I spotted this intriguing book at a local Borders, and couldn't resist. It sorts through the assortment of post-apocalyptic films and comes up with suggestions for your own personal style in clothing, transportation, and weaponry - sometimes with comments as to practicality, but always with an eye to making a good (or strong, or scary, your choice) impression on your fellow survivors, mutants, aliens, or whatever else is out there.

The author opens with a list of possible causes of an apocalypse, all of them quite feasible [comforting thought!], and then segues into a list of different post-apocalyptic scenarios - there's even a quiz you can take to see which one you're more likely to wind up in. [Assuming that your wishes would have any effect under those circumstances, of course - but then, we're thinking movie-apocalypse here.] Options include the False Utopia, for which the author's advice is "flee at once" - but she does go on to provide suggestions if you can't or won't leave; the Neo-Medieval world; and the Advanced Technological Dystopia. Some choice, eh?

Among the many tidbits that I found entertaining was the list for "dealing with 'last woman on earth' survival guilt", which included "Don't feel pressured to repopulate the planet" - and also "be healthy for you and your many cats".

Dressing to intimidate might help you avoid repopulating the planet: "You must always look as if you have just ambushed someone on the side of the road, snapped his neck with your bare hands, stolen his car, and fed his liver to your dog. Your dog must always look as if he would like another liver."

Under the "tools and tips for the postapocalyptic warlord," there's the very useful item: "Do not toy around with attractive men in leather pants who appear to be on a mission of some kind. Either help them or kill them immediately." [Half the fun of this book is playing "spot the movie" - or "movies", as many tips/incidents/etc. apply to loads of films. Some are more obvious than others, of course, as the "legal tips for ape tribunals"!]

More advice: "The desert can be a tricky place in which to survive. It's hot, it's dry, and when it finally does rain, there are flash floods and creepy people with questionable dentistry who are now wet."

On top of all the Mad-Max/Planet-of-the-Apes/Matrix/etc. references (which are many and entertaining), the book tosses in some golden oldies, a chapter about the giant-monster flicks of the '50s. Some of my favorites are listed here, along with a quick note about the method of beating the monsters in that particular film. And I was delighted to find a sneaky reference to Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the entry for "The Giant Gila Monster" - check it out!

And there's so much more, but I have to stop somewhere. Let's leave it with one of the author's nominees for "best men to spend the apocalypse with": Bobby Flay, "because I bet he could make rat taste not like rat. Think about it."

I thought I'd offer this very quirky book for a book ray; see the forum post here.

The book is a smallish softcover that weighs about 11 ounces. I will make it an international ray if I get enough participants who are willing to handle the necessary postage/customs-forms requirements to cover the necessary hops. Please post a reply in the forum thread or PM me if you'd like to participate, and include any mailing restrictions you may have.

Bookray instructions:

When you receive the book, please journal it, and PM the next person in line for their address so you'll have it ready when you've finished the book.

Note: even if you've sent books to that person before, please PM them before mailing this one, to confirm that the address is correct and that they're able to take on a bookring book at this time.

Try and read the book promptly - ideally, within a month of receiving it. If you expect to take longer, you can request to be put at the end of the list. If you find you're swamped with other books when the person before you contacts you about the bookring, you can ask to be skipped, and then let me know whether you'd like to be moved down the list or dropped entirely. If you receive the book and find it's taking longer than you'd planned to get through it, I'd appreciate an update in its journal entries or on your profile, just to let me and the other participants know you haven't forgotten it.

When you're ready to pass the book along, please add your comments about the book and indicate where you're sending it, either through a journal entry or through the controlled-release-note option. [If you make controlled release notes with your country/state/city as the location, the book will have a lovely map of its travels by the time it gets home.]

If you find that you're having problems contacting the next person in line, or don't think you can manage to mail the book as originally agreed, please let me know; I'll be glad to try to work something out!

Participants (in mailing order):
NMReader [NM - USA]
guinaveve [OH - USA]
mellion108 [MI - USA]
mrbaggins1 [South Africa]
chich [France]
Jonniboi [UK]
Lord-Trotsky [UK]
lmn60 [Australia]

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I sent the book to BCer NMReader in New Mexico to kick off the bookring, but it's still open to new participants; see the previous entry for a link to the forum thread and signup information.

Arrived today. looking forward to reading and preparing for the "end of days"

While this is not even close to the top of Mount TBR, I couldn't resist reading it early. I realize that I must properly prepare for the coming apocalypse.

What a delightful book - full of practical advice for those who wish not only to survive but perhaps even thrive during the post-apocalyptic times.

I now know that clothes, vehicle and my pet will determine my success.

This is an indispensible guide.

Thanks for sharing.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I must get this on its way. Who knows how long until the apocalypse?

Thanks for helping me prepare

delivery confirmation number: 0308 2690 0001 9864 9432

Looks interesting. I am reading something right now that isn't catching my attention. I may have to take a break from it and try the field guide here. I am PMing the next participant so I have the address ready when I am done with this in a week or two.

I didn't "get" all of the movie references, but it was still entertaining.

I PMed the next participant 10 days ago, but haven't heard back yet...

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Thanks for sharing.

Ok, I have been a most unreliable BookCrosser the past couple of months. My apologies to Gory and to guinaveve - the book is in my hands and has actually been somewhat in my possession for over a month (it's a long story, and I'll spare everyone the silly details). Thanks for messsaging and jogging my memory, guinaveve!

