It’s been a while since I’ve posted any book reviews, so I wanted to start off with a bang.
Jim Cobb, one of my very favorite preparedness authors, has updated his book, Prepper’s Home Defense. The new edition absolutely rocks, and I’m excited to tell you about it.
What’s been updated
Jim is one of those people who is constantly learning. And it definitely shows in the 2nd edition of this book.
Since the original was published in 2012, the world has changed by leaps and bounds. With it has changed our ability to secure our property, the threats we might face, and the cost of darn near everything. Technology is a lot more advanced now, and the prices are more accessible to us normies.
When folks think technology, they often feel it is not worth investing in because they’re expecting the power to be out. But with some simple tools, regular generators, and small solar devices, the use of technology can continue even when the SHTF.
There are other things that have changed dramatically, such as the tensions in our nation. Folks aren’t nearly as united as they once were. Crime is up in many areas. And home invasions and other city problems have spread, in some cases, to country locations.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Trying to figure out how to stock up while prices keep climbing? We can help with our free guide and newsletter!
What this says to me is that regardless of where you live, you need to be prepared for unwanted visitors.
Dive into some delightful debunkery.
One of my favorite things about Jim is the time he spends debunking things that truly need debunking. So many people out there in the world of 30-second reels love giving 30-second clips of advice that hasn’t been personally tested, and honestly, probably won’t work.
On his social media, Jim catches a fair bit of flak for his debunking of common, cavalier advice like “hold your keys between your fingers” and “just use wasp spray.”
There are tools for these things, and Jim suggests you use them. For example, why go buy wasp spray for home defense when you could go buy pepper spray, which is deliberately designed to impair your intruder in multiple ways?
A lot of survival myths are sacred cows. Folks get mad when you turn their favorite sacred cow into a cheeseburger. But in the case of something that could actually save your life, I would much rather know ahead of time that my idea is terrible, so I can replace it with a better idea.
Learn how to harden your home
We all hope to be at home with all our loved ones when disaster strikes (or to get back there quickly). But just locking the door with the little twisty thing on the knob is far from making your home secure.
It’s important to think ahead, create a perimeter, and secure all your openings. (While, of course, still leaving yourself a way out.) If you don’t do this, you are really leaving place wide open for criminals, folks who know you prep, and random scavenging.
Jim goes into a lot of detail, offering multiple ways within multiple budgets to make your home your fortress.
The book contains non-passive defense advice, too.
Of course, you can put a moat around your castle and post knights in armor at the gate, but sometimes, the enemy gets past your protective barriers. When that happens, you have to defend yourself.
The book contains excellent advice about the many different ways a person can learn to protect themselves and the ones they love. From weapons that work (and weapons that don’t), what to look for in a weapon, how to improvise a weapon, and how to be the weapon, Jim offers loads of suggestions.
His advice is excellent because it helps to shift one’s focus from things that are unlikely to help – ninja throwing stars, anyone? – to things that are tried and true. These are the skills and tools you need, whether you are a retired army dude or a rather gimpy middle-aged lady like me.
Oh – it’s not just about defending yourself at home.
While the main focus of the book is securing your home, there is also advice about protecting yourself when you are away from home, safely bugging out, and defending your retreat.
You know, just in case you are NOT conveniently in your safe location when things go down.
You need to add this to your prepper library.
Jim Cobb, as I said, is probably my very favorite preparedness author. He’s had an incredibly prolific career, and he is a true expert in the lost art of common sense.
The book is just loaded with fantastic information that is usable in an absolutely enormous scope of scenarios. I cannot recommend the 2nd Edition of Prepper’s Home Defense highly enough. (And the price is right, at under $12 at the time of publication of this article.)
Have you read the book yet? I’d love to hear what you think, too! What is your favorite book by Jim Cobb?
Let’s talk about it all in the comments section.
One Response
Thank you for the recommendation! I really enjoyed Jim Rawles’ Patriots series, because as a fiction story, there was a lot of interesting ideas and info. I thought that his take on hardening the home with steel plate shutters and doors covered with wood veneer was really excellent, but not super practical for those without the skills to do it clandestinely, or have the money to pay someone to do it for you who you can trust. I love the description of Cobbs book as one that has different levels for different budgets, and that he debunks stuff that doesn’t work. I will definitely be buying this!