The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why by Amanda Ripley is a book that analyzes the range of human responses in notable disasters, both natural and man-made. The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why suggests that making the possibility of disaster routine and emergency measures with thorough drills a habit, more people will survive.
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why was a really enjoyable read for me because I am fascinated by the subject matter, and I enjoy historical accounts of people’s action during disasters. The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why examines well-known disasters such as 9/11 and the Christmas Day tsunami and lesser-known tragedies such as the biggest explosion in human history before Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hostage situations and plane crashes. The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why is when the prosaic becomes apocalyptic.
Neatly tucked in The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why is the implicit question of what kind of person you may be in a disaster. I imagine that it will be freeing for some readers to discover that it is not his or her fault for freezing in the face of danger, but a completely natural response of living beings. (So stop blaming rape victims for not saying no or not fighting back.) Yes, some natural responses are more effective than others in certain emergencies, but it is usually an involuntary human response, not a choice, which is why through and frequent drills are necessary to reprogram ourselves.
A friend recommended The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes- and Why to me, and I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in cataclysmic human experiences and the range of responses in the face of danger.