The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes--and Why
Jun 2008 · Sold by Harmony
4.8star
21 reviews
Ebook
432
Pages
family_home
Eligible
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About this ebook
Discover how human beings react to danger—and what makes the difference between life and death
“Fascinating and useful . . . [shows that] the most important variable in an emergency is your own behavior.”—The New York Times
Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make split-second choices to save ourselves and our families. How will we react? What will it feel like? Will we be heroes or victims?
In her quest to answer these questions, award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley traces human responses to some of recent history’s epic disasters, from the explosion of the Mont Blanc munitions ship in 1917–one of the biggest explosions before the invention of the atomic bomb–to the journeys of the 15,000 people who found their way out of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. To understand the science behind the stories, Ripley turns to leading brain scientists, trauma psychologists, and other disaster experts. She even has her own brain examined by military researchers and experiences, through realistic simulations, what it might be like to survive a plane crash into the ocean or to escape a raging fire.
Ripley comes back with precious wisdom about the surprising humanity of crowds, the elegance of the brain’s fear circuits, and the stunning inadequacy of many of our evolutionary responses. Most unexpectedly, she discovers the brain’s ability to do much, much better–with just a little help.
“Fascinating and useful . . . [shows that] the most important variable in an emergency is your own behavior.”—The New York Times
Today, nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters. Tomorrow, some of us will have to make split-second choices to save ourselves and our families. How will we react? What will it feel like? Will we be heroes or victims?
In her quest to answer these questions, award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley traces human responses to some of recent history’s epic disasters, from the explosion of the Mont Blanc munitions ship in 1917–one of the biggest explosions before the invention of the atomic bomb–to the journeys of the 15,000 people who found their way out of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. To understand the science behind the stories, Ripley turns to leading brain scientists, trauma psychologists, and other disaster experts. She even has her own brain examined by military researchers and experiences, through realistic simulations, what it might be like to survive a plane crash into the ocean or to escape a raging fire.
Ripley comes back with precious wisdom about the surprising humanity of crowds, the elegance of the brain’s fear circuits, and the stunning inadequacy of many of our evolutionary responses. Most unexpectedly, she discovers the brain’s ability to do much, much better–with just a little help.
Ratings and reviews
4.8
21 reviews
A Google user
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April 23, 2009
4/23/09: Good book; thought provoking. Got it from the WFRL on a whim but couldn't put it down.
Matthew Harris
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January 11, 2018
Really great read about how humans react in all kinds of disasters. If you haven't practiced before the disaster, you may not react the way you think you'll react.
3 people found this review helpful
Arthur Adams II
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September 19, 2022
Definitely eye opening. This book was recommended by my TECC instructor and I'm so glad I read it.
About the author
A senior writer for Time magazine, Amanda Ripley has been extensively involved in the magazine’s “Person of the Year” cover stories and now writes about homeland security and risk in Washington, D.C. Her disaster reporting recently helped Time win two National Magazine Awards.
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