Death Wish Book Review: Jack Lawson’s Civil Defense Manual, by Scipio

The Civil Defense Manuel (CDM) is not a book to be simply read. It is to be implemented, built upon, pondered, and used in a bold targeted manner. This is more than a book, its an encyclopedia for personal and community action when facing a catastrophe.  It’s not a “prepper”, end times, imminent secret society at your doorstep conspiracy “how to” book.  It is about what to do and how to prepare for a catastrophe.

Jack takes great pains to define and describe the types of catastrophes (hurricanes, tornados, floods, high wind damage, extended power outages, gang activity, nuclear/biological incidents, food shortages, civil unrest, etc.) that happen all the time to us and around us. Here is a manual you can use to help avoid, mitigate, survive, and help others when catastrophes occur.

If you are a novice, this book will literally save you years of your life from having to do your own research, and lots of money on purchasing things you don’t need or will only have a low probability of using.  Jack doesn’t write in jargon, but uses clearly understood English.  He graciously defines the terms he uses as he goes along. You need no particular background to put this book to full use immediately.

If you have been giving thought to the possible catastrophes that may affect you and have been assembling items and plans; you will find things here you didn’t think of, solutions you didn’t think of, resources you didn’t think of, access to experts you never heard of, and a big “thank God” moment when you realize what you have in your hand. Because when you are gone, what is in your head or skills in your hands will be gone also.  On the other hand, you will be leaving behind this book as a primer for those you care about and who survive you.

Organizationally, this book is a gem. First of all, read Jack’s “Introduction”.  I find so many people skip the author’s comments thinking the content of the book is more important.  Wrong!  The worst thing you can do in reading any book is to skip the author’s introduction.  It’s like ordering food without a menu, from a restaurant you have never been to, and be disappointed the BBQ you ordered was not available.  If you had read the menu, you would have known you were at a seafood restaurant.

At the end each chapter, Jack has a blank page for notes. This allows you to pause, reflect, take notes, and not have to scramble to find something to write on.  Often at that “ahah” moment you put off finding a piece of paper until later, only to later forget what you wanted to remember. This mechanism eliminates that potential frustration. I particularly love the large print that not only makes it easier to read but has space to write between the lines or mark a point you want to return to later.

To dispel the disclaimer, “that can’t happen here”, Chapter One of the book is a true story that recently happened in an advanced Western nation.  It is written by a survivor, “SELCO”, and is a harrowing tale of surviving an unexpected catastrophe.

When you first get your hands on this book you are tempted to jump straight into the sections of your interests. Don’t do that. Spend some time on Chapter 3, “The Intent of This Book: This Book is Different”.  It is different.  To fully get all Jack Lawson is trying to convey you absolutely must spend time here.  Read this part slowly, let it sink in, leaf ahead through the book’s sections and the expert contributor’s chapters and see how all the pieces fit together.

This is not light reading if you plan on putting the book to work. I bought this book on 04-02-2022, and I haven’t finished volume one! I usually read a book in two to three weeks max. If you read this book the way it was designed, you will never finish it.

Most people have a false sense of the goodness of human nature.  Human nature at its base is self-serving and hostile to threats to its security.  Jack spends a lot of time with lots of examples of human nature going south quickly. Catastrophes initially bring out the best of human nature but over an extended period of time it brings out its worst. The mental challenges of catastrophes CDM prepares you for is not typically found in books of this nature.

One of the main points, if not the main point, of CDM is not to go it alone Rambo.  You need support from others.  Running away my not be an option. For example, if your street suddenly looks like a giant street sweeper went through it because of a tornado, flood, hurricane, or earthquake, you are going to need to work with the people around you.  To anticipate that need Jack has a proactive blue print to deal with that.  It is called the Neighborhood Protection Plan (NPP). It is a how to organize your neighborhood to see who is interested in their neighborhood and what assets, interests, and skills they have. A communication plan is outlined in detail, as well as how to get the NPP off the ground and how to invite neighbors to your organizational meeting.  It is turn-key plan, but you are the key. If nothing else, the NPP will force you to meet your neighbors, something we all should be doing anyway.

Jack draws attention to the contributing author’s contributions to CDM: their personal experiences, and their expertise. The inclusion of these specialists tells you one important thing about Jack Lawson, he freely admits he doesn’t know everything.  After all they say, it’s what you learn after you know it all that really matters. These contributors offer further areas you can drill down into for more detailed information, training, and expanding your base of like-minded people. In addition, Jack directs you to additional printed resources. Appendices offer more details on each chapter if you want to dig deeper.

Another feature I like about this book is its exhaustive “lists”.  There is a list for everything.  I found lists of things I spent hours developing on my own only to find Jack already did it with more detail than I could have only imagined on my own. The bulk of the lists are in the “Index-Checklist” section starting on page 456 and continuing for over thirty pages!

My favorite list deals with something I have struggled with in my own preparations; what should I prepare for and what should be my priorities? Jack has a list for that!  It’s called “Chart of Catastrophic Events and Characteristics” p. 478-479.  If you have not made out your “list”, go here first.  If you already have been making your own lists, stop, consult this before going further.

As I have pointed out, this book is non-traditional in many ways. Not the least of which is Jack’s humility and wisdom. The “About the Author” section (p. 416-417) is at the back of the book not the traditional front where authors typically trumpet how great their credentials are and even that their mom’s love them. If anything, you need to read between the lines in “About the Author” to fully understand the man who wrote this magnus opus is truly a humble man.

I have read many books, well over a thousand at this point in my life, and I have sometimes been dazzled by smart, intelligent authors, but few have demonstrated wisdom. Jack is also a wise man.  You should always listen to what wise men have to say. (Matthew 2:1-12).

If nowhere else, Jack’s wisdom is on display on page 42, Chapter 3, in “The Intent of This Book”. Knowing many will purchase this book or receive it as a Christmas gift (great idea BTW) and it will unfortunately find itself unread on a shelf somewhere. Jack recognizes this in our nature and suggests something. He says, “I urge you to buy some heavy-duty Ziplock sealing type plastic bags to protect these books from the elements.  Store the books in the bags when not reading…maybe squeeze a candle and some matches with the books too.”

There are two elements in this truth bomb.  First, if you really believe a catastrophe can happen to you at any moment, you won’t assume this book will survive undamaged when it happens. If you really understand “now”, you know it means “now”. Secondly, for those who put their book on the shelf unread or partially read, and your book shelf survives the SHTF scenario that pays you a personal visit, then you will need a dry book, a match to start a fire, and a candle to read what you thought you had plenty of time to read later, with your “it won’t happen here” mentality.

The money you spend for this two-volume set is a bargain. I would even say, it is essential to your wellbeing.

Hope to God you never have to implement the urgent topics you learn in this book.  If, however, you do have to live through a catastrophe, thank God you had this book to prepare you for it.