Review (Sort of): When Technology Fails

When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency by Matthew Stein

I got a copy of this book from the library. Amazon has it listed for $23 bucks, which is, in my opinion, a very good price for this book.

First, let me say that I am not really reviewing this book here, since I haven't had the time to read it. All I've done is look through it for a few days. But I will say that I definitely want a copy of my own. I no long buy novels, I use the library for my "entertainment" reading. I do buy good reference books, however, and WTF (When Technology Fails, not What the .....) fits in that category for sure.

I'll tell you about the book instead of reviewing it. How's that? I think most readers of this blog and other preparedness-type blogs will want a copy of Stein's encyclopedia. Herewith the main sections of the Table of Contents:

1 Introduction of Self-Reliance

An Uncertain Future

Technology Failures Are Common

Why This Book?

Be Prepared

Preindustrial Self-Sufficienty

Old-Fashioned Self-Reliance and Modern Sustainable Technology

References

(I'm not going to type out all the subcategories in each section--the TOC goes on for 5 pages! But I will put in a few subcategories from each chapter so you get a taste...)

2 Present Trends, Possible Futures

The Main Threats to Our Future

The Eco-Threat

Peak Oil

The Bio-Threat

The Terrorism Threat

Other Important Trends

3 Supplies and Preparations

Planning for the Short Term

72-Hour "Grab-and-Run" Survival Kits

Long-Term Planning and Storace

Calculating a Year's Food Supply

Notes on Camping Gear

References

Resources

4 Emergency Measures for Survival

Survival Strategies

Developing a Survivor Personality

Water

Fire

Food

Shelter

Simple Tools

Surviving a Nuclear Disaster

5 Water

Water Requirements

Stocking Up for Emergencies

The World's Water Crisis

Preserving Water

Treating and Finding Water the Low-Tech Way

Modern Water Treatment

References

Resources

(All chapters have a References and Resources.)

6 Food: Growing, Foraging, Hunting, and Storing

World Population and Food Supply

Permaculture

Grow Biointensive

Sprouting: Your Own Mini-Garden on a Windowsill

Foraging for Food

Brief Guide to Wild Edible Foods

Poisonous Foods to Avoid

Preserving and Storing Food

Dairy, Tofu, and Tempeh

Raising Animals

Hunting and Trapping

Fishing

7 Shelter and Buildings

A Survey of Various Green Building Systems

Straw Bales

Earth-Based Building Systems

Rammed Earth

Adobe

Cob

Cast Earth

Passive Solar Design

Preventing and/or Battling Mold

Health Effects of Mold

Traditional Low-Tech Structures

8 First Aid

Initial Evaluation

ABCs of First Aid

CPR

Wounds

Choking

Bandages and Dressings

Shock

Fractures and Dislocations

Heat-Related Trauma

Bites and Stings

Eyes

Moving Injured People

Emergency Childbirth

(This chapter is a virtual first aid guide all in itself. With the addition of the next chapter, this information alone makes the book worth the price.)

9 When High-Tech Medicine Fails

The Holistic Health Movement

The Low-Tech Medicine Cabinet

Simple, Effective Remedies and Supplements to Have on Hand

The Essence of Healing

Colloidal and Ionic Silver

Healing with Herbs

Detoxification

Supplements and Food

Homeopathy

Sinus Health and Molds

Electromagnetic Fields

The Beck Protocol

Healing with Energy

The Power of Prayer

Hypnosis for Pain Control and Healing

Visualization and Mind-Body Healing

10 Clothing and Textiles

Fiber Arts

Preparing Fibers

Sustainable Fibers

Spinning

Weaving

Furs and Skins

Patterns and Custom-Tailored Clothing

Footwear

11 Energy, Heat and Power

Shifting to Renewable Energy (RE)

RE Systems

Photovoltaics

Wind Power

Micro-Hydropower

Solar Hot Water

Solar Water Pumping

Biofuels

Steam Energy

Fuel Cells

Heating with Wood

Energy, Power and Electricity Primer

12 Metalworking

A Brief Introduction to Metals

Casting Metal

Forging

13 Utensils and Storage

Making a Simple Wooden Cup or Bowl

Basket Basics

Gourds

Storing Fluids in Skins and Other Animal Parts

Primitive Pottery

14 Better Living Through Not-So-Modern Chemistry

Soap

Candles

Alcohol

Vinegar

Natural Glues

Vegetable Oils

15 Engineering, Machines, and Materials

Engineering

Fluids

Materials

Mathematics

Conversions

16 Making the Shift to Sustainability

A Poor Track Record

Proactive Success Stories

Tragedy of the Commons

Sustainable Communities

Sustainable Cities

Cradle to Cradle

The Natural Step

Backcasting

Negative Population Growth

The "Hundreth Monkey Phenomenon"

Plan B: Live Locally, Think Globally

Effective Action

Choose Wisely

Bibliography

Index

One of the blurbs on the inside first pages:

"I liked this book. It's carefully researched, comprehensive, well-illustrated, and readable. It presents much needed alternate information, for, in my opinion, technology has already 'failed'. . . . so replacement of polluting 'high' technologies with non-polluting 'low' ones is urgent, and Matthew Stein's handbook systematcially and accurately surveys a wide array of possible low-tech options. Much hard work, time, and talent went into the building of this basic reference survey of low tech options." Carla Emery, author of The Encyclopedia of County Living: An Old Fashioned Recipe Book

I have enjoyed looking through and reading parts of this book. The foraging section is basic, but it'll do in a pinch. The health section is fascinating, the first aid chapter very good. It really is a good basic guide to most of the knowledge we will want to have on hand if the world crashes around us. Stein suggests a lot of books, magazines and other resources for each chapter. The bibliography is extensive and the index looks top-notch. I know I want a copy. :)

HM