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Selco Begovic

SHTF Survival Stories: Memories from the Balkan War Paperback – February 3, 2020

by Selco Begovic (Author)

167 ratings

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There are many books out there on all the different aspects of preparedness and survival that can provide you with information, checklists, and theoretical solutions to potential problems. But no matter how much you read or how well-researched the books you choose are, there’s only so much you can take away from these tomes. Getting your information from someone who has survived a "sh*t hit the fan" crisis will take your preparedness to an entirely different level. Meet Selco, a legend in the preparedness world. He survived in a city that was under siege for more than a year. He had no power, no running water, no stores for supplies, and every day, he ran the risk of meeting a violent death, whether by shells, sniper fire, or a person intent on hurting others. This book is a collection of memories from the darkest days of the Balkan War, where each moment could have been his last. This isn’t a cheerful and uplifting guide to survival. There’s no misplaced optimism. There’s only Selco, the darkness he faced, and the grim reality of an SHTF scenario most of us can’t even fathom. But if you can grasp it all before it happens, you’ll be much further ahead than those who are frozen in shock.***Please note that Selco's first language is not English. These stories have been lightly edited for clarity, but they still retain the "accent."

Print length

486 pages
Language

English
Publication date

February 3, 2020
Dimensions

6 x 1.22 x 9 inches
ISBN-13

979-8607541873
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084DGF9QD
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (February 3, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 486 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8607541873
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.56 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.22 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #148,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #149 in Disaster Relief (Books)
- #348 in Survival & Emergency Preparedness

Customer Reviews:
167 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		82%
4 star		12%
3 star		3%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Joe Bratcher

Excellent Binge Reading!

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2020

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I initially shied away from this book because it uses the term "SHTF". I realize why the author used this term, but my experience with people who use the abbreviation "SHTF" was that eventually you find out there were door gunners on the space shuttle - in other words, they were full of exactly what they say is going to hit the fan. However, I have read a lot of Ms. Luther's work, and I have bought her books and lists, so I took a chance on Selco's dissertation.

I am glad that I did, this is an excellent book. I ended up binge reading the entire book, finishing it Saturday afternoon after receiving 24 hours earlier. I haven't been that captivated by anything since "Firefly" came out on DVD. There is no glory or glamour in these 480 pages, in fact he will deflate your balloon occasionally.

Frankly, this was a herculean task for the author. Describing surviving an elevator malfunction, for example, would not require many pages because the number of variables and possible outcomes are practically finite. Selco's topic had nearly infinite variables and infinite outcomes but he manged to distill them into understandable topics that impart a great deal of real world wisdom.

If you are an survivalist / prepper fiction author, just stop, your brand of fiction is mostly awful, but if you insist on pressing on, please send your manuscript to Mr. Begovic and have him inject some reality. Spare me another prepper fictional protagonist that always has just the right tool and has a BOL with 10 conex boxes full of gear surreptitiously buried.

In the introduction you are advised that English is not the native tongue of the author. This is not a problem and I believe it is actually a strength - his unique way of phrasing makes ideas stick in your head. He reshuffled my deck of cards, so to speak.

46 people found this helpful

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Survivalists/Preppers Only

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2020

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This book is described as a collection of stories from Selco's experience during the War of Independence, or Homeland War, in Croatia. The description mentions survivalist themes, but nowhere does it say that this book is for such people. My bad for not Googling the people, Daisy especially. It should say SURVIVALIST book sprinkled with examples from Selco.

If it was just Selco's book I would give it 3-4 stars but it's not. Daisy and Toby feel the need to add their comments after each chapter. Their input has zero value for me. I am not a Survivalist. I live fearlessly. They should try it instead of exploiting Selco to sell their Survivalist mindset.

I bought the book to read Selco's stories. There weren't enough of them to make it worth the read. Not even close.

I've lived in Croatia. I even know the language somewhat. My best friend is a Croat who lives in Zagreb. He was 13 when the war started. His friend was blown up while they were sitting together. She was 11. My memories of the Yugoslav wars led me to disown USA politics. So I am not an ignorant American making judgments. Indeed, I am quite educated.

There are some interesting stories in the book but they did not, as Daisy comments, "change my life". Maybe a sheltered person who has not done much traveling or a Survivalist would feel differently. I've talked to Croats with similar stories for years. Selco's stories and perspective are not unique amongst Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks.

I don't discount Selco's experiences but I do not like his sweeping generalities. For instance, that one can never get over the violence, that PTSD stays with you forever, and that guns are necessary for the "good guys" - to name only a few. He hates the laws in Croatia creating endless paperwork for gun ownership. For what it's worth, the Croatian authorities have this trail of never-ending paperwork for every single step you take, or so it seems. Gun ownership, buying real estate, drivers license, bank account, mailbox, breathing - all of it. In fact, so does Germany, France, and Spain.

