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Ragnar Benson
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Ragnar's Urban Survival: A Hard-Times Guide to Staying Alive in the City Paperback – January 1, 2000

by Ragnar Benson (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
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The tap's run dry, the supermarkets have been ransacked, the power is off and the low rumble of tanks can be heard in the distance. The unprepared who refused to believe that such a thing could happen here will live as wretched refugees-if they live at all. But for the prepared-for the city survivors-life will go on. America's leading survival author debunks the myth that the only way to survive is to stock a retreat in the mountains. He tells urban dwellers how to find water; trap and butcher game; preserve food; position a retreat for maximum safety; avoid troops; and barter with other survivors. You'll learn which weapons are absolute necessities and which aren't worth having, and confront the all-important topic of survival nursing care. Ragnar gives you the solid information you will need to make it if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    200 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Paladin Pr
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1581600593
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1581600599
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paladin Pr; 0004th edition (January 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1581600593
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1581600599
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

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Ragnar Benson

Ragnar Benson

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
52 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Melanie "Vaxxed & Masked" Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars Shelter in Place
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
The people who ditched metropolitan cities for rural hamlets during COVID19, obviously didn’t read Ragnar Benson’s book. They better hurry back because if a disease or some other apocalyptic event happens, they are sitting ducks in the hinterlands – cut off from resources on every level given their urban upbringing.

I enjoyed some survivalist reading during the pandemic lockdown. And, why not? We were masking, distancing, sanitizing, stockpiling, and in general hunkering down for more than a year. For a country that prides itself on being the land of plenty, it was a shocking realization that we were running on a scarcity model across many industries, platforms and access points.

So, Ragnar’s “Hard-times Guide to Staying Alive in the City” became a kind of balm during a crazy time: Things are bad, but they aren’t urban-survival bad, right? Ragnar wrote this book more than 20 years ago, but he anticipated the shelter-in-place guidance during the pandemic. Except for the introduction, this is not a linear book meaning you can read the chapters in any order depending on your threat or interest level. Being a longtime hiker/camper, I already knew many of the ideas he discusses, but I did enjoy his survivalist perspective that applied outback rules to the urban setting. For instance, need to find potable water? A water heater can work in a pinch.

We are only as secure as our surrounding environment. As much and as often as possible, create safe spaces for you and your family. A slightly dated but thought-provoking read.
4 people found this helpful
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Chris D. Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars Ragnar knows his stuff
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2014
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Ragnar is one of the old-timers in the "prepping" crowd. He dates from back when it looked almost certain that we would go nuclear with the Soviet Union back in the seventies. That's why we were called "survivalists."

The nature of the human animal is that there are too many of us to take to the woods, and that presumes that we would know what is what out there. But even the American Indian starved often enough, and there were none better than them at wilderness survival.

The future, good or bad, is in the cities, and that's where the majority of humanity will survive, well or ill. There are too many resources for us to abandon cities. The only reason why we would is if somebody dusted one with long-term radioactives or persistent chemical/nerve agents.

Ragnar's book was very interesting. I learned quite a bit.
4 people found this helpful
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Mylinda Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2021
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This was a very good thorough book. Lots of ideas and great information.
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lemarq
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2013
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If you want some knowledge on how to survive in urban areas this is the book to get. This book has alot of know hows and what to does when stuck in a rut in the city and how you can adapt to the situations. Get it! Read it!
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JG
3.0 out of 5 stars Limited useful information
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2010
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I was a bit disappointed after I read this book. There is plenty of information and things to consider, but very little useful suggestions you could act on! The book gives you an good understanding of what it can be like living in a war zone, or an area where the government has collapsed, but if you're going to tell me not to do something in a survival situation, you need to suggest alternative courses of action. Ragnar just doesn't give you many suggestions and it make this book much less useful than it could have been.
6 people found this helpful
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Coyote's bro
5.0 out of 5 stars The best on the topic of URBAN prepper life
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018
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I only wish there was an updated edition, otherwise, it is well worth reading and considering his well-traveled wealth of experience.
One person found this helpful
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Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes.
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2016
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Easy to read and has good content!! We usually picture survival situations taking place in remote areas, but cities are becoming more common and we should know how to maneuver those, too 😉 Good luck to you
One person found this helpful
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Maine AV8R
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read if you live in the city and would never leave.
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
Meh. A lot of these lessons require funding that most people lack. Generators, high volume fuel and water storage.
It's all good info, but not what I needed.

I guess my goal would be to escape the urban area and survive in the wilderness.

However, this book does have some great info and anecdotal wisdom from people who have survived in urban war zones.
One person found this helpful
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Brent L
4.0 out of 5 stars As Usual, Quality Work
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2013
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I have many books by this author as I have a long time interest in the preparedness field.

This one was written well, with good information and suggestions, as well as plenty of real world relating of what was being said to events that actually have or are happening.

Not as strong as some of his other books, but I certainly do not regret the purchase, or the read.

I recommend it for anyone who may, as part of their emergency or disaster plan, be considering the option to Shelter in Place within an urban or suburban region.
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Arthur
1.0 out of 5 stars très déçu
Reviewed in France on January 12, 2015
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J'ai acheté ce livre suite à un commentaire sur "Rues barbares". Je regrette vraiment. L'auteur délaye énormément le peu d'infos qu'il a à fournir. Les illustrations et photos sont de très mauvaise qualité. Il s'agit d'une collecte de lieux communs enrobés de blabla faussement relax "J'ai beaucoup de vécu et je vais vous expliquer la vie"...
Il y a tellement peu d'infos que le livre en devient indigeste et pénible à lire. ce qui est le comble pour un bouquin pratique et peu épais. La partie qui traite de la chasse en ville est inintéressante. C'est le seul passage qui m'a intéressé.
Il y a certaines contradictions. Par exemple l'auteur encourage l'usage de groupe électrogènes (très bruyants) mais prône la discrétion et une attitude low-profile...
Ma conclusion : A éviter. Il y a forcément de meilleurs livres à acheter et si vous n'en trouvez pas alors achetez une lampe ou un autre objet utile ou bien mettez cet argent dans votre cagnotte pour les coups durs.
7 people found this helpful
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david graeme smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
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A little repeating but all in all not bad for a beginner to read.
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Darkstar
3.0 out of 5 stars You can do better elsewhere......
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2011
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This isnt a bad book, its just that its expensive (compared to others readily available) and getting dated fast.For UK readers the section on firearms is more or less irrelevant and there's nothing in here that you cant find either for free on the internet, or in a host of other more recent publications that retail for less money. There's a real need for an up to date, UK based urban survival book...but this isnt it.
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