I bought the book based on a glowing recommendation by someone involved with the preparedness community and the other (overwhelmingly) positive reviews here. I'm not disappointed- it's an awesome book. The author is straight forward, his style is engaging, and the material is beyond relevant. The description of pre-collapse Argentina (both socially, politically, and financially- on a national scale) is eerily similar to our own Stateside. That caught my attention right away. Argentina wasn't just some third world shaky Latin American country. It was on par with the US as far as economy and standards of living go. So, yes, the same thing could very easily happen here-- especially given our climbing national debt.
I think the worst part of considering an economic collapse (or any other SHTF event) is that we don't know what to expect, leaving the imagination to run wild. Read this and your imagination can rest easy. This is the experience of a man who survived an economic collapse. He presents the reader with what happened to Argentine society afterwards and the applicable (and accessible!) skills and resources that were useful to him and his family for getting through it. I wonder if the folks who left one star reviews even read the same book? Best prepping book I've read. Hands down.
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The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse Paperback – September 11, 2009
by
Fernando "Ferfal" Aguirre
(Author)
Enhance your purchase
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Print length254 pages
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LanguageEnglish
-
Publication dateSeptember 11, 2009
-
Dimensions6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
-
ISBN-109870563457
-
ISBN-13978-9870563457
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Fernando "FerFAL" Aguirre is a father, husband and survivalist that has lived through the Argentine socio-economic collapse of 2001, and the consequences such collapse had in the years that followed. He's the author of numerous articles found on line and is recognized among the survival and preparedness community for his personal experience and no-nonsense approach to survivalism. He's also the publisher and owner of "Surviving in Argentina", a blog he keep up with updated articles, posts as well as reports of the situation in Argentina.
Product details
- Publisher : Fernando Aguirre; 1st edition (September 11, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 254 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9870563457
- ISBN-13 : 978-9870563457
- Item Weight : 15.7 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#10,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Argentinian History
- #33 in Survival & Emergency Preparedness
- Customer Reviews:
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A wise man learns from his mistake, a wiser man learns from other people's mistakes.
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016Verified Purchase
101 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017
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I just finished reading "Surviving the Economic Collapse by Fernando Ferfal Aguirre.
Mr. Aguirre is from Argentina. He lived through the type of economic nightmare that many Americans merely speculate about. In 2001, the banking system utterly collapsed in his county. His mother wisely got some money out just in the nick of time before the banks simply closed leaving people and businesses with no access to their savings. Before long, stores became empty and hungry people took to the streets banging empty pots with wooden spoons, hitting the walls of banks with hammers and eventually looting and rioting. The government responded to this desperation by simply gunning people down.
Eventually, the banks reopened giving people partial access to their money. As Aguirre explains;"People expect some radical change after SHTF(shit hits the fan), but in most cases as soon as the minimum of order is restored you'll have to go back to work or school and do all the things you already do, only that you'll have to take some extra precautions to stay safe and avoid trouble."
Things weren't exactly back to normal though. The country slide from wealth, to a strong middle class known for spending big money while on vacation in America, to an often dangerous nation. On the streets muggings and kidnappings became common. On the highway, criminals blocked the roads to stop drivers to rob them and car-jack. They set up fake police stops, pushed baby carriages into the road. Home brake-ins became very common.
Hyper inflation was a constant problem as the government printed massive currency to cover IMF debts. Gold became a great store of wealth but it was very dangerous to use. For this Aguirre has a brilliant solution, wedding rings. He went to pawn shop, and pulled a wedding ring off his finger. Then, pitifully asked "Please sir...how much can I get for this?" meanwhile he had plenty of other rings.
Aguirre has practical advise from real world experience. He's also very witty and entertaining. I highly recommend this book.
Mr. Aguirre is from Argentina. He lived through the type of economic nightmare that many Americans merely speculate about. In 2001, the banking system utterly collapsed in his county. His mother wisely got some money out just in the nick of time before the banks simply closed leaving people and businesses with no access to their savings. Before long, stores became empty and hungry people took to the streets banging empty pots with wooden spoons, hitting the walls of banks with hammers and eventually looting and rioting. The government responded to this desperation by simply gunning people down.
Eventually, the banks reopened giving people partial access to their money. As Aguirre explains;"People expect some radical change after SHTF(shit hits the fan), but in most cases as soon as the minimum of order is restored you'll have to go back to work or school and do all the things you already do, only that you'll have to take some extra precautions to stay safe and avoid trouble."
Things weren't exactly back to normal though. The country slide from wealth, to a strong middle class known for spending big money while on vacation in America, to an often dangerous nation. On the streets muggings and kidnappings became common. On the highway, criminals blocked the roads to stop drivers to rob them and car-jack. They set up fake police stops, pushed baby carriages into the road. Home brake-ins became very common.
Hyper inflation was a constant problem as the government printed massive currency to cover IMF debts. Gold became a great store of wealth but it was very dangerous to use. For this Aguirre has a brilliant solution, wedding rings. He went to pawn shop, and pulled a wedding ring off his finger. Then, pitifully asked "Please sir...how much can I get for this?" meanwhile he had plenty of other rings.
Aguirre has practical advise from real world experience. He's also very witty and entertaining. I highly recommend this book.
52 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
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Love it.. this is BY FAR the BEST "REAL WORLD" survival/shtf books i have ever read.
And i have read/have just about all of them. i think i have been threw this book like 10 or 20 times. wish it was on mp3disk ! I like it because it is/was real.
Not by some rich jerk off living comfortably in Montana or Idaho, and i see this country heading down the same path..FAST.
And it will be even uglier here..twice as many people and way way more stupid people with guns.. be ready my friends.
Not bashing Montana or Idaho... they are, kick ass states!
And i have read/have just about all of them. i think i have been threw this book like 10 or 20 times. wish it was on mp3disk ! I like it because it is/was real.
Not by some rich jerk off living comfortably in Montana or Idaho, and i see this country heading down the same path..FAST.
And it will be even uglier here..twice as many people and way way more stupid people with guns.. be ready my friends.
Not bashing Montana or Idaho... they are, kick ass states!
16 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2016
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Too many preparedness books are written by authors envisioning a Cold War style nuclear winter, and by people who have never lived through the crisis they describe. This book is different. If you're looking for detailed information about what life will really be like during and after a financial crisis, this is the book you need right here. Tons of practical advice, largely focusing on preventing yourself from falling victim to skyrocketing crime rates, what types of crimes become common when times are bad, and how to defend yourself if you're still targeted despite your efforts. There's also substantial information about how to prepare yourself financially and explanations of why the advice given by other preppers is often unrealistic. This is the real deal here and it's changed some of the ways I prep.
I was not personally bothered by the book's lack of professional editing, and I actually enjoyed the conversational tone. I felt that the sections flowed together well and only noticed some choppiness during the parts on firearms where it became a bit lengthy and rambling.
I was not personally bothered by the book's lack of professional editing, and I actually enjoyed the conversational tone. I felt that the sections flowed together well and only noticed some choppiness during the parts on firearms where it became a bit lengthy and rambling.
37 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
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Perhaps my favorite "prepping" book. This guy has been there and done that during the economic collapse in Argentina. If you want to learn how to survive a nuclear winter, asteroid impact, or zombie apocalypse, this is not the book for you. This book will teach you real-world skills based on ACTUAL experience - because these SHTF-type events have happened for real in places like Argentina, Venezuela, Eastern-Europe, and the Middle East. I find myself referencing this book as a reality check and I have also purchased it for friends who are looking for a more practical prepper's guide. The stories he tells and the advice given are clear and engaging (though my wife thought the chapter about knife-fighting was a bit much :) ). Highly recommend this book.
21 people found this helpful
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Pan-tac
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bit of an eye opener.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2012Verified Purchase
I bought this book after reading the reviews on Amazon.com... lots of reviews there, so I won't go into detail (me being a lazy git).
This book IS A BIT OF AN EYE OPENER, from someone who lives in Argentina, whose economy collapsed in 2001. The author may have a survivalist mentality, but he gives the reader a realistic, insider view of living and surviving in that country
His description of 'what to expect from the government after the collapse' bears similarities to what's happening in the UK and Europe now, ie; cutting pensions, cutting police and public services...not to mention increased unemployment, crime and (financial/political)corruption.
Some may say the author is going over the top regarding his survivalist attitude, but at least he makes you think!
PS. The book's a bit pricey for a paperback...but may be worth it in the years to come.
This book IS A BIT OF AN EYE OPENER, from someone who lives in Argentina, whose economy collapsed in 2001. The author may have a survivalist mentality, but he gives the reader a realistic, insider view of living and surviving in that country
His description of 'what to expect from the government after the collapse' bears similarities to what's happening in the UK and Europe now, ie; cutting pensions, cutting police and public services...not to mention increased unemployment, crime and (financial/political)corruption.
Some may say the author is going over the top regarding his survivalist attitude, but at least he makes you think!
PS. The book's a bit pricey for a paperback...but may be worth it in the years to come.
8 people found this helpful
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Karen McAtamney
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's sexist, homophobic and fatphobic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2021Verified Purchase
I don't recall the last time I read something so sexist or openly homophobic. It's also awfully fatphobic and anti sex worker. And contains far too much information about guns for the average person in the UK. It contains quasi legal advice that might work in the author's home country, but would potentially be wrong elsewhere. It does however contain some useful information re economies experiencing hyperinflation and how to work around the problems this causes.
One person found this helpful
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KralZiki
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good buy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2020Verified Purchase
The book met my expectations! Everyone familiar with the worldwide situation know, that South America is something else... There is plenty of videos from surveilance cameras all over the internet. We see the robberies, murders... lower value of human life there. I am happy that the book isn’t too catastrophic and shows that life can be quite good even when the SHTF :)
One person found this helpful
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Al
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Solid Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2013Verified Purchase
An intriguing book with lots to make you think about if it happened in your country. The only reason why I gave this a four star rating is with regards to the advice on weapons in the book. I live in Britain and the likelyhood of me having various pump action shotguns, uzis, glocks etc is severly limited due to laws in place. However other advice is sound and in many ways common sense. Looking at the countries of Greece and Spain it could easily happen here and although we believe it won't I'm sure most people believe it won't happen in there country. Like a good boy scout be prepared, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
2 people found this helpful
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Chewy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unreliable money & its consequences...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2016Verified Purchase
A really interesting read, but a terrible situation. I enjoyed it and found it useful. Maybe a bit much on the guns as this is clearly an authors interest. I also feel this only scratched the surface of the authors experiences and can understandably recognise his need for caution... A true eye opener of the human condition for survival in difficult situations.
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