Having lived in Croatia, I can say the level of tension still lingering between the three ethnicities is palpable. Thankfully, guns are not easy to get! (nor is a bank account)

Selco has some outstanding life advice. One is adaptability. He also suggests staying out of fear. But...Survivalists embody fear. Their image is tough but behind it is fear. Fear of death, fear of scarcity, fear of loss, fear of vulnerability. Bleh. What a crappy existence.

I learned the lessons in this book years ago via spiritual means. No, not religion. I found a solution to my troubles free of dogma. If we are unafraid of what comes after we die, truly unafraid, we can live more fully today - without fear, without guns.

I would love to have a coffee with Selco one day and discuss the bigger picture. He should write a memoir on his own. I'll help him clean up the English, which actually makes it charming (but I have a soft spot for Croats).

Daisy & Toby ruined it for me, as did the chapter on guns from someone who hasn't lived with mass shootings. (The argument of people killing people? Sure, agreed. If they are ARMED then their mental health, impulse control, and conditioned beliefs come into play, which changes based on circumstances. But first, the wackos have to be armed! The only reason the aggressors in Croatia were armed is because they were members of the Yugoslav Army. It's apples and oranges.)

25 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Outstanding!

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2020

Verified Purchase

Having worked in disaster relief and aid organizations in the Third World and the USA for decades, I can tell you from first-hand experience that Selco knows what he's talking about. I've seen precisely the same actions and reactions in many different places and conflicts. If you want to know what a really bad SHTF situation is really like, this and his earlier books are an excellent starting point. Highly recommended - but not for the squeamish. He tells it like it is.

16 people found this helpful

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Bobcat Big Sky

The first book anyone prepping or concerned about societal breakdown should own.

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2020

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This is absolutely the only and best. real life, TEOTWAWKI, SHTF book you'll ever read. If you are a prepper or perhaps a survivalist, get this. Read it twice. It's amazing.

12 people found this helpful

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Christine Y.

Eye opening

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2020

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I love this book! It not your typical survival/prepper book in that the author has real life experience in SHTF situations. His practical take on reality and human behavior delivers a hard dose of reality that everyone should be aware of if they hope to survive any large scale man-made or natural disaster scenario. The blend of lessons and true story examples make it easy to read. Highly recommended.

8 people found this helpful

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Nunya

Prepper Myth Buster!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2020

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Anyone who is this slightest bit interested in surviving a societal collapse brought about for any reason at all needs to read this book. Anyone who prepares, is interested in learning about prepping or wants to know where to start prepping needs to read this book. Anyone who wants to cut through all the conflicting information, theories and Hollywood stereotypes of apocalyptic events needs to read this book. This is where reality, told by a survivor who lived it, hits the oscillating air current distribution device by cutting to the chase, holding nothing back and telling it as it is. At times it's a difficult read, in part due to the fact that English is not the Authors first language, but mostly because it's very real. Not gory, just very, very raw. I highly recommend it.

8 people found this helpful

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D. K12345567

Thought provoking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2020

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A wake up call for the, "I've got a gun" and nothing else prepper types.
It's clear to me that having friends, family, and a network is key to survival if the SHTF.

1337rodent

un bon livre d'histoires de survie en zone de guerre civile

Reviewed in France on October 4, 2020

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J'ai découvert les récits de Selco, il y a un peu plus de 5 ans sur internet. Je cherchais des informations sur la survie en zone urbaine. Selco est le webmaster d'un site web où il relatait des expériences de survie urbaine durant la guerre civile en Yougoslavie et proposait des formations de survie urbaine. Désormais, le site web ne propose plus que ses cours en ligne ou sur le terrain (en Suéde). Les récits ont disparu. Il semble qu'il ait rassemblé tous ses récits dans un roman qu'il vend sous forme papier et livre numérique. Le livre date de fin 2019.

J'ai bien aimé les récits de Selco. Ce sont principalement les histoires de voisins ou personnes rencontrées au cours de la période de guerre civile qu'il a vécu. Selco fustige les travers de divers vendeurs de cours de survie et d'objets pour survivialistes. Il écrit que la majorité de ces vendeurs n'ont aucun expérience de survie ou donnent de très mauvais conseils qui aboutiront fatalement au décès des clients en cas de vraie crise. Bien qu'il dénonce ces marchands du temple, il en est lui même un quelque part, même si je le trouve bien sympathique. Selon ce que j'ai vu sur son site web, il a transformé son expérience de guerre civile en activité lucrative. Il laisse entendre que cette activité de moniteur de survivialisme en zone urbaine est une sorte de thérapie pour lui. Il écrit dans son livre qu'il a été ambulancier dans un service de premier secours après la guerre. Je ne suis pas persuadé que Selco arrive à vivre de son activité de prof de survivialisme. Il semble que ce soit une activité secondaire.

Je n'ai pas d'expérience de survie en conditions réelles de guerre. Ma seule expérience est celle du service militaire de 12 mois en France en 1985. J'étais dans un régiment d'infanterie réputé semi-disciplinaire alors que j'étais étudiant en informatique (donc pas un baroudeur). J'ai été mis dans pas mal de conditions que j'ai considéré comme extrêmes vu mon vécu antérieur: dormir dehors quand il fait -10°C sans équipement, dormir dehors avec des vêtements mouillés quand il fait 5°C plusieurs jours de suite, marcher sur de très longue distance en étant exténué, être en situation d'alerte pendant 3 jours sans dormir du tout, mettre ma vie en péril bêtement à cause de la stupidité de mes supérieurs, avoir faim et froid sur plusieurs semaine (au camp de la Courtine...), avoir peur quand les obus que j'ai moi même lancé font trembler le sol, être terrorisé par un lieutenant de section dérangé mentalement. J'ai retenu de tout cela que si en plus il fallait faire la guerre pour de vrai ce serait l'enfer sur terre. Je suis depuis totalement pacifiste alors que ce n'était pas du tout mes convictions au départ. Donc, je rejoins totalement Selco quand il dit que beaucoup de jeunes se sont enrôlés dans l'armée en ne comprenant rien aux réalités de la guerre et que toute situation de guerre civile tourne immédiatement à l'enfer sur terre. Mon service militaire me fait penser que tout ce qu'il dit est vrai parce que j'ai touché du doigt beaucoup de situations qu'il décrit, même si dans mon cas, c'était en temps de paix et seulement un exercice (cela n'a pas empêché d'avoir des estropiés (moi entre autre), et même des décès dans d'autres classes que la mienne).

Le récit est écrit dans un anglais assez approximatif où l'on croit entendre l'accent des pays de l'est de Selco (entendu sur son site web d'ailleurs!). Au début, c'est plaisant. A la fin cela finit par nuire au récit.

Il y a de très nombreuses fautes de frappe vers la fin du livre. Il n'y a pas eu de relecture de la fin du livre. Sur les derniers chapitres, le récit est à peine compréhensible entre les fautes de frappe et le globish de Selso (son Anglais est bourré de fautes). Cela finit par être agaçant.

La conclusion globale de Selco est qu'il n'y a pas d'équipement magique à acheter et que le gros de la préparation est mentale. Il suggère toutefois quelques "petites emplettes". Je vous laisse les découvrir dans le livre. Il dit que la survie est une question de chance et surtout d'être capable de garder la tête froide en situation critique, et de prendre aussi les bonnes décisions sur le long terme. L'idée la plus importante est qu'au début de la guerre civile, il faut fuir et laisser tous ses biens matériels derrière soit. De toute manière, dès le début de la guerre plus rien n'aura de valeur ou tout bien de valeur relative sera l'opportunité de se faire tuer, torturer, ou violer.

Selco écrit aussi beaucoup au sujet du stress post traumatique. Il insiste bien sur le fait que quelque soit la vision romantique de la guerre que peuvent avoir les jeunes, personne n'en sort indemne et que la notion de héros est juste bonne à fournir les armée en chair à canon (ce n'est pas dit aussi explicitement mais c'est bien l'idée directrice).

Ce livre n'est bien entendu pas pour les enfants. Ce n'est pas la "bibliothèque Rose". Il peut être une bonne lecture pour quelqu'un qui voudrait s'engager comme militaire de carrière ou mercenaire, ou pour quelqu'un qui milite dans un parti identitaire en France ou ailleurs, et aussi pour un survivialiste. A mon avis, il faudra réserver ce libre aux plus de 16 ans. Toutefois comme l'écrit Selco chacun peut avoir une interprétation différente d'un récit de vie. Chacun peut y trouver sa morale ou sa vision des choses.

Selco dit aussi que toutes les balivernes des hommes politiques Yougoslaves n'ont mené qu'au chaos et qu'aucune guerre n'apporte rien de bon. Voici une idée intéressante à méditer pour les jeunes va-t-en-guerre.

Globalement, je conseille la lecture de ce livre. J'ai appris des choses que je vais mettre en pratique et qui me seront utile aussi dans ma vie de tous les jours (sans parler de survivialisme ou de guerre civile, je l'espère). J'ai lu ce livre en Anglais dans la version papier. Les photos du livre sont en noir et blanc et à peine compréhensibles. C'est peut être mieux dans la version Kindle.

One person found this helpful

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Hugo

Un texto valioso para comprender una situación SHTF

Reviewed in Mexico on July 5, 2020

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No esperes una novela rosa, este es un texto crudo, con las memorias de lo que implicó sobrevivir en una ciudad sitiada durante un conflicto armado. Sin duda una herramienta para intentar dimensionar una situación de ese tipo. Es un libro increíble.

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