This looks like a quick read, although I may want to take notes in case the apocalypse dares occur during the holiday season (I spent the morning shopping and do believe the apocalypse is upon us anyway). Thanks for sharing the book, Gory, and thanks to guinaveve for sending it my way.

I'll PM mrbaggins now for an addy and have this book winging across the continents as soon as possible.

---

Paperback, 204 pages

I loved this quirky little book! It had me snorting and giggling for a while, and there are things that have come up in movies and television shows that have me thinking about this little book—I want to be totally prepared once that apocalypse finally occurs. I'm totally going to rock my new look with the long hair, leather pants (ok, I'm far past the age and weight when wearing leather pants is feasible, but just smile at me and nod along), and big-ass gun. I have memorized the chapter on how to escape from a bamboo cage (when the apes take over) and I'm determined to figure out how to overhaul my little Saturn to run on an alternate fuel source and power me through the urban war zone.

Anyway, I did enjoy this. It was a great light-hearted diversion from some other stuff going on lately. I was hoping to check out Meghann Marco's site, but it looks like it's down, and I can't find another. I swear I'm not a stalker, but I did check out her smallish wishlist on Amazon.com, and it's a hoot. That gal's got a good sense of humor.

I have mrbaggins1's address and the book is packaged and ready to head out over the ocean. My goal is to get it in the mail this week unless the apocalypse hits, in which case I'll keep it as a reference guide.

Thanks again for sharing yet another great book, Gory!

UPDATE: I mailed this to mrbaggins1 today. Have a safe flight, little book!

A funny note - after I posted my JE the other evening, I went upstairs to watch television. The hubby was watching the History Channel and a program called Apocalypse Man. Rudy Reyes was demonstrating where to go for info (libraries, naturally, since no one loots those after a disaster), how to find secure shelter, start a generator, hotwire a car, etc. I missed a good part of it, and hope that The History Channel airs the episode again. Very interesting and a bit of sychronicity that evening!

Arrived today together with Pride Prejudice & Zombies and some other lovely Bookcrossing goodies....and a postcard from Detroit. A nice surprise. Thanks for sharing. I'll be getting 'round to it ASAP

I am sorry. This book got caught up in Mt TBR and I did not realize it was a bookray. Finished it today. Fall between the cracks, not amusing enough you to appeal as humour neither bizarre enough to qualify as black humour. Thanks for sharing. Contactinf the next in line

Released to Chich in Spain today by surface mail. The Spanish are playing Holland in the Soccer World Cup final at Soccer city this Sunday. I can see the stadium from my office where I'm writing this. Go Spain - you deserve to win and you have the prettiest supporters;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shroton/4749719073/

I can't believe this book finally made it here, I thought it had been lost in the mail! The envelope looks like it went through a world war or two but the book is just fine:)

Many thanks for passing this on mrbaggins1! And we did win the World Cup:-)

Thanks for hosting this GoryDetails. I'll finish the book I'm reading at the moment and will get right on to this one.

I shall no longer be afraid of the apocalypse for I now know what to do and how to behave in all possible situations, thanks to this handy little book. This was really entertaining and much-needed light reading material after tackling a 800-page novel about Cromwell! Well, these were apocalyptic times as well in more ways than one so I can see a pattern emerging there;) Too bad I didn't get to watch the TV program Mellion108 talked about in her JE, my experience would have been complete!

Mellion108's JE also awakened my curiosity about Meghann Marco and after doing a little search found out she was now Executive Editor at Consumerist.com. For those interested, she is also on Twitter.

Many thanks for sharing this GoryDetails! :)

I already have Jonniboi's address but he asked if I could hold on to the book a bit longer before passing it on. I will be sending it to me the first week of November.

I have this book now, although I am expecting to have it for a while because all my bookrings/rays have come at once, which is really annoying, I SHALL get through them all! It just may take me a while to get around to this one, I hope you don't mind!

PMing next person in line now!

I couldn't get into the book, the jokes that came along, I didn't laugh at much, and I soon gave up reading it altogether, sorry for keeping the book so long, shall send it out in the new year!

I haven't heard from the next person in line, so I shall try again!

Sent this book off, it's now in the post! It is now on its way to Lord-Trotsky

Arrived safely. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks

Really enjoyed this book and it's references to many films that I love. Made me laugh a lot.

I will send it on as soon as I get the address of the next reader.

Thanks for sharing it.

Posted today to Australia.

Arrived safely in my letterbox here in the land of Oz! It looks like a hoot! More later....

Really enjoyed this one... though being someone who actively avoids scary movies, I suspect I didn't get half of the references! I feel much better prepared for the end of the world now - though given my particular skill set I suspect I'll be a hapless minion of the overlords before one can say 'Grab your rifle'!
Thanks so much for sharing this one Gory... gave me quite a giggle.. and I even learned one or two scientific facts!
I have a particular bookcrosser in mind who I think will also really enjoy this one... so I'm taking it along to meetup next week to pass it on.

Taking to meetup - where it will be thrust into the hands of another bookcrosser!

To the finder of this book:
Hello and congratulations! You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing --maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (its free!) And if you do choose to join, I hope you'll consider using me, lmn60, as your referring member. Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find like you did. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels- You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!