REVIEW: When All Hell Breaks Loose

Review by Adam Sarpalius

I should confess that when I bought Cody Lundin’s When All Hell Breaks Loose, I was in the middle of a survival preparedness binge. It was the third book I would read on the subject, and I had already put together my “bug-out bag” and ordered a smattering of ropes, knives and fire starters to help me John-Locke my way through any survival situation that might arise.

What I wasn’t prepared for was how big of a smack to the head this book would prove to be. It isn’t a terribly new book, but it is the most valuable I have read on the subject. I’ll admit that the title and cover make for almost sensationalist messaging that conjures up images of nuclear holocausts and zombie attacks, but nothing could be further from the truth. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a disciplined, practical and intelligent approach to preparing for and surviving a disaster.

Author Cody Lundin is no armchair survivalist. The man runs an aboriginal living skills school and is as comfortable living off the land as he is at home. Just the same, he lives in a house he designed and built to be completely off the grid and self-sustaining. He knows a thing or two about surviving alone without help.

Instead of fear mongering or fantastical anecdotes, Lundin supplies the reader with a steady stream of straight-forward, sometimes sobering truths about what lies in store after a disaster, and how to ready your home, body and mind for the troubles that might befall you where you live. He manages to keep things from becoming too dull or dry by employing a light-hearted tone and clear language (and even some cartoons, which never did grow on me, but to each his own). It’s an easy read, but have your highlighter ready. This is a reference tool.

You’ll learn how to stock up on food and water (and how to find more when you run out), how to stay warm or cool in the elements, how to deal with people and avoid dangerous situations, and plenty more. But perhaps the most important thing you’ll learn is the importance of self-reliance in a survival scenario. Lundin outlines a manner of thinking that will keep you calmly ahead of the game if all hell does happen to break loose.

I’ve read blurbs about this book that suggest keeping multiple copies on hand, and I honestly can’t disagree with that recommendation. I know that if I find myself in a disastrous situation, this is a wealth of information I’ll want at my fingertips.