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| The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why | 
 enlarge | Author: Amanda Ripley
Publisher: Crown
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (48 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4429
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.4
ISBN: 0307352897
Dewey Decimal Number: 155.935
EAN: 9780307352897
ASIN: 0307352897
Publication Date: June 10, 2008
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
It lurks in the corner of our imagination, almost beyond our ability to see it: the possibility that a tear in the fabric of life could open up without warning, upending a house, a skyscraper, or a civilization.
Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make split-second choices to save ourselves and our families. How will we react? What will it feel like? Will we be heroes or victims? Will our upbringing, our gender, our personality?anything we?ve ever learned, thought, or dreamed of?ultimately matter?
Amanda Ripley, an award-winning journalist for Time magazine who has covered some of the most devastating disasters of our age, set out to discover what lies beyond fear and speculation. In this magnificent work of investigative journalism, Ripley retraces the human response to some of history?s epic disasters, from the explosion of the Mont Blanc munitions ship in 1917?one of the biggest explosions before the invention of the atomic bomb?to a plane crash in England in 1985 that mystified investigators for years, to the journeys of the 15,000 people who found their way out of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Then, to understand the science behind the stories, Ripley turns to leading brain scientists, trauma psychologists, and other disaster experts, formal and informal, from a Holocaust survivor who studies heroism to a master gunfighter who learned to overcome the effects of extreme fear.
Finally, Ripley steps into the dark corners of her own imagination, having her brain examined by military researchers and experiencing through realistic simulations what it might be like to survive a plane crash into the ocean or to escape a raging fire.
Ripley comes back with precious wisdom about the surprising humanity of crowds, the elegance of the brain?s fear circuits, and the stunning inadequacy of many of our evolutionary responses. Most unexpectedly, she discovers the brain?s ability to do much, much better, with just a little help.
The Unthinkable escorts us into the bleakest regions of our nightmares, flicks on a flashlight, and takes a steady look around. Then it leads us home, smarter and stronger than we were before.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
 An Absolute MUST Read January 6, 2009
Unless you live in a concrete bunker with a personal security force trained in fire suppression, personal security, and emergency medicine and can afford to have all of the essentials for daily living delivered to your door so that you NEVER, EVER have to leave home . . . you should read this book. For the overwhelming rest of you who do not fit the exclusion above, I cannot begin to say enough about this text. As a professional emergency manager, I mention this book practically every time I speak. This will not be the ONLY book you will ever read in order to become more personally prepared for disasters and emergencies, but it would be the FIRST book I would recommend. Ms. Ripley has done an amazing job researching stories that clearly illustrate the differences between those who survive when faced with unthinkable situations and those who perish. If you have no desire to remain amongst the living, please do not purchase this book, read the contents, or change the way you think in order to increase your chances. If, however, you are trying to keep your body above the surface of this big ball of mud as long as possible - order this book today, read it the minute it arrives at your door, and start thinking about what you can do to be more prepared NOW.
A good book for dangerous times December 26, 2008
Being a student of historical fires and cataclysmic events for many years, this book was very interesting reading. Specifically because it exsposes the myths about what people do in times of severe crises in which they are confronted with a situation which poses an imminent danger to their life and health. The so-called "leader" of a group may in fact not be the person who actually takes charge in a crisis situation, but rather a person who has become aware of the stages of panic and the counter productive behaviours such as "milling" and gathering inconsequential items before evacuating a dangerous area. Some extremely interesting and suprising examples of these behaviours which showed themselves on 9/11 are documented in this book.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, because it reinforces the need for all of us to rethink and retrain our minds to work properly in times of crises. It's very obvious that 9/11 wasn't the end of terrorism. but only an indication of how truly commited a large group of people is to destroying and undermining our way of life. We all need to be prepared to meet these threats on an individual level, because there will be no one else there to tell us what to do when disaster strikes. Constantly being aware of our surroundings and alternative exit doors, wherever we may be, is the best way to be ready to find a way out of a
burning building, or any unsuspected disaster. We have seen examples of people being trapped again and again, simply because they only knew one way out of a building or restaraunt, the front door they, and everyone else came in. And the result is unfortunately the repeated scene of bodies piled up just inside the door, mere yards from excape.
Please read this book. Your survival and those of your loved ones, may someday definitely depend on learning and practicing its lessons.
 Morbid Curiosity December 21, 2008
This book was mentioned in Glenn Reynolds' Instapundit website. He often refers to books and articles about survival techniques and preparedness. In no way am I interested in survivalist stuff, but I do have curiosity about big news disasters and how people manage to get themselves through them. This book concentrates solely on actual events and the real people who manage to free themselves or escape. What is the mindset of a survivor under stress? Ripley gives us a summary of insight to the human brain under extreme conditions. A fast read and interesting in a Time magazine article kind of way.
The Disaster in Us December 18, 2008
Most of us read accounts about people who survive major disasters, and wonder, how on earth did they do it? What made them special, unique, or different, whereas people around them didn't survive. Amanda Ripley's exceptionally intriguing account into the lives of these survivors, and what made them live, is the focus of her new and remarkable book, "The Unthinkable".
A veteran reporter and writer, Ripley's book recounts the stories of several people who survived (and some who didn't) some of the most recent heinous occurrences, from the Twin Towers of 9/11, to Katrina, to the 2004 Asian tsunami. In and of itself, these survivors stories would be compelling enough. Ripley ties into their stories scientific theories about why they managed to live. Tracing different reactions that people have when disaster strikes (such as paralysis, doubt, etc.), she compares it to the reactions of the people telling the story to illuminate her points. This combination makes for some of the most interesting reading that I've done.
During this read, you also find yourself constantly asking the question, "What would I have done in that situation? Would my actions lead to safety or to demise?" That constant self-reflection is both inspiring and scary; as the author points out, you may never truly know what you'd do in any life threatening situation. Most of us overestimate our ability to think clearly, quickly, and respond immediately when something big happens. How many of us yell at the movie screen when we see someone standing and staring at an oncoming doom, ridiculing the character for not moving? Ripley suggests that's a typical response.
Unthinkable is a very enjoyable read, very interesting and informative, and also slightly frightening! As Ripley writes, even though I should be terrified every time I get into my car due to the chances of me getting into an accident, I'm more terrified when I step onto a plane. Still... cars are on the road, and planes are 30,000 feet in the air. I guess I'll pop my dramamine and fall into a fitful doze. :)
Worth reading- good book with practical usefulness November 13, 2008
This book is worth reading and can help people in many ways, such as to better understand behavior in emergency situations, be less judgmental of other peoples reactions in emergency situations and be better prepared if an emergency happens to you. Ripley managed to keep my attention and provide a learning experience that can be applied in future situations.
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