Ragnar Benson’s Urban Survival can be described as book jammed with a lot of content, but nearly the same number of faults.
Regarding The Writer
Ragnar Benson (assumed pen name) is a prolific writer devoted to non-fiction survival topics. He is the creator of a staggering 37 books (this number may be low) addressing such topics as retreats, hunting, trapping, phony identity, explosives, firearms, improvised firearms, urban survival, and “do-it-yourself” medicine.
Mr Benson has been able to keep his specific whereabouts and original name removed from public information.
Short Comings
Firstly, the guide is poorly authored. I am virtually all for authoring in a conversational tone, but the writer over does it. There are multiple expressions that get over used to the level of doldrums like “been there done that crew.”
There is no introduction that clarifies context in which the book was intended, it was similar to that of stepping into the middle of a dialogue. You eventually get what the author is speaking about, but you are left questioning what exactly initiated the conversation to begin with. This is a pretty significant factor considering that the guide was written as if hostilities on United States soil was inescapable.
The lack of introduction additionally leaves readership wondering exactly who this man Ragnar is and just how this individual came to possess his knowledge. From descriptions of his other titles, I get the impression that his story is disseminate over many of his publications as opposed to being in each and every book as part of an introduction.
The book is written about Urban Survival and was most probably created for an urban audience concerned with survival. However, the author gives advice with a disdainful tone towards “City Slickers”. In the first section, he expresses that many people referring to wilderness survival are really referring to, “..recreational activities frequently practiced by elitist yuppies in SUVs..” Wait a minute, by most accounts I am a SUV driving Yuppy; less the elitist piece. Not a huge problem, but annoying. After these assertions I was left thinking much like the author had no honest concern for the potential audience, however instead was stuffing his own account.
Ragnar Benson offers mistaken information, for example silencers being unlawful, casting any other information in a questionable light. If you have read through, Silencers: Truth, Lies, and Zombies, I covered how silencers are not illegal.
Ragnar Benson brings in historical evidence of stuff that has and has not been successful. Having said that, the details are provided by “the been there done that crew” that do not ever get identified or even cited.
The Good
Ragnar Benson relays a good number of knowledge and makes really quite a few beneficial points all through Ragnar’s Urban Survival. Some of these ideas are the need for or value of: secrecy as a prepper, silencers, food storage, live stock options, caching, water.
The most notable issues covered in Ragnar’s Urban Survival are the Rule of Threes, the Rule of Survival Thermodynamics, and keeping your financial houses in order.
The Rule of Threes in a nut shell is that for every single big need (ie. food, water, shelter, security) you should have “three separate and distinct methods of supply”. As a side note, the author states the Rule of Threes originates with the Nez Perce Indians who rigorously adhered to this way of life and were extremely successful because of it.
The Rule of Survival Thermodynamics advises that an individual ought to “never put more energy into a survival activity than is taken out.” It’s a pretty clear point, but one that I had never heard put into such simple terms.
Maintaining your “financial house” in order is a no brainer in my judgement, but I am consistently amazed at the amount of individuals fiscal lives are a total mess regardless of financial or socioeconomic status.
Benson’s section on Nursing and medical attention is one of the more beneficial chapters of the book. The details provided is specific enough that it is straightaway helpful without extra exploration.
Closing Thoughts
I was left with a partly positive and partly negative reaction concerning Ragnar Benson’s Urban Survival and whether or not I might suggest it to folks. There is most certainly a wide range of beneficial knowledge, but the weak writing, off-putting tone, and faulty information makes it difficult for me to claim it is well worth studying. Ultimately, I would recommend the book merely because of the amount of answers presented and quantity of subject areas included. However, I highly recommend that people fact check everything from the book before you try it.