Such as a really big earthquake, which could very likely happen here. Or one of our local volcanoes deciding to erupt again. Things like that happening are sort of on my radar, but not at a level to make me want to prep for them. I am now sort of rethinking that and how I could be better prepared if that does happen.

Overall I found this book to be quite informative. The last chapter got a tad silly with talk about having apocalypse themed parties and what gifts to give to the beginner prepper. But otherwise I learned quite a bit and feel that all is not lost, and that there are some things I can do to prepare for the unexpected. If you are at all interested in this topic, or if you have been feeling anxious about the future and don’t know what to do, this is a book you might want to read.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sure, I’ll admit it – I totally picked up this one based on the title. I did browse through the back cover description and liked the fact that this takes a mental health approach to surviving and thriving despite the challenges. Life can seem overwhelming at times – political shifts, a growing climate emergency, the cost of living, health care in crisis – and I was hoping this book would help me find a way to calm the moments of panic. It does, sort of. Author Aktipis is a psychology professor at Arizona State University, where she studies human co-operation in times of crisis. That co-operative approach is refreshing – preppers, you’re doomed to fail. Aktipis shows how throughout human history, we have come together in times of crisis, as I can attest from experience during our own 2018 flood here in Grand Forks B.C. We survive by helping each other, not holing up in a bunker with KD and guns. That said, we do need to be prepared, which is why I have a go bag ready during wildfire season. From this book, I’ve learned what I can add to it, and to keep it available all year. Having said that, I was frustrated by a lot of what Aktipis writes. She keeps looping back to risk management theory rather than the hand-on practical matters most readers would like. There’s too much on fashion (the tip for heel-wearers to keep sneakers in the car is good, though), and not enough on how-to, including the mental work beyond practising mindfulness. There are some good tips, so it’s worth reading, but be prepared to skim past the repetitive bits. Oh, and there are a LOT of unnecessary f-bombs. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note to Self: No more books with orange covers and provocative, quippy titles - they are middling at best.

One part non-fiction exploration of natural disasters and how humans have weathered the storm (so to speak) for our entire existence; one-part satirical zombie survival manual; and one-part actual practical advice around Prepping for Tuesdays not Doomsdays (i.e., building a strong community of support for both mental and physical well-being, doing practical things like being Two Weeks Ready, and not just hoarding guns in a bunker so you can live out Walking Dead murder fantasies).

But overall the tone of the book is just too much.

Too condescending. Too cutesy. Too many repetitive ideas. Too much the manic-pixie-dream-girl trying to explain why inviting a survivalist to your child's birthday party is a good idea.

I guess I was expecting straight up tongue-in-cheek satire, with maybe a short follow up appendix or two that was like, actually for real, here's a practical list of prep supplies for sheltering in place, and here's how to find the most likely natural disasters in your area.

[Eric Sullenberger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of this is on me because I tend to read titles (or maybe follow favorite authors/series), so I didn't read the blurb. This isn't about different scenarios, but more about mental and social ideas surrounding difficult circumstances.

There was also an overuse of the f-word. I'm not a prude, John Malkovich & Samuel L. Jackson weave that wors into language like a masterpiece tapestry. Plenty of other people use it properly for emphasis or humor in just the right place. I think the goal here was humor and I understand the idea of un-effing ourselves, but it was overused. The first time made me laugh, the second time came way too soon, and by the time I was through the short first chapter it'd probably been used a half dozen times or more without much other humor. It felt like it was used more than "apocalypse" or "disaster" and just wasn't landing.

I rarely give up on books and could have easily finished this in a day, but after the hour drive home when I started it, I was dreading doing chores this afternoon continuing to listen to it.

Again some of this is on me for assuming the topic after stumbling across it in the science section of the the library.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Overall a fun take on a potentially serious topic. The sheer number of f-bombs was a bit off-putting if you aren’t someone who uses them in your everyday verbiage.

I have not gone through all of the additional material included (I audible-d it) however I am hopeful that it is useful.

I appreciate that she spent time focusing on the fact that mere survival is not enough in the long term, and part of your prep needs to include entertainment. Humans need art - in its many forms - even when it doesn’t seem important.

I may pick up a physical copy to have on hand and reference in the future.

I will say, the narrator stumbled a few times, and it almost felt like she was reading sections for the first or second time. Perhaps that is normal, but it tends to throw the listener off when the phrasing and inflections are really off. It didn’t happen often, but enough to make it occasionally jarring.

[Little · Rating 2 out of 5]

2+ There were some general themes in this book that are probably helpful to hear: we manage catastrophes better by working together cooperatively, a sense of humor does a world of good, and some kind of entertainment is helpful when fleeing from or weathering out disaster. This book is very thin on actual practical advice. There are a bunch of decidedly unhelpful sidebars (fun facts about different ways the world could literally end!), a minimal amount of tips to embrace emergency management as part of your day-to-day lifestyle, and a lot of thoughts about how exactly to cooperate with others during crisis situations.

All together, I think most people would be benefited just as much by reading the short story "The Year Without Sunshine" as they would from reading this book (https://www.uncannymagazine.com/artic...). But I'm partial to fiction, so if you're a strictly nonfiction readers, maybe you'll disagree.

[Blythe Penland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this guide was actually very reassuring. We are the product of endless generations upon generations of survivors. And like being prepared for an airplane crashing, knowing what to do when s*** hits the fan makes you way less concerned for when it does happen. And you'd be surprised how some of us actually thrive in chaos. Risk management, problem solving, and things of that nature are honestly pretty cool if you ask me. I did like how this book was split into different categories, like psychologically and mathematically and tangible prep. I feel like this is such a cool topic of study and there should be more research. Athena Aktipis makes this dense stuff sound way better, too. I recommend this book to everyone, you will walk away with something new.

[Keith Good · Rating 2 out of 5]

An alternate title to “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse” would be, “So, Your Lexapro Isn’t Quite Cutting It.” Early chapters are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy wrapped in a candy coating of the zombie apocalypse. The text also has an underhanded habit of talking down to the reader—for example qualifying Carl Sagan as a “really smart guy”—and is peppered with enough coined lingo (z-teams, etc) to feel just a skosh culty. Add that to chapters littered with filler (pages of apocalyptic film synopses or lists of jam session etiquette) and the cons outweigh the moments of humor and insight of Aktipis’ “Field Guide.”

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have access to an advanced copy of this book. The weaving of psychology, game theory, and history to prepare us to create collaborative, community based systems to survive the end times is creative and brilliant. This is such an important conversation as many of us feel an apocalypse is pending. It offers humor and play while challenging the narrative of individualism and giving practical solutions for a more cooperative future. So excited for it’s official release on April 9th!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew the end of the world could be a laughing matter. Cooperation theorist and scholar Athena Aktipis does! In Field Guide, Dr. Aktipis delivers a dose of wisdom and wit. Want to find a way to weather what sometimes feels like an apocalypse-a-day? Dr. Aktipis shares go-bag lists, Z-team advice and facts about asteroids, earthquakes and other lingering threats - and why humans who cooperate fare better than those who don’t. Don’t dally. Who knows what will come tomorrow.

[Libby Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly fun read. Lots of fluff, but good info in there too. Great graphics. Easily digestible. I think a lot of the things the author is saying in here is not just good for being ready for the apocalypse but also could help improve your life.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Venn diagram about creating a list of things you’re good at, things you like to do, and things that would be useful in the zombie apocalypse and seeing the overlap. Best Venn diagram ever.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, loved this book.

Back when I read The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck, my mind frame changed — no book has done that to me since, until I read A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times. Often funny and hardly ever long winded, Athena writes for an audience she truly believes in and wants to see overcome all apocalypses they face.

I love this book—it’s one that has changed my life. Big fan, 5 stars. Thank you Athena!

[Avnish · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's definitely an interesting take and an easy read. As I had already read a lot about the human brain, game theory and basics of sociology, it didn't add much to my knowledge. The practical tips are good. Unfortunately I fear that the people who need to read this the most are the least likely to do so 😂

[Genesee Rickel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book covers some very basic frameworks and is repetitive. It also doesn’t address how you’d been in community with folks with disabilities (and just a tiny section about kids and nothing about the elderly). Honestly, I could have a read an article or two but I don’t think this info really constituted a whole book.

[David Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owe this book a debt of gratitude.

Once in a while I come across a book that doesn't just give me insights, but also reorganizes my point of view. In this case to something much more positive. This is one of those books, stimulating and provocative.

It shifted my approach to dealing with the times we live in, with climate change, environmental poisoning, industrial food supply contamination, and a dozen other crises that threaten the health and survival of our families and our civilization. Yes, a crash is coming. The bill is coming due. Now I understand there are pathways through it that are available to us.

For a long time I've raged at the selfishness of those who have chosen denial or lies or short-term profits over taking action that could keep us safe. I couldn't get past that anger and worry.

The book walks us through some history of the enormous crises through which humans have survived and eventually thrived over thousands and millions of years, causing certain abilities to become genetically coded into us, into our social behaviors and our resourcefulness and the kinds of choices we gravitate towards in difficult times. It shows us the patterns humans have used to survive the worst kinds of disaster.

This understanding of what kind of creatures we actually are, separate from our intense consumerism, becomes tremendously positive. My paradigm has changed. I believe we can thrive even through the coming changes. It's very empowering.

I had to think as I went through the book, challenging certain parts, questioning if they actually made sense for me. Many did. It’s written with humor and is generally fun to read.

[Ryan Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice notes on emergency preparedness, but it feels like the author sways between the apocalypse is fun and kooky and I now live in a bunker and the world is ending too much that the book isn't super clear.

[Anna Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

while informative and approachable (super engaging layout and graphics!), I thought the main idea— the apocalypse can be fun because it can bring us together— was out of touch with the disparate realities of anthropogenic disaster

[Kimberly Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this was reassuring (we’ve survived many apocalyptic events already so the odds are good we will again), some of it was terrifying (here’s all the ways we can die tomorrow), some of it was very practical and some of it was very academic.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining, but it drags on certain places. I get the author is trying to find the “the joy” or “it doesn’t have to be depressing” type vibe, but I had to push myself to finish.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting…

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got me to check my go bag.

[J.C. Pillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly just a very helpful guidebook on how to be better prepared for disasters in general, regardless of how close the apocalypse